Pool Hall / Billiards Venue
Table rental + beer = 43% profit margins, no food prep required
Pool halls charge by the hour or half-hour for table time, typically $10–$20/table/hour, supplemented by alcohol and non-alcoholic beverage sales. The global billiard hall industry is valued at $673M (2023) with steady 2.8% annual growth. What makes pool halls financially interesting: table rental revenue is nearly pure margin once rent and labor are covered, and alcohol sales — which require no kitchen — can double the per-customer spend. A well-run venue earns 10–20% net profit on $200K–$600K in annual revenue, with stronger venues in dense markets clearing $1M+.
Avg Revenue
$380K
Profit Margin
18%
Acquisition Multiple
1.5x - 3x
Startup Cost
$60K - $250K
Difficulty
3/5
How It Works
Revenue streams: table time (hourly or per-game), beverage sales (alcohol and non-alcoholic), equipment rentals (cues, chalk), pool leagues (weekly recurring revenue), and tournaments. The key variable is utilization — how many of your tables are occupied per hour of operation. Weekends and evenings drive 60–70% of revenue. Pool leagues are a retention machine: they lock in recurring weekly visits from teams of 4–8 players.
Revenue Range
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 713990 · All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal | Jobs | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | SC | $2.7M | $3.1M | 50 | Big Air ; Big Air Trampoline P |
| Dec 2025 | OK | $540K | $635K | 8 | — |
| Dec 2025 | TX | $1.7M | $2.0M | — | — |
| Dec 2025 | TX | $200K | $235K | — | — |
| Dec 2025 | FL | $2.0M | $2.4M | 4 | — |
| Nov 2025 | NJ | $1.4M | $1.7M | 50 | Launch Trampoline Park |
| Nov 2025 | IL | $250K | $294K | 2 | — |
| Sep 2025 | GA | $631K | $742K | 1 | Urban Air Adventure Park |
| Sep 2025 | AZ | $374K | $440K | 2 | The Back Nine |
| Sep 2025 | DE | $1.8M | $2.1M | 8 | Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Par |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Pros
- +No kitchen required — bar service only keeps overhead lean
- +Pool leagues create sticky recurring revenue streams
- +Relatively low startup cost compared to other hospitality venues
- +Attractive acquisition multiples — many owners underprice aging venues
Cons
- -Nighttime/weekend concentration means daytime hours generate little revenue
- -Liquor license costs and compliance vary significantly by state/city
- -Table maintenance (re-felting, cushion replacement) is an ongoing cost
- -Gentrification and demographic shifts can gut a neighborhood pool hall's customer base
Best For
Community-oriented operators with hospitality or bar management experience in working-class or college-town markets
Operating Costs
Key costs: rent (typically $3K–$12K/month), staff (2–4 per shift), liquor license, billiard table maintenance (~$300–$500/table/year for re-felting), cues and chalk, and POS/booking software. COGS on beverages runs 20–30%. Table revenue is near 100% gross margin.
SBA Financing Estimator
Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service
Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Where to Buy
Find pool halls and billiard bars listed for sale
Entertainment and hospitality business listings
Acquisition Score
Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.
Quick Facts
- Category
- physical
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Buy price
- $570K–$1.1M
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
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