Pool Hall Startup Costs: $445K CAPEX, $670K Cash

This pool hall cost breakdown includes $445,000 of CAPEX, pre-opening expenses, and working capital, not just tables and construction The planning model reaches a $670,000 minimum cash requirement in Month 6 across the startup period and first operating year It also shows Month 1 breakeven, $300,000 of Year 1 EBITDA, and a 23-month payback, using researched assumptions that still depend on location, lease condition, alcohol service, and table capacity

Estimate Startup Costs with Calculator

Startup CAPEX Calculator

Estimates capitalized startup assets for a pool hall, including buildout, tables, equipment, and other one-time setup items only.

What this leaves out This covers startup assets only. It excludes inventory, payroll runway, lease deposits, permits, insurance premiums, debt service, working capital, and ongoing monthly operating costs.

Calculate Fuding Needs

Startup cost summary

This table covers the main Pool Hall startup assets plus the excluded operating reserve needed to launch.

Highlighted CAPEX$445,000Base planning example

Excluded cash needs$670,000Outside CAPEX total

Funding need$1,115,000CAPEX + excluded cash needs

Cost Category	Base Estimate	Main Cost Driver	CAPEX Calculator
Billiard Tables & Equipment	$150,000	Table count, slate quality, and cue sets	Yes
Bar & Kitchen Buildout	$100,000	Kitchen, bar, and fit-out scope	Yes
Furniture & Decor	$75,000	Seating, finishes, and decor package	Yes
POS, Lighting, Security, and Signage	$80,000	Hardware, install, and safety scope	Yes
HVAC Upgrade	$40,000	Climate control equipment and install	Yes
Operating Reserve	$670,000	Lease, payroll, and startup burn before cash turns	No

What does the Pool Hall CAPEX tab show?

This CAPEX tab shows $445,000 from Month 1–8; open the Pool Hall Financial Model Template to check startup costs.

Financial model screenshot highlights

Month 1 breakeven
Year 1 revenue $1.199M
Year 1 EBITDA $300K
23-month payback

Pool Hall Financial Model capex inputs showing capital expenditure categories and purchase timing; lets users customize equipment, renovation and setup costs for accurate cash planning and scenario testing

Compare 3 Startup Cost Scenarios

Startup cost scenarios

Pool hall startup costs rise fast with finish level, bar scope, event space, and working capital. Lean, Base, and Full show how the operating model changes launch funding needs.

Lean, Base, and Full launch cost comparison
Scenario	Lean LaunchOwner-operator fit	Base LaunchLeague venue fit	Full LaunchEntertainment fit
Launch model	A smaller neighborhood pool room with basic finishes, lighter food and bar service, and a simpler audio and lighting package.	Use the provided base model with full bar and kitchen service, standard event support, and the modeled capital plan.	A larger, more polished room with extra tables, stronger bar service, bigger events, and premium audio and lighting spend.
Typical setup	Use fewer premium finishes, smaller furniture spend, and a tighter back-of-house build.	Keep $150,000 for tables and equipment, $100,000 for bar and kitchen buildout, and $75,000 for furniture and decor.	Add more seating, better sound and lighting, a larger event setup, and more working capital.
Cost drivers	basic tables and equipment lighter bar buildout smaller AV package reduced furniture lower working capital	tables and equipment bar and kitchen buildout furniture and decor HVAC and security working capital	extra tables premium AV larger event space stronger bar service higher working capital
Planning rangeCAPEX only	$325,000 - $525,000Low build	$445,000 - $670,000Core build	$750,000 - $950,000High build
Best fit	Best for an owner-operator testing local demand and league traffic.	Best for a local league venue that wants a balanced mix of play, food, and events.	Best for an entertainment-focused concept that expects heavier events and higher guest spend.

Planning note: These scenario ranges are researched planning assumptions from the model, not vendor quotes or exact build bids.

How much money do you need to open a pool hall?

You need about $670,000 in all-in funding to open a Pool Hall, not just the $445,000 buildout budget. That Month 6 cash need includes an implied $225,000 cushion for startup costs and working capital; track it against What Is The Most Critical Measure Of Success For Your Pool Hall Business?.

