Best Cross-Pack Business Ideas For The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies

Summary

• Businesses and Hobbies DLC in Sims 4 offers cross-pack functionality for diverse business ideas like laundromats or bakeries.
• Other DLC provides extensive customization options, allowing players to create unique businesses tailored to their Sims’ interests.
• Different businesses require specific DLCs for full functionality, making it crucial to plan and curate each establishment carefully.

The Sims 4 has always been about unleashing your creativity, and the Businesses and Hobbies DLC is no exception. While other expansions have been fairly self-contained, Businesses and Hobbies stands out as having a stunning amount of cross-pack functionality. This lets you create almost any business you can imagine.

EA released a list of sample ideas for your Sims’ businesses prior to the pack’s release. While some of their suggestions made it onto this list, we’ve also come up with some of our own ideas for your more entrepreneurial Sims. From roller rinks to cat cafés, the choice is yours.

10

Laundromat

Don’t Forget The Bleach

• DLCs Needed: Laundry Day Stuff
• Suggested Customer Activities: Do Laundry

While some players enjoy the level of realism that comes from installing washing machines into their Sims’ homes, it can be a bit of an annoyance to deal with all the time. However, the Laundry Day DLC really shines when it comes to placing laundry objects in communal spaces.

Laundromats were one of the business ideas suggested by EA, and they’re also one of the easiest to create for aspiring business owners. The main concern for your Sims is buying appliances and repairing broken machinery. Aside from that, however, it’s a fairly low-maintenance operation.

9

Bakery

Perfect For A Sweet Treat

• DLCs Needed: Get to Work
• Optional DLCs: My Wedding Stories, Home Chef Hustle
• Suggested Customer Activities: Browse and Buy Items, Eat

Sure, Get to Work gave players the ability to run a very basic retail bakery, but the game has evolved a lot since its release. Businesses and Hobbies gives you a greater degree of control over both customer and employee behavior. However, the cash register and bakery display from Get To Work are still invaluable.

If you have certain other DLCs, your bakery can flourish with even more options. My Wedding Stories will allow you to sell a wide variety of wedding cakes to other Sims, while Home Chef Hustle adds new appliances to your commercial kitchen.

8

Theater

When Watching Movies At Home Isn’t Enough

• DLCs Needed: Movie Hangout Stuff
• Suggested Customer Activities: Watch Movies on TV, Eat Popcorn

Sure, your Sims could just watch Midnight Massacre III in the comfort of their own homes, but nothing beats the allure of the theater. The Movie Hangout Stuff DLC has everything you need, like projector screens, movie posters, big-screen TVs, and even a popcorn machine.

You might need some custom content to get the look you want, since neither the base game nor any of the DLCs currently have the type of seating found in most movie theaters in real life. Still, you can customize your theater however you want, and additional DLCs can give you more options.

7

Textile Shop

Get Your Knitting Needles Ready

• DLCs Needed: Nifty Knitting, Cottage Living
• Suggested Customer Activities: Knit, Do Cross-Stitch, Attend Classes and Lectures, Browse and Buy Items

In real life, craft and textile stores often hold classes, workshops, and other events for their customer base. Community art spaces were one of the first types of small business people tried to create for Businesses and Hobbies, but most lots focused on painting or pottery classes.

To make a textile shop, simply make sure your small business has enough space to display your knitting and cross-stitch creations. You can also use the whiteboard to hold classes and lectures on textile crafts. Just make sure there’s enough seating and craft tools for everyone.

6

Gaming Space

A Hobby Shop For Businesses And Hobbies

• Optional DLCs: Growing Together, Get Together, Kids Room Stuff, City Living (if you want video games as well)
• Suggested Customer Activities: Play Cards, Play Chess, Play Table Games, Play Video Games, Battle With Voidcritters

In real life, your friendly local gaming store is a space where tabletop gamers can browse the newest board game releases, participate in trading card game tournaments, and play tabletop RPGs with their friends. Different Sims 4 DLCs have different tabletop games, but you can make this concept work.

