What should I check about a bowling alley’s ball and shoe inventory?

Rental stock is easy to describe and harder to verify. Ask for a list of house balls by weight and shoes by size, then count a sample yourself. Check holes, cracks, surface wear, worn soles and broken fastenings. Shoes that are mismatched or tired suggest the replacement habit is weak, and unusual gaps in sizes can affect how quickly a busy league night is served.

Ask how items are cleaned and tracked. Is there a deodorising routine, a lost-and-found rule and a way of retiring shoes? Check whether there is also stock for sale, such as personal balls, bags and accessories, and treat that as a separate count from rental items.

Review recent purchase invoices to see what has been replaced and how often. Ask whether any gear is leased or tied to a supplier. Your accountant can help you decide how inventory should be counted and recorded at closing, and whether a joint count the day before or the day of closing makes sense. Ask finally about the pin and lane equipment that travels with the stock, such as bumpers and ball returns, and whether they are included in the sale or belong to someone else.

Key takeaways

• Count a sample of balls and shoes yourself, by size and condition.
• Compare the count with purchase invoices and replacement habits.
• Agree a counting method and date with the seller before closing.