Start with the Laundromat or Scrapyard . The Scrapyard is often favored early on because you can spend points to unlock cars rather than scooters, which drastically speeds up deliveries.

Keep your production chain tight. Place the growing rooms, drying racks, and packing stations close to each other to minimize walking time.

Beginner's Guide & Tips on Steam - Covers icons, machines, and schedules.

If you're expecting an attack, a common trick is to have only one way into your growth room and delete the door just before the attackers arrive.

Are you planning to focus on a or a more cautious, defensive build for your first run? Beginners Guides/Helpful Tips - Steam Community

Some experienced players suggest not hiring guards early on. Instead, focus your funds on engineers and cleaners to keep the facility running.

If you're finding the mechanics a bit overwhelming, the community has created several detailed resources:

HowLongToBeat - Expect about for a completionist run.