Cost to run an Inquisitive Agency

[Heinrich_Uberlich]

Ok guys, need a little advice. I am starting a new Eberron campaign and have created the characters for my players and given them storyhooks and backgrounds (I want to introduce them to Eberron's grandeur bit by bit). Anyway one of the characters has inherited his missing (presumed dead) father's Inquistives business, sort of like a Detective agency for any of you not familiar with Eberron.

Now this character has 'hired' the other player characters to help him run the business. Questions that have arisen and require answers to are:

- How much to run the business? (Currently the office is leased at 100gp per month, located in Sharn)
- How should paid fees be split amongst the group?
- How much should be put aside for the business?
- Should the business owner get a bigger cut since he's the boss?

A couple of things to keep in mind
- There are no extra staff yet save the PCs
- Don't confuse the running of a business today with an fantasy based business, for starters there is no electricity or phone/fax bills to pay, no superannuation, no sick leave, no holiday pay etc
- I don't want the business owning player to cheat the others of their pay/reward/fees/treasure but I also didn't want just another NPC running the biz.

Any suggestions would be great.
Oh and Eberron rocks!
Reebo

 

[Hand of Evil]

I would do it as a contract based business, the office contracts or brokers out Inquisitors. The office gets 50% of all business, this could be flexable based on level of the Inquisitor. This means the Inquisitor shows up for work and something is assigned to him/her.

But you should be able to figure this out...

Office Cost - supplies, rent, lighting (lamps/oil)
Staffing - good looking, likable honest scribe (x2)
Ads - Town cryer, flyers, bribes to local law enforcement, cards
Petty Cash - want something in the pot for travel expenses, parties, dinners, drinks​

Now I need to check my books...

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

- How much to run the business? (Currently the office is leased at 100gp per month, located in Sharn)
- How should paid fees be split amongst the group?
- How much should be put aside for the business?
- Should the business owner get a bigger cut since he's the boss?

Well, let's see. To run an Inquisitive Agency, I'd say you need only a few key things - you've listed a few.

-Re: rent - on a shady side of town you might cut that rent in half. In true Sam Spade tradition, you'll be behind on the rent most of the time anyway, right?
-Although you say no employees, I think a wise-cracking, gum-chewing secretary is a must. Practical even, since you need someone to take messages when the PC's are out being inquisitive. Say 20-30 gp a month, max. Keep in mind "Wisecracking" is a charisma based skill.
-Stenciled glass window for your door with name of agency. One time cost: 25 gp? Buy multiples, as that door will probably see a lot of abuse.
-Secret places to hide Khorvairian Falcons: Expensive version: 500 gp for secret compartments. Cheap version: 5 sp for a crowbar to pry up loose floorboards.