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Step 1
Look for a community-friendly location. Oftentimes pool halls can get reputations for catering to a bad crowd if they aren't properly supervised and maintained. If you're worried that your community might not welcome your pool hall, choose an especially well kept location and be ready to assure the town that your intentions are good.
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Step 2
Stock the pool hall with loads of games, not just pool. While pool tables should be at the top of your list of things to buy, also consider putting in other games like darts, shuffle board and air hockey.
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Step 3
Offer drinks and snacks if you have the opportunity. The more amenities you can offer your customers when you open, the more likely you are to create a space where people want to spend money and time. Inexpensive, easy-to-prepare snacks are the best way to go for food, and drinks practically sell themselves.
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Step 4
Start with a small number of employees. By their very nature, pool halls don't require a lot of service. Patrons generally feed quarters into the pool table to play or they might be required to visit the owner at a desk or office to get their materials. Keep in mind the number of employees you'll need if you decide to serve food and drinks.
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Step 5
Prepare yourself for the job of overseeing the place. Depending upon your hours and location, you might consider having several employees on duty at all times, or maybe even hire a bouncer. Alcohol, games and late nights can be a recipe for violence, so make sure you have a firm handle on your establishment at all times.
