We consider multimodal maps with holes and study the evolution of the open systems with respect to equilibrium states for both geometric and Hölder potentials. For small holes, we show that a large class of initial distributions share the same escape rate and converge to a unique absolutely continuous conditionally invariant measure; we also prove a variational principle connecting the escape rate to the pressure on the survivor set, with no conditions on the placement of the hole. Finally, introducing a weak condition on the centre of the hole, we prove scaling limits for the escape rate for holes centred at both periodic and non-periodic points, as the diameter of the hole goes to zero.
