event organizer business plan

Event Planning Company Business Plan

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Event Planning Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your event planning business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their event planning companies

Below is an event planning business plan sample to help you create each section of your Event Planning business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Special Occasions Event Planning is a startup event planning business located in Des Moines, Iowa. The Company is founded by Jennifer Brown, an experienced event planner who has been planning themed weddings and birthday parties as the manager of a local event venue for the past ten years. Now that Jennifer has gained valuable experience managing an event venue and planning special events of various sizes and styles, she is ready to start her own event planning company, Special Occasions Event Planning. Jennifer is confident that her event planning skills, combined with her understanding of business management, will enable her to run a profitable event planning company of her own. Jennifer is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running an event planning business – sales and marketing, supply sourcing and procurement, customer relationship management, budgeting, financial reporting, and vendor relationship management. 

Special Occasions Event Planning will provide customized event planning services for special occasions big and small. Special Occasions will specialize in themed birthday parties, but will provide planning services for other types of events such as weddings, parties, and corporate gatherings upon request. The Company will be the ultimate choice for unique and memorable themed birthday parties for clients of all ages. 

Product Offering

The following are the event planning products and services that Special Occasions Event Planning will provide:

• Venue Sourcing 
• Tables & Chairs
• Dinnerware & Utensils
• Caterer Coordination
• Entertainment
• Party Favors
• Photography/Videography
• Lighting/Sound
• Bartending/Liquor 
• Set-up/Clean up

Customer Focus

Special Occasions Event Planning will target individuals, families, and social groups in Des Moines, Iowa. The Company will target people looking to plan a one-of-a-kind birthday party for their child, significant other, friend, or other relative. No matter the customer, Special Occasions Event Planning will deliver the best communication, service, and attention to detail. 

Management Team

Special Occasions Event Planning will be owned and operated by Jennifer Brown. Jennifer is a graduate of Iowa University with a degree in Business Management. She has over ten years of experience working as an event planner for another local venue. Jennifer will be the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Head Event Planner. She will lead the more complex events and oversee the event planning staff. 

Jennifer has recruited an experienced administrative assistant, Patricia Smith, to help manage the day-to-day business operations. Patricia has been an administrative assistant in the event planning industry for more than 15 years. Jennifer relies on Patricia’s organization, attention to detail, and punctuality when organizing her schedule, managing clients, and maintaining her files. 

Jennifer and Patricia have recruited an experienced marketing director, John Jones, to become a member of the Special Occasions Event Planning management team. John is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Jennifer and Patricia rely on John’s expertise to execute the Company’s marketing plan and advertising strategies.  

Success Factors

Special Occasions Event Planning will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Skilled team of event planners who will ensure every client receives exceptional customer service and that all reasonable requests are met. 
• Special Occasions Event Planning’s leadership team has established relationships with local venues, vendors, and entertainers, thus providing customers with a wide selection of options to choose from when planning their special event. 
• The Company specializes in the themed birthday party niche and is well-versed in the latest trends in the industry. 

Financial Highlights

Special Occasions Event Planning is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its event planning business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing an office space and purchasing equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office lease and renovation: $80,000
• Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $20,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $90,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Special Occasions Event Planning.

Company Overview

Who is special occasions event planning .

Special Occasions Event Planning is a newly established event planning company based in Des Moines, Iowa. Special Occasions will be the first choice for unique themed birthday parties for people of all ages in Des Moines and the surrounding communities. The company will provide customized event planning services for parties large and small. 

Special Occasions Event Planning will be able to provide all the essentials for any special event from highly rated caterers to the hottest entertainment due to the Company’s existing relationships with industry professionals and vendors. The Company’s team of highly qualified event planning professionals will manage the entire planning process from ideation to execution. Special Occasions even provides clean-up services. Clients can opt for full-service event planning services or purchase specific aspects (such as decor or catering) a la carte. 

Special Occasions Event Planning History

Special Occasions Event Planning is owned and operated by Jennifer Brown, an experienced event planner who has been planning themed weddings and birthday parties as the manager of a local event venue for the past ten years. Now that Jennifer has experienced managing an event venue and planning special events of various sizes and styles, she is ready to start her own event planning company. Jennifer is confident that her event planning skills, combined with her understanding of business management, will enable her to run a profitable event planning company of her own. Jennifer is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running an event planning business – sales and marketing, supply sourcing and procurement, customer relationship management, budgeting, financial reporting, and vendor relationship management. 

Since incorporation, Special Occasions Event Planning has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Special Occasions Event Planning, LLC to transact business in the state of Iowa. 
• Has signed a contract to lease the office space. 
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include local venues, catering companies, entertainers, and decor suppliers to spread the word about her new business opportunities. 
• Began recruiting a staff of accountants, event planners, sales and marketing associates, and office staff to work at Special Occasions Event Planning Services.

Special Occasions Event Planning Services

Industry analysis.

The Party and Event Planning industry in the United States is valued at approximately $4B, with 70,000 businesses in operation, and over 82,000 employees. The market for event planning services is expected to grow over the next several years due to an aging baby boomer population, many of whom have children and grandchildren who will have weddings, birthday parties, graduations, anniversaries, and other special events in the coming years. Additionally, the corporate event planning segment is expected to grow due to more companies pursuing team building opportunities and hosting events that can serve as marketing for the business. 

The event planning market is split into two broad segments: corporate and social. Corporate events such as holiday parties, meetings, trade shows, conventions, fundraisers, and receptions are just some of the events included in this segment. Corporate customers include companies, non-profit organizations, and charities. The social segment includes a wide range of special occasions such as weddings, bridal showers, birthday parties, anniversary parties, reunions, and more. The largest and most lucrative category in the social event planning segment is wedding planning. 

Industry operators can specialize in one or two niches such as wedding planners or corporate planners. Alternatively, industry operators can provide planning services for a wide range of events. Industry operators that specialize in a specific niche and even narrow their niche to a specific type of event, such as “kids’ parties” or “fashion shows” may have more success because they can become an expert in one area and target a highly specific customer segment. Industry operators who provide a broad range of services to a variety of customers can be successful if they provide high levels of organization, customer service, and unique or highly customized services. 

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Special Occasions Event Planning will target individuals, families, and social groups in Des Moines, Iowa. The Company will target people looking to plan a one-of-a-kind birthday party for their child, significant other, friend, or other relative. Special Occasions Event Planning will also target young adults looking to plan a memorable, themed 21st birthday party. No matter the customer, Special Occasions Event Planning will deliver the best communication, service, and attention to detail. 

The precise demographics for Des Moines, Iowa are:

Customer Segmentation

Special Occasions will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Millennials
• Individuals with disposable income
• Families with children and disposable income

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Special Occasions Event Planning will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Emily’s Event Planning

Established in 2017, Emily’s Event Planning is now a well-known event planner in the Des Moines, Iowa area. The company provides event planning services for large corporate events, weddings, and birthday parties. Emily’s Event Planning is most well-known for its picturesque venue choices. The company has relationships with some of the most in-demand venues in the area. Emily’s Event Planning provides an all-inclusive event planning and management service with packages that include venue rental, decor, entertainment, food, and clean-up services. 

While Emily’s Event Planning has an established reputation in the market for quality event planning services, it has a list of predefined event packages and does not customize its services or take unique requests from customers. 

Fancy Event Planner

Fancy Event Planner has been operating in the state of Iowa since 1982. This company is a small business run by a husband and wife team that specializes in event planning and catering services for weddings, birthday parties, and other special occasions. Fancy Event Planner provides decor, venue coordination, and food service for events of up to 100 guests. The company specializes in providing gourmet dinners, desserts, and appetizers. Additionally, Fancy Event Planner provides hand crafted decor and floral arrangements for weddings and parties. Fancy Event Planner is for customers looking for an elegant presentation in a traditional setting. 

Fancy Event Planner has a limited selection of services and does not offer entertainment, set-up/clean-up, lighting/sound, or liquor accommodations. 

Wonderfully Perfect Event Planning Services

Wonderfully Perfect Event Planning Services is a new Des Moines, Iowa-based event planner that provides superior service to its customers. The company is managed by an experienced entrepreneur who has been working in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. She opened Wonderfully Perfect Event Planning Services in 2019 when she discovered a lack of options for themed party planning in the area. The company provides customized planning services for any event and will strive to ensure all customer requests are met to ensure a perfect event experience every time. 

The company does not have established relationships with vendors, venues, or entertainment in the area and as such, trails behind Special Occasions Event Planning in this area. 

Competitive Advantage

Special Occasions Event Planning will be able to offer the following advantages over the competition:

• Skilled team of experienced event planners who are able to provide customized planning services and fulfill any reasonable request. 
• Special Occasions Event Planning’s management team has long-standing relationships with industry professionals and is able to provide customers with a wide selection of options when it comes to venues, entertainment, and catering.  
• The Company specializes in themed birthday parties and keeps up on the latest trends in the industry. 

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Special Occasions Event Planning will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Special Occasions Event Planning provides full-services event planning from ideation to execution. 
• The Company’s wide selection of options allows each customer to create their dream event.  

Promotions Strategy 

The promotions strategy for Special Occasions Event Planning is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

The Company’s marketing director will create accounts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. He will ensure Special Occasions maintains an active social media presence with regular daily updates and fun content to get customers excited about using the Company’s event planning services. 

Professional Associations and Networking

Special Occasions Event Planning will become a member of professional associations such as the Event Planners’ Association, American Party Planning Society, and the Iowa Special Event Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the Company’s vendor and client network. 

Print Advertising

Special Occasions Event Planning will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events. The Company will also send direct mailers to local businesses with employees who are in the target market. 

Website/SEO Marketing

Special Occasions Event Planning will utilize its in-house marketing director that designed the print ads to also design the Company’s website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Special Occasions is able to provide. The website will also list information on the Company’s events and promotions. 

The marketing director will also manage the Company’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “Des Moines Event Planner” or “Event Planner near me”, Special Occasions Event Planning will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Special Occasions Event Planning will be premium due to the high level of customization and hands-on planning services involved. Customers will feel they receive great value when purchasing the Company’s services.  

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Special Occasions Event Planning.

Operation Functions:

• Jennifer Brown will be the CEO and Head Event Planner. She will lead the more complex events and oversee the event planning staff. Jennifer has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Patricia Smith – Administrative Assistant who will manage the budgeting, vendor relationships, and logistics.
• Sam Johnson – Accountant/Bookkeeper who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• John Jones – Marketing Director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the Company and manage the website, social media, and outreach. 
• Michelle Garcia – Customer Success Officer who will oversee customer relationships. 

Milestones:

Special Occasions Event Planning will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

11/1/2022 – Finalize contract to lease the office space. 

11/15/2022 – Finalize employment contracts for the Special Occasions Event Planning management team.

12/1/2022 – Begin renovations on the office and purchase office equipment and supplies. 

12/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan. 

1/15/2023 – Begin recruiting and training office staff and event planners. 

2/15/2023 – Special Occasions Event Planning officially opens for business. 

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Special Occasions Event Planning are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the Company’s event planning services. Customers will be able to purchase full-service, customizable packages or select specific aspects (such as entertainment or catering) a la carte. 

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff an event planning business. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, party supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average number of events per month: 4 
• Average fees per month: $20,000
• Overhead costs per year: $360,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Event Planning Company Business Plan FAQs

What is an event planning company business plan.

An e vent planning company business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your event planning company business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your event planning company business plan using our Event Planning Company Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Event Planning Companies?

There are a number of different kinds of event planning companies , some examples include: Corporate Events, Social Events, and Niche Events Planning.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Event Planning Company Business Plan?

Event planning companies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding. This is true for an event business plan or an event management business plan.

What are the Steps To Start an Event Planning Business?

Starting an event planning business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop An Event Planning Company Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed event planning company business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your event planning business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your event planning business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Event Planning Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your event planning business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your event planning business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Event Planning Company Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your event planning business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your event planning business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful event planning business:

• How to Start an Event Planning Business

Other Helpful Business Plan Templates

Photography Business Plan Template Event Venue Business Plan Template Catering Business Plan Template

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How to Start an Event Planning Business: Your Comprehensive Guide Not sure how to become an event planner? Use this step-by-step guide to launch your event planning business from scratch.

By Laura Tiffany Edited by Brittany Robins May 21, 2024

Key Takeaways

• Event planning can be a great business if you have the right skills.
• People need help executing personal and professional events of all sizes.
• Based on how you structure your business, your startup costs will vary.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Some people have a special ability to plan parties — whether they be weddings, large corporate events or smaller gatherings. If you have a knack for tackling complex problems and making big days run smoothly, you might have a future as a professional event planner. Whether you choose to work alone or with a team, starting an event planning service is no small task. Here are some important questions to consider before launching an event planning business, and a step-by-step guide to starting and scaling your business.

Related: Find Your Event-Planning Niche

What is an event planning business?

Event planning is the art and science of ideation, planning, coordination and operation. When a major event needs to run smoothly — whether it's a trade show, nonprofit gala or a major anniversary — people will enlist an event planning service or coordinator. Event planners are key service providers who ensure event production and execution goes off without a hitch , most often used for purposes like:

• Corporate events, like after-work cocktail hours and galas.
• Educational conventions, like graduations or conferences.
• Major promotional events including product launches and fashion shows.
• Celebrations and social events including parades, weddings, birthdays and reunions.

The primary duties of full-time or part-time on-site event planners include:

• Researching venues and vendors prior to the event.
• Selecting the appropriate site for the event.
• Event design and team-building for project management.
• Creating budgets and running fundraisers if necessary.
• Coordinating decor, entertainment and food for the event.
• Sending invitations to attendees.
• Coordinating transportation for attendees to and from the event.
• Arranging accommodations, including seating charts and place settings.
• Coordinating tasks for onsite event personnel, including caterers or entertainers.
• Being on call for any questions or problems that arise in the event-planning process.
• Supervising activities at the event site.

Why do people hire event planning services?

People primarily hire event planning services for two reasons: So that hosts and guests don't have to focus on the inner workings of the event, and so that the event runs smoothly from beginning to end.

Consider a wedding. Many engaged couples hire event planners or event planning services to coordinate, organize and carry out their wedding plans. This helps the couple enjoy their special day and gives them the freedom to focus on getting married rather than worrying about details like catering, parking or the timeline.

Some events are so complex — particularly those with hundreds of guests or more — that it's almost impossible to properly plan and organize them without the help of a specialist. Knowledgeable, experienced event planners know how to organize groups of people, how much food to provide and other details that can make or break an important event.

Related: The Price Is Right: Turning a Profit in the Event Planning Business

Who should become an event planner?

You might consider becoming an event planner if you're organized, love hosting parties and find the challenge of coordinating large events to be thrilling. Planners handle many moving parts at once, some of which require overseeing chaotic work and competing agendas. Event planners also often work weekends and holidays since these are the days when most people schedule events.

Many event planners have backgrounds as managers or coordinators in other industries. The events industry, both for wedding planning and other events, requires excellent communication skills. Obtaining a bachelor's degree in public relations , marketing or related fields can be helpful but is not required. You should also consider acquiring certification for your event planning service, as it can help you cultivate relevant professional skills and attract more job opportunities. Meeting Professionals International (MPI) offers a list of degrees and certificates from various colleges and universities.

You can also become a Certified Special Events Professional or Certified Meeting Planner , both of which are offered by the MPI or the International Live Events Association (ILEA). By earning these certifications , potential clients will know you have the training and experience necessary to take on a complex event.

How to start an event planning business

Step 1: form your company.

To get your event planning business off the ground, you must first form a company, file the right paperwork and create a business plan — which should include the following details:

• The business's name.
• The business's tax structure (Sole proprietorship, LLC, S corp etc.).
• What services you'll provide.
• Market research .
• A management plan.
• Financial factors, including how you'll turn a profit.

