The five official income paths
| Path | How it pays | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Robbery & loot | Steal valuables and cash in Looty Bay, sell to a fence. Payouts rise with Notoriety. | High: cops, rival Criminals |
| Cargo & shipments | Haul cargo by vehicle, dismantle or sell it. | Medium: long transport and dismantle times |
| Base production | Farms, labs, contraband and cargo cracking at your base. | Base can be raided |
| Police work | Pay from arrests, seized contraband and bribes. | Low: you keep personal gear |
| Taxes | Settlement owners and territory-holding clans take a cut. | You must collect in person |
Sources: Official Dev post Dev post Official Official
Where to sell loot
- Fence vans in Looty Bay. Look for the van marked with a dollar sign on your map. Grab the cash off the counter immediately, or it can be stolen or confiscated. Official
- The Sales Center. Unlocked once you rent land and become a Settlement Resident. Motel-dwelling Hobos can’t use it. Dev post
- District hubs in the desert. Every district has a central hub where residents sell stolen loot. Prices can be significantly higher than in Looty Bay, and so is the danger. Dev post
A heist streak during one visit to the city raises your Notoriety: better fence deals and more perks, but a stronger response. Solo players and duos start higher. Official Dev post More on Notoriety.
Cargo, shipments and safes
Vehicles matter most when you steal cargo. Kefir says some players steal safes to cut open back at their base, while others sell contraband in the middle of the city. Dev post Cargo found in a location can be set up to open at your base. Dev post
The Nov 4 patch changed the math: Patch
- Dismantling and selling shipments is much more profitable,
- but shipments drop less often and take longer to dismantle,
- and the Buletti can no longer transport shipments.
Players report that cargo is opened on a Cargo Workbench at your plot or sold straight to a Smuggler. Kefir hasn’t documented this, so treat it as unconfirmed. Players
Base businesses: farms, labs, contraband
Your base can run production: farms where bushes grow, laboratories that use chemical reagents, warehouses and more. Everything is placed from your inventory, and workbenches can be upgraded with modules. Dev post After the playtest Kefir promised base businesses would pay out several times more. Dev post The Nov 4 patch delivered a “massive” increase for farms, labs and contraband. Patch
The catch: a productive base attracts raiders. See raiding & defence.
Small, safe cash for new players
- Dumpsters. The Nov 4 patch increased the cash found in them. Patch
- Small stores. Corner stores and jewelry shops are easier targets than bank vaults. The same place can pay pocket change or a fortune depending on your gear, keys and prep. Dev post
- City events. ATMs get restocked and arms stashes leak. Looty Bay throws up chances all the time. Dev post
Taxes: the top of the pyramid
Settlement owners collect a cut of the money their tenants spend and launder, and must collect it in person. Official Clans that hold a district take a cut of the settlement owners’ taxes, and the Shadow Governor’s clan taxes every other clan on the map. Dev post Full breakdown: clans & the power pyramid.
Bartering and trading
Some gear is traded rather than bought. Cops trade in Police Badges for top-tier equipment. Dev post The Nov 4 patch raised the number of tablets needed to trade for a glass cutter. Patch Kefir hasn’t published a full barter list, and we don’t invent one.
Don’t buy money or accounts
Search results for “ROB RUN money for sale” lead to third-party sellers. Kefir’s rules prohibit real-money trading and selling accounts. Violations can be banned, and everything resets at the weekly wipe anyway. Official Official
Questions players ask
What is the fastest way to make money in ROB RUN?
There is no official fastest method, and payouts change with patches. As of the Nov 4 patch, Kefir massively increased base-business profits (farms, labs, contraband) and made dismantling and selling shipments much more profitable. Early on, small robberies sold to a fence, plus cash from dumpsters, are the low-risk start.
Where do I sell loot in ROB RUN?
In Looty Bay, sell to the fence at a van marked with a dollar sign on your map. Settlement Residents can also sell at the Sales Center. District hubs in the desert can pay significantly more than Looty Bay but are dangerous.
Can I buy ROB RUN money?
Don’t. Kefir’s community rules prohibit real-money trading and account selling, and violations can get you banned. Official purchases (B-Coins) only buy cosmetics.
What do I do with cargo?
Kefir says cargo found in a location can be set up to open at your base, and some players steal safes to cut open back home. Players report that cargo can be opened on a Cargo Workbench or sold to a Smuggler.
Evidence locker
Every tag on this page links to one of these. Official = Kefir help center or Steam store. Dev post = Kefir's Steam announcements and pinned posts. Patch = patch notes. Players = forum reports Kefir hasn't confirmed.
- Official How do I make money? Kefir help center ·
- Dev post Gameplay Overview Steam announcement ·
- Dev post Base Management Steam announcement ·
- Official How do I become a cop? Kefir help center ·
- Official How do I become a settlement owner and earn income? Kefir help center ·
- Official How do I sell my loot? Kefir help center ·
- Dev post ROB RUN's Power Pyramid Steam announcement ·
- Dev post Global Map Steam announcement ·
- Official What is the Notoriety level? Kefir help center ·
- Patch First Changes & Server Schedule Steam announcement ·
- Players Community FAQ (robrun.info, fan site) robrun.info ·
- Dev post Playtest News Steam announcement ·
- Official What are the community rules? Kefir help center ·
- Official What is the Federal Raid (Wipe)? Kefir help center ·
Something wrong or outdated after a patch? The game changes weekly in Early Access. Check the official help center or our patch log.