Weeks of cold pizza and Cheetos. Dozens, no hundreds, of energy drinks. Many, many late nights. Haunt Season can be a work-till-you-drop marathon. By the end of October, all you want to do is sleep straight through to Thanksgiving.
But this is one of the most important times of year for your business. A little bit of organizing now will help prevent headaches next year so you can feel less stressed and chaotic.
We’re here to help make it scary simple to wrap up your season with this 2024 End-of-Haunt Season checklist. Let’s dive in!
Review Your Financials
Did you know that many haunt owners have no idea whether their season was profitable or not? If you have enough money to cover your costs, plus a little left over for yourself at the end of the season, that’s all that matters, right?
Financials can be intimidating, but they are also critically important to your business. Take some time now to understand your expenses and revenues.
Start with a revenue analysis: calculate total revenue and compare it to projections. Break down revenue by ticket types, VIP add-ons, merchandise, and concessions. (This is easy to do from your HauntPay admin dashboard!)
Then, review all expenses, including payroll, marketing, supplies, and utilities. Note any unexpected expenses and areas for cost-saving next year.
Finally, make sure all employees are paid and all outstanding checks are accounted for, and organize or file all necessary paperwork for tax season. If paperwork doesn’t need to be filed right away, set reminders for the filing deadlines so you don’t forget.
Inspect All Props and Effects
One of the first things you should do at the end of Haunt Season is a thorough walkthrough of your attractions. Look for areas that need repair or maintenance. Document what can be reused and what should be retired.
Check the warranty policies for any props that need major repairs; the vendor might be able to fix or replace those items free of charge. You might be able to make some repairs on your own, while others might need a specialist such as an electrician or engineer. Make a note of the jobs that you’ll need to outsource so you can start looking for a vendor to help.
Give Your Venue a Deep Clean
An intentionally dingy dungeon or pirate’s lair are great. But an actually dirty and moldy haunted house? That’s not so fun. Not to mention it puts your props at higher risk of decay or malfunction. You may have had hundreds or even thousands of shoes trampling through your haunt over the past few weeks. Now is a good time to perform a deep clean of your entire facility – or hire professionals to help with the job. Don’t forget about common areas such as makeup rooms or restrooms.
Take Inventory of Supplies
From cleaning supplies to batteries, things tend to get shifted around and used up during the busy season. Make a detailed list of any supplies you might need to re-purchase. It’s also a good idea to jot down the expiration dates for paints, fake blood, fog, or other items that might go bad before next season.
Finally, take inventory of any leftover merchandise, so you know what needs to be restocked before next season.
Debrief with your Staff
Your staff are right there in the trenches with you throughout the season, and they can help identify recurring issues, common customer complaints, or opportunities to improve processes and procedures that you might not have seen yourself. Take some time while the memories are still fresh to conduct exit interviews or surveys to gather insights from staff on what worked well and what could be improved.
You might also want to do end-of season performance reviews. This can help you identify and recognize high performers as well as documenting who you’d like to rehire next year.
Finally, look over any incident reports that might have been filed during the season, and follow up on any compliance or safety issues that need to be addressed.
Survey Your Guests
Guest feedback can be incredibly valuable. Instead of assuming you already know what your customers want, ask them! Send a survey at the end of the season with a few simple questions and a place where they can leave open-ended comments or feedback. You might be surprised by the number of insights and ideas you get from these surveys.
It’s also a good idea to check for online reviews and social media comments. Are there any recurring complaints or issues that you could address next season? Brainstorm solutions with your team and document your ideas. Sometimes, a simple change can make a big difference from a guest experience perspective.
Analyze Your Marketing Campaigns
A lot of haunts invest the same budget into the same advertising channels year after year without really knowing which ads are actually bringing in customers.
Start by reviewing the effectiveness of each marketing channel (social media, email, online ads, etc.). Then, look at the various discounts, group deals, and VIP packages you might have offered this year, identifying which offers generated the most revenue.
Your ticketing data can also be incredibly valuable for understanding your customer preferences and behaviors. You can run reports on transactions, tickets, discounts, and more from your HauntPay admin dashboard.
Perform Post-Season Maintenance
Maintenance is an ongoing project, but make a plan for it now so things don’t get left until the last minute. Identify any structural or electrical repairs needed for safety and function, and start reaching out to professionals to schedule the jobs as well as contacting local inspectors for approvals.
Make sure you properly store all decorations, lighting, and sound equipment in organized, labeled bins to keep them safe for next season. Schedule pest control treatments if necessary to prevent damage during the off-season.
Take Time for Self Care
A lot of us feel run-ragged by the end of Haunt Season. You’ve spent the past couple of months focusing on everyone else but yourself. Now, it’s time to enjoy a little R&R. Maybe that means a weekend getaway with the family. Maybe it’s catching up on a hobby, or binging a show you haven’t had time to watch recently. Or catching up with friends you haven’t seen since August.
Whatever self care means to you, try to make it a priority over the next few weeks. It will make a big difference in the long run.
BONUS: Start Planning for Next Year
A lot of great ideas might come from your staff debrief or guest surveys. Use those as inspiration to plan any improvements or upgrades you want to make next season. Brainstorm new themes, room layouts, and attractions based on the successes and challenges you experienced this year.
Use this year’s ticketing and financial data to create a preliminary budget for the next season. Start looking for inspiration and new industry trends by attending a trade show, such as HAuNTcon, Transworld’s HAA Show, or Texas Haunters Convention.
Final Thoughts
Haunt Season can be a wild, thrilling, and sometimes chaotic & exhausting time of year. It’s understandable to just want to shut the doors and sleep for two weeks straight. But if you put in a little extra time to get organized now, next year will be less stressful and you’ll feel more prepared. These scary simple steps can help set you up for success next season and for years to come.
