Dirty Business Reputation & Leveling Guide

Reputation is the real progression gate in Dirty Business. Cash comes back after another production cycle; a locked Worker tier, Company, LSD line, or aircraft step does not. This page maps a stable Level 1–38 Early Access route (July–August 2026 builds) and how clean Orders turn into levels.

Cross-check unlock numbers in your live Progression / Tutorial UI after every Steam update. Related: complete orders, hire workers, LSD production, patch 0.1.30.

Recommended Reputation route

1. Reach Level 5 with clean Weed orders and limited optional spending.
2. Run Weapon Printing during Weed growth timers (do not abandon Weed).
3. Buy Storage at Level 10 when boxes clutter packing and elevator routes.
4. Add Acid Disposal at Level 13 between existing cycles.
5. Prep racks and Worker funding before Level 15.
6. Automate one proven Weed strain, then stabilize Weapons before Dealer / Gunsmith.
7. Push to Level 30 with parallel timers — not by staring at one machine.
8. Build one complete LSD Sheet, then Companies / stronger Workers / aircraft toward Level 38.

How Orders become Reputation

Customer Orders are the most controllable Reputation source early and midgame: produce the item, match quantity and quality, close and identify boxes, assign on Delivery, read the penalty preview, submit clean. Wrong quality can cut both U-Notes and Reputation. Hold V for the Quick Active Order List (0.1.30).

Key unlock table

Level	Unlock	Route note
5	Weapon Printing	Parallel timer during Weed growth
10	Storage Rack	Buy when boxes cause delivery errors
13	Acid Disposal	Third activity between Weed / Weapons
15	Worker Assignments + Botanical Intern	Automate one proven strain first
18	Violet Nebula Seed	Test demand before replacing a working strain
21	Dealer + Booster	Only with repeatable surplus stock
22	Gunsmith	When assembled parts wait — not empty printers
30	LSD Synthesising	One full Sheet before extra Slugs / Distillers
32	Companies + Botanical Recruit	Upgrade cost vs real output gain
37	Botanical Assistant	Fix speed limits, not empty racks
38	Aircraft / Smuggler’s Island access	Finish the tutorial before treating it as production

Cash Forging unlock numbers conflict across EA screens (reports of Level 40 vs 48). Check your build.

Levels 1–15 in practice

1–5: Keep the Weed loop small — grow, pack, deliver without penalties, restock Seeds / Soil / Water / Plastic Packs. Save floor space for the Level 5 weapons tutorial.

5–13: Water Weed → refill Weapon Printer → assemble → pack whatever already has a clean order. Storage at 10 beats another light when clutter is the bottleneck. Acid at 13 fills idle gaps after the tutorial works.

15: Place Worker Supply / Product racks, fund several daily fees, assign one strain with recurring demand. Empty pots, baskets, and lights must be ready — see hire workers after July Botanist / Gunsmith / Lab Operator reworks.

Levels 15–38

Keep every long process moving: Worker Weed + Weapons + Acid + clean Orders. At 30, open LSD only when Weed and Weapons still fund the setup. Route: Basic Slug + Slug Food → Slug Tank → Extract → Distiller (fix Too Hot) → Blotting Paper → Dispense Sheet. Full steps: LSD guide.

Companies and higher Botanical tiers cost hiring fees plus higher daily pay. Upgrade when a supplied route is limited by movement or efficiency — not when racks are empty.

Solo vs co-op

Solo: Level 15 Worker protects one line while you handle Weapons, Acid, and Orders. Co-op: split Weed and Weapons earlier, but coordinate tutorial purchases so the next unlock stays funded.

Buy now or wait?

Buy when the unlock removes the current blocker (storage, Worker, Gunsmith, Distiller, Slug capacity). Wait when you would add unsupported capacity (extra Pot without soil/light, Printer without materials, Dealer without surplus).

Related

• Guides hub · Beginner · Orders · Workers · LSD · Street dealers · Airstrip · Updates