I'm not planning to start a business myself but I've read many threads where people ask if they should open a pool room, a bar with pool tables etc. Those things aren't very profitable these days so many tend to give up on their ideas. But this option suddently crossed my mind today so I'd like to hear your opinion about it.
Instead of spending your investment money on a dozen pool tables which most likely won't be visited very often, what if you took a more cunning approach? Spend the cash to open a small bar, or a bar-fast food combination. Buy 2 cheap 7 footers and a set of cheap bar cues. The quality won't be special, but every banger and casual player will love it, and they will make a huge majority of your guests.
The most important thing is that you should make pool completely free. No table time, no coin ops. After all, you will make 97% of your money selling booze and/or food. The pool equipment was cheap to begin with, so no need to charge it. When the word spreads, the whole city will soon come running to your place to play free pool. You can also buy darts and table football if you have enough cash, and it would be good to make them free as well. That will surely attract lots of people who will order drinks while waiting in line or playing pool (and other games). If your location isn't too far away, I think this would almost certaily ensure high traffic. For all the money you sacrificed by not charging pool, you'll make 20 times as much selling booze.
And don't stop there. Organize weekly tournaments with no fees for everyone who wants to test their skills and have fun. Let first 3 places get some free booze (just to motivate the players
). Again, you'll have good income from the competitors ordering food and drinks while playing a potentially long tournament.
In case everything goes well and you start making cash, it's time to plan some further investments. If the interest for the tables is very high and many people are waiting in line for some time to play, then buy a couple of additional barboxes. The customers will be satisfied, the tournaments will be larger and you'll beat the competition (who charges table time) even harder.
Now, if the business goes better than expected, and you really want to attract some top players in the region as well, then buy a couple of good 9 footers and charge table time on those tables. The barboxes don't need to be in perfect condition, as they'll be purely used for fun, mostly by bangers who are used to much worse. Still, keep them and the equipment clean, don't let the guests steal, damage or destroy anything, always have enough supplies of chalk and check the cue tips from time to time. Otherwise, there shouldn't be too much maintenance problems with 7 footers. The 9 footers will require more attention though, but they were your choice to start with
Instead of spending your investment money on a dozen pool tables which most likely won't be visited very often, what if you took a more cunning approach? Spend the cash to open a small bar, or a bar-fast food combination. Buy 2 cheap 7 footers and a set of cheap bar cues. The quality won't be special, but every banger and casual player will love it, and they will make a huge majority of your guests.
The most important thing is that you should make pool completely free. No table time, no coin ops. After all, you will make 97% of your money selling booze and/or food. The pool equipment was cheap to begin with, so no need to charge it. When the word spreads, the whole city will soon come running to your place to play free pool. You can also buy darts and table football if you have enough cash, and it would be good to make them free as well. That will surely attract lots of people who will order drinks while waiting in line or playing pool (and other games). If your location isn't too far away, I think this would almost certaily ensure high traffic. For all the money you sacrificed by not charging pool, you'll make 20 times as much selling booze.
And don't stop there. Organize weekly tournaments with no fees for everyone who wants to test their skills and have fun. Let first 3 places get some free booze (just to motivate the players
). Again, you'll have good income from the competitors ordering food and drinks while playing a potentially long tournament.In case everything goes well and you start making cash, it's time to plan some further investments. If the interest for the tables is very high and many people are waiting in line for some time to play, then buy a couple of additional barboxes. The customers will be satisfied, the tournaments will be larger and you'll beat the competition (who charges table time) even harder.
Now, if the business goes better than expected, and you really want to attract some top players in the region as well, then buy a couple of good 9 footers and charge table time on those tables. The barboxes don't need to be in perfect condition, as they'll be purely used for fun, mostly by bangers who are used to much worse. Still, keep them and the equipment clean, don't let the guests steal, damage or destroy anything, always have enough supplies of chalk and check the cue tips from time to time. Otherwise, there shouldn't be too much maintenance problems with 7 footers. The 9 footers will require more attention though, but they were your choice to start with
