The Sims™ 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack
Release Date: Mar 7, 2025
Pack code: EP18
The The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack introduces a new way for Sims to turn their skills and hobbies into successful small businesses. This expansion focuses on creativity, entrepreneurship, and community activities, allowing Sims to earn Simoleons while doing what they love.
Released on March 6, 2025, the pack was developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, expanding gameplay with new skills, a business management system, and a new world to explore.
For players who enjoy storytelling, skill progression, and building unique venues, Businesses & Hobbies adds a flexible system that allows nearly any hobby to become a profitable venture.
What Is The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack?
The Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack allows Sims to start and manage their own small businesses, either from home or from a dedicated business lot. Players can design their workplace, hire employees, set prices, and build a reputation within the community.
This expansion also introduces new creative activities and systems that deepen gameplay, particularly for Sims who enjoy crafting, teaching, and artistic pursuits.
Key highlights include:
- Running customizable small businesses
- Two new skills: Tattooing and Pottery
- A new world called Nordhaven
- Business perks and reputation systems
- Classes and mentorship gameplay
These features make the pack one of the more gameplay-focused expansions released for The Sims 4.
Run Your Own Small Business
One of the biggest features of the expansion is the Small Business system. Sims can now create businesses based on their skills or passions.
Players can:
- Run businesses from their home lot
- Purchase a Small Business Venue lot
- Hire and manage employees
- Charge customers using a ticket kiosk
- Teach classes or sell handcrafted items
This system gives players the freedom to create a wide range of businesses, from craft studios to service-based shops.
New Skills: Tattooing and Pottery
The pack introduces two major creative skills.
Tattooing Skill
Sims can become tattoo artists and design body art for other Sims. The skill includes:
- Custom tattoo creation
- Tattoo layering
- Unlockable stencils and designs
- A Tattoo Paint Mode for creating unique artwork
- Players can also share tattoo designs through the in-game Gallery.
Pottery Skill
The new Pottery skill allows Sims to craft ceramic items using a pottery wheel and kiln.
Sims can create objects such as:
- Tea sets
- Decorative vases
- Planters
- Incense burners
These items can be sold for profit or used as decorative objects in the home.
Explore the New World of Nordhaven
The expansion also adds a new world called Nordhaven, a town focused on creativity and community.
Nordhaven features:
- Hobby meetups
- Skill-focused social events
- Community classes and lectures
- Neighborhoods filled with creative Sims
This environment encourages Sims to develop their skills while meeting other characters who share similar interests.
Business Reputation and Perks
Businesses in the pack can develop different reputations depending on how the owner runs them.
Players can choose different paths, such as:
- Dreamer – positive and inspirational business practices
- Schemer – profit-focused or questionable methods
- Neutral – a balanced approach
As businesses grow, Sims unlock Business Perks that provide advantages such as improved customer satisfaction or higher profits.
Why Players Like the Businesses & Hobbies Expansion
The expansion is especially appealing to players who enjoy:
- Skill-based gameplay
- Creative professions
- Building unique venues
- Running businesses in live mode
- Storytelling with entrepreneurial Sims
Because businesses can be based on many different activities, the pack encourages experimentation and unique gameplay styles.
Tips for Running a Successful Sims Business
If you want your Sim’s business to succeed, consider these tips:
- Choose a skill your Sim enjoys. Businesses are easier to manage when your Sim has high skill levels.
- Design a clear business layout. Separate work areas, customer areas, and staff spaces.
- Hire employees wisely. Skilled workers improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Offer classes or services. Teaching skills can generate extra income.
Is the Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Worth It?
The Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack is ideal for players who enjoy creative gameplay and entrepreneurship in The Sims 4. With its flexible business system, new skills, and community features, the pack adds a meaningful layer of depth to everyday gameplay.
Players who like crafting, storytelling, and managing businesses will likely find this expansion particularly rewarding.
Final Thoughts
The Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack allows Sims to turn creativity into a career. By combining new skills, business management mechanics, and a vibrant community world, the expansion adds exciting opportunities for players to shape their Sims’ lives.
For players who want to build a pottery studio, run a tattoo shop, or teach classes to other Sims, this pack offers countless possibilities.
