A Business is a new background which represents a commercial enterprise of some sort. Businesses come with ratings 1 to 5, which are fundamentally different from one another.

In general, businesses require management from the Kindred as well as an agent or agents to manage. In return, businesses provide influence in the region, and, if the economic conditions are right, a profit.

• Small Business

A small business is a local enterprise generally centered around one or two people, though it often employs a hand full of support staff. Businesses of this size are generally more of a hobby project for Kindred rather than any serious source of income (lower clans exempt).

To own a small business, you can either purchase an existing business or start your own. A business costs roughly [TBD] pounds, but prices may vary widely depending on the details. To run a small business, you assign a single agent, who in turn may hire some supporting staff, depending on the business.

Benefits: 1/3

Income: [TBD] x number of successes by agent (DC 7)

Examples: smithy, personal farm, hat store, fishing boat, etc.

•• Business

A business employs specialized people who each perform different sub-tasks of a greater product provided. A business generally employs several douzen people, up to about fifty.

A business is too big to be purchased directly in most cases, and requires some form of financing so it cannot be bought using pounds directly. You are otherwise generally free to control a business as you see fit.

Benefits: 1

Income: [TBD] x number of successes by agent (DC 7) x economic factor

Examples: department store, sweatshop, regular ship

••• Large Business

A large business is big enough to require middle management as the main agent does not know all employees. Employs about a hundred people.

A large business requires financing to be acquired and requires at least a second investor, be it a direct owner or an organization or club that helps to establish and maintain the business. As such, you always share at least part of your control of a large business with another party

Benefits: 3

Income: [TBD] x number of successes by agent (DC 7) x economic factor

Examples: textile factory, power plant, large steamships

•••• Corporation

A corporation with either multiple locations or locations large enough they function as local landmarks. Employs several hundred up to a thousand people.

A large corporation can only be formed by the merger of multiple ••• large businesses, plus extensive financing. It has a board of directors that holds ultimate control which you may be part of. Businesses of this size shape the local economy.

Benefits: 6

Income: [TBD] x number of successes by agent (DC 8) x economic factor

Examples: iron works, local railroad, merchant fleets,

••••• International Corporation

An international corporation big enough that most people have heard of it, employing several thousand people or otherwise being a major influence on the national economy. Corporations this size are usually outside the domain of kindred, though it is possible to be part of.

An international corporation can only be formed by the merger of several •••• Corporations and as such have multi-tiered boards of directors. Businesses like this shape the economy of countries and their leaders rub elbows with high ranking politicians.

Benefits: 10

Income: [TBD] x number of successes by agent (DC 9) x economic factor

Examples: East India Company, Union Pacific Railroad, Bank of England

Economic Factor

The economic factor is a factor that depends on generic economic conditions, which include the general economy, the local economy as well as the economy of the specific sector and product produced. It is determined each season.