Small pool club without a bar

Casual players, parents with teenagers, social groups, league and coaching members, and people hiring tables for parties.

Hourly table hire, monthly memberships, league fees, coaching sessions and party packages, plus modest soft drink and snack sales.

• Friendly customer service
• Organising leagues and bookings
• Basic bookkeeping and social media promotion

• Council approval for use of the premises, opening hours and signage, which varies by area
• Public liability insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
• Working with children checks may apply if you run junior programs or youth sessions, so check your state's rules
• Registration with the local council if you sell packaged or prepared food
• Quiet weekdays and school-term patterns can leave tables empty, so plan for slow periods
• Without bar sales, revenue depends on table hire and memberships, so it may take a while to cover rent and wages

Estimates suggest startup costs typically sit around $25,000 to $80,000, depending on the unit, the number of tables and the fit-out. Without bar sales, income relies on table hire and memberships, so plan your rent and wages carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $15,000, depending on location, table numbers, memberships and leagues. Quiet weekdays and school-term patterns can leave tables empty, so plan for slow periods and check how long it may take to cover rent and wages.

Check council approval for the premises, opening hours and signage, as this varies by area. Also check public liability insurance, workers compensation once you hire, working with children checks if you run junior programs, and council registration if you sell food.