How to Write a Pool Hall & Billiards Business Plan (U.S., 2025)

Opening or upgrading a U.S. pool hall in 2025 comes down to three things lenders and landlords skim first: your local demand story (league nights, casual play, groups), a defensible revenue model (tables per hour, F&B attach rate, events), and a 36-month forecast they can trace. This article walks the SBA-style order reviewers expect and shows exactly where the matching BPlanMaker template fits so you’re not starting from a blank page.

Matching template: Pool Hall & Billiards Business Plan Template – Instant Download

Why billiards still works in 2025

Billiards is a repeat-visit, social game that converts best when you structure the week: league nights (Mon–Thu), weekend casual play, and booked events. Your edge is predictable peak windows plus F&B add-ons. What lenders want to see: clear catchment ZIPs, drive times, college and young-professional density, and a calendar that shows you’ve already filled weeknights with leagues and clinics. If alcohol is in scope, list license pathway and hours; if you’re alcohol-free, emphasize family events and teen leagues with earlier evening peaks.

Competitors aren’t just other halls—they’re bowling, arcades, and bars with a couple of tables. Differentiate with table quality (9-ft vs 7-ft mix), lighting/sightlines, chalk and tip maintenance, cue rentals, and coaching nights. List partnerships: local colleges, APA/BCA leagues, and event planners who bring weekday daytime groups. Publish an access promise: groups seated within 10 minutes at peak, waitlist SMS, and “finish the frame” policy that keeps turns fair without killing spend/hour.

What to put in the plan

What does a billiards business plan include?
A 2025 U.S. pool hall plan follows the SBA-friendly order: executive summary; concept & offer (tables, leagues, F&B, events); market and demand; pricing & promotions; operations & staffing; marketing & partnerships; and a 36-month financial forecast lenders can trace. Attach permits, alcohol license steps, supplier quotes, lease terms, and floor plan as appendices.

Executive summary: site, hours, table mix (e.g., 10× 9-ft, 6× 7-ft), league nights, event program, F&B stance (beer/wine or full kitchen), and funding ask. Add three numbers you’ll defend: table-hours/day at peak, average ticket per guest, and F&B attach rate.

Company & offer: table quality and maintenance cadence, rental cues, coaching clinics, tournaments, photobooth or merch wall, and private-room upsell for corporate groups. Name exclusions (e.g., no live music) to keep the model focused.

Market & demand: catchment ZIPs, colleges and apartments, daytime corporate population, and weekend family draw. Identify 5–8 partners: league operators, event planners, hotel concierges, and campus groups.

Operations & staffing: front-of-house (host, runners), table tech/coach, bartenders/servers (if applicable), kitchen line/expediter (if applicable), cleaning, and close-down checklist. Define turn-time goals and queuing rules to prevent table squatting.

Marketing & partnerships: near-me pages (“Billiards in {City}”), league sign-up funnels, college ambassador program, and corporate event kits with per-person pricing.

Pricing that lenders understand

Keep it in simple money math reviewers can follow. Price per table-hour with off-peak discounts and peak premiums; optionally per-person pricing for events. Model an F&B attach rate (e.g., 58–65%) with menu engineering that favors margin (shareables, soft drinks, simple cocktails if licensed). Use league subscriptions and a “VIP cue rack” pass for predictable weekday revenue.

Want the sections pre-written with event and league math? Download the ready-made Pool Hall plan and plug in your table mix, calendar, and vendor quotes.

Startup costs, money, and 36-month forecast

Before presenting, confirm small-business financing options at SBA.gov and review local wage trends for front-of-house and kitchen roles at BLS.gov.

Itemize: tables and cloth, lighting, chalk/cues/racks, POS, queueing/waitlist software, licenses/permits (and alcohol license if applicable), smallwares, signage, security/cameras, build-out and furniture, and working capital. Tie the 36-month model to table-hours, F&B attach, events/week, and labor by shift. Show seasonality (campus breaks, holiday parties) and explicit hire dates.

Staffing, service, and events

Start lean: host + 1–2 floor runners + (if licensed) bartender/server; add a kitchen line on peak nights. Train on “table reset” speed, guest flow, and event execution. Define league manager duties: registration, bracket software, and weekly comms. Protect the guest experience with a clean-cloth policy and cue maintenance schedule.

Scenario line: Weeknights run league revenue with steady attach; Fridays/Saturdays hit 90–110% table utilization and higher F&B; Sundays are families and events. Model weekday daytime as corporate bookings, lessons, and private-room rentals.

Launch checklist (10 steps)

• Secure site with visibility, parking, and ceiling height; verify zoning and alcohol rules.
• Finalize floor plan: table spacing, light, seating, and ADA paths.
• Choose table mix and cloth; set maintenance cadence and suppliers.
• Set POS and queueing/waitlist; enable deposits for events/large groups.
• Publish pricing calendar (off-peak/peak) and league schedule.
• Hire/train hosts, floor, (bartenders/servers), and a league manager.
• Build F&B menu for margin and speed (if licensed) or partner with food trucks.
• Open sign-ups for leagues and tournaments; seed a “new players” clinic.
• Create corporate/event kit: per-person pricing and room packages.
• Build the 36-month forecast with seasonality and hire dates.