Maintenance script at 15:16, 23 February 2026

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[[Category:Strategy]]
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{{Panel|Train Staff or Upgrade Equipment?|Both training and truck upgrades cost money and take time. This guide helps you decide which investment gives you better returns at each stage of the game.}}

== The Priority Order ==

{{Panel|Almost Always Train First|Staff training is usually the better investment because:
# Training improves '''both''' quality AND speed — a double benefit from a single investment
# Training is permanent — the employee keeps the level forever (unless [[Morale_and_Welfare|morale]] drops)
# Quality is capped by training level — expensive ingredients are wasted on untrained staff
# Each level is a guaranteed +10 points to both quality and speed
# Early levels give the highest percentage improvement per dollar spent
}}

== The Training System ==

Every employee starts at Level 0 (40 points for both quality and speed). Each training level adds 10 points.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Level !! Points !! Improvement from Previous !! Percentage Gain
|-
| 0 (Untrained) || 40 || — || —
|-
| 1 (Burger Boss) || 50 || +10 || +25%
|-
| 2 (Grill Sergeant) || 60 || +10 || +20%
|-
| 3 (Sauce Artist) || 70 || +10 || +17%
|-
| 4 (Kitchen Commander) || 80 || +10 || +14%
|-
| 5 (Culinary Captain) || 90 || +10 || +13%
|-
| 6 (Michelin Maestro) || 100 || +10 || +11%
|}

Notice the pattern: the same +10 points gives a smaller percentage improvement at each level. Level 0 to 1 is a 25% jump. Level 5 to 6 is only 11%. This means '''early training levels have the best return on investment'''.

== When Training Wins ==

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Situation !! Action !! Why
|-
| Staff at Level 0-2 || '''Train immediately''' || Biggest quality and speed gains per dollar — 25% improvement at Level 1
|-
| Using premium ingredients with low-level staff || '''Train first''' || Quality is capped at 40-60 points regardless of how good your ingredients are
|-
| Long customer queues || '''Train for speed''' || Each level adds 10 speed points, reducing wait times and preventing walkways
|-
| Low satisfaction scores || '''Train for quality''' || Higher food quality means happier customers and better reputation
|-
| Staff morale is high and stable || '''Train now''' || High morale means your training investment is protected — no performance drops
|-
| You just hired a new employee || '''Train to Level 2-3 fast''' || Get them productive quickly — untrained staff drag down your whole operation
|}

== When a Truck Upgrade Wins ==

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Situation !! Action !! Why
|-
| Staff at Level 4+ but cannot reach premium segments || '''Upgrade truck''' || Maxi Burger Wagon unlocks Influencers and Environmentalists, Mini Burger Trailer unlocks Foodies
|-
| Constantly running out of ingredients || '''Bigger truck''' || Storage ranges from ~8 (Startup Burger Bike) to ~64 (Giant Burger) — stockouts kill revenue
|-
| Need access to a new [[Location|district's]] segments || '''Upgrade truck''' || Some segments only appear for certain truck types
|-
| Staff already at Level 5-6 || '''Upgrade truck or ingredients''' || Training returns are diminishing at the top — shift investment to equipment
|-
| You want to add a second employee || '''Upgrade to Happy Big Burger+''' || Happy Big Burger and Giant Burger support 2 employees — doubles your capacity
|}

== Business Unit Progression ==

Understanding what each truck offers helps you time your upgrades.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Business Unit !! Employees !! Storage !! Segments Unlocked !! Best Use
|-
| Startup Burger Bike || 1 || ~8 || Base segments || Learning the game, University Area
|-
| Maxi Burger Wagon || 1 || Larger || Influencers, Environmentalists || Shopping Centre, Residential moves
|-
| Mini Burger Trailer || 1 || Medium || Foodies || Tourist Zone entry
|-
| Burger Master || 1 || Medium-Large || — || Capacity improvement
|-
| Happy Big Burger || 2 || Large || — || First 2-employee operation
|-
| Giant Burger || 2 || ~64 || All segments || Maximum capacity endgame truck
|}

== The Ideal Progression ==

Here is the recommended investment order for most games:

'''Stage 1 — Foundation (Early Game)'''
# Train your starting staff to Level 2-3. This is cheap and gives you the highest percentage improvement. A Level 3 employee operates at 70 points — 75% better than an untrained one at 40 points.