Related: Check out these business plan templates to get started.

You'll also want to apply for an employer identification number (EIN), which is essentially a social security number for your business assigned to you by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This will allow you to operate your business independently of your personal affairs, help you hire employees and make it easier to file taxes quarterly.

Step 2: Choose your target market

Building on the research you performed to create your business plan, it's essential to find the right market for your services. For instance, if you want to primarily work with weddings, you need to determine how many other planners are in your area, how much you should charge for your services and what offerings you'll need to be competitive.

By doing enough research ahead of time, you'll know exactly what kind of clients to target and what their expectations will be. This will help you advertise your event planning service to be competitive relative to other local planners.

Step 3: Make a financial plan

When you start an event planning business, you'll have to consider not only startup costs but also how the enterprise will grow and how many clients you'll need in order to be profitable. For instance, working from home and primarily by yourself will keep costs low. But if you hire employees, rent office space, or expand to new markets, your monthly expenses will significantly increase – all of these things can add up.

You can always scale your business after acquiring steady work. You may start off as a one-person event planning service that only takes on small events. As you earn money from successful jobs, you can hire employees and rent a warehouse for your equipment, like cameras, chairs and more. You don't have to have all of the growth questions answered when you launch your business, but you should at least have them in mind.

Step 4: Understand the work involved and consider hiring employees

For your event planning service to be successful , you need to fully grasp the nature of each job and determine if — or when — it's time to hire employees. This will vary event to event, so you'll need to determine how much work each event will require. Even the smallest event demands careful attention to detail and advance planning, but as you acquire experience you'll become more adept at forecasting how much help you'll need, if any. For instance, you might hire two or three people to be on-site for a specific event, just to make sure things run smoothly.

Related: The Event Planning Recipe for Success

Step 5: Settle on a price structure and fee basis

How you price your event planning offerings will impact how much business you attract. You can determine your pricing structure and fee basis by things like:

• The market segment you serve: For instance, nonprofit events may have different fee structures than weddings or corporate events. By understanding your event type, you'll know how much to charge and how to structure your fees.
• Your location: If you live in a place with a higher cost of living or a competitive events market, you'll need to price your services accordingly.
• Your reputation: As your business gains a reputation for success — and especially if you're so busy clients are competing for your services — you'll be able to charge a higher premium.

Step 6: Start marketing your event planning service

Once you know how much to charge your clients, it's time to start marketing your event planning service. Consider using tools like Google ads, social media profiles and other digital marketing efforts like email to get the word out about your business. You may even consider newspaper ads, flyers in public buildings or other traditional low-cost marketing tactics . As your business grows, so too will your reputation, meaning you'll likely have to spend less on marketing once you're known. Before you get there, though, it's important to dedicate significant time and resources to marketing your services (learn more here about the tools and strategies that should be part of creating your marketing plan).

Related: 8 Savvy Ways to Promote Your Event Planning Business

Costs of starting an event planning business

The costs of launching your business will vary greatly based on where you live, what kind of clients you work with and how large you intend to scale your operation. At a minimum, you'll need to pay fees to incorporate your business , purchase basic technology like a computer, buy business insurance and spend money advertising. But there are many other potential costs, including certification programs, hiring additional employees , renting office space and more. Here's a breakdown of common expenses associated with event planning, as well as a range of what it might take to get your enterprise off the ground.

Consider Startup Costs

As with any business, the startup costs for event planning vary by the region, the size of your operation and the type of clients you attract. Below are estimates that will help you determine what you can expect to spend in your first year.

*All figures are estimates and subject to change based on factors including location, business size and clientele.

Check out Entrepreneur's other guides and resources today.

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• Sample Business Plans

How to Write an Event Planning Business Plan + Free Template

Planned a few events in the past?

And, if you feel that event planning is your forte, and you have ideas that are both creative and functional, event planning might be an exciting endeavor for you!

Although most people start out by working under someone, everyone dreams of starting their own event planning business.

Also, you are about to go ahead and start yours; wait a moment!

You might have sufficient knowledge for planning events, but navigating the complexities of the event planning industry needs a well-thought-out roadmap. And that roadmap is a comprehensive event management business plan.

Yes, you read it correctly. A business plan can be of great help while starting your own event planning company. It not only sets the foundation for your venture but also enhances your opportunities for success.

So, we have created a Sample Event Planning Business Plan for you to get a good idea about how a perfect event business plan should look like!

Now, without any further ado; let’s explore all the details you will need to write in your stunning business plan.

Key Takeaways

• Clearly define your goals, mission statement, service offerings, and management team in your business plan.
• Perform thorough market and industry analysis to identify target customers, and adapt to the latest trends.
• Present a realistic financial plan, including startup costs, revenue projections, and a break-even analysis to attract investors.
• Effectively draft your pricing strategy and unique selling propositions to meet the specific needs of your target customers.
• Provide a clear outline of your business operations to efficiently deliver your planning services and seize new opportunities.
• Craft your marketing techniques, sales tactics, and promotional activities to reach a wider audience.
• Recognize your key competitors, and develop strategies that make your event planning business stand out in the competitive landscape.

How to Write an Event Planning Business Plan?

• Get a Business Plan Template
• Write an Executive Summary
• Provide a Company Overview
• Conduct an Industry and Market Analysis
• Describe your Product and Service Offerings
• Outline a Sales and Marketing Plan
• Introduce Your Team
• Outline Business Operations
• Prepare a Financial Plan

1. Get a Business Plan Template

Before you start writing a business plan for your event planning business, it is recommended to get a business plan template first.

It’s like having a valuable resource for your business planning. It not only simplifies the business plan writing process but also helps you include all the essential elements in your plan.

However, you can effectively organize your thoughts and accurately draft a strategically sound business document according to your specific requirements and preferences.

Not only that, it sets the stage for a comprehensive, professional business plan that empowers you to highlight your vision, attract potential investors, and navigate the competitive event planning landscape.

If you are a budding entrepreneur or looking for a polished template, choose Upmetrics’ business plan template now and ensure that you won’t skip any important facts in your plan.

Say goodbye to boring templates

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Plans starting from $7/month

2. Write an Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first and foremost section of your event planning business plan. It provides a brief introduction to the entire business plan.

Make sure that it is clear, concise, and engaging, as it will create your first impression and attract investors or readers to delve further into your plan.

Start this section by describing your idea behind an event planning and type of business; for example, are you a startup business, want to grow an existing one, or running a business chain?

Communicate your business objectives and emphasize how you will be different from other event-planning businesses. Here is an example of event planning objectives using Upmetrics:

Next, give an overview of each of the subsequent sections, including offered services, market opportunities, marketing strategies, and financial projections that will be explored in greater detail within the plan.

Not only that, you can end this summary with a compelling call to action, inviting potential investors or readers to the next meeting if they are interested in your event planning.

Generally, this section is written after the whole event business plan is ready. It is often the easiest way to do so as you have simply gone through and written all the key sections of your plan.

3. Provide a Company Overview

Now, provide detailed information about your event plan business. It contains ownership, legal structure, office location, business history, and other such business-related facts.

Begin with the intro of what type of events you are organizing. For instance, it will be corporate events (catering to businesses), social events/celebrations(wedding planning, birthday parties, etc), or niche events(specialized in just one type).

Discuss a little bit more about your business history, including when you started event planning and what milestones you have accomplished. Also, accentuate your mission statement.

Take reference from the below example describing the mission of the event planning company:

In an ever-changing, fast-paced world, success is determined by good choices for lasting effects. Eventel strives to be the best choice for clients by helping to ease their event planning burden.

Through consistent, predictable professionalism, Eventel will ensure a worry-free and hassle-free event at a reasonable price.

Event also has internal clients to serve. The event will strive to provide the same predictable and professional working environment to its employees and contracted vendors, justly compensating them for their services.

It is also a priority to make a comfortable living wage for its owners, founders, full-time staff, and their families.

Keeping in tune with the needs of the market, utilizing the latest technology and trends, all while ensuring the client receives the individual attention they deserve, is the vision and daily mission of Eventel; The Event Planning Specialists.

In addition to that, you can mention your startup summary and future business goals, as this section gives an in-depth overview of your business.

4. Conduct an Industry and Market Analysis

Starting an event management business requires a strategic events industry and market analysis. So, take some time to go further and locate more accurate data.

Try to include certain key elements in this section:

Market size and growth potential

You need to study specific data about various markets in which you are trying to get into and ensure profitability. So, describe your market size & growth potential and whether you will target a niche or a much broader market.

For instance, the USA industry revenue for event planners has grown at a CAGR of 4.1% over the past five years and reached $5.6 billion in 2023. So, it is crucial to define the target market segment.

Target market segment

Start this section by describing your target market. Define your ideal customer and explain what types of services they prefer. Creating a buyer persona will help you easily define your target market to your readers.

Do proper market research and try to create a buyer’s persona in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles.

Take reference from the below example written using our innovative AI writing assistant :

Competitive analysis

Identify and analyze your direct and indirect competitors. Recognize their strengths & weaknesses, and describe what differentiates your business from other planners.

Direct competitors can be other event planning businesses, while wedding planners, local venues, caterers, or conference centers can be indirect competitors.

Point out how you have a competitive edge in the market, such as superior event management options, user-friendly methods/tools to book your services, and adequate pricing plans with better services.

Not only that, describe emerging market trends in the industry and explain how you will cope with all the directions. You can also list regulations and licensing requirements that may affect your company.

5. Describe your Product and Service Offerings

Next, specify the scope of your products and service offerings. As an event management business, you can describe the size and type of events you cater to, including a variety of event planning services.

This section must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors or readers understand the value of your business.

While drafting your  event planning services and products, you can take reference from the below example:

Eventel provides event planning in a wide range of applications. We guarantee satisfaction in the areas of appearance, performance, and taste. 

The following is a sampling of the types of events we plan every year:

• Corporate events or meetings, Training, and Retreats
• Conferences and Workshops
• Birthday parties, Anniversaries, Graduations, and Holidays
• Weddings, Receptions, and Showers
• Company picnics, banquets, and award ceremonies
• Caterer coordination and decor
• Trade shows and fashion shows

Effectively define your pricing plans for event planning services. Also, communicate your services to the customers by sharing a detailed description of the procedure you use while working with clients.

Mention if your event planning company offers any additional services. You may include services like lighting & sound, vendor negotiation, guest concierge services, etc.

6. Outline a Sales and Marketing Plan

Writing the sales and marketing strategy section means a list of tactics you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing strategies:

Social media marketing

Use social media platforms to present your company’s essence. Regularly post exquisite snapshots or videos of your planned social events, decor, and behind-the-scenes moments.

User-friendly website

Assure that your event management company has a user-friendly website that provides basic information about your services, pricing, and contact

details. Also, share informative blog post content or event videos.

Pricing strategy

Describe your pricing strategy—how you plan to price your services and stay competitive in the local market. You can mention any discounts you plan on offering to attract new customers.

Collaborations

Build an extensive vendor network to expand your reach and draw their existing customers. This might do wonders for your business and enhance your brand image.

Offline advertising

Effectively reach your target audience using offline advertising methods like brochures, newspapers, social gatherings, or events. Also, try to offer a personalized approach or stress-free planning to retain existing clients.

7. Introduce Your Team

A powerful management team is paramount for demonstrating your business’s ability to thrive in the event planning industry.

Letting your readers or investors know about your business leadership or key managers will help them have a clear idea of who is running your event planning company.

So, start this section by introducing key team members and highlighting their event planning skills & previous experience.

Jot down their qualifications and specific responsibilities. You can also shed light on how your experienced event planners contribute to the success of your business.

Next, describe the compensation plan for the leadership team and event planners, including salaries, bonuses, and other benefits. This can help key stakeholders to ascertain how much percentage is allocated to salaries.

If you have a board of advisors for your event management business, then mention them along with their roles and experience.

8. Outline Business Operations

Now, it’s time to outline the processes and procedures involved in your day-to-day business operations. Detail how you will eventually plan to manage your business effectively.

Staffing & training

Highlight your staffing needs by mentioning the number of employees, planners, or coordinators. Also, include their qualifications, the training required, and the duties they will perform.

Operational process

Outline the processes and procedures you will use to run your event planning business. It may include initial client meetings, decor, party favors, caterer coordination, set up/clean up, etc.

Equipment and machinery

You can also include the list of equipment and machinery required for event planning, such as office supplies, camera & photography equipment, event planning software, etc.

Explain how these technologies will help you maintain quality standards and improve the efficiency of your business operations. Refer to the below example written using Upmetrics AI assistant:

9. Prepare a Financial Plan

For a successful event planning business, you need to prepare a well-structured and in-depth financial plan with a realistic financial projection. It comes last in the business plan but is the most important section for investors.

So, mention all the below key components in your financial plan:

• Profit and loss statement
• Sales forecast
• Cash flow statement
• Balance sheet
• Break-even analysis
• Financial needs
• Tax considerations

From the above, you can identify the funding needs and evaluate the funding resources for your event planning company, including bank loans, SBA-guaranteed loans, angel investors, and personal savings.

In this section, you need to make a few assumptions. It will greatly affect the financial forecasts of your business. Refer below table to make important assumptions:

Well, having a realistic financial plan in your hand not only helps you present your business’s fiscal health but also emphasizes its sustainability.

However, calculating all the financial statements from scratch can be an overwhelming task. But, not to worry; use Upmetrics’ financial forecasting tool to formulate all your financial projections.

All you need to do is provide the information you have, and let the tool estimate financial factors, and create visual reports for you. No manual data entry, recalling Excel formulas, or preparing graphs—nothing.

Here’s an example of a projected cash flow statement for an event planning business:

Download Free Event Planning Business Plan Template

Need help writing your event planning business plan from scratch? Well, here you go; download our free event planning business plan template now and start writing.

This modern, user-friendly event management business plan template is specifically designed for your event business.

With a step-by-step guide and example, it assists you in creating your own plan without missing any crucial details.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Prepare Your Business Plan with Upmetrics AI

Finally! You know how to write an event planning business plan with the help of our free sample business plan template. So, you are one step closer to starting or growing your business confidently- pretty exciting, right?

But you know what else is exciting? Your business planning process can be even faster and easier than this. Yes, you heard it right; it’s possible with the power of the Upmetrics AI assistant tool .

So, take a sigh of relief and focus only on planning the most happening events in the town!

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Frequently asked questions, what are the key components of an event planning business plan.

Writing a professional event planning business plan involves the following key components:

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Industry and market analysis
• Product and service offerings
• Sales and marketing plan
• Management team
• Business operations
• Financial plan

How often should I update my Event Planning Business Plan?

Your event planning business plan should be reviewed and updated at least once in a year or more often if there are significant changes in your business environment or services.

What are some tips for writing an Event Planning Business Plan?

Consider the following factors before writing an Event Planning Business Plan:

• Define your niche and business objectives
• Clearly mention unique selling points
• Be realistic in the financial statement
• Understand your target customer
• Stay agile in a dynamic industry

How much does it cost to start an event planning business?

A fair estimation for an event planning business can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. It can vary widely depending on office space, equipment, and initial inventory.

About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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How to Write an Event Organiser Business Plan (With Examples)

If you’re looking to turn your event into a viable and profitable enterprise, you’ll need to devise a solid business plan. Whether your aim is making more money, securing investment and partners, or simply keeping up with your commercial goals, an event business plan is the launchpad of a successful business.

A well-written plan can be an invaluable resource for you, your team , and your event – but writing one need not be difficult. Our systematic and straightforward event business plan step-by-step guide will show you how to create one, while providing you with useful examples for budgeting and promotion that you can adapt for your particular market.

