Even after seven years, Grand Theft Auto V is still going strong. The online community has always been lively, but it has exploded following the Epic Game Store releasing it for free last week, crashing the store and creating a huge influx of new players.

With that said, now is the perfect time for newcomers to get a handle on the game's massive online multiplayer mode. There are endless goals to work towards, but just like in real life, cash is king. New players need to know how to earn money quickly and climb that GTA ladder. Here are some important tips and tricks to make the best of those early hours of GTA V Online.

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Save Your Money

New players will learn that GTA is designed to make players spend money as often as possible. The game features microtransactions, so the game encourages players to resort to spending real-world cash to get ahead. But while that's an option, earning money in GTA isn't as difficult as it might seem, provided players don't spend it all on impulsively. Flying cars, gorgeous houses or even the ostentatious yacht will catch players' eyes, but the best option is to choose a goal-purchase and work towards it.

Newcomers should also take advantage of the game's free items. The Premium Online edition comes with plenty of free cars and weapons, and most versions of the game come with a starter bundle of cash. These free items are actually quite useful even during higher levels, so don't sleep on them. There's also a casino in the game that players should probably stay away from, aside from the daily free spin at the Lucky Wheel.

Play With Friends

Players gambling in GTA Online

Naturally, online multiplayer is best suited for multiple players. However, playing with friends greatly improves the experience. Rest assured that players who want to fly solo can still do so online, but many activities are restricted to parties of two or more. Many of the game's heists -- some of the most profitable missions in GTA Online -- require a minimum of four players.

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The game does have matchmaking, but any GTA fan will tell you that working with random players is torturous. The ideal way to play, both in terms of having fun and maximizing your profits, is to play with a group of friends. Not only does it unlock more activities, but it makes the more difficult tasks much easier to complete. It's hard to find someone who doesn't have GTA V by now, so it's in players' best interest to grab a friend.

Become an Entrepreneur

Although online heists are a great way to earn cash, they take a lot of time and organization. However, there are less cumbersome ways to make money. Grand Theft Auto V Online allows players to purchase their own businesses to aid in their shady criminal exploits. Offices, nightclubs, arcades and even underground bunkers are all available for purchase on the game's internet. These properties let players start their own companies and make decent money without hours of preparation.

Although there are some free properties, these can still be costly ventures. Thankfully, because each of these businesses comes with exclusive missions, players can earn their money back with a bit of grinding. Some of them even earn money passively, like nightclubs -- provided players can handle the upkeep. A great way to start is by purchasing an office building and becoming a corporate CEO.

CEOs can launch VIP work or buy warehouses to acquire and sell high-priced goods. These missions are much easier if accompanied by friends, since players can hire them as employees to help with combat and transportation. Keep in mind that many of these business-related missions can only launch in public matches, as other players are encouraged to interfere with them. It's a frustrating wrinkle, but it's often worth the risk.

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Find Empty Public Matches

Grand Theft Auto V has some of the worst public matches in video game history. They're notoriously awful. Ironically, public matches are the purest form of Grand Theft Auto. Players are screaming over each other in the voice chat and live to wreak havoc. They're absolute chaos, and that's the point. However, when faced with a time-sensitive mission or one that cannot be repeated upon failure, public matches are nightmares.

One way to avoid interfering players is by finding matches that aren't crowded. Public matches are essential to heist preps and missions related to businesses, so even though it's terrifying to haul that van full of gold across the map that anybody could destroy forever, it's the only way to complete those big jobs. There's no safe way to do so, but performing these risky missions in a match with five players is safer than playing in one with 50 players.

Click "Find New Session" in the pause menu and hope for the best. There are ways to enter a completely empty public match, but methods are very trial-and-error. A convenient exploit comes in finding several new sessions in a row. Many find that the fourth or fifth new public session is completely empty, allowing players to invite their crew and do those public missions in peace.

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Participate in Events

A Car Chase in Grand Theft Auto V Online

Rockstar is constantly updating GTA V with community events, often launching temporary progression bonuses like double rewards. Anyone who wants to make money and level up quickly should keep an eye out for these. Recent events have implemented double rewards for contact missions and CEO missions, resulting in some pretty huge payouts for participants.

They aren't always lucrative, but at least they're fun. Community events are often advertised on the game's loading screens, so be on the lookout. These events can spotlight all kinds of game modes, but they're a great way to earn better rewards or change up the experience if the game gets a little stale. For most players, it seems that hasn't happened yet, so utilize these tips and enjoy the chaos of Grand Theft Auto V Online.

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