#howtobuyabusiness *He Wants to Buy a Pool Hall (But the Books Are on a Napkin) | S2 Ep 74*

*Brad is 50/50 on Baldy's Billiards, and the numbers may decide it.*

Who runs the business when you're not there? Can you trust financials that look like notes on a napkin? Can you afford the deal if the whole thing fails? Brad has a real opportunity to co-invest in an existing pool hall. Great location. Loyal players. Leagues. Plenty of upside. It also comes with a price north of $1 million and financial records that aren't giving him much confidence. That turns a fun idea into a serious decision. Is he buying a profitable business, or expensive tables, bar stools, payroll, debt, and a lease? Is this a lifestyle business he'll enjoy for years, or a hobby that starts draining money the moment the excitement wears off? Brad is truly 50/50. Brian and Matt pressure-test the deal in real time, from funding and location to management, food sales, ownership incentives, and whether Brad can commit enough time to make it work.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER* • The first question every buyer must answer before making an offer • Why loving the business isn't enough to run it • What you're really buying beyond equipment and inventory • Why weak financial records turn opportunity into risk • When giving a manager equity can protect your investment

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Decide who runs the business before you buy it • Verify revenue, payroll, expenses, bank statements, and trends • Study the location, traffic, parking, and surrounding businesses • Never invest money you can't afford to lose

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf built and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf scaled By Your Side Autism Therapy to 11 centers and 550+ employees. Matt Croke hosts and asks the questions nobody else will.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "A cool idea has to become an actionable plan. Otherwise, it's just an expensive hobby." Would you buy Baldy's Billiards, or walk away? 👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories. No LinkedIn energy.

*TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 - The Financing Question Nobody Can Avoid 1:32 - Can You Name the World's Top Five Beers? 3:47 - Buying a Business Instead of Building One 5:04 - Brad's Real Pool Hall Opportunity 7:51 - Will You Own It, Run It, or Both? 10:06 - Banks Don't Fund Dreams on a Handshake 11:40 - When a Business Is Really an Expensive Hobby 16:44 - The Location That Keeps Killing Restaurants 21:18 - Over $1 Million for Napkin Financials? 23:59 - Bacon in a Cup Becomes the Growth Plan 25:14 - Should the Manager Get Ownership? 28:16 - Can You Afford for the Business to Fail?

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three ways to evaluate a deal. Pick the one that matches your decision.

🍸 *THE BACK-OF-THE-NAPKIN* Brian Balduf - The buyer who wants proof before the check clears Recipe: • 2 oz bourbon • ½ oz maple syrup • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Orange peel • Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: The seller wants more than $1 million. Brian wants bank statements, payroll, expenses, and trends. Clean numbers first. Cocktail second.

🍸 *THE FIFTY-FIFTY BREAK* Brad Balduf - The pool player standing directly on the fence Recipe: • 1 oz tequila blanco • 1 oz mezcal • ¾ oz lime juice • ½ oz agave syrup • Pinch of salt • Shake with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Half excitement. Half hesitation. Brad sees the location, leagues, and upside, but he also sees the time, risk, and responsibility. One shot decides the table.

🍸 *THE BACON IN A CUP* Matt Croke - The host who accidentally found the new revenue stream Recipe: • 2 oz vodka • 3 oz tomato juice • ½ oz lemon juice • Worcestershire and hot sauce • Celery salt • Bacon strip • Roll with ice, pour into tall glass The Vibe: Customers stay for hours, then leave to find food. Matt's answer is simple, salty, and impossible to ignore. Keep them in the building. Keep the tab open. Make all three. Trusting the napkin? Taking the 50/50 shot? Ordering bacon for the table? Tag us.

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros

#BuyingABusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessAcquisition #Leadership #CEOBros #startups #bacon #bestbusinesspodcast #beer #pool #howto