How do you write a business plan as an event planner?

From coming up with your blue-sky mission statement to the nitty-gritty details of hosting your event, there are several steps to creating a great event business plan. Read on to get our in-depth tips and examples and to find out exactly what should go into your plan.

In this article, our tips for writing an event business plan are broken down into eight sections. We’ll show you how to:

• Begin your event business plan with a mission statement
• Describe your greater vision with a vision statement
• List the key objectives you want to track
• Enhance your event business plan with storytelling
• Detail an event marketing strategy
• Outline your event’s operational requirements
• Crunch the numbers for your event budget
• Nail SWOT analysis with this business plan event example

1. Begin your event business plan with a mission statement

Your mission statement describes your event in a short sentence or two. It helps to sell your event to important stakeholders and forms the foundation of your marketing. In fact, it’ll also help to keep you focused since every decision you make will ultimately trace back to your mission.

Mercato Metropolitano (MM), a sprawling community market and event space with good food at its core, is just one example of how a simple mission statement turned into a successful real-life venture.

Andrea Rasca of MM has a simple philosophy based on food being a human right that’s part of an adequate standard of living according to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It sums up how MM operates as well as what it stands for:

“Adequate means food needs to be accessible to all people, at all times, and in any circumstances. It has to be nutritious – to enrich you – and it has to be locally or culturally compatible.”

This high-level mission statement sells the spirit of MM succinctly. Make yours equally inspiring, and keep it as short as possible to make it easy to keep your mission in mind. The Waste Not Supper Club , for example, summed up their mission statement – “Waste Not” – in just two words and integrated it into the name of their event.

Following a UN report urging a move to more sustainable diets, the Umbrella Cafe in Kent started running the Waste Not Supper Club to use up not only their leftover food but other people’s as well. Guests receive a three-course vegan or vegetarian evening meal at a pay-as-you-feel price. All the dishes are made from unwanted ingredients sourced by FareShare Kent , an organisation that teams up with supermarkets and local farmers to make use of their “wonky” veg and overstocked food.

2. Describe your greater vision with a vision statement

While a mission statement says what your event is about, a vision statement describes what you hope your event brand will become . It could also be known as your Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (your BHAG ).

The Susan G. Komen Foundation uses the mission statement “Save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.”

But the foundation’s vision is even more aspirational:

A world without breast cancer.

What’s your blue-sky vision? You might not cure cancer, but perhaps you want to eventually turn your foodie pop-up into a nationwide series of “locavore” festivals. Perhaps you want to introduce attendees to a new style of dance? Or bring art into the homes of the nation?

Brevity and clarity are also key in this section of your business plan, so you should be able to sum up your vision statement in one short sentence. For example, a lot of businesses these days want their activities to produce no carbon emissions whatsoever, so they might use a vision statement like “net-zero by 2050”.

A good way to come up with your vision statement is to ask yourself what effect you eventually want your event to have more widely. Be as imaginative as you can and also think about why you created your event in the first place. This will help you to produce evocative language, which will have a greater effect on your audience.

3. List the key objectives you want to track

Your key objectives convert your mission statement into on-the-ground action. They are realistic goals that you can achieve in the short term and in the future. Examples might include:

• Gaining a set number of followers on social media
• Expanding your event to a different area
• Pinning down a special guest to make an appearance
• Selling a certain amount of tickets for each event

Make a list of the key tasks and deliverables integral to your event. In the foodie pop-up example above, a few key objectives might be to:

• Host three foodie pop-ups in your local area this year
• Find at least ten sponsors
• – local food purveyors or restaurants
• Acquire 10,000 followers on Instagram

Make your objectives aspirational but achievable – and definitely measurable . Make records of where you currently are in regard to achieving these goals and attach metrics to each one. Eventbrite offers useful analytic data, which can be used to help you track your return on investment (ROI) and more.

4. Enhance your event business plan with storytelling

Here’s the heart of your business plan: a tangible description of your event. This is important because not only does it tell potential investors what they’re being asked to buy into but it’s also often the first (and only) chance you’ll get to grab a potential attendee’s attention online.

The key here is to provide a text that’s as informative as it is readable. Strike a balance between providing the reader with all the essential details they need, without overwhelming them with information.

Define what makes your event unique and sell your audience on your vision with data that grounds it in reality. For example, if you’ve had a high demand for tickets in the past, let the reader know how many tickets you’ve sold for your events to date.

Craft a succinct event story with our event business plan checklist:

• Describe your target audience, with research into the market
• List potential or actual sponsors, investors, and partners who will support and influence your event
• Lay out the team structure you intend to build – who will get what done?

Your job here is to convince the reader that your event will be successful. Give proof that you can back up your ideas with business acumen.

5. Detail an event marketing strategy

Word of mouth is a timeless marketing channel, but most events don’t sell themselves right away. You’ve already described your mission, your vision, and the event itself, so now you can use this content in your marketing strategy and include additional information:

How will you price your event?

Will you use a flat rate or provide an early bird option at a discount? While the latter might prove a great idea for festivals and conferences, recurring events like workshops would benefit from a different marketing approach. For example, consider providing tiered ticketing options for regular events, giving guests a choice of a standard or VIP ticket with added extras. This can create a buzz of prestige around your event.

What’s your promotion budget?

Knowing what resources you have is integral to marketing your event effectively and securing a good ROI.

Which marketing channels will you use?

Your target audience will determine the direction of your marketing channels. This includes which social media platform you choose to market your event on. For example, if your arts event caters to twenty-somethings, the highly visual environment that Instagram provides will often be a better marketing match than LinkedIn , which is more suited for specialist industry lectures and business networking events.

Making the right choice of channel means that half your work is done because your event will get more exposure to people who are already interested in your sector, generating a higher lead-to-conversion rate.

6. Outline your event’s operational requirements

There are countless logistics that go into even the smallest event. Break your needs into categories: facilities, services, staffing , production, technology, legal, and insurance – just as a starting point!

Then start to anticipate what the real implications are for your event with reference to each of these categories. Depending on your specific event, facilities might include setting up a cloakroom or the hire of portaloos, shower cubicles, or charging points. Services might include anything from catering, rubbish disposal, cleaning, or the cost of basic utilities if they aren’t included in the venue hire. Production might cover contracting performers, printing tickets or wristbands, and transport of sound equipment.

Don’t leave anything out. This exercise will help you with the next step – assigning a cost to each aspect of your event.

7. Crunch the numbers for your event budget

Financial forecasts are essential to showing whether the event will be profitable – and to making your plan a business plan. It’s common to include both an overview of your numbers as well as a full budget spreadsheet, usually as part of an appendix.

Identify all potential income streams, like ticket sales , exhibition space sales, food, or merchandise. If you have funding secured or capital saved, include that as well.

You’ll also need to tally all expenditures , including your operational and promotional costs. These might include venue and equipment hire, paying staff working at the event, and the cost of targeted ads.

Your business plan might serve as a way to win over potential investors. For instance, if your idea for a national yoga teachers’ conference will require an initial cash infusion to get it off the ground, show how it will pay for itself in a matter of years in your budget. You should go into detail about cover prices, including any deals you’ve been able to get with suppliers or the venue.

Make sure to illustrate your event’s projected earnings in a simple graph, such as a bar or pie chart. This is an effective and simple of way communicating how you’re making your budget work for you.

8. Conduct a SWOT analysis for your event

SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This assessment is important because every event carries inherent risks, and it’s a liability to ignore them. You’ll want to identify and acknowledge any risks, and then provide solutions. Let’s take a look at this concept using the example of a fundraising triathlon.

You’ve sold many tickets so far.

You’ve planned the event for the mildest time of year.

You’ve got catastrophe insurance.

There’s high competition from other similar events.

Opportunities

Extra funds can be raised with a cold drinks stall.

The triathlon may need to be called off in the event of bad weather, e.g. a thunderstorm.

Event business plan FAQs

How do i start an event organising business.

You could start by writing an event management business plan. See the above section, “Outline your event’s operational requirements,” to get an idea of what managing an event involves.

What is a business plan in event management?

A business plan is where you convince investors that your idea for turning your event into a business is not only viable but profitable. This will include presenting the necessary figures detailing why your business will offer a good ROI. Check out the sections “Enhance your event business plan with storytelling” and “Crunch the numbers for your event budget” for more tips on how to write an event planning business plan.

How do you write a business plan for an event?

The above steps in this article explain how, but try looking for an event business plan example online if you’d like to see how it’s done.

What is an event planning proposal?

A proposal is a resumé of how you plan to execute your event, written with key stakeholders as the audience.

Set your event business plan in motion

To dive deep into the details of creating an event business plan, and to learn how to compile these sections into an effective document, download our free Event Plan Template .

Plan and host your events with Eventbrite.

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about the author

Hannah Phelvin-Hartley

Hannah Phelvin-Hartley specialises in producing content for the lifestyle, education, engineering and automotive, politics, human rights and legal sectors. She can translate from Italian, Spanish and French into English. In her free time, Hannah can usually be found cooking, reading, practising Yoga and dancing.

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How to Start an Event Planning Business: The Ultimate Guide

It's no surprise that starting an event planning business involves many moving parts. It can feel overwhelming, from identifying your unique selling proposition and having all the key skills to executing flawless events to getting all the required compliances. But not anymore. 

In this guide, we'll discuss everything about  event planning  and provide a step-by-step guide on how to start your own event-planning business. This post covers everything from determining profitability to understanding the skills you need to run a successful business.   

But before you dive headfirst into how to start an event planning business, let's take a step back and understand the basics. 

What is Event Planning in Business?

If you plan to start your event planning business, you probably know the answer to this question. Event planning involves managing the details of large or small events, including meetings, conferences, or parties. This business is typically utilized for: 

• Large educational meetings, such as graduations or conferences.
• Major promotions, including marketing events, product launches, and fashion shows.
• Corporate events , like after-work cocktail hours, trade shows, galas, and more.
• Celebrations and social events like parades, weddings, birthdays, reunions, and more. 

What Do Event Planning Businesses Provide?

As an event planner, you are expected to work with clients to understand their requirements and goals and then provide end-to-end event planning and execution services to ensure the seamless and successful execution of in-person or virtual events . 

Some of the services you must include are:

• Event management and coordination
• Theming, décor, and styling
• Conferencing and exhibitions
• Signage and branding
• Entertainment and talent management
• Venue sourcing and management
• Catering and food & beverage management
• Audio-visual production and management
• Logistics and transportation management
• Budgeting and financial management
• Marketing and promotion
• Security and risk management
• Registration and guest management
• Post-event evaluation and reporting 

Why Do People Hire Event Planning Businesses?

There are two primary reasons why people hire event planning services: 

• To allow event attendees and guests of honor to thoroughly enjoy themselves without worrying about event logistics. 
• To ensure that the event runs without any glitches. 

Consider a typical corporate conference, for example. 

A business may hire your services to create a stellar multi-day conference while their employees and attendees can focus on networking or learning. This way, they don’t have to worry about details like catering, keynote speakers, registration, and managing the event schedule. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Starting an Event Planning Business

As with everything, the event planning business also has advantages and disadvantages. Some of them are: 

• Enjoy the freedom to choose who you work with, where you work, and how you manage your schedule.
• Pull off a showstopping event, and chances are your clients will return repeatedly, thus building loyalty.
• Event planning business lets you unleash your creativity as you get to design events that are unique and unforgettable for your clients. 
• Establishing relationships with reliable vendors takes time, especially in a crowded market.
• Growing your business needs adding resources or raising prices, which can be tricky.
• Most of the time, although the planning takes place in advance, you must ensure your presence in the field during the event—meaning long working hours, even on evenings and weekends. 

How to Start an Event Planning Business

Here are some steps to help you start an event planning business: 

Evaluate your  event planning skills.

Event planning involves many tasks beyond the glamor of parties and events. To be successful, you must be able to handle various responsibilities. After all, successful event planners are masters of multitasking, with a talent for keeping calm under pressure. 

For example, you’ll need to create an event theme or design, find a venue, arrange entertainment, book vendors, send RSVPs and marketing information to attendees, and balance the budget. The list goes on. 

If you're unsure whether you possess all the necessary event planning skills , consider gaining some hands-on experience. Perhaps shadow an experienced planner, assist with events at a local organization, or even volunteer for a nonprofit event. 

Create your event planning business plan.

A well-structured business plan is the foundation of any successful venture, and event planning is no different. Consider it your roadmap to success. Here are the key sections to include: 

• Executive Summary:  Summarize your business concept, goals, and what sets you apart.
• Overview : Outline your company background, structure (e.g., sole proprietorship), and essential details.
• Industry Analysis : Demonstrate your understanding of the local event planning market, including potential clients and event trends .
• Competitive Analysis: Examine your competition, identifying their areas of strength and areas you can exploit.
• Marketing : Craft a strategy for attracting clients—how will you make them aware of your exceptional services?
• Management: Detail your unique experience and skills.
• Operations Plan : Describe your day-to-day process for planning and executing events.
• Financials : Project your income, expenses, and profit expectations over your initial years of operation. 

Find your event planning niche.

Finding your niche is how you stand out from the rest—it helps you specialize in a specific subset of the broader event planning industry. Also, it becomes easier for your target market to find you. Common niches and event types include: 

• Business event planning:  Award ceremonies, charity and nonprofit events, corporate bonding retreats, meetings and seminars, conferences, grand openings, fashion shows, experiential events, holiday parties, networking events , trade shows, and VIP events. 
• Private/social event planning:  Weddings,   anniversaries, holiday parties, baby showers, theme parties, wedding/bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, milestone birthday parties, and murder-mystery parties. 

Identify your unique selling proposition.

Identify your event planning business’ unique selling proposition (USP) to set yourself apart from your competitors. It is the reason why clients should choose your company over others. 

Here’s how you can define your USP: 

• Identify your target market:  The first step in uncovering your event planning USP is to identify your target market. Who are your ideal clients? What type of events do they typically host? What are their pain points and needs? Understanding your target market lets you tailor your services to your client's needs and preferences. 
• Analyze your competition:  The next step is to analyze your competition. Who are your competitors? What services do they offer? What is their pricing strategy? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Understand your competition to identify gaps in the market and ways to differentiate your business. 
• Determine your unique strengths:  What sets your business apart from your competitors? What unique strengths do you bring to the table? It could be your expertise in a particular type of event, your creative approach to event design, your extensive network of vendors, or your exceptional customer service. Identify your unique strengths and use them to craft a compelling USP.

Consider funding and costs.

The events business can be lucrative, but getting started requires smart financial planning. Calculate your initial startup costs carefully. Price your services strategically so you cover expenses while remaining competitive. If number crunching isn't your strong suit, invest in a bookkeeper or accountant early on.

While exact costs vary by location and services offered, here's a ballpark range to get you thinking:

• Rent: $0 to $2,300
• Equipment: $5,000 to $17,000
• Inventory: $0 to $500
• Licenses and Taxes: $250 to $350
• Communications: $100 to $250
• Payroll: $0 to $4,000
• Advertising/Promotion: $500 to $2,000
• Legal Fees & Accounting: $650 to $1,500
• Insurance (1st Quarter): $800 to $1,700
• Miscellaneous: $750 to $1,500
• Total: $8,050 to $31,100 

Remember, startup expenses don't have to be astronomical. Begin with the essentials, and scale up as your business grows.

Structure your pricing strategy.

Pricing your services is an art and a science. Factor in your location (cost of living varies), your experience level, and what your competitors charge. Most importantly, ensure your pricing allows you to cover costs and earn a worthwhile profit while remaining attractive to clients. 

Remember, transparency is key—explain your fee structure clearly so there are no surprises later on.

