"Starting a Haunted house!?"
First thing I would do is get a really good deal on at least 100 gallons of flat-black latex paint.
There are So many real and important concerns with a haunt that for some they become overwhelmed and forget to have any fun.=bad.
You will never be able to actually enjoy another Halloween again. You will be too concerned with managing .. the haunt..fortunately for me, i have a very smart and gifted young woman here to do So much of the managing that I still get to have the fun too!
She is my Wife.(Another plus)
Having worked in someone else's haunt doesn't necessarily show you or teach you everything you will need to know.
What ever works.. "Works" no matter what anybody else might think or say .
My house is very much a Tourist attraction, but also an actual haunted house.
We give tours here for familys, small children tours,Hyde & Shriek partys...
After you pile up your first $20,000 from a first couple of seasons, I suggest you don't spend it all on one or two expensive displays, because you might need some of that money on year number four.(or five?)
I make and have done almost everything here myself.
But maybe you didn't actually ask for any advice,many don't need such a thing from anyone else. I'm still "Learning', I have been open almost every night for 28 years, this is all I do for a living. Still trying to do it right, according to some few people . Here it is:Hauntedravensgrin.com