Eh I greatly enjoy this game, but I'd still say that the cost to get some later rooms is a bit much. Getting the pool to get very far with Annika or Laura or to get the Security Room for Hana and the main story seemed to take too long. I enjoy the gameplay/ "grind" so I can deal with it, but it may be a bit too much for the normal gameplay. Or maybe I just suck at managing the guests. Again, I love it, but I dunno if it's balanced for normal... then again, hard and very hard aren't in it, so maybe normal mode will be more straightforward later
I've been doing a fresh run every 2nd version for awhile now. So I'm familiar with the fact that Annika and Laura get stuck in a sort of limbo for a bit while you wait to renovate the pool. It's never bothered me.
My 'measuring stick' for how I feel about economy balance has been the time between unlocking tier 5 and being able to afford to renovate.
On my last run, 0.8.0, I equipped the MC with the 2 best +x% cash cards, the best legendary +% all card, and the new +8% cash ring.
With that set-up, when I hit tier 5 I had enough cash to immediately renovate the 5th guest room and the Club (and upgrade it with an extra seat and the satisfaction upgrade), while having enough money left to not worry about the next payroll.
Then, by the time I caught up on Annika's events, when I unlocked Yoga I had the right amount of cash for that too.
Everyone's approach to playing differs, so, YMMV.
But,
for me, the economy balance was as good at it gets.