Here are some common pricing models for your consideration: 

• Hourly rate: Ideal for projects where the scope is difficult to predict upfront. Rates typically range from $25 - $100+ per hour, depending on your skills and the complexity of the event. 
• Flat fee:  A single charge covers your planning services. This works well for events with well-defined parameters. Sometimes, planners add a percentage of vendor fees to ensure sufficient compensation. 
• Percentage of the event:  Typically, this will be 15-20% of the total event cost. Such pricing structure is common for complex events, as your fee scales alongside the project.  
• Day-of coordination:  A specialized service, handling the on-site logistics on the day of the event itself. 
• Vendor commission:  In this model, your income comes from commissions from selected vendors, rather than directly from the client. This requires careful negotiation and transparency with all parties involved. 

Obtain necessary legal documents and permits.

Don't neglect the legal side of your business. Taking these steps protects both you and your clients from potential issues:

Register Your Business :   Choose a legal structure (LLC, Sole Proprietorship, etc.) that's right for you, and register officially with your state. Obtain a tax ID—essential for everything from opening a bank account to filing taxes. 

Obtain Necessary Permits : The red tape of event planning might not be glamorous, but it's crucial. Permits vary by location, so contact local authorities to learn exactly what you need. Common examples include: 

• Building permits (tents) for outdoor events that require tents.
• Business license to operate legally.
• Event permits vary by city, so contact the local government for relevant ordinances.
• Noise permit if your event is outside.
• Fire/fireworks permit, which you must check with your county.
• You can get a health permit from your county’s health department.
• You need a liquor license if you plan to serve alcoholic beverages. 
• Seller’s permit, which you may need as an event planner.
• Temporary use/structure permit for vacant land or temporary space for loading areas, vendors, and parking. 

Get your event planning business insured.

Obtain insurance coverage for your event planning business to protect yourself and your clients from unexpected incidents. Here are some important coverages to consider:

• Workers' compensation:  This is mandatory in all states. It protects your employees (and yourself, if you count as an employee) in case of work-related illness or injury.
• General liability insurance:  A must-have for any event planning business. This protects you from claims of property damage or bodily injury at an event you organized. 
• Property insurance:  Safeguard your equipment (tables, chairs, laptops, etc.) from theft, fire, and other unexpected events.
• Business interruption:  If unforeseen circumstances force you to temporarily shut down, this can provide financial support. Think of it as backup income if things go awry.
• Business Owner's Policy:  This bundles several important coverages into one convenient package, often at a good value. 

Market your event planning business.

Once your business is set up, it's time to attract those exciting new clients. Here are some strategies to get you started:

• Build a Website: Your website is your online storefront. Services like Weebly and Squarespace make it easy, even if you're not tech-savvy. Invest time in making it visually appealing and easy to navigate.
• Boost Your Online Presence: List your business on directories like Yelp, Eventective, and Google My Business. This helps potential clients discover you when they're searching for event planners in your area.
• Get Social: Create engaging profiles on relevant platforms (Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, etc.). Share social media-worthy photos, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and client testimonials.
• Traditional Marketing Still Works: Don't underestimate the power of beautifully designed brochures, flyers, and business cards. Distribute them strategically at local businesses or events.
• Get Referrals: Happy clients are your best advertisement. Encourage them to leave glowing reviews, and feature video testimonials on your website and social media.
• Strategic Partnerships: Caterers, photographers, venue owners—these businesses have the same clientele as you. Build relationships and create a referral network to mutually benefit. 

Related: Read some practical  event planning tips  for before, during, and after the event. 

What skills do you need to run an event planning business?

The basic skills needed to run an event planning business effectively are primarily soft skills, such as organizational skills, business management skills, and presentation skills. Here are some necessary skills to run an event planning business successfully: 

• Attention to detail
• Customer service
• Education (staying updated on event trends) or experience
• Interpersonal relationship skills
• Negotiation
• Organization
• Under-pressure performance 

Is an event planning business profitable?

Event planning has the potential to be a very profitable business venture. The fact that  89% of event and meeting leaders  consider in-person events crucial for revenue growth demonstrates the ongoing demand for well-planned events. 

However, the profitability of your event planning business will depend on several factors. The key to success lies in your ability to command premium rates for your services while keeping your expenses in check.            

What does an event planning business do?

An event planning business organizes and coordinates various aspects of events for individuals or organizations. This includes selecting venues, arranging catering and other vendors, creating event schedules and itineraries , managing budgets, and ensuring all necessary equipment and supplies are available. 

Do event planners travel a lot?

Event planners may travel depending on the nature of the events they plan. Some events may occur locally, while others may require travel to different cities or countries. Ultimately, the amount of travel required will depend on each event's specific needs and requirements. 

The Future of Event Planning is Yours to Create

The event planning industry offers vast opportunities for those with an eye for detail, a flair for organization, and a knack for staying on budget. Whether your heart lies in orchestrating sleek corporate events or bringing dream weddings to life, the skills you hone as an event planner are valuable in countless contexts. 

A carefully crafted business plan, paired with smart marketing and a dedication to providing exceptional experiences, can turn your passion into a truly successful venture. Find your niche, or cast a wide net—the choice is yours.

If you're ready to take the leap into the world of event planning, don't hesitate. Use this guide as your springboard. With hard work, a little business savvy, and a genuine love for creating memorable moments, there's no limit to what you can achieve.  

Up next, learn some  best practices in event management to create scalable and successful event strategies for your business.

John Hunter

John is the Senior Manager of Event Cloud Content Marketing at Cvent. He has 11 years of experience writing about the meetings and events industry. John also has extensive copywriting experience across diverse industries, including broadcast television, retail advertising, associations, higher education, and corporate PR.

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• Business plans

Event Planning Business Plan 

Used 4,872 times

Prepare your event planning business for success with our ready-to-fill and easily downloadable event planning business plan template.

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Event Planning Business Plan

Created by:

​ [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] ​

​ [Sender.Company] ​

Business Plan for (Insert Your Business Name)

Prepared for:

​ [Recipient.FirstName] [Recipient.LastName]

​ [Recipient.Company] ​

Executive Summary

Company name.

​ [Sender.StreetAddress] , [Sender.City] , [Sender.State] , [Sender.PostalCode] ​

Mission Statement

​ [Sender.Company] is dedicated to transforming ordinary occasions into extraordinary experiences. Our mission is to create memorable and seamless events that exceed our clients' expectations, leaving a lasting impression.

​ [Sender.Company] is a premier events planning company based in [Sender.StreetAddress] [Sender.City] [Sender.State] [Sender.PostalCode] , with a proven track record of success in orchestrating a wide range of events, from corporate conferences to weddings and private parties.

Market Opportunity

The events planning industry is thriving, with a projected annual growth rate of (Enter Growth Rate). [Sender.Company] is strategically positioned to capture this market, with a focus on the corporate sector, targeting companies seeking innovative and flawlessly executed events.

Financial Projections

Our conservative financial projections estimate a revenue of (Enter Amount) in (Enter Timeline), with a steady increase to (Enter Amount and Timeline for Milestone)

Funding Request

We are seeking a (Enter Funding Request Amount) investment to fund initial operations, marketing, and expansion.

Our Services

Event conceptualization and design.

(Service description)

Vendor sourcing and management

Budgeting and financial management, legal compliance, risk management, event logistics and execution, event types.

​ [Sender.Company] specializes in planning and coordinating a diverse range of events, including but not limited to

corporate conferences

social gatherings

product launches

charitable fundraisers.

Market Analysis

Market size and growth potential.

The event planning industry has demonstrated consistent growth over the past several years (Enter Growth Rate).

This is driven by factors such as (Outline Driving Factors).

The event planning industry was estimated to be valued at (Insert value) and projected to experience an annual compound growth rate of (Insert percentage) over the next (Insert Timeline).

Target Market

​ [Sender.Company] aims to serve a diverse client base, including (Mention Target Clients e.g., corporations, non-profit organizations, and individuals).

Market Trends

Virtual and hybrid events.

The rise of virtual and hybrid events, necessitated by global circumstances, has altered the event planning landscape. [Sender.Company] is equipped to provide both in-person and virtual event planning services in alignment with current market dynamics.

Sustainability and green practices

Increasing environmental consciousness has led to a demand for sustainable event planning solutions. [Sender.Company] is committed to incorporating eco-friendly practices into our event planning services in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Customization and personalization

Clients increasingly seek tailored event experiences that reflect their unique vision and brand. [Sender.Company] specializes in creating bespoke event solutions for our clients.

Competitive Analysis

Notable competitors include (List Competitor Names), which are known for their (Competitor Strengths).

Regulatory Environment

​ [Sender.Company] operates within a regulatory framework that governs event planning activities, including but not limited to permits, licensing, safety standards, and liability considerations.

Barriers to Entry

The event planning industry presents several substantial barriers to entry that potential competitors must contend with (List Key Challenges).

Operations Plan

Business structure and ownership.

​ [Sender.Company] is organized as a (legal structure, e.g., Corporation, LLC) under the laws of (State). The company is owned by (Owner(s) Name(s)), who hold (percentage)% of the ownership interest.

​ [Sender.Company] principal place of business is located at (Physical Address), which is in full compliance with zoning and licensing requirements imposed by the relevant local and state authorities.

Business Hours

​ [Sender.Company] shall operate during regular business hours from (Opening Time) to (Closing Time) on (Days of Operation).

​ [Sender.Company] shall be led by a team of experienced professionals in the field of event planning. Each management team member is duly qualified for their respective roles and responsibilities. [Sender.Company] shall maintain a roster of trained and qualified event planners, coordinators, and support staff. All staff members shall be hired in compliance with applicable labor laws and regulations.

Inventory and Equipment

​ [Sender.Company] shall maintain an inventory of event planning materials, supplies, and equipment necessary for the execution of events. This includes but is not limited to (List Essential Company Equipment).

To mitigate operational risks, [Sender.Company] shall maintain appropriate insurance coverage, including general liability insurance and professional liability insurance. Compliance with insurance requirements is regularly reviewed to ensure ongoing protection and adherence to applicable laws and regulations.

Quality Control and Customer Service

​ [Sender.Company] is committed to delivering its clients the highest quality of service. Quality control measures are in place to ensure the seamless execution of events and to address any customer concerns or complaints in accordance with applicable consumer protection laws.

Financial Breakdown

The financial projections for [Sender.Company] have been meticulously prepared based on comprehensive market research and analysis. It is anticipated that the [Sender.Company] will achieve the following revenue milestones:

Year 1: (Year 1 Revenue Projection)

Year 2: (Year 2 Revenue Projection)

Year 3: (Year 3 Revenue Projection)

These projections take into account anticipated revenue streams from various event planning services, including but not limited to corporate events, weddings, social gatherings, and virtual events.

Expense Projections

​ [Sender.Company] estimates to spend as stipulated below in fulfilling its obligations.

Funding Requirements

​ [Sender.Company] have been assessed with regard to its projected growth and operational needs. [Sender.Company] seeks (Enter Funding Request).

The company will seek funding through legal means, such as loans, investments, or grants, as needed, in accordance with applicable financial regulations and contractual agreements.

Confidentiality Agreement

The recipient of this business plan hereby acknowledges and agrees that this document and its contents are confidential and proprietary to [Sender.Company] . The recipient shall not, without the express written consent of [Sender.Company] , share, disseminate, or disclose any part of this event planning business plan , in whole or in part, to any third party, including but not limited to competitors, potential investors, or any unauthorized persons. Any breach of this confidentiality and non-share clause shall result in legal consequences and remedies as provided by applicable laws.

​ [Recipient.FirstName] [Recipient.LastName] ​

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How To Write a Successful Event Planning Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for event planning businesses that want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every event planning business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate Business Plan Template

What is an Event Planning Business Plan?

An event planning business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write an Event Planning Business Plan?

An event planning business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Event Planning Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful event planning business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of an event planning business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your event planning company
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your event planning business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your event planning firm, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen event planning business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of an event planning business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the event planning industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, the customers of an event planning business may include:

• Wedding planners needing help with transportation logistics
• Conference organizers wanting assistance with on-site registration
• Caterers in need of assistance to manage the timing of service delivery

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or event planning services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your event planning business may have:

• You are the only event planner in your city with an events app that allows customers to book and manage their event logistics in one place.
• You have a team of experienced event planners who specialize in military funerals, which is a niche market.
• Your company is the go-to choice for conference organizers looking for assistance with on-site registration and event management.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it gives you an idea of the types of competitive advantages you may have.

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. Or, you may promote your event planning business via a combination of these channels.

Operations Plan

This part of your event planning business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for an event planning business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include launching a new product/service, expanding to a new market, or hiring key personnel.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific event planning industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Event Planning Business

Balance Sheet

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Event Planning Business

Cash Flow Statement

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup event planning business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Event Planning Business

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your event planning company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

A well-written business plan is an essential tool for any event planning company. If you are seeking funding from investors or lenders, it’s important to have a polished and professional business plan. Use the outline above as a guide as you write your own event planning business plan.   

Finish Your Event Planning Business Plan in 1 Day!

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Event Planning Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Event Planning Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their event planning businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through an event planning business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is an Event Planning Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your own event planning business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for Your Event Planning Company

If you’re looking to start an event planner business or grow your existing one you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your event planning business to improve your chances of success. Your event planning business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Source of Funding for Event Planning Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of secure funding for an event planning business are bank loans, personal funding, credit cards, and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.

Another common form of secure funding for an event planning business is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding or, like a bank, they will give you a loan. Venture capitalists will not fund an event planning business.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for event planning.

When you write a business plan, you should include the following 10 key aspects:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each important component of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of event planning business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have an event planning business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of businesses.

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the event planning business industry. Discuss the type of business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target audience. Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy and plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types:

• Corporate Events : this type of event planning business caters to businesses, charities, nonprofit organizations, and the like to plan fundraisers, receptions, conventions, trade shows, competitions, award ceremonies, product launches, and other types of meetings.
• Social Events : this type of event planning business targets middle- to upper-income individuals and families to plan events such as weddings, birthdays, reunions, and other types of celebrations.
• Niche Events : some event planners specialize in just one of the above event types.

In addition to explaining the type of event planning business you operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include sales goals you’ve reached, new contracts, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your business structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the event planning business.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the industry educates you. It helps you understand the target market in which you are operating. 

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy particularly if your research identifies market trends. For example, if there was a trend towards events that adhere to social distancing guidelines, it would be helpful to ensure your plan details what approach you would take (suggested venues, creative solutions for inclusion, etc.).

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section:

• How big is the event planning industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your business. You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section must detail the clientele you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: private and corporate clients, high-income households, medium-income households, engaged couples, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of event planning company you operate and the event services you offer. Clearly, businesses would want a different atmosphere, pricing, and product options, and would respond to different marketing promotions than engaged couples.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the age groups, genders, locations, and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most event planning companies primarily serve customers living in the same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target market. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do to attract customers and retain your existing customers.

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other planners and businesses that offer event planning services.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from you that aren’t direct competitors. This includes caterers, venues, and customers planning events on their own. You need to mention such competition to show you understand that not everyone who throws a party hires an event planner each time.

With regards to direct competition, you want to detail the other businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be other businesses that offer event planning services very close to your site.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What planning services do they offer (wedding planning, baby showers, birthday parties, social events, etc.)?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. 

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide superior event management options (e.g., more cuisine types, better venue options, etc.)?
• Will you provide event options that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you make it easier or faster for customers to book your services (e.g., utilizing event planning software, etc.)?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For an event management business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

In the product section, you should reiterate the type of business that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products/services you will be offering. For example, in addition to designing the event, locating the venue, arranging vendors, coordinating personnel, and supervising the event, will you offer services such as catering, decor, and entertainment?

In this section, document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place refers to the location of your event management business, conference centers, and/or venues in which you own and/or have a relationship. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success.

