Introduction

Finances are at the core of running a successful prison in Prison Architect 2. Without a solid financial foundation, you won’t be able to build, pay staff, or keep your prison running smoothly. In this guide, we’ll explore how to make money, manage contracts, unlock bureaucracy upgrades, expand your land, and avoid bankruptcy.

---

Primary Sources of Income

Prisoner Intake

The most consistent way to earn money is by accepting new prisoners. Each prisoner provides both a one-time intake payment and daily revenue, which varies by security level:

Security Level	Intake Payment	Daily Income
Minimum Security	$250	$50
Medium Security	$500	$100
Maximum Security	$750	$150
Supermax	$1,000	$250

To adjust prisoner intake, go to Prisoners > Intake and set your preferred number of incoming inmates.

Contracts

Another way to earn money is by completing contracts. To access them:

• Open Administration > Contracts.
• View Main, Repeatable, and Milestone Contracts.
• Complete the requirements to unlock financial rewards.
• Press Claim Reward once a contract is completed.

Contract Types:

• Main Contracts – One-time objectives with significant rewards.
• Repeatable Contracts – Can be completed multiple times for steady income.
• Milestone Contracts – Achievements for major prison expansions or goals.

---

Loans & Managing Debt

If you’re struggling financially, you can take out a bank loan, but you’ll need to:

• Unlock Big Business in the bureaucracy tree.
• Hire an Accountant with a functioning office.

To take a loan:

1. Go to Administration > Finances.
2. Click Borrow to take out $5,000.
3. Repeat if more funds are needed.

Interest Rate: Loans charge 10% daily interest, so repay them as soon as possible to avoid long-term debt.

---

Using Bureaucracy to Improve Finances

Bureaucracy unlocks new prison management tools that can increase revenue and cut costs. To access it:

1. Open Administration > Bureaucracy.
2. Choose from Big Business, Infrastructure, Well-being, and Security categories.
3. Unlock upgrades by spending XP, earned from contracts or administration staff.

Big Business Upgrades:

• Storage Clearance – Sell unwanted items for extra cash.
• Cooking the Books – Increases contract rewards.
• Building Expansion – Allows land purchases for prison growth.

---

Expanding Your Prison with Land Purchases

As your prison grows, you may need more space. To buy land:

1. Unlock Building Expansion in Bureaucracy.
2. Click Land Expansion on the sidebar.
3. Select an adjacent plot.
4. Review the cost and size before purchasing.

Tip: Land costs increase with each purchase, so plan expansions wisely.

---

Avoiding Bankruptcy & Game Over

If your finances fall into the red and your daily income is negative, you have 72 in-game hours to recover before your prison is shut down.

Tips to Avoid Bankruptcy:

• Increase Prisoner Intake – More inmates mean more revenue.
• Optimize Contracts – Prioritize high-reward contracts for quick cash.
• Cut Unnecessary Expenses – Reduce unused staff and minimize spending.
• Sell Unneeded Items – Use the Storage Clearance upgrade to recover funds.
• Take Loans Responsibly – Only borrow if you have a plan to repay quickly.

---

Conclusion

Balancing your finances in Prison Architect 2 is essential for success. By maximizing income, completing contracts, unlocking upgrades, and managing expenses wisely, you can grow your prison into a profitable and well-managed facility.

Stay tuned for more Prison Architect 2 tutorials, and happy building!