Cities: Skylines 2 “Not Enough Customers” – Why Your Businesses Are Struggling (And How to Fix It)
You’ve built the roads. You’ve zoned the commercial districts. You’ve even added parks and public transit to boost land value. But still, your shops sit empty. Red notifications flash: “Not enough customers.” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Since the launch of Cities: Skylines 2, countless mayors have found themselves staring at ghost-town storefronts, wondering why their bustling city isn’t translating into bustling commerce.
This isn’t a bug — it’s a design evolution. Cities: Skylines 2 introduces a more sophisticated simulation of citizen behavior, economic flow, and supply chains. What worked in the first game may no longer cut it. In this guide, we’ll break down the real reasons behind the “not enough customers” problem — and deliver actionable, tested solutions to get your cash registers ringing again.
Why “Not Enough Customers” Happens in Cities: Skylines 2
Unlike its predecessor, Cities: Skylines 2 models citizens as individuals with schedules, needs, and preferences. They don’t just teleport to the nearest store — they plan trips, consider travel time, weigh options, and sometimes… just stay home.
The “not enough customers” alert typically stems from one or more of these core issues:
- Poor Accessibility & Connectivity
- Mismatched Commercial Demand vs. Supply
- Low Residential Population or Poor Distribution
- Insufficient Attractiveness or Service Coverage
- Traffic Jams Preventing Customer Flow
Let’s unpack each — and fix them.
1. Poor Accessibility: The Silent Business Killer
In Cities: Skylines 2, if citizens can’t reach your shops easily, they won’t go. Period. Even if you have 10,000 residents nearby, if your commercial zone is tucked behind a maze of one-way streets or lacks pedestrian pathways, foot traffic will be minimal.
Solution:
- Build direct, multi-modal connections. Ensure commercial zones are within walking distance (200m or less) of residential areas. Add pedestrian paths that cut through blocks — don’t force walkers onto vehicle roads.
- Use public transit strategically. Place bus stops or metro stations within 300m of both homes and shops. Citizens will combine trips — going to work, then shopping on the way home — if transit makes it efficient.
- Avoid dead ends. Commercial zones at the end of cul-de-sacs or disconnected grids suffer. Integrate them into the city’s main flow.
Case Example: A player in the Paradox forums reported persistent “not enough customers” alerts in a lakeside commercial district. After adding a pedestrian bridge connecting it to a dense residential neighborhood across the water — problem solved. Customers surged, and shops upgraded within weeks.
2. Oversupply: Too Many Shops, Not Enough Shoppers
One of the most common mistakes? Zoning too much commercial too soon. Cities: Skylines 2 simulates demand based on population and wealth levels. If you’ve got 5,000 residents but 50 shops, each store will struggle to attract even a handful of customers.
Solution:
- Follow the RCI demand bar — but don’t max it out. Leave 10–20% of commercial demand unfulfilled. This creates competition and ensures enough customers per business.
- Start small. Zone 2–4 commercial blocks at a time. Let them fill up, upgrade, and generate tax revenue before expanding.
- Monitor “Goods Sold” vs. “Goods in Demand” in the Economy panel. If “Goods Sold” is consistently low, you’ve overzoned.
Pro Tip: Use the “Commercial Goods Sold” info view (Ctrl + 4) to see which blocks are underperforming. Rezone or demolish chronically empty lots.
3. Residential Population: The Engine of Commerce
No residents = no customers. But it’s not just about total population — it’s about proximity and wealth level.
Low-density residential areas generate fewer trips. High-density areas generate more — but only if services (schools, clinics, parks) are nearby to keep citizens happy and home.
Solution:
- Balance density. Surround commercial zones with medium- to high-density residential. These citizens make more discretionary trips — including shopping.
- Boost land value near shops. Parks, plazas, and low-noise services (like libraries) increase residential happiness and attract wealthier citizens — who spend more.
- Check citizen happiness. Unhappy citizens stay home. Ensure coverage for electricity, water, healthcare, and education within 600m of homes.
4. Attractiveness Matters More Than You Think
In Cities: Skylines 2, commercial buildings care about their surroundings. A shop next to a sewage outflow or a noisy highway won’t attract customers — even if population and roads are perfect.
Solution:
- Use the “Attractiveness” info view (Ctrl + 7). Green areas = high appeal. Red = avoid.
- Buffer commercial zones from industry and heavy traffic with parks, trees, or sound barriers.
- Upgrade roads. Tree-lined avenues and pedestrian boulevards increase attractiveness — and foot traffic.
Real Player Fix: One Reddit user solved their “not enough customers” issue simply by replacing asphalt roads around their downtown with tree-lined avenues and adding three small plazas. Within two in-game weeks, shops began upgrading and hiring more employees.