The final part of your event planning business marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your site. The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Social media marketing
• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local bloggers and websites 
• Partnerships with local organizations (e.g., getting on the list of recommended vendors with local venues)
• Local radio advertising
• Banner ads at local venues

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your event planner business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your event planning business such as interviewing clients, making arrangements, keeping the store/studio clean, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to serve your 100th customer, or when you hope to reach $X in total sales. It could also be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or launch in a new market.

Management Team

To demonstrate your own event planning business’ ability to succeed as a business, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company. 

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience as event planners or in the industry. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in event planning and/or successfully running small businesses.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you plan one event per week or several events? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. For instance, if you spend $100,000 on building out your business, that will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $100.000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. For example, let’s say a company approached you with a massive $100,000 event contract, that would cost you $50,000 to fulfill. Well, in most cases, you would have to pay that $50,000 now for supplies, equipment rentals, employee salaries, etc. But let’s say the company didn’t pay you for 180 days. During those 180 days, you could run out of money.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key startup costs needed in starting or growing your business:

• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• The total cost of equipment and furnishings like decor, sound systems, etc.
• Cost of maintaining an adequate amount of supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your store design blueprint or location lease.

  Event Planning Summary Putting together your own event planner business plan is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the event planning sample template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the business, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful event planning business.

  OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how Growthink’s business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you.   Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

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How to Start an Event Planning Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

Updated:   February 14, 2024

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The event planning industry is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8% . As celebrations, conferences, and corporate events continue to grow in popularity and scope, the demand for professional event coordination keeps rising.

With new technological tools and social platforms emerging, event planners have ample opportunities to attract clients across industries. Orchestrating memorable and logistically seamless events requires keen attention to detail, extensive vendor networks, and creative vision.

This guide will help you learn how to start a event planning business. Topics include market research, competitive analysis, registering an EIN, obtaining business insurance, and other important elements of a successful event planning business.

1. Conduct Event Planning Market Research

Market research is essential to starting a party planning business. It offers insight into creating a business plan for your own event planning business, finding the top wedding planning and party planning equipment, and more.

Some details you’ll learn through event planning market research include:

• The second largest clients are non-profit organizations and associations, investing around $2.3 billion annually.
• Beyond direct spending on event planning services, the related transportation, hospitality, and catering sectors also benefit significantly from the events industry.
• According to Meetings Mean Business, conferences and events in the US directly support over 5.9 million jobs.
• Virtual and hybrid events are also projected to see dramatic growth in the coming years as digital tools expand, opening up new opportunities.
• With globalization and rising corporate budgets driving event demand ever higher across most industries, new organizers can tap into this momentum.

Success rests on building up specialized expertise, creativity, organizational skills, and an extensive professional network. The barriers to entry remain relatively low but scaling up remains challenging in this competitive sphere.

2. Analyze the Competition

Analyzing the competition is a critical step when starting an event planning business. This analysis should evaluate both local brick-and-mortar competitors and broader online players. This will help you form a solid business plan, choose the best event management software, price according to your target market, and spot trends in the event planning service industry.

First, identify event planning agencies operating in your geographic area across various tiers and specializations. Research their specific services, pricing, types of events produced, and total capacities.

Developing a comprehensive competitor grid allows new planners to map the local landscape while spotting unmet needs or gaps to fill. It also aids in benchmarking potential pricing levels.

In addition to place-based competitors, analyze industry leaders and fast-growing startups in the online space. Study their website formats, content strategy, search visibility, social media engagement levels, professional partnerships, and other digital components.

While not directly competing for local clients initially, these firms set benchmarks for best practices across SEO optimization, accessibility options, customer service infrastructure, and innovation. New ventures should emulate and learn from category leaders in the virtual world even when focused on a specific metro region offline.

By scouting the most successful online and offline players, new planners can craft differentiated value propositions and streamlined operational processes to stand apart. Competitor analysis illuminates prevailing industry norms while revealing creative directions and offerings prime for disruption.

3. Costs to Start an Event Planning Business

Launching an event planning business requires careful financial planning and cost analysis even before taking the first client. Between startup expenses and ongoing overhead, new entrepreneurs must budget adequately to turn a profit and fuel growth. Here is an overview of common costs to expect:

Start-up Costs

• Legal formation & licensing – $500-$2,000 to incorporate plus any local business permits
• Office basics – $3,000-$5,000 for basic furniture, computer equipment, software, supplies. Alternatively, you could rent some of the equipment , reducing your start-up costs but increasing your ongoing costs.
• Website development – $3,000-$5,000 for custom design and content population
• Branding – $500-$2,000 for logo design, business cards, templates
• Marketing assets – $2,000-$5,000 for advertising, printed collateral
• Initial staffing – Many planners start as solopreneurs before hiring but budget $40K+ for the first full-time employee
• Optional storefront space – $2,000-$5,000 per month for rental lease, minimal build-out budget

Ongoing Costs

• Office rental – $1,000+ per month for coworking desk or basic retail footprint
• Software subscriptions – $100-$500 per month for CRM system, design tools, productivity suites
• Contract workers – $2,000+ per month for graphic designers, writers, virtual assistants
• Professional development – $500+ for continued event planner education
• Marketing – $500-$2,000+ per month for digital ads, content creation
• Insurance – $800+ annually for general liability & event cancellation policies
• Legal & accounting fees – $3,000 for attorney, accountant/bookkeeper
• Staffing budgets – Employee salaries from $40,000+, health benefits, payroll taxes
• General overhead – Utilities, repairs, contingencies

With lean operations, new event planners can launch with around $20,000 in startup funding. However, most entrepreneurs spend over $100,000 on initial costs including full-time staff and brick-and-mortar spaces. Careful financial planning allows room for unexpected expenses while setting realistic budgets to turn a first-year profit.

4. Form a Legal Business Entity

When starting an event planning company, the legal structure you choose determines everything from day-to-day operations to personal liability exposure. While sole proprietorships offer simplicity and partnerships enable resource pooling, limited liability companies (LLCs) deliver the best blend of protection and flexibility for growth.

Sole Proprietor

As a sole proprietor, you retain full control and avoid corporate taxes. However, your personal and business assets stay the same – leaving all your funds at risk if sued over vendor disputes or event accidents. This unlimited liability generates immense stress for solopreneurs in such a high-risk sector.

Partnership

Partnerships allow you to share the workload with a co-owner through joint contributions of capital and skills. But you still bear responsibility for your partner’s managerial mistakes or financial debts. Negotiating an equitable partnership requires complex legal guidance.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Establishing an LLC shields your assets from any business-related claims or judgments. As an LLC owner, you cannot lose more than your invested capital. This liability buffer promotes bolder decisions to advance competitive positioning and profits over time.

Corporation

A corporation is the entity of choice for large businesses. It is the most protective, but also the most complex entity. For a small event planning business, forming a corporation would be a long and unnecessary process compared to the other options.

5. Register Your Business For Taxes

An employer identification number (EIN) serves as a business entity’s tax ID number for federal tax purposes. Just like an individual uses their social security number to file personal taxes, a business needs its own unique EIN to handle company taxes and other regulatory documents.

Event planning businesses should apply for an EIN as soon as they officially form their business structure. The IRS offers free online registration for both new and existing entities through this simple application process:

• Step 1) Provide basic information about your company including legal name, address, and ownership details.
• Step 2) Specify the reason for requesting the EIN, choosing “Started a new business” for a newly launched event planning venture
• Step 3) Submit your contact information and EIN application digitally in just a few minutes

Once obtained, an EIN enables event planners to open business bank accounts, apply for required licenses/permits, hire employees process payroll, and file annual tax returns.

Most states also require event planning companies to register for sales tax collection certificates through their revenue department websites if selling taxable goods and services. These state-level licenses link directly to your federal EIN.

6. Setup Your Accounting

Proper financial practices form the bedrock of a thriving event-planning business. From bookkeeping and taxes to banking and expenditures, optimizing these monetary flows requires specialized accounting expertise meshed with efficient software tools.

Open a Business Bank Account

After structuring your business entity, immediately establish dedicated financial accounts and tracking. Business banking simplifies separating commercial and personal transactions while enabling essential capabilities like merchant processing. Choose a checking account with unlimited transactions to maintain liquidity for frequent vendor payments.

Accounting Software

Automating entry categorization through accounting software drastically reduces paperwork and manual reconciliation needs. Packages like QuickBooks seamlessly sync with bank/credit card accounts to log all financial activity. The visual dashboards and custom reporting also provide real-time performance analytics to guide smarter decisions.

Hire an Accountant

While technology paves the path for self-service bookkeeping, partnering with an accountant alleviates tax headaches plus auditing risks. These financial specialists handle payroll, produce clean quarterly/annual statements, optimize write-offs/deductions, and ensure full compliance across local, state, and federal requirements.

7. Obtain Licenses and Permits

Before hosting their first event, new planners must secure the necessary licenses and permits to legally operate while minimizing liability risks. Find federal license information through the U.S. Small Business Administration . The SBA also offers a local search tool for state and city requirements.

• General business license – Nearly all municipalities require annual registration of any company based within their jurisdiction, regardless of sector. These straightforward licenses collect minor fees in exchange for formal monitoring that ensures compliance with zoning, building codes, and other administrative rules.
• Special event permits – Local governments or private venues mandate dedicated permits when staging occasions expecting substantial attendance like conferences, concerts, races, or large parties.
• Liquor licenses – In addition to the basic business permit, event companies hoping to sell alcohol at hosted functions in certain public places or private venues with broader beverage programs must hold active liquor licenses.
• Food safety certification – Catering elements of an event require meeting health department standards. Some regions necessitate training courses and compliance audits when handling and serving food. Mobile cart/truck permits similarly require approval based on equipment and handling procedures.

Consult local municipal portals to identify all needed licenses, then state entities for sector-specific permits around high-risk activities. Lawfully securing the proper credentials protects both planners and their clients.

8. Get Business Insurance

Even with extensive risk management protocols, unforeseen accidents or incidents at planned events can spur lawsuits that financially devastate unprotected companies. Purchasing tailored business insurance policies greatly mitigates this liability exposure.

Without adequate coverage, a single massive claim could force an event planning venture to fold by wiping out precious working capital. Common legal actions from guests, vendors, or venue owners related to injuries, damaged property, contract disputes, or negligence might seek six or even seven-figure payouts.

Paying such exorbitant settlements out-of-pocket would irreparably sink most small operators. Business interruption stemming from a canceled event could also cut off vital income flows right when legal fees swell. Top carriers like The Event Helper and Progressive offer customized protection including:

• General liability – Covers 3rd party bodily injury and property damage claims
• Event cancellation – Reimburses for canceled event loss of income
• Professional liability – Handles errors and omissions around client work
• Cyber liability – Mitigates data breaches and hacker attacks

Purchasing the right insurance begins with a needs assessment and consultation with qualified brokers familiar with the unique risks event planners face. They help tailor tiered solutions balancing premium costs and coverage limits based on potential vulnerabilities.

9. Create an Office Space

An office provides event planners with physical infrastructure enabling smooth operations, productive work routines, and polished client meetings. The optimal setup balances functionality, aesthetics, and cost based on business stage and location-based needs.

Home Office

Home offices offer ultra-low overhead with maximum schedule flexibility for solo entrepreneurs. Spare bedrooms readily transform into functional command centers for administrative work, phone calls, and virtual collaborations. Particularly benefiting rural planners not needing to meet local clients daily, dedicated spaces within a residence rent around $100 monthly.

Coworking Office

Coworking spaces like WeWork provide stylish, professional environments conducive to focus while enabling networking with other site members. Open desk rentals typically run $300+ monthly across most metro markets. For teams needing meeting rooms and private office spaces, costs scale to $800+ monthly. While positioning brands as modern companies, the variable month-to-month terms simplify growth projections.

10. Source Your Equipment

Launching an event planning venture requires acquiring key equipment to execute successful gatherings, while carefully balancing initial outlays. Savvy entrepreneurs source these vital materials both new and used from diverse suppliers:

Brand-new laptops, printers, cameras, and software pack reliability and performance but strain startup budgets. Entry-level packages sufficiently support early operations with basic Word/Excel systems spanning $300+, high-quality DSLR camera outfits from $750+, and versatile printer/scanner combos averaging around $300.

Lightly-used electronics provide immense savings over new ones while retaining plenty of utility. Scout local classifieds like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for laptop deals under $100 and camera gear deals up to 70% off retail prices.

Equipment rental shops provide affordable short-term access to pricey items like speakers, stages, and furniture that planning agencies cannot justify buying outright. Most inventory rents for 5-10% of the purchase price per day with delivery/pickup. Useful for outfitting large one-off events.

Long-term equipment leasing enables the use of essential assets like vehicles and expensive tech across 12-48 months for small recurring fees, avoiding major outlays. Lease approvals depend on business financials and credit history.

11. Establish Your Brand Assets

Cultivating a strong brand identity proves essential for event planning agencies striving to attract clients in crowded marketplaces. Strategic moves like securing a personalized phone system, crafting sleek visual assets, digitizing operations through polished websites, etc. boost recognition and trust in equal measure.

Get a Business Phone Number

Acquiring designated business phone numbers and extensions through advanced VoIP platforms like RingCentral conveys professionalism from first contact. Callers reach responsive representatives instead of shaky personal devices prone to poor service.

Design a Logo

A logo symbolizes the visual ethos of an events company. Bold, lively marks composed on DIY sites like Looka feel fitting for stirring experiences while minimalist icons may suit corporate planners. Clean icons also ease embroidery on shirts and other merch.

Print Business Cards

Business cards enable establishing immediate connections at venues and industry gatherings by passing memorable branded collateral. Matching the fonts, colors, and symbols from logos funded through vendors like Vistaprint ties assets together.

Buy a Domain Name

Securing matching domain names raises online visibility and credibility during digital searches for regional event support. NameCheap guides new owners through domain valuations, availability checks, and purchase processes to acquire their .com identities.

Build a Website

Building out full websites demands weighing the cost/control tradeoffs of hiring web developers versus utilizing simplified DIY sites like Wix . The former route engages experts to code custom designs while the latter enables affordable self-service creation like Fiverr .

12. Join Associations and Groups

Beyond online brand-building, event planners gain immense value by actively participating in local professional associations, gatherings, and digital communities. Tapping this hive knowledge aids continuous skills development while forging collaborations and client referrals.

Local Associations

Industry associations like Meeting Professionals International contain established groups across most metros. Monthly meetings cover trending challenges plus open idea exchange and job boards link talent with roles. Membership fees that enable access to these networks range from $100 to 500 annually depending on region and applicant experience level.

Local Meetups

Attend area business events and tradeshows like those discovered through Meetup which compile upcoming webinars, conferences, and networking happy hours. Develop authentic connections with venue managers, caterers, rental vendors, and fellow planners who later trade subcontracts on larger events. Entry fees average $20 per session.

Facebook Groups

Vast troves of experiential knowledge hide amid planning communities inside Facebook Groups like Creative Event Planners and Party Planners & Event Organisers . Digging through the innumerable archived conversations reveals referrals for all vendor types from photographers to security guards plus new angles on costs and client preferences based on geography. Signing up is free.

13. How to Market an Event Planning Business

Promoting events expertise through consistent marketing enables planners to fill calendars with coveted bookings. Balancing digital outreach scalable to wide audiences and personal relationship-building grows community authority plus positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Referral Marketing

Satisfied party and conference clients eagerly recommend services after seamlessly executed celebrations leave lasting impressions on their guests, employees, or business partners. Offer branded giveaways or discounts on future bookings to motivate sharing on social media and referring associates.

