How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Hall in the Philippines?

Opening a billiard hall in the Philippines is a viable small business. The barrier to entry is relatively low compared to restaurants or retail, the operating model is straightforward, and there's consistent demand — especially in provincial areas and university towns. But "affordable to start" doesn't mean "cheap to run." Here's a realistic cost breakdown.

Rent

Your biggest fixed cost. Location type determines the range:

Provincial commercial area: PHP 10,000-25,000/month
Metro Manila commercial strip: PHP 25,000-60,000/month
Mall space: PHP 40,000-100,000+/month (plus percentage of revenue in some cases)
Residential area (ground-floor shop): PHP 8,000-18,000/month

For a 6-8 table hall, you need roughly 80-120 sqm. Smaller works for 4 tables but feels cramped.

Tables

The biggest upfront cost. Budget per table:

Brand new standard (7ft/8ft): PHP 25,000-60,000 per table
Second-hand standard: PHP 8,000-20,000 per table (quality varies wildly — inspect before buying)
Snooker tables (10ft/12ft): PHP 60,000-150,000+ new

For a 6-table setup with new mid-range tables: approximately PHP 180,000-300,000 for tables alone.

Accessories and consumables

Cue sticks: PHP 500-3,000 each. Budget 2-3 per table plus house cues.
Ball sets: PHP 2,000-8,000 per set. One per table plus one spare.
Chalk, tips, cloth: Monthly consumable budget of PHP 2,000-5,000 depending on traffic.
Cloth replacement: PHP 3,000-8,000 per table. Needed every 6-12 months depending on usage.

Interior and atmosphere

Basic setup (paint, lighting, seating): PHP 30,000-60,000
Mid-range (proper lighting rigs, comfortable seating, sound system): PHP 60,000-150,000
Premium (designed interior, accent lighting, high-end furniture): PHP 150,000+

Don't overspend here at the start. Clean paint, good overhead lighting for each table, and comfortable seating is enough to open. Upgrade when revenue justifies it.

Snack bar setup

Commercial refrigerator: PHP 15,000-30,000
Basic cooking equipment (if serving hot food): PHP 10,000-25,000
Initial inventory (drinks, snacks): PHP 10,000-20,000

Start simple: cold drinks, beer, chips, instant noodles. Add menu items based on what sells.

Utilities

Air conditioning is the single biggest utility cost. A 6-table hall in a tropical climate:

Electricity: PHP 15,000-35,000/month (heavily dependent on aircon units and hours of operation)
Water: PHP 500-1,500/month
Internet: PHP 1,500-3,000/month (fiber is worth the premium — your management software depends on it)

Staff

Most small halls run with 2-4 staff total:

Cashier/floor staff: PHP 12,000-18,000/month (provincial) or PHP 15,000-22,000/month (Metro Manila)
You probably need 2-3 staff to cover day and evening shifts with at least one day off each

Many owner-operators handle one shift themselves and hire staff for the other, which significantly reduces payroll.

Software and technology

Management software: Free to PHP 2,000/month depending on the system and table count
CCTV: PHP 5,000-15,000 one-time for a basic system
Tablet or laptop for POS: PHP 8,000-20,000 (you may already have one)

CuePoint's free plan covers a 2-table setup. Paid plans start at approximately PHP 414/month for up to 6 tables.

Permits and legal

Business permit (barangay + municipal): PHP 2,000-10,000/year
BIR registration: PHP 500-1,000
Fire safety inspection: PHP 500-2,000
Sanitary permit (if serving food): PHP 500-2,000

Monthly operating cost summary

Estimated monthly costs for a 6-table billiard hall in a provincial area:

Rent: PHP 15,000
Electricity: PHP 20,000
Staff (2-3): PHP 35,000
Internet: PHP 2,000
Consumables: PHP 3,000
Snack bar restocking: PHP 8,000
Software: PHP 500-2,000
Total: approximately PHP 83,500-85,000/month

Revenue potential

Back-of-envelope calculation for a 6-table hall charging PHP 80/hour with 50% utilization:

6 tables x 14 hours/day x 50% utilization = 42 table-hours/day
42 x PHP 80 = PHP 3,360/day from tables
Snack bar (assuming 30% of table revenue): ~PHP 1,000/day
Total: ~PHP 4,360/day = ~PHP 130,800/month

Against monthly costs of ~PHP 85,000, that's a gross profit of approximately PHP 45,000/month — before loan payments, table upgrades, or owner's salary. Higher utilization or more tables improves the math significantly.

Managing these costs is easier when you can see your real daily revenue. CuePoint's free plan covers a 2-table setup — enough to start tracking from day one.