Funding Need

$445,000 CAPEX for opening setup
$225,000 cash cushion by Month 6
$670,000 minimum modeled cash requirement
Lease condition drives final cash need

Model Outputs

$700,000 table revenue
$216,000 food revenue
$250,000 drink revenue
$1,199,000 total Year 1 revenue

The model shows Month 1 breakeven and $300,000 Year 1 EBITDA, but those are outputs, not guarantees, so licensing, alcohol service, and table capacity can move the funding number fast.

What hidden costs of opening a pool hall affect funding?

Hidden costs are the cash items that sit outside CAPEX, and they can push funding needs up fast. If you’re sizing How Much Does The Owner Of A Pool Hall Typically Make?, the Pool Hall plan shows $21,200 in monthly fixed expenses and a $33,542 Month 1 payroll run-rate, so fixed costs plus wages are about $54,700 a month before inventory and variable costs.

Upfront cash items

Lease deposits and utility deposits
Insurance binders and permit fees
License applications and legal setup
Accounting help before opening

Launch cash pressure

Staff hiring and training costs
Uniforms, cleaning supplies, cash drawers
Opening food and drink inventory
Launch promotions and working capital reserve

How many pool tables do you need to open a pool hall?

You can’t fix Pool Hall at one table count; it should be set by square footage, cue clearance, walkways, seating, service paths, and code rules. A solid base model assumes 25,000 Year 1 table hours at $28 per hour, or $700,000 in table revenue, plus a $150,000 equipment budget. The table count has to fit the floor plan, and you should use commercial-grade tables with delivery, installation, leveling, cloth, cues, balls, racks, bridges, chalk, covers, and maintenance tools.

Space first

Set count by usable floor area.
Keep cue clearance around every table.
Reserve walkways and service paths.
Leave room for seating and code access.

Buy right

Use commercial-grade tables only.
Budget for delivery and installation.
Include cloth, cues, balls, racks, bridges.
Avoid home-table pricing for commercial use.

Key Takeaways

Buildout and HVAC dominate facility-readiness spending.
Commercial tables are the biggest asset purchase.
POS, security, and AV speed service and control.
Permits, insurance, and payroll need opening cash.

Pool Hall Core Five Startup Costs

Buildout And Leasehold Improvements Startup Expense

Facility Readiness

This cost gets the space open for guests and inspectors. Base model includes $100,000 for bar and kitchen buildout plus $40,000 for HVAC. It also covers flooring, lighting over tables, electrical, restrooms, walls, paint, accessibility, code work, and final inspections. Food and alcohol service usually adds plumbing, ventilation, and storage work.

Cost Inputs

Here’s the quick math: use square footage × contractor price, then add landlord-required work, local code review, and the opening timeline. A second-generation entertainment or restaurant space should cost less than raw space because some plumbing, ventilation, and wall work already exists. The landlord work letter matters because it defines who pays for which improvements.

How To Trim It

Use the existing layout where you can, and avoid moving wet areas unless the code forces it. Reusing HVAC runs, restrooms, and wall lines can cut cost without hurting quality. Get one contractor quote early, then compare it with the landlord scope. The main mistake is ordering finish work before code and inspection needs are clear.

Why It Matters

For a pool hall, buildout quality shapes opening speed and guest feel at the same time. If the room is not dry, cool, lit, and accessible, table revenue starts late and soft-opening costs rise. The safest plan is to lock the lease scope first, then price the build against code, equipment layout, and the target opening date.

Licenses, Permits, Insurance, And Professional Fees Startup Expense

Regulated Setup

This cost covers the regulated side of opening: business registration, occupancy permit, amusement or game permits where required, food permits if you sell food, liquor licensing if you serve alcohol, music or entertainment compliance where applicable, plus legal and accounting setup. Fees are local, so do not treat any city amount as universal.

Budget Inputs

Here’s the quick math: your estimate should use permit count, license class, building condition, and months of insurance. The model includes $1,000 per month for business insurance, but it does not give exact permit or liquor license fees. Get written quotes from the city, insurer, attorney, and accountant before you lock the budget.