Digital Marketing

Digital tactics wield incredible reach to engage prospects plus influence search visibility:

• Launch Google Ads campaigns to display services when users search for related keywords like “corporate event planners”
• Run Facebook and Instagram ads targeted locally by interests like “conferences”
• Post TikTok videos displaying behind-the-scenes event footage
• Start a planning advice blog updated weekly with SEO-optimized articles
• Send monthly email newsletters with venue spotlights and seasonal promotions

Traditional Marketing

Traditional options establish visibility and trust through long-lasting community presence:

• Distribute printed flyers and mail promotional postcards to regional HR contacts
• Schedule radio spots on local stations before major holidays or during conference seasons
• Rent eye-catching billboard space along heavily trafficked commuter routes
• Sponsor booths at annual business or tourism conventions to meet event organizers
• Host public mixers at recently opened venues to connect with new clientele

Synchronizing digital efficiency with physical relationship-building helps event businesses continually expand influence and bookings.

14. Focus on the Customer

Delivering exceptional customer service forms the cornerstone of a thriving event-planning business. Referral rates directly tie to exceeding partner and client expectations through responsive communication, transparent pricing, and seamless execution.

Venue owners and vendors constantly evaluate new planners before trusting precious bookings to unproven partners. Glowing word-of-mouth shifts leverage during these crucial vendor negotiations as applicants showcase rave reviews from regional players.

Similarly, the corporate clients and non-profits hosting family reunions, galas, and conferences assess planner competency through each interaction. It’s vital to present polished responsive proposals, address all questions promptly, and carefully guide stakeholders from conception through the final farewell toast.

Impressing guests through personal touches like customized menus or surprises for the guest of honor sparks appreciation. When audiences leave galvanized by a perfectly orchestrated event aligned with organizational values/goals, they eagerly recommend partners for future functions.

In an industry dependent on intimacy and trust, delivering exceptional customer journeys wins repeat business and referrals that allow for sustainable company growth in competitive event markets.

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 Are you passionate about creating memorable experiences and have an eye for detail? Starting your own event planning business could be the perfect venture for you. Launching an event planning business is an exciting decision, but remember that cutting through the clutter and connecting with your target audience is crucial. 

Often, generic advice falls short of addressing the real challenges you as an aspiring event planner face. In this guide, we’ll explore a proven framework to kickstart your event planning business successfully.

But let’s start with the basics and slowly build up your journey to teach you how to start an event planning business. 

What is an Event Planning Business?

An event planning business specializes in organizing and coordinating various types of events, such as weddings, corporate functions, and social gatherings. An event planner handles everything from concept development and budget management to vendor coordination and logistics.

Their goal is to ensure the event runs smoothly and meets the client’s vision and objectives. By managing all details, they allow clients to enjoy their events without stress.

The Benefits of Starting an Event Planning Business in 2024

As we step into 2024, the events industry is witnessing a resurgence with a growing demand for unique and personalized experiences. Here are some compelling reasons to consider starting your event planning business this year:

• The events industry is rebounding, with an increasing number of people eager to celebrate milestones and create memorable moments.
• Diverse events, from virtual experiences to in-person gatherings, offer a wide range of opportunities.
• Clients are seeking innovative and personalized event experiences, providing a platform for creative entrepreneurs to shine.
• The demand for unique themes, decor, and entertainment options is on the rise.
• Event planning allows for flexible working hours, making it an attractive option for those seeking work-life balance.
• Independence in decision-making and the ability to choose clients and projects.

How to Start an Event Planning Business in 14 Steps

Understand the event planning market, assess and improve your event planning skills, do market research and event planning business market fit, choose your niche when starting an event planning business, decide on a business structure, create an irresistible event-planning solution, write an event planning business plan, acquire necessary licenses and permits.

• Calculate initial and ongoing expenses for event management business

Figure out the booking process for your event planning business

Set up prices with a healthy profit margin.

• Promote your event management business
• Sell your event planning services

Grow and scale your event planning business

To truly understand the event planning market, you must immerse yourself in its dynamics. This involves staying informed about the latest trends, emerging technologies, and shifts in consumer behavior. Analyze how global and local events impact the industry, keeping an eye on event statistics and other crucial data. 

Let’s see some examples of market dynamics when it comes to event planning business:

• Rise of Virtual Events

With the increasing prevalence of virtual experiences, understanding how to integrate technology into traditional event planning is crucial.

• Sustainability Trends

The growing emphasis on eco-friendly events requires an awareness of sustainable practices in event management.

Events planning challenges

Every industry has its challenges, and event planning is no exception. Acknowledging these challenges is the first step in overcoming them. Challenges may include budget constraints, unexpected logistical issues, or dealing with unforeseen changes in event requirements. Anticipating and planning for these challenges will set you apart as a prepared and resilient event planner.

Trends come and go, and it’s on you to make the most out of them. Whether it’s incorporating experiential marketing, interactive elements, or thematic designs, trends influence client expectations. By understanding and leveraging these trends, you position yourself as a forward-thinking and creative event planner.

Putting insights into action

Identifying the untapped potential within the market is where strategic planning comes into play. Consider the demographics of your geographical area, the types of events in demand, and the gaps in services offered by competitors. Conduct surveys, engage in networking, and seek feedback to uncover opportunities for growth.

Before you start chasing new shiny ideas and dive into external avenues for skill enhancement, begin with a thorough self-assessment. Reflect on your past events, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. Consider seeking feedback from clients , vendors, or colleagues to gain valuable insights into your performance.

Enhancing your event planning skills

Formal education and structured learning play a pivotal role in skill enhancement. What can you do to enhance your event management skills ? Explore workshops, seminars, and online courses that cover various aspects of event planning. These educational opportunities can provide in-depth knowledge, from event design principles to the latest in event technology.

Another great strategy is connecting with seasoned professionals in the event planning industry who can offer invaluable mentorship. A mentor can provide guidance based on their experiences, share industry insights, and offer constructive feedback. Consider joining mentorship programs or networking events to establish mentor-mentee relationships.

While theoretical knowledge is essential, hands-on experience remains unparalleled in its ability to hone event planning skills. Actively seek opportunities to work on a diverse range of events, from weddings to corporate conferences. Practical experience not only solidifies your skills but also builds confidence in managing various event scenarios.

In 2024, proficiency in event management tools and software is a valuable skill. Familiarize yourself with event planning software, project management tools , and virtual event platforms. Technological literacy enhances efficiency in tasks ranging from guest list management to creating immersive virtual experiences.

Begin your market research by gaining a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the event planning industry. Analyze market trends, identify key players, and assess the demand for various types of events. Consider factors such as geographic location, demographics, and socio-economic trends that might influence the market dynamics.

What can you do?

• Explore reports from event industry associations and market research firms for a macro view of trends.
• Study the strategies, strengths, and weaknesses of established event-planning businesses.

Image by vector4stock on Freepik

The next step is to narrow down your focus by clearly defining your target audience. Consider demographic factors such as age, income level, and interests. Understanding your audience allows you to tailor your services to meet their specific needs and preferences. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach; different demographics have distinct preferences and expectations. Conduct market research to create detailed buyer personas, encompassing factors like age, interests, and spending capacity.

Crafting buyer personas for event planning business

• Develop detailed profiles of your ideal clients.
• Consider factors like their event goals, preferred communication channels, and budget constraints.

Beyond demographics, explore the specific preferences of your target audience. Whether it’s the aesthetic choices for a wedding or the interactive elements for a corporate conference, aligning your services with what resonates with your clients ensures a more personalized and satisfying event experience.

You also need to dive deep into the needs and pain points of your potential clients. What challenges do they face when planning events, and what solutions are currently lacking in the market? By identifying these pain points, you can tailor your services to address specific gaps in the industry.

Crafting your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Once you’ve identified all these aspects, it’s time to craft your unique selling proposition. Armed with insights from your market research , articulate a unique value proposition that sets your event planning business apart. Your value proposition should communicate the specific benefits and advantages clients gain by choosing your services over competitors.

Let’s see the key components of a value proposition for an event planning business:

• Highlight any specialized skills, certifications, or expertise that distinguish your business.
• Emphasize unique solutions or approaches that address specific market needs.
• Communicate a commitment to exceptional customer service and personalized experiences.

Is there something else you can do? Well, of course!

Analyze competitor strategies

Evaluate the strategies employed by competitors to gain insights into how competitive the event planning industry is. Identify areas where competitors may be falling short or where you can differentiate your business. Consider scraping their websites through a cURL Post in order to streamline this process. This analysis informs your positioning within the market. This leads us to the next step you should take when starting an event planning business:

Complete SWOT analysis

Conducting a SWOT analysis—a comprehensive examination of your business’s internal and external factors—provides a roadmap for making informed decisions and optimizing your chances of success.

Identify the internal factors that give your event planning business a competitive edge. These are the attributes and capabilities that set you apart and contribute to your success in the market.

• Expertise and Skills

Highlight any specialized event planning skills or certifications you possess.

Emphasize your creative approach to designing and executing events.

• Industry Connections

Showcase relationships with reliable vendors, venues, and other industry professionals.

• Technology Adoption

If you leverage event planning software or technology, consider it a strength.

Examine the internal factors that may pose challenges or limitations to your event planning business. Recognizing and addressing weaknesses is crucial for sustainable growth.

• Limited Experience

If you’re new to event planning, acknowledge the learning curve and outline plans for skill enhancement.

• Resource Constraints

Lack of financial resources, staff, or equipment may be a weakness.

• Niche Limitations

If your expertise is limited to specific event types, address plans for diversification.

Opportunities

Explore external factors in the market that can be advantageous for your event planning business. These are areas where your business can grow and thrive.

• Growing Demand

Identify emerging trends or increasing demand for certain types of events.

• Collaborations

Explore opportunities to collaborate with other businesses or professionals in the events industry.

• Technological Advancements

Leverage new event planning tools or technology trends to enhance your services.

• Market Gaps

Identify gaps in the market that your business can fill.

Evaluate external factors that could potentially pose challenges or threats to your event planning business. Being aware of these threats allows you to proactively mitigate risks.

• Economic Downturn

Economic challenges may impact clients’ budgets for events.

• Intense Competition

A saturated market with numerous competitors may pose a threat.

• Changing Regulations

Stay informed about any legal or regulatory changes affecting the events industry.

• Seasonal Fluctuations

If your business is impacted by seasonal demand, plan for potential idle periods.

Starting your event planning business is scary, but exciting. Choosing your niche is crucial. You can always pivot to another niche, but getting it right on the first try will give you the headstart you need for successfully starting your event planning business. 

Here’s how to do it right:

• The first step in choosing your niche is to identify the type of events that genuinely excite and inspire you. Whether it’s the romance of weddings, the sophistication of corporate gatherings, or the vibrant energy of social events, aligning your business with your passion sets the foundation for long-term success.
• While passion is paramount, it’s essential to evaluate the market demand for your chosen niche. Research the local and global trends to understand the current and future needs of potential clients. A niche with a growing demand ensures a steady stream of opportunities for your business.
• Evaluate your skills, expertise, and previous experiences in event planning. Your professional background and knowledge can influence the type of events you’re well-equipped to handle. Leverage your strengths to carve a niche that showcases your unique capabilities.
• Analyze the level of competition in different event planning niches. While a saturated market may present challenges, it also indicates a viable demand. Assessing the competitive landscape helps you identify gaps or opportunities for differentiation.
• Once you’ve chosen your niche, tailor your services to cater specifically to the needs and preferences of that market segment. This involves customizing your approach, packages, and offerings to align with the unique requirements of the events within your chosen niche.
• Craft a brand identity that resonates with your chosen niche. This includes developing a compelling brand story, creating a visually appealing brand image, and adopting a tone of voice that connects with your target audience.

When starting an event planning business, the crucial decision you’ll need to make is determining the legal structure of your venture. The choice of business structure significantly impacts various aspects, including taxation, liability, and the overall management of your business. But what options do you have?

Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the simplest and most common form of business structure. In this setup, you are the sole owner and operator of the event planning business. It’s an ideal choice for solo entrepreneurs or small businesses with minimal anticipated risks.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

An LLC combines elements of both a sole proprietorship and a corporation. It provides a degree of personal liability protection while maintaining simplicity in terms of operation. LLCs are a popular choice for small to medium-sized event-planning businesses.

Partnership

A partnership involves two or more individuals sharing ownership and responsibilities. There are two primary types: general partnerships (equal sharing of responsibilities and liabilities) and limited partnerships (one general partner with unlimited liability and limited partners with liability restricted to their investment).

Corporation

A corporation is a separate legal entity from its owners. It is owned by shareholders, managed by a board of directors, and operated by officers. Corporations are suitable for businesses with significant growth ambitions.

Before you start an event planning business you need to understand that the key to success lies in offering a solution that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of your target audience.

Here’s what you should do:

• Clearly articulate and showcase what sets your services apart from competitors. Whether it’s a signature planning process, exclusive vendor partnerships, or a track record of delivering extraordinary experiences, emphasize these unique selling propositions in your marketing materials.
• Leveraging technology can elevate your event planning solution. From online event management platforms and event plugins to virtual planning tools and social media integration for real-time updates, embracing technology enhances both the planning process and the overall event experience.
• Clear and effective communication is the backbone of successful event planning. Ensure that your solution includes robust communication channels to keep clients informed and involved. Additionally, fostering strong collaborations with vendors, venues, and other stakeholders contributes to a seamless and well-coordinated event execution.
• One size rarely fits all in the world of events. Offering personalized and customizable solutions allows clients to feel a sense of ownership and involvement in the planning process. Whether it’s custom décor, unique entertainment options, or personalized event timelines, the ability to tailor your services adds a distinctive touch.
• Consider how you can infuse creativity into your event planning services. This could involve staying updated on the latest trends, incorporating unique themes, or introducing innovative technologies to enhance the overall event experience.
• No two events are alike, and recognizing this fact is crucial in creating a solution that resonates with your clients. Tailor your services to cater to the specific needs of your chosen niche. Whether it’s weddings, corporate events, or social gatherings, having specialized packages or customized offerings adds a personal touch that clients appreciate.

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A comprehensive event planning business plan is the foundation of a successful event planning business. It serves as your roadmap, guiding your business toward its goals while providing a clear and strategic direction.

Here’s how to develop an effective event planning business plan that outlines your vision, target market, marketing strategy, and financial projections.

Vision and goals

Begin by articulating your business’s vision and mission. What do you aim to achieve with your event planning services? Outline short-term and long-term goals that provide a clear trajectory for your business. Whether it’s becoming a prominent wedding planner in your region or specializing in large corporate events, defining your goals sets the tone for the entire plan.

Target market

Understanding your target market is fundamental to the success of your event planning business. Define your ideal clients, considering factors such as demographics, preferences, and spending capacity. Tailor your services to meet the specific needs and expectations of your identified market segments.

Marketing strategy

Your marketing strategy is the bridge between your event planning services and your target market. Clearly outline how you intend to promote your business. This may include digital marketing efforts such as social media campaigns, website optimization, and content marketing. Traditional methods like networking, partnerships, and attending industry events should also be considered.

Service packages

Detail the range of services your event planning business will offer. Whether it’s full-service event coordination, day-of coordination, or specialized service packages for weddings, corporate events, or social gatherings, clearly articulate what sets your services apart. Highlight any unique features or value additions that distinguish your offerings.

Competitive analysis

Analyze the competitiveness of the event planning industry in your target area. Identify key competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, and the unique selling propositions that set them apart. Use this information to refine your own strategy and identify opportunities for differentiation.

Financial planning

Create detailed financial projections for your event planning business. This should include startup costs, operational expenses, and revenue forecasts. Outline your pricing strategy and justify your rates based on market research and the value you provide. A realistic and well-researched financial plan instills confidence in potential investors and serves as a guide for your financial management.

