Even though I have more than the required amounts of the resources I need for each factory, and full employment inside them, they still don't make any money?
Why are my factories not profitable?
- Thread starter JD1997
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There is a lot of reasons for this. If you are playing Grand campaing factories cost to upkeep a lot more at the begging of the game. You can reduce it with discovering different technologies later on. Cost of factories also depend on the type of goverment. If you have for example laizzes faire, your factories cost lesss to upkeep. Product that factory produces may be not profitable and that makes factory to lose money. Product may be profitable for a time but then it can be not later on. Thats why you need too look Production screen in game once in a while to see if they actually are profitsble.
Are they selling everything they make?
If a factory produces too much, it can happen that there's just not enough demand and the factory stops being profitable/has to fire workers. A typical example would be a westernized China with their infinite amount of workers that can massproduce everything.
If a factory produces too much, it can happen that there's just not enough demand and the factory stops being profitable/has to fire workers. A typical example would be a westernized China with their infinite amount of workers that can massproduce everything.
There are several reasons why your factories might not be making a profit. The most important factors are probably the year of the game, and the tech you have. If you give us some more specifics (the type of factory, how much of their product they're selling, your tech, etc) we might be able to give you some specific answers. That being said, here's my personal general view on factories (which I'm sure other people will disagree with):
Factory output can be broken down into 3 different types of products: military goods, industrial goods, and consumer goods. Military goods are never profitable. Some military goods can be profitable to a limit as the game goes on, such as explosives, but typically you'll never make money off of them. Canned food factories, for example, are some of the worst in the game. Industrial goods can be profitable, but it can be a bit of a gamble. Cement factories and steel factories are sometimes necessary to fuel your industrial expansion, yet you'll find that they run on razor-thin profit margins. For example, steel isn't worth much more than raw iron, meaning that a lot of the time you're manufacturing at a loss. That being said, later in the game some industrial goods will net you enormous profits, specifically electric gear factories. Glass can also be a solid economic work-horse earlier in the game, especially if you're distilling a lot of liquor.
The third and most profitable are consumer goods. Some consumer goods are more or less profitable at any stage of the game, and with any tech. My favourite are liquor factories. Liquor is liquid gold, and I find myself typically basing my industrialisation around liquor. Another very profitable consumer good are luxury clothes, and to a lesser extent luxury furniture. The only difficulty with these is that unless you start taking bites out of China, have a large SOI, or have a high prestige, it can be difficult to secure enough silk to fuel your factories.
So, in conclusion, if you're scratching your head why your canned food factories aren't making you rich: canned food factories suck, man! Get into the liquor business.
Factory output can be broken down into 3 different types of products: military goods, industrial goods, and consumer goods. Military goods are never profitable. Some military goods can be profitable to a limit as the game goes on, such as explosives, but typically you'll never make money off of them. Canned food factories, for example, are some of the worst in the game. Industrial goods can be profitable, but it can be a bit of a gamble. Cement factories and steel factories are sometimes necessary to fuel your industrial expansion, yet you'll find that they run on razor-thin profit margins. For example, steel isn't worth much more than raw iron, meaning that a lot of the time you're manufacturing at a loss. That being said, later in the game some industrial goods will net you enormous profits, specifically electric gear factories. Glass can also be a solid economic work-horse earlier in the game, especially if you're distilling a lot of liquor.
The third and most profitable are consumer goods. Some consumer goods are more or less profitable at any stage of the game, and with any tech. My favourite are liquor factories. Liquor is liquid gold, and I find myself typically basing my industrialisation around liquor. Another very profitable consumer good are luxury clothes, and to a lesser extent luxury furniture. The only difficulty with these is that unless you start taking bites out of China, have a large SOI, or have a high prestige, it can be difficult to secure enough silk to fuel your factories.
So, in conclusion, if you're scratching your head why your canned food factories aren't making you rich: canned food factories suck, man! Get into the liquor business.
Everybody needs liquor. It makes your soldiers gain more morale and your factory workers happy. Nobody cares about canned food in peace time. No wonder, because it taste awful. 
Everybody needs liquor. It makes your soldiers gain more morale and your factory workers happy. Nobody cares about canned food in peace time. No wonder, because it taste awful.
I second this. You can never go wrong with (producing) booze! (in Victoria II, not IRL)
I've found that concrete, wine, ammunition, and small arms tend to be pretty consistent as well, though not as much as liquor. What were you making in your factories?
I second this. You can never go wrong with (producing) booze! (in Victoria II, not IRL)
I've found that concrete, wine, ammunition, and small arms tend to be pretty consistent as well, though not as much as liquor. What were you making in your factories?
Booze in real life is pretty profitable too
Industry is almost worthless before 1870. Not enough global demand (and money in pops hands to fulfill those demands) and bad input/output efficiency.
Military goods are mostly for helping build/supply your troops, not to make money. AI GPs overproduce things like canned food heavily and drive prices down. Luxury, booze/wine and later modern inventions pay off handsomely.
Many times you are bottlenecked by non-availability of certain raw materials. For instance you basically need to have silk in your sphere to run luxury clothes factory. Tropical wood (luxury furniture) is easier to get from world market.
After 1890 industry becomes truly sweet. But by then if you don't already control significant chunk of rubber/oil you are left with scraps.
RGOs are easier and more reliable money makers. Not ever boosting craftsmen is wise.
Military goods are mostly for helping build/supply your troops, not to make money. AI GPs overproduce things like canned food heavily and drive prices down. Luxury, booze/wine and later modern inventions pay off handsomely.
Many times you are bottlenecked by non-availability of certain raw materials. For instance you basically need to have silk in your sphere to run luxury clothes factory. Tropical wood (luxury furniture) is easier to get from world market.
After 1890 industry becomes truly sweet. But by then if you don't already control significant chunk of rubber/oil you are left with scraps.
RGOs are easier and more reliable money makers. Not ever boosting craftsmen is wise.
I always industrialize early for RP and to try and get a jump on everyone else (no idea if Ai factors in demand for goods before building factories) If your playing vanilla, build paper (you print money basically but need loads of lumber) furniture clothes and the luxury versions and liquor. Then when new stuff comes I drop the clothes and paper to get fuel and other new stuff except electric components
Thanks guys, I figured it out my goods just didn't have the demand due to the year, but now I'm rolling in the cash long live the Irish empire!
my goods just didn't have the demand due to the year, but now I'm rolling in the cash long live the Irish empire!
If you sell it, yes. Can't say the same thing about consuming though.
I haven't done much with paper. Is it any good in AHD?