I carefully watched Brooks set up a lot of tables, and the basics are very well known by most here. But getting the last nth degree of accuracy is the tough part. My eyesight isn’t so hot; Brooks had and Brian has some really fine tools for precision work, including the Ortofon computer analysis machine (with it’s dedicated test-LP), which produces a print-out of the cartridge’s performance in terms of channel balance, distortion, etc. Scrutinizing those results, and listening to well-known musical LP’s, the cartridge alignment (in all respects---tracking force, VTA/SRA, anti-skate if applicable, included) is adjusted to achieve maximum performance.
Brooks didn’t and Brian doesn’t charge for their set-up of a player you buy from them---it is included in the purchase price. Even if you buy only a new cartridge, Brian installs and aligns it, and remounts the arm it is installed in if necessary. If the table itself requires adjustment (as is often the case, at least to attain his high standards), that is done as well. He also breaks in the cartridge, giving it a certain number of hours play on his workbench, after which he repeats the alignment, making minute adjustments as necessary.