Risk analysis and mitigation

Anticipate potential challenges and risks that your event planning business may encounter. This could include market fluctuations, unexpected expenses, or industry-specific challenges. Develop strategies to mitigate these risks and ensure your business remains resilient in the face of uncertainties.

Operational plan

Detail the day-to-day operations of your event planning business. This includes staffing requirements, vendor management processes, client communication protocols, and any technology or tools you plan to leverage. A well-structured operational plan ensures efficiency and consistency in service delivery.

Executive summary

Summarize the key components of your event planning business plan in an executive summary. This concise overview provides readers with a snapshot of your business, making it an essential part of any business plan presentation or proposal.

To ensure that your event planning business operates smoothly and legally, it’s crucial to obtain the necessary licenses and permits. This not only protects you from legal issues but also instills confidence in your clients.

Here’s a detailed look at the different types of licenses and permits you may need:

1. General business license

• Purpose : This is a basic license required to legally operate any business within a municipality.
• Where to Obtain : Your city or county government office.
• Details : Typically involves a registration fee and annual renewals. It ensures that your business complies with local regulations and zoning laws.

2. Employer Identification Number (EIN)

• Purpose : A federal tax ID number required for hiring employees and opening a business bank account.
• Where to Obtain : Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
• Details : This number is necessary for tax purposes and helps separate your personal and business finances.

3. Sales tax permit

• Purpose : Allows the business to collect sales tax on taxable goods and services.
• Where to Obtain : Your state’s Department of Revenue.
• Details : Requirements and fees vary by state. Some states require this permit if you sell physical products or certain types of services.

4. Health permit

• Purpose : Required if your events involve food service, to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Where to Obtain : Local health department.
• Details : This includes catering services or any event where food is prepared and served. Compliance involves inspections and adherence to food safety standards.

5. Liquor license

• Purpose : Allows the business to legally serve alcohol at events.
• Where to Obtain : State Alcohol Beverage Control Board or a similar agency.
• Details : Requirements vary significantly by state and type of event. It typically involves an application fee and a waiting period.

6. Special event permits

• Purpose : Required for organizing large public events such as festivals, concerts, or parades.
• Where to Obtain : Local government or specific event permitting authority.
• Details : These permits ensure that the event complies with public safety, noise, and health regulations. It often involves coordinating with police, fire, and health departments.

7. Zoning and land use permits

• Purpose : Ensures that the location used for events is zoned appropriately for such activities.
• Where to Obtain : Local zoning department.
• Details : This is particularly important if you are using non-traditional venues for events. It ensures that your event does not violate local zoning laws.

8. Professional licenses

• Purpose : Depending on the services offered (e.g., event design, catering), specific professional licenses might be required.
• Where to Obtain : Various professional licensing boards.
• Details : These are often industry-specific and may require proof of qualifications and adherence to professional standards.

Pro tip: Check with your city or county government to understand the specific requirements in your area. It’s best if you work with an accountant or lawyer to ensure you have all the necessary permits. And don’t forget – regulations can change, so regularly check for updates to ensure ongoing compliance.

Calculate initial and ongoing expenses for an event planning business

How much does it cost to start an event planning business? Estimating both initial and ongoing expenses is crucial for ensuring the financial sustainability of your event planning business. Let’s see the key areas you need to consider when planning your budget.

Initial expenses for starting an event planning business

• Evaluate rental costs for office space. This could be a dedicated office, a co-working space, or even a home office setup. Pro tip : Start modestly and scale up as your business grows
• Factor in the cost of essential equipment like computers, printers, and office supplies. Pro tip: Consider second-hand equipment initially to manage costs.
• Allocate funds for website development, business cards, and initial marketing efforts. Pro tip: Leverage cost-effective digital marketing channels initially, such as social media and content marketing.
• Budget for workshops, courses, or certifications to enhance your event planning skills.
• Account for fees related to business registration, permits, and licensing.

Ongoing expenses for event planning business

• Explore event management software and tools to streamline your operations. Pro tip: Start with essential tools, such as an event management plugin , and scale up based on your business needs.
• Include ongoing expenses like electricity, internet, and office maintenance.
• Allocate a portion of your budget for ongoing marketing efforts to promote your services.
• Budget for insurance coverage to protect your business from unforeseen circumstances.
• Set aside funds for attending industry events, networking, and collaborating with other professionals.
• Dedicate funds for continuous learning and staying abreast of industry trends.

Remember: Always include a contingency fund to address unexpected expenses.

A streamlined booking process is not just a convenience it’s a key component of delivering a stellar client experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you figure out the booking process for your event planning business and ensure a seamless journey for your clients. A professional event management plugin can be a game-changer for your business. Here’s how:

• Efficient Workflow

Streamline your workflow with features like automated appointment scheduling, invoice generation, and client communication.

• Customization

Tailor the plugin to match your unique services, ensuring a personalized booking experience for clients.

• Data Security

Ensure the security of client information and transactions with a reliable plugin.

• Time-Saving

Free up time by automating repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on delivering high-quality services.

Investing in a professional event management plugin not only modernizes your booking process but also positions your business as tech-savvy and client-focused.

What else can you do to make the booking process smooth for your new event planning business?

• Utilize the customization features of the plugin to tailor the booking process to your specific services and client requirements.
• Offer free initial consultations to understand clients’ needs and preferences.
• Tailor your services based on the insights gained during consultations.
• Invest in an efficient booking system that allows clients to easily select services, choose dates, and make payments.
• Provide a transparent pricing structure for your services. Consider creating tiered packages or customizable options.

Setting up prices with a healthy profit margin is a crucial aspect of running a successful event-planning business. Your pricing not only needs to cover expenses but should also reflect the unique value and expertise you bring to your clients. Let’s explore effective strategies to help you determine prices that ensure financial sustainability and growth.

The first thing you need to do is to consider the unique value proposition that sets your event planning business apart from competitors. This could be your expertise in handling specific types of events, personalized services, or innovative event concepts. Price your services based on the perceived value you offer to clients. If your services are known for exceptional quality, creativity, or attention to detail, clients are likely to be willing to pay a premium.

The next step is to research and analyze the pricing strategies of competitors in your area. Understand the average pricing for similar services and assess whether your offerings align with, exceed, or differentiate from the competition.

Once you’re done with that, it’s time to clearly define your profit margin goals. Determine the percentage of profit you aim to achieve for each event. This goal should not only cover your expenses but also contribute to business growth and development.

Remember: Strive for a balance between competitiveness and profitability. While it’s essential to remain competitive in the market, undervaluing your services can lead to long-term financial challenges.

Start promoting your event planning business

Promoting your event planning business effectively is essential to attract clients and establish a strong market presence. Let’s see the strategic approaches to develop a robust online presence and leverage digital marketing to reach a wider audience.

First impressions matter

Your website serves as the digital face of your event planning business. Invest in a professionally designed website that reflects your brand identity and showcases your portfolio of successful events.

Blog content

Establish a blog on your website to regularly publish informative and engaging content related to event planning. Share insights, trends, and success stories to position your business as an industry authority.

Visual portfolio

Create a visually appealing portfolio featuring highlights from your previous events. Include high-quality images and detailed descriptions to showcase your capabilities and style.

Relevant social media platforms

Identify the social media platforms most frequented by your target audience. Whether it’s Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, maintain active and engaging profiles on these platforms.

Visual storytelling

Utilize the visual nature of social media to tell compelling stories about your events. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses, client testimonials, and updates about upcoming projects.

Keyword optimization

Incorporate relevant keywords throughout your website content to enhance its visibility on search engines. Identify and target keywords specific to event planning and your niche.

Optimize your online presence for local searches by including location-specific keywords. This is crucial for attracting clients in your geographical area. This is crucial for attracting clients in your geographical area, so make sure to take your time learning local ranking factors to ensure your business stands out in local search results.

Claiming your business

Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing. Ensure that all information, including your business hours, contact details, and photos, is accurate and up-to-date.

Client reviews

Encourage satisfied clients to leave positive reviews on your GMB profile. Positive reviews enhance your credibility and attract potential clients.

Subscriber list

Create a mailing list by encouraging website visitors to subscribe to your newsletters. Use incentives such as exclusive event planning tips, industry insights, or promotional offers.

Targeted campaigns

Develop targeted email campaigns to reach different segments of your audience. For example, send newsletters with wedding planning tips to engaged couples and corporate event ideas to businesses.

Start selling your event planning services

Selling event planning services involves more than just showcasing your skills; it’s about telling a compelling story that resonates with potential clients. Let’s explore effective strategies to sell your event planning services, emphasizing expertise, success stories, and the power of testimonials.

Your portfolio is a visual narrative of your expertise. Showcase a diverse range of events you’ve successfully planned, including weddings, corporate functions, and social gatherings.

Testimonials

Request feedback from satisfied clients and showcase their testimonials prominently on your website. Include specific details about their experience, the success of the event, and your role in making it happen.

Case studies

Develop in-depth case studies for select events. Provide a comprehensive overview, detailing the challenges you faced, innovative solutions implemented, and the overall success achieved.

Industry expertise showcase

Establish yourself as a thought leader in the event planning industry. Share your insights, trends, and best practices through blog posts, articles, and participation in industry forums.

Personalized client engagement

When pitching your services to potential clients, customize your presentations to address their specific needs and expectations. Show them that you’ve thoroughly researched and understand their requirements.

Client relationships

After successfully executing an event, follow up with clients to gather feedback and express your appreciation. This not only helps in refining your services but also strengthens the client relationship.

As your business matures, consider diversifying the types of events you plan. If you’ve primarily focused on weddings, explore opportunities in corporate events, conferences, or specialized gatherings. This not only broadens your market reach but also mitigates risks associated with reliance on a single event category.

• Evaluate your current operational processes and identify areas for improvement. Implement efficient workflows and leverage technology to automate repetitive tasks. By streamlining operations, you can handle increased demand without compromising on quality.
• As your business expands, building a capable team becomes essential. Hire skilled professionals , including event planners, coordinators, and administrative staff. A diverse and talented team contributes to the overall success and efficiency of your operations.
• Entrust responsibilities to capable team members and empower them to take ownership of specific tasks. Delegating effectively not only lightens your workload but also fosters a collaborative and motivated work environment.
• Develop comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) for various aspects of event planning. Clearly document processes related to client communication, vendor management, and onsite coordination. Standardized procedures ensure consistency and quality across all events.
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships with businesses that complement your services. This could include collaborating with catering companies, floral designers, or audio-visual experts. Such partnerships enhance your service offering and can lead to mutual referrals.
• Attend industry conferences and networking events to connect with other professionals and stay informed about industry trends. Networking provides valuable insights, potential collaborations, and opportunities for business growth.
• Actively seek feedback from clients after each event. Use this feedback to identify areas for improvement and address any concerns. Demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement reinforces your dedication to client satisfaction.

Invest in a top-notch event management plugin

Meet Amelia, the WordPress Event Calendar and Event Management Plugin that transforms the way you organize virtual and offline events, conferences, meetups, and more. 

Why choose Amelia as your event planning plugin?

Let’s see the key features of Amelia that will help you kickstart a successful event-planning business:

Responsive and customizable

Amelia is a responsive and customizable WordPress event management plugin designed for various event types. Whether you’re an event agency or conference host, Amelia caters to your specific needs.

Recurring events made easy

One standout feature is the ability to set recurring events with various options. Whether it’s a weekly meeting, monthly conference, or an annual gala, Amelia’s clear calendar view helps you manage them effortlessly.

Seamless booking pages

Create booking pages effortlessly using shortcodes or popular page builders like Divi, Elementor, or Gutenberg blocks. With Amelia, your event booking page can be ready in minutes.

Flexible deposit payments

Amelia allows you to set up deposit payments, enabling attendees to pay a partial amount upfront and the rest upon arrival. This flexibility is especially beneficial for on-site events.

Multilingual support

Hosting events in different languages? Amelia has you covered with its translation option, providing a seamless booking experience for your international audience.

Dynamic ticketing

Set different ticket prices based on attendees’ profiles or the date of purchase. Offer early bird tickets, special prices for adults and kids, and control when sales open and close.

Filter and sort with ease

Create event tags and use different colors to distinguish event types, facilitating easy navigation for both organizers and attendees.

Calendar integration

Amelia integrates with Google Calendar and Outlook, ensuring hosts stay organized, and attendees can add events to their calendars with ease.

Which key features of Amelia simplify event hosting?

Virtual sessions and online events.

Amelia caters to the modern trend of hosting events online . With native integrations with Zoom and Google Meet, organizing virtual conferences becomes a breeze.

SMS and email reminders

Ensure a high attendance rate with SMS and email reminders, keeping both organizers and attendees in the loop.

Customer and employee panels

Manage all aspects of your event, from attendees to venues, with comprehensive customer and employee panels.

Insightful admin dashboard

Get real-time insights into key performance indicators with an admin dashboard that streamlines event management.

Fully customizable design

Tailor Amelia to your brand with fully customizable design options for seamless integration with your website.

Custom fields for booking forms

Collect specific information by adding custom fields to your booking forms, enhancing the overall booking experience.

Try Amelia Today

Join the ranks of over 30,000 event businesses that trust Amelia for their events calendar. Explore Amelia’s pricing options and see demos to discover how Amelia can elevate your event planning experience!

Final Thoughts on How to Start an Event Planning Business

Starting an event planning business can be an exciting and rewarding venture, but it requires careful planning, dedication, and a keen understanding of the industry. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can set a strong foundation for your business and increase your chances of success.

First, conduct thorough market research to understand your target audience and competitors. Develop a detailed business plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and financial projections. Securing the necessary licenses and permits ensures that you operate legally and avoid potential legal issues.

Effective financial management is crucial for the sustainability of your business. Set up a dedicated business bank account, use accounting software to streamline your financial processes, and consider hiring an accountant for expert advice.

Marketing your services effectively through a well-designed website, social media presence, and networking with industry professionals can help you attract and retain clients. Building a reliable team and network of vendors will enable you to offer comprehensive and high-quality services to your clients.

By staying organized, proactive, and continually learning, you can navigate the challenges of starting and growing your event planning business. With passion and perseverance, you can create memorable events that leave a lasting impression on your clients and their guests.

Best of luck in your event planning journey!

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1. Build a solid business plan

I can’t tell you how many small event planning businesses fail because the founder didn’t put together a business plan in advance.

Start by researching successful plans and businesses that are similar to your scope of work. Then reach out to others in the events industry who may be able to guide you! 

Reach out to others in the events industry that may be able to guide you. Click To Tweet

Even if you’ve never seen a business plan, there are plenty of resources and templates online that can get you started. Additionally, when you look to grow your business, an up-to-date business plan is vital to secure any kind of investment.

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2. Set a marketing budget and use a PR company when possible.

When starting your party planning business, your marketing budget may be 30% or more of your business expenses. Does that seem like a lot? Think about all the things you’ll need:

• A website for your business
• Business cards
• Flyers and other printed info
• Digital marketing and online ads
• Expenses to travel to events for networking

Don’t leave anything out! You will need to spend money to make money, ultimately. The goal in the early months is to secure your base of customers as quickly as possible. If you deliver on the promise of creating memorable events, your clients will stick around and recommend you. As a result, your marketing costs will start to drop.

Here’s How to Start an Event Planning Business Click To Tweet

3. Clearly define your scope of work, mission and goals for your event business.

Your event planning business may evolve over time, but even when you’re just starting out, it’s important to clearly outline what you are and aren’t willing to do. You can even put this on your website to attract the right type of clients.

When you’re still building your business, saying “no” to clients  is one of the hardest things to do. But it might save you from dealing with the kinds of customers that take up too much time and don’t offer enough value in return.