'''Stage 2 — First Upgrade (Mid Game)'''
# Upgrade your truck to match your target segment. If you want Foodies, get the Mini Burger Trailer. If you want Influencers, get the Maxi Burger Wagon.
# [[Location|Relocate]] to the district where your target segments are.

'''Stage 3 — Quality Push (Mid-Late Game)'''
# Train to Level 4-5. Your staff can now deliver the quality that premium customers demand.
# Upgrade to premium ingredients. Staff at Level 4+ can actually use them — the training ceiling no longer wastes your ingredient investment.

'''Stage 4 — Mastery (Late Game)'''
# Train to Level 6 (Michelin Maestro) for maximum quality and speed — if the employee's potential allows it.
# Upgrade to the biggest truck you can afford for maximum storage and capacity.
# Consider a second location with a Happy Big Burger or Giant Burger (2 employees).

== The Training Ceiling Explained ==

This is the single most important concept for deciding between training and ingredients:

{{Panel|Your Staff Level Caps Your Food Quality|It does not matter if you buy the finest ingredients available. An untrained Level 0 employee can only produce 40-point quality food. A Level 3 employee caps at 70 points. Only a Level 6 Michelin Maestro can reach 100 points. '''Always train your staff before investing in expensive ingredients.'''}}

Here is what happens when you get the order wrong:

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Staff Level !! Ingredient Quality !! Actual Food Quality !! Money Wasted?
|-
| Level 1 (50 pts) || Premium (would allow 90+ pts) || '''50 points''' || Yes — premium ingredients capped by low training
|-
| Level 4 (80 pts) || Basic (would allow 60 pts) || '''60 points''' || No waste, but ceiling is the ingredient now
|-
| Level 4 (80 pts) || Premium (would allow 90+ pts) || '''80 points''' || Slight waste — training is now the cap
|-
| Level 6 (100 pts) || Premium (would allow 90+ pts) || '''90+ points''' || No waste — everything aligned
|}

The takeaway: '''train first, upgrade ingredients second'''. Match your ingredient spending to your staff's ability to use them.

== Hiring Considerations ==

Before investing heavily in training, check your employee's maximum training potential.

{{Panel|Check Max Training Potential Before You Invest|Not every employee can reach Level 6. When [[Recruiting_Talent|hiring]], check the candidate's maximum training level. If an employee caps at Level 3, do not waste money trying to train them further — they cannot go higher. Hire employees with Level 5-6 potential for your long-term premium locations.}}

* '''For your University Area truck:''' A Level 3-cap employee is fine — Students do not need Michelin Maestro quality
* '''For your Business District truck:''' Hire someone with Level 5-6 potential — Managers demand the best
* '''Budget employees:''' Cheaper to hire, but lower training ceilings limit your long-term revenue

== Quick Decision Flowchart ==

Ask these questions in order:

# '''Are any staff below Level 3?''' Yes: train them. The ROI is unbeatable.
# '''Are you locked out of customer segments you want?''' Yes: upgrade your truck to unlock them.
# '''Are staff at Level 3-4 but you use basic ingredients?''' Upgrade ingredients — your staff can now use better ones.
# '''Are staff at Level 4+ and ingredients are premium?''' Train to Level 5-6 for the final quality push.
# '''Is storage capacity limiting your sales?''' Upgrade to a bigger truck.
# '''Everything above is covered?''' Consider a second truck and [[Location|location]].

== See Also ==
* [[Training_and_Development]]
* [[Production]]
* [[Recruiting_Talent]]
* [[Pricing]]
* [[Financial_Management]]
* [[Customer_Segmentation]]

Train or Upgrade - Revision history

Maintenance script at 15:16, 23 February 2026