There aren’t any TTRPGs in The Sims 4, but you can still have your Sims play board games, battle with Voidcritters, and socialize with like-minded gamers. Be sure to cater to Sims with the Geek trait so that your customers will be able to discuss their shared interests with each other.

5

Skating Rink

Perfect For That Roller Derby Tournament

• DLCs Needed: Seasons
• Suggested Customer Activities: Go Skating

The Seasons DLC introduced several new gameplay features to The Sims 4, but roller rinks might be one of the most overlooked items. You’ll need a large lot size to be able to place one comfortably, which is probably why they’re not used as often as they could be.

Once you’ve secured the space, however, the possibilities are endless. Pair the roller rink with alternative and punk decor, for instance, to get the roller derby space of your dreams. Alternatively, you can add some colorful lights and a DJ Turntable to make a 1970s-style roller disco.

4

Bathhouse

For A Relaxing Soak

• DLCs Needed: Snowy Escape
• Optional DLCs: Spa Day
• Suggested Customer Activities: Bathe and Shower, Do Spa Activities, Use Hot Tub

EA suggested spas as one of the possible businesses you can create if you have the Spa Day DLC, but why not take things a step further? Snowy Escape introduced us to functional onsen features for Simmers who want to create their own public baths.

Add some showers for your Sims to get squeaky clean before they soak, along with some relaxing decor items. If you want to get really fancy, feel free to throw in some saunas, which come with the Spa Day pack.

3

Nightclubs

Dance All Night

• DLCs Needed: Get Together
• Optional DLCs: Vampires (for specific clientele), City Living
• Suggested Customer Activities: Listen to Music, Dance, Watch Live Entertainment, Drink Bar Drinks

Sure, it was one of the suggestions EA made when showcasing the DLC’s cross-pack potential, but you can’t go wrong with nightclubs. They’re the best place for your Sims to dance the night away, socialize with townies, or meet potential dates for that 100 baby challenge you’re falling behind on. Get Together has the requisite dance floors, so you’ll need it to get started.

Depending on what other DLCs you have, you can also customize your club with content from other packs. The City Living DLC has bubble bars and karaoke machines for extra activities once your Sims have gotten bored with dancing. You can even make a stunning goth club that caters to creatures of the night with the Vampires DLC.

Let’s Get Witchy

• Optional DLCs: Realm of Magic (for magic), Outdoor Retreat (herbalism), Paranormal Stuff (decor and seance tables), Crystal Creations (crystals), Life and Death (tarot), Spa Day (aromatherapy, meditation, and reflexology), Eco Lifestyle (candles)
• Suggested Customer Activities: Use Cauldron, Cast Spells, Do Gemology, Attend Classes and Lectures, Meditate, Browse and Buy Items

Metaphysical shops in real life are places where spiritual-minded folks of a variety of backgrounds and beliefs can gather. The content that’s appropriate for these types of spaces is scattered across multiple DLCs. Crystal Creations is great for all your crystal needs, Eco Lifestyle enables you to make ritual candles, and Outdoor Retreat gives you the Herbalism skill.

If you have Life and Death, you (or your employees) can give your customers paid tarot readings.

All these options are just if you want to keep things relatively realistic. If you have the Realm of Magic DLC and want to cater to spellcasters, you can also include cauldrons and other spellcasting accessories. You can even hold classes and lectures for any witchy skill of your choice.

1

Cat Cafe

Meow!

• DLCs Needed: Cats and Dogs
• Suggested Customer Activities: Play With Pets, Care for Animals, Drink Coffee/Tea, Eat

Like nightclubs and laundromats, pet cafes were one of the cross-pack suggestions offered up by EA. They’re even listed as a default business mode. However, they’re relatively easy to set up, even on your Sim’s home lot. All you need is five cats and a dream.

While cats are the natural option when selecting an animal for your pet cafe, there’s nothing preventing you from using the same idea for dogs. It’s probably not a good idea to attempt this business model with horses.