Keep It Tight

Keep the spend tight by filing once, not twice. Match the application to actual use: pool hall only, pool hall plus food, or pool hall plus alcohol and events. The common mistake is opening first and fixing compliance later, which can trigger delays, rework, and extra legal fees.

Risk Protection

For a lounge with alcohol and entertainment, liability insurance and property insurance are not comfort items; they’re core risk control. The exact price depends on service mix, local rules, and building condition, so budget this line as a live quote, not a guess.

Furniture, Fixtures, POS, Security, And AV Startup Expense

What it includes

This bucket covers the guest experience and control stack: $75,000 furniture and decor, $30,000 POS and IT, $25,000 sound and lighting, $15,000 security, and $10,000 signage. It pays for seating, guest tables, counters, cue racks, payment terminals, Wi‑Fi, cameras, TVs, music, and lighting controls.

How to size it

Here’s the quick math: this base model totals $155,000 upfront before monthly software and security services. Estimate each line from vendor quotes, unit counts, and installation scope, then add $400 per month for software and $800 per month for security services. That spend supports faster payment flow, better dwell time, theft control, and event-ready lighting.

Quote furniture by seat count.
Quote tech by device count.
Quote AV by room coverage.

How to trim it

Don’t buy more screens, speakers, or terminals than the room can use on day one. Start with the minimum layout that still supports reservations, scoring, and clean checkout, then add gear after traffic proves out. The biggest mistake is underfunding security or Wi‑Fi, because weak uptime hurts service and raises loss risk fast.

Buy for peak floor plan.
Delay nonessential AV add-ons.
Protect uptime first, then polish.

Budget pressure point

For a pool hall, this line is not just decor. It helps keep guests longer, speeds payment at the bar and tables, and supports leagues, tournaments, and private events. If the room feels dated or tech fails, the venue loses both repeat visits and event revenue. The monthly carry is $1,200 before repairs.

Pre-Opening Payroll, Inventory, Marketing, And Working Capital Startup Expense

Pre-Open Cash

Treat this bucket as working capital, not CAPEX, unless you buy a long-life asset. For a pool hall, it covers hiring, training, uniforms, opening inventory, launch promotions, and cash for the first weeks before sales steady out.

What It Pays For

Build the reserve around $402,500 in Year 1 staffing, or about $33,500 per month before taxes and benefits, plus $21,200 in monthly fixed expenses. Add opening food and drink inventory, cleaning supplies, smallwares, cash drawers, and local signage campaigns.

Revenue Tied Costs

Set Year 1 marketing and promotions at 40% of revenue, so your sales plan must support that spend. Food ingredients run at 45% and drink ingredients at 40%. Here’s the quick math: weak traffic can burn cash fast even if table demand looks healthy.

How To Size It

Use supplier quotes, opening-day sales targets, and a 30-day to 60-day cash plan to size the reserve. Stage inventory buys, hire in waves, and start promotions only where bookings can be tracked. The common mistake is underfunding the first two months, then missing payroll and rent.

Commercial Pool Tables And Equipment Startup Expense

Table Package

The $150,000 signature line covers commercial tables, delivery, installation, leveling, cloth, cues, balls, racks, chalk, bridges, covers, spare parts, and maintenance tools. Size it by table count, table quality, durability, room layout, and cue clearance. That cost has to fit a room built for 25,000 Year 1 table hours at $28 an hour.

Quote Drivers

Ask for installed quotes, not sticker prices. The bill should reflect floor plan, delivery path, and tighter leveling tolerances, because commercial tables take heavier wear than home units. Here’s the quick math: 25,000 hours × $28 = $700,000 table revenue, so the asset must support daily use, not light weekend play.

Price by table count
Include install and leveling
Add spare parts and tools

Buy Commercial

Avoid home-use pricing. It misses the heavier wear, tighter installation, and faster cloth turnover that come with a commercial hall. Savings should come from the right table count, room efficiency, and competitive installer quotes, not lower-grade equipment. A cheap table that needs frequent fixes hurts uptime and table-hour revenue.

Protect Play

Treat this as core revenue equipment, not décor. If cue clearance is tight, reduce count before you cut quality, since crowding can hurt play and reservation value. The best budget is the one that protects table hours first and keeps the room easy to service second.