If you are choosing one business to maximize solo income and long-term ROI, pick the Bunker first, then add a Cocaine Lockup after. Across recent title updates, Bunker manufacturing has consistently edged out MC coke on net profit per hour for solo play, with less delivery pain and steadier uptime. Exact numbers move with patches and weekly bonuses, so always check your in-game sell screens, but in normal weeks the Bunker averages roughly 90k-130k per hour net when you buy supplies, while a fully upgraded Cocaine Lockup lands closer to 60k-90k per hour.
Ranked for solo ROI and quality of life: 1) Bunker - highest baseline hourly, fewer raid headaches, and sell missions that are far more solo-friendly when you time partial sales. 2) Cocaine Lockup - still the best MC business and a strong second purchase, but its multi-vehicle Post Op style sells can crater your solo efficiency unless you micro-manage stock levels or bring friends.
Startup cost matters. A solid Bunker setup with Equipment and Staff upgrades typically runs about 3.5m-6.2m all-in depending on location and discounts. A Cocaine Lockup with the same upgrade set is usually 2.3m-3.7m all-in. Despite the higher entry price, the Bunker's better hourly and smoother solo sells pay back the investment in fewer real play hours. Expect break-even in roughly 30-55 active production hours for a well-run Bunker versus 35-65 hours for Coke, assuming you buy supplies and sell at base rates. Title updates and weekly events can shift these ranges, so confirm current figures in-game.
Operationally, both shine when you buy supplies, let them passively convert, and sell in safe solo chunks that guarantee a single delivery vehicle. For the Bunker, that typically means selling before you hit the higher multi-vehicle thresholds; for Coke, avoid letting product climb to the levels that spawn multiple vans. If a 1.5x or 2x event hits either business, push big sells then, and keep stock low outside bonus windows to minimize raid risk and awkward multi-vehicle missions.
Bottom line: the Bunker is the best first purchase for a solo earner who wants reliable money per real-life hour with minimal delivery frustration. Add a Cocaine Lockup next to stack passive income. If you routinely play with at least one helper, Coke climbs closer in ROI, but Bunker still wins on stability and sell-mission sanity.
