Pop-Up haunted house in a rented building

Teens, young adults, families and groups, plus corporate and school groups booking private nights.

Ticket sales per visitor with tiered pricing (general, fast pass, VIP), plus concessions, merchandise and private group bookings.

• Set design and construction
• Hiring and directing actors
• Budgeting and project planning
• Marketing and ticketing
• Safety and crowd management

• Certificate of occupancy, fire marshal inspection, exits and sprinkler requirements, check with your city or county
• ADA accessibility expectations, check what applies to your space
• General liability insurance, often required by landlords, and workers' compensation if you hire staff
• Whether actors are employees or volunteers, check state wage rules and rules on minors
• Sales tax on admissions and a local business license, check with your state and city
• Revenue is concentrated in a few weeks, so a slow weekend or bad weather can hurt, plan cash carefully

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on the rental space, set build and staffing. Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on ticket sales and private group bookings.

Check certificate of occupancy, fire marshal inspection, exits and sprinkler requirements with your city or county, plus ADA accessibility. Also look at liability insurance, workers' compensation, whether actors are employees or volunteers, rules on minors, and sales tax on admissions.

Set design, hiring and directing actors, budgeting, marketing and safety management are key. Estimates suggest at least about 20 hours a week. Revenue is concentrated in a few weeks, so bad weather or a slow weekend can hurt. Plan cash carefully.