Big Ambitions is an open-world business simulation game available on Steam for PC, developed and published by Hovgaard Games.
You create your own entrepreneur and work toward building a successful business empire in a large fictionalized version of New York City.
The game gives you the freedom to decide how you want to grow your business.
As your company expands, logistics become increasingly important, allowing you to purchase vehicles and use them to transport products around the city.
In this guide, you’ll find the complete Big Ambitions Walkthrough, covering everything from the start to the end of the game with all the important steps and information you need to progress.
Big Ambitions Walkthrough Guide (1.0)
This guide walks you through growing your $10,000 starting cash into a multi-million-dollar retail and industrial export empire.
Phase 1: Start Your First Business
1. Get Started
- Choose Story Mode or Custom Game – Normal.
- Start in the Garment District with $10,000.
- Rent a cheap apartment.
- Enable Neighborhoods and Residential/Retail on the map.
2. Choose a Store
- Check Market Insider → Demand.
- Focus on Fresh Food and Frozen Food.
- Rent a store with 30+ Foot Traffic and around 15 Customer Capacity.
- Set hours to 6 AM–12 AM.
3. Get a Loan
- Visit Jensen Capital.
- Take the available $10,000 loan.
4. Buy Store Equipment
At Square Appliances, buy:
- Cabinet with Doors
- Cash Register
- Shopping Baskets
- Small Drinks Fridge
- Industrial Fridge
- Industrial Freezer
- Storage Shelf
5. Stock the Store
- Visit NY Distro.
- Buy:
- Fresh Food
- Frozen Food
- Soda Cans
- Paper Bags
- Store the items on your shelves.
- Use the display menu to quickly restock products.
6. Hire Employees
- Complete the Basic HR Management course.
- Hire 3 Customer Service employees.
- Schedule them from 6 AM–12 AM.
- Buy a Cleaning Station and assign a cleaner.
7. Set Prices
- Open Inventory & Pricing.
- Check local prices.
- Set your products near the highest market price.
Phase 2: Expand Your Business
1. Open More Stores
- Expand into Murray Hill and The Hamptons.
- Focus on Burgers, Chicken Kebabs, and Pizza.
- Use City Ads or McCain’s E-Marketing to improve brand recognition.
2. Build an HQ
- Rent an office from Bohog.
- Add desks, chairs, and PCs.
- Hire 2 HR Managers.
- Enable:
- Train to 100%
- Automatic Temp Replacement
- Auto-Schedule Fill
3. Increase Your Capital
- Once profits reach around $15K–$30K/day, visit Vantair Bank.
- Increase your loan limit to fund expansion.
4. Automate Supplies
- Upgrade your HQ to a 10-person office.
- Hire:
- Purchasing Agents
- Logistics Managers
- Headhunters
- Set weekly orders through Jet Cargo Importer.
- Rent a warehouse in the Industry District.
- Add Pallet Shelves and delivery trucks.
- Assign a Logistics Manager to supply your stores.
5. Expand Safely
- Use Christian Bahood Interior Firm to furnish new stores.
- Hire a chauffeur for faster travel.
- Avoid opening more than 2 businesses of the same type in one rival’s district to prevent price wars.
Phase 3: Industrial Empire
1. Move Into Factories
- Rent large P or Q warehouses in the Industry District.
- Install plenty of Pallet Shelves.
- Set up factory production lines.
2. Start Production
For cheap jewelry, use:
- Laser Cutting Machine
- Polishing Machine
- Consumer Goods Assembly Machine
- Uncut Gems
- Metal Bands
3. Automate Production
- Buy raw materials in bulk from Maritime Freight Line.
- Hire factory workers.
- Set factories to run 24/7.
4. Automate Exports
- Assign a Logistics Manager.
- Set Bluestone Imports as the export destination.
- Set a high export quota to sell excess production automatically.
Profit Goals
- 1 Cheap Jewelry Line: ~$61K/day
- 10 Expensive Jewelry Lines: ~$2.1M+/day
- 36+ Assembly Lines: $50M+/week
Main Strategy:
Start with retail → automate staff → expand stores → build warehouses → move into factories → automate exports.
