Starting a Server...

Mmm yes like RetributionRP, has a lot of pay to win but get things that are more rare to other servers and make jobs reasonable.

You can think of your own work, relax ant take it easy

Don't add custom jobs because it fills up the f4 menu.

Make sure that if you are going to make VIP jobs, it isnt like a VIP Thief etc...
If you do one, make a Thief job, and an Advanced Thief.
Thief - Lockpick
Advanced Thief - Lock Pick and Keypad Cracker

Limit the props people can spawn, and make sure to use FPP to block the big props, and dont let them spawn weapons.

https://www.gmodstore.com/scripts/view/1823/gdrugs is a good addon, or go with the free "Durgz" mod. Both good, but gdrugs has a feature to make them so.

Good luck with the server!

I suggest you to do some DarkRP servers to understand what is popular among the players.

Take alot of suggestions from your players but don't communicate with them tooo often.

Make VIP a thing that people will want but not need to succeed in your server

If you can try and learn some LUA yourself that would be extremely helpful as you could make some custom addons or modify some existing ones to make new content exclusive to your server. Good luck man!

It takes a lot of stuff, just look into what other servers have and take their ideas.

Don't add obnoxious meme skins like Dat Boi, Trump, and shit like that keep it very limited with the VIP perks to avoid the cancer like said before.