Gta San Andreas How To Make Money Fast

I think this question needs answer that focuses on what is actually fast and efficient, not what is just fun or interesting way to get money.

Missions to earn money

1. Firefighter missions ($45,000 for level 12 + Fireproof CJ)

Reason why this is number one is that:

Firetruck is available anytime in the game
This mission is hard to fail
Firetruck is much more durable than other mission related vehicles

To get a firetruck, just start a fire by making a car explode. However, do not shoot it to explode as this will award wanted level. Instead shoot it until it starts burning, then wait. Firetruck will arrive. This can easily be done as soon as you have any firearm.

Finishing the missions makes you fireproof forever in addition to cash reward.

2. Vigilante missions (Unlimited money + armor increased at level 12)

This option is number two because, unlike Firefighter missions, requires unlocking Las Venturas and obtaining Rhino or Hunter to be pulled of easily. You can try this mission in any police vehicle, but police vehicles cannot be repaired at Pay'n'Spray which means you need to be a really good driver. I did not manage to pull it off with police motorbike or car.

With Hunter or Rhino, you an keep going with this mission forever - your vehicle is basically indestructible. The profit increases with each level up to infinity, but the difficulty does not - it stops increasing after level 12.

There is a glitch too. If you enter a fast food your targets will often die and you'll get the reward.

3. Paramedic missions (over 9000 and increased max. health)

Unlike firefighter missions, paramedic ones are tightly bound to location of single hospital. I would recommend west Los Santos or Las Venturas locations, since they have flat terrain and simple road design.

The profit is not so big with those but still significant. However it's quite easy to accidentally run over patient and fail the mission.

4. Courier missions

Every city has a store which can become your money generating asset if you pass four levels of it's respective delivery missions. They all follow the same pattern - you ride a two wheeled vehicle and throw packages into drop off coronas (red rings). You gain money for each level, about $25,000 total. Upon completion, the related business will generate up to $5,000. Quite frankly, that's not so much money compared to to missions mentioned above.

The missions are:

Los Santos - Roboi's Food Mart - eat some food before this one, because you will be riding a bicycle
San Fierro - Hippy Shopper
Las Venturas - Burger Shot

Unless you're very skilled, always stop or decently slow your vehicle before throwing. Missing will cost you much more than you could ever gain by hurrying.

5. Burglary (approx. $4,000 per night)

This one is not so efficient, or fast or easy, but it's quite fun, so if you find repetitive missions boring, this one is for you. This mission will be introduced to you during the first phase of the game. It requires specific car and can only be started after 20:00.

Few hints:

If you're detected you can still re-enter the building and nobody will remember a thing
If you are detected and you do not leave the building in 10 seconds, you get three wanted stars. Do not let this happen. The door leaving cut-scene counts in the time required to leave, do not leave at last second
Obliterating/killing house's inhabitants does not prevent cops from coming, but after reentering the empty building, you no longer can be detected
Once you grab an item, don't bother with stealth, since you will get out in time even if detected

5. Pimp missions ($16,500 and you get paid for whoring if you finish)

Those are quite boring because you repeatedly visit same locations. You will be a personal driver for two prostitutes, who will share their profits with you as a reward. The gain is increased with each level. Upon completion, you get money for using prostitute's services.

It requires special pimp car called Broadway found mostly around the Los Santos airport.

Situational options

Killing crack dealers (min $2,000 per corpse)

Those guys will spawn a lot arounnd Los Santos after the Dooberman mission.

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Each will drop at least two thousand dollars. They can defend themselves, so either take them down with a quick headshot or run into them with chainsaw.

Gambling (after unlocking Las Venturas)

Collecting Horseshoe collectibles increases your chances of winning a gamble. If you have collected enough of them, this is quite recommended option.

Ways NOT to earn money

Killing random pedestrians - soon, police will be after your sorry ass, not recommended
Taxi driver missions - Contrary to what top answer here suggests, this is the least profitable and most boring sub-mission. It's however required for 100% completion.