4. Have your elevator speech ready.

After I set up my first events business, I had a hard time selling it to people because my 30-second pitch wasn’t refined. Make sure to spend time developing this ” it is the key to introducing everyone to your business.

Pro tip:  Don’t stress about the name of your event planning business. At the end of the day, the name of your business doesn’t matter ” as long as you produce truly memorable events. However, a catchy event business name idea might stick in someone’s brain better during an elevator pitch.

5. Do your market research

Before jumping, in I always tell people to understand their market and competitors. What is your unique value proposition? Are your fees similar to, better than or higher than others in your area? Understanding your competition and your clients will give you the leg up in this market. Don’t skip this step!

6. Spend some time learning tax laws and business filing in your area.

No matter what kind of business you want to start, there are lots of legal pieces to understand. I spent time researching which type of business would be best for me (LLC made the most sense for my consulting business).

It’s also critical to understand the tax implications before you dive in. For example, when I moved my business from Virginia to California, I had to go through the process of dissolving the business. I should have taken more time to research other possibilities!

There’s a lot to navigate, but some great resources exist for building small businesses. Here are a few I recommend:

• IRS.GOV “ Starting a Business
• SBA.GOV “ 10 Steps to Starting a Business

One of my favorite resources in Women In Events . New event planners can take advantage of our mentoring/coaching program after signing up.

Now You’re Ready to Start a Great Event Planning Business!

Have questions? We’ve got answers. Connect with @socialtables on Twitter.

Up next, here’s how to pick an event company name for your business . Or check out Social Tables free event planning tools to manage seating, meals, and so much more.

Try the event management software planners love

More tips for aspiring event planners.

• The 6 Must-Have Event Planning Skills You Need for Career Success
• The Top Event Planning Conferences This Year
• 10 Event Planning Tips Every Budding Coordinator Needs to Know

Still searching for answers about starting an event planning business?

Do your research, make a plan, set a budget, define your scope of work, and throw amazing events!

You should plan to set aside at least $15,000 to $25,000 to start a small event planning business.

Event planning can be quite a profitable career choice. The best event planners will make a name for themselves and be able to charge high prices for their vision, creativity, execution, and results.

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Event Planning Business Plan

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Corporate Retreat Professionals

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">, opportunity.

Companies need to make sure their employees have the best training and tools available.  They use the retreats to help colleagues get together and work well together which helps avoid turnover. Happy coworkers mean happy customers

The Corporate Retreat Professionals (CRP) is an event planning company specializing in corporate customers.  CRP will offer two types of services, retreat training services as well as product launch event planning.  The retreat training services will be either leadership development training or teaming skills training.  For both types of retreats, CRP can take care of the planning of the event, as well as actually hosting the training through the use of one of CRP’s strategic business partners.

The corporate market for event planning is steady and profitable.  For some large companies, economic downturns mean cuts in training. This is, however, only the case for short sighted companies.  The benchmark companies may trim down the workforce during a downturn, but they do not cut funds for training.  They recognize that investing in human resources is always a good investment.  CRP intends to profit nicely from this.  Additionally, even in economic downturns, companies still have product launches and will still need someone to organize these events.  In short, the need for corporate event planning/hosting services rarely diminishes, it is a steadily increasing demand that CRP will capitalize on.

Competition

In the past, the buying patterns for the larger corporations was in the past to have an in-house solution. This pattern is is disappearing in favor of outsourcing as there is the constant drive for gains in efficiency, something outsourcing can offer.

Corporate Retreat Professionals will provide companies with the highest level of event planning.  We exist to attract and maintain customers.  When we adhere to this maxim, everything else will fall into place.  Our services will exceed the expectations of our customers.

Expectations

Financial highlights by year, financing needed.

We will be getting $50,000 from the owner and founder of the company. 

Problem & Solution

Problem worth solving, our solution.

Corporate Retreat Professionals will provide companies with the highest level of event planning.  We exist to attract and maintain customers.  When we adhere to this maxim, everything else will fall into place.  Our services will exceed the expectations of our customers.

Target Market

Market size & segments.

CRP will serve the corporate customer in the event planning market.  CRP will be specializing in two important niches.  The first is leadership development and teaming skills development.  With the recent trend in corporate downsizing, corporations are ditching their in-house solutions in favor of outsourcing.  Even though we are in the midst of an economic downturn, investments in human capital are generally not reduced.  Corporations still have the need for leadership development and teaming skills development.  These are investments that cost a bit up front but pay nice returns in the long run.  These are the services that CRP will specialize in.

Additionally, CRP will offer event planning for product launches.  Product launches are an integral stage in the release of a new product, communicating to the public about the new "thing" the company has just released.  Our customers will be companies seeking to raise awareness about their new product release.  CRP will provide a complete service of planning and hosting these product release events.

4.1 Market Segmentation

CRP is providing services to corporate customers only.  We will not be going after the "social market" which is an alternative market within the event planning niche. 

The corporate customer is a company that contracts with CRP to plan and typically host an event for the company.  Corporations will be turning to CRP to plan the events because:

• It is cost effective for a third party to plan the event.  This is the case because the third party only does event planning so they can plan and host the event more efficiently.
• The company does not have additional people that can be taken away from their daily tasks to invest time in this infrequent event.

Our event planning services for corporate retreats will typically be utilized by larger corporations.  A larger company can be generally defined as one with more than 40 employees.  Smaller companies sometimes will utilize this service of ours, however, it is the larger corporations that typically have the budget for this activity.

For our product launch event planning, we will be servicing companies of all different sizes.  Typically the companies that use this service will be product based companies, but we will also offer this service to service-based companies who desire to announce a new service that they are offering.

CRP is targeting large companies for our corporate retreat event planning.  The large corporations typically have the budget and the foresight to recognize the value in corporate retreats.  In addition, it is the larger corporations that typically use the corporate retreat as a training session for their employees.  The training is typically in leadership development or teaming skills.  While they do have these retreats at different intervals through the year,  it is more cost effective for them to hire a service such as CRP to plan the events when needed instead of paying the carrying costs of having a full-time, trained employee ready to do the planning when it is needed.

CRP’s product release planning services will be targeted at all different size companies.  Companies of all sizes have product release and it is unusual for them to have product release many times a year requiring someone to be a full-time planner on staff.  Therefore, it makes sense for them to hire an outside service to plan the event using their expertise in event planning to drive down the costs of production and hosting.

Current Alternatives

Currently there are three other companies that offer event planning specifically to corporations. They however, tend to do events that are more general in scope such as parties to reward customers or employees, or events to change the company image. There is no company that specializes in event planning of corporate training and product release events. There are companies that offer corporate training, but these companies provide the actual training and do not do any of the actual event planning/ logistics of the entire event.

There are companies that provide product-release services, but they do not specialize in it. Because event planning is a tight market, CRP will benefit from their specialization in this area.

Our Advantages

CRP’s second competitive edge is based on the use of strategic relationships. CRP clearly realizes that they cannot be good at everything. CRP believes it is better to concentrate on a few things, excel in those areas, and form strategic partnerships with companies that excel in the service areas that CRP doesn’t. Applying this philosophy, CRP has decided in addition to planning corporate retreat training sessions, they want to offer the service of hosting/leading these events as well. The service of hosting/leading however, is quite different than planning and CRP believes that it would be more cost effective to form a strategic relationship with an expert in this field instead of trying to become proficient themselves. CRP then is able to offer a top-notch service offering of hosting/leading the training seminars but does not have to invest heavily in developing the program.

The use of strategic relationships is unusual in the event planning space. Most event planners are generalists and try to do a little of everything. CRP is following the model of benchmark companies in other industries that have recognized the value of specialization and the use of strategic relationships.

Keys to Success

Our keys to Success are: 

• Create a service-based company whose #1 value is exceeding customer’s expectations.
• Utilize of CRP’s services in 10 of the 100 top performing companies as listed by the Seattle Business Journal.
• Increase our number of served clients by 20% per year through superior service.
• Develop a sustainable, profitable start-up business.

Marketing & Sales

Marketing plan.

CRP will, for the most part, be using the sale strategy of personal selling. With his five years of consulting for larger corporations, Jeff has formed relationships throughout the business community. Jeff will initially leverage these relationships to form some initial clients. Once things get rolling and CRP has developed some satisfied clients, Jeff will be developing relationships with his network of friends developed through the Chambers of Commerce and trade shows.

Jeff’s spiel to prospective customers will be based on the high level of service offered and cost advantages by going with CRP. The cost savings can be quantified and shown to the customer while the higher level of service can be guaranteed as well as communicated through testimonials from satisfied clients.

Additionally, the website will be used not only to communicate information to prospective customers but also a method of communication where CRP can provide more specialized information such as cost estimates as well as answering questions through the site.

CRP will offer event planning for the corporate market.  CRP will concentrate on two types of event planning:

• Corporate retreats – These events are typically used for two different reasons.  They are either a leadership training or teaming skills training where employees of the corporations are sent away to develop these skills.  In addition to the planning of the events, CRP will be able to host the event as well.  While CRP’s core competencies are not in hosting, CRP will align itself with a well-respected host of leadership development/teaming skills programs and have them assist CRP in the hosting aspect.  Using a strategic partner, in this case, allows CRP to stick with a narrow focus but still offer the service to our customers.
• Product launches – These are events where the corporation is releasing a product and they have an event that is open to people outside of the corporation.  The purpose of the product launch event is to create visibility for the new release. 

Milestones & Metrics

Milestones table.

Key Metrics

Our Key Metrics are: 

• # of monthly customers, we would like to slowly increase our monthly customers 
• #of return customers 
• # of reviews and recommendations 
• food and drink inventory turnover
• each even cost of goods 
• cost of training our staff 
• # of events and of rooms occupied to break even 

Ownership & Structure

CRP is a Washington corporation whose sole stock holder is Jeff Organizer. Jeff will be incorporating to protect himself from personal liability.

Management Team

Jeff Organizer, Founder and President, has a degree in Business from the University of Washington. After college, Jeff spent five years working for Andersen Consulting. During these years, Jeff became familiar with a large number of companies and the important players in the Seattle business community. While working for Andersen, Jeff attended an MBA night program and received his MBA in 1996.

After completing his degree, Jeff decided to join Boeing in their PR department. It was at Boeing where Jeff learned the bulk of his organizing and event planning skills. These skills, in conjunction with his MBA education, gave Jeff the confidence to handle a wide range of business propositions. After three years at Boeing, Jeff decided to start his own business. Corporate Retreat Professionals was finally born

Personnel Table

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

Key assumptions.

Our key assumptions are: 

• Personnel are the difference between customers choosing one company over the other, training is key 
• happy bonded coworkers mean longer hours and better products 
• there are a set number of events we need to breakeven. more will make us a profit. 

Revenue by Month

Expenses by month, net profit (or loss) by year, use of funds.

Start-up Expenses

Legal 1,000

Stationery etc. $300

Brochures $300

Consultants $300

Insurance $200

Rent $1,000

Office equipment $300

TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES$3,400

In addition we will be having $5,000 of long term assets.  The remainder of the $50,000 will be used as cash to help fund the operations. 

Sources of Funds

We will be getting $50,000 from the owner. 

Projected Profit & Loss

Projected Balance Sheet

Projected Cash Flow Statement

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How to Plan an Event: Event Planning Steps, Tips & Checklist

Need to know how to plan an event? If you’re planning a big event like a conference, we can help you successfully create, structure and lay out your event plan. This blog will cover everything you need to consider when planning an event, including event planning steps, tips and an easy-to-use event checklist.

What Is Event Planning?

Event planning is the process of putting on and managing a variety of events, from something as small as a meeting to as big as a convention and everything in between. When event planning you’ll be taking into account every aspect of that event, whether it’s a birthday party or a networking event.

That means you’ll be estimating budgets, creating timelines to schedule the event, reserving the site and any panels or speakers involved, getting necessary permits, food, transportation and more. If the event has a theme, you’ll develop that, too. Plus, you’ll be in charge of securing the needed resources to make the event a success.

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Event Plan Template

Use this free Event Plan Template for Excel to manage your projects better.

What Is an Event Plan?

An event plan defines how an event will be executed. It addresses all the components of an event such as the start and end dates, budget , venue, marketing, attendees and more. The scope and complexity of the event plan vary depending on the size of the event, but the fundamental challenges remain the same.

Organizing all those disparate parts, especially for larger events, requires powerful project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that lets you plan, manage and track your event to ensure it’s a success.

Our powerful Gantt charts help you list all your tasks and the associated resources and costs, assign them to your team and set milestones to track your progress. The whole plan is visible on a project timeline and can be saved by setting a baseline. Now you can track the planned progress against your actual progress to make sure you’re on schedule. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Event Plan Example

Most of us have some experience planning an event, be it at home, work or in our community. For this article, let’s focus on large events.

A conference is a common type of large event, so for our event management purposes, let’s talk about a TEDx conference that we were involved in to illustrate how to plan an event. This example is a good scenario to explain the structure and challenges of planning a big event, along with the benefits of planning an event with project management software .

Let’s break down the other components of setting up an event. They’re summarized below:

• Event timeline: First, establish a timeline for your event. This timeline should include pre-event planning, event execution and post-event activities.
• Budget: Estimate your event costs and create a budget. Your available budget will influence many event management decisions such as your venue, the marketing and advertising methods, etc.
• Venue: The event has to take place somewhere, and that involves logistics management , food and beverages as well as the décor.
• Marketing: Once you’ve selected a venue, you need to start drawing people to it through a marketing program that can include a website, social campaign, email and print work.
• Advertising: Hand in glove with marketing is advertising. That can include radio, TV, newspaper and magazine advertisements.
• Volunteers: A big event needs a big crew of people to get it off the ground and run smoothly. That means volunteers, which means writing contracts, defining their roles, setting up meetings and determining schedules.
• Speakers: You must have a keynote speaker or a group of speakers to attract an audience. This involves contracts, curators to select the talent, a program, bios and rehearsals.
• Sponsors: All of this costs money, and a big event’s budget is supplied by its sponsors. This again involves contracts, marketing and logistics.
• Production: The production involves creating contracts as you work on creating an audio-visual recording of the proceedings, as well as a sound and video broadcast during the event.
• Stage: The event takes place at a specific venue and on that venue is a stage on which the event proper will be presented. That usually incorporates a projector, screen, microphones, internet connection, batteries, cables and more.
• Attendees: Don’t forget about the people attending the event! You’ll need communications to inform them of event information, payment processes to collect fees, emails to stay in touch, directions, badges and access points.

Related:  10 Free Event Planning Templates for Excel & Word

Free Event Plan Template

This free event plan template for Excel is a great tool to start assembling the information you need to create an event plan. It can be customized to add your event details.

The Event Planning Process: Event Planning Steps

We covered a lot on event planning, so let’s break down those tips into concrete steps. These event planning steps will guide you toward success. Let’s continue with our conference example.

• Step 1. Determine your event goals and objectives
• Step 2. Assemble your team
• Step 3. Establish an event budget
• Step 4. Choose a date & venue
• Step 5. Select the speakers
• Step 6. Event marketing & advertising
• Step 7. Execute your event

When you break down the scope of your event plan into manageable steps, the process seems a lot less daunting. However, there are a few more things to keep in mind when making your event plan.

Event Planning Roles

As you might expect, there are many different roles that work together to bring an event to life. It’s easy to get confused. Are you an event manager or an event planner? Is there any difference between the two? Let’s take a look at some of the more common event-planning roles and define them.

Event Manager

The event manager is often mistaken for the event planner, but they are two distinct roles. Most simply, the event manager is responsible for event management activities, which involve coordinating and implementing the event. They take care of setting up the event, including its design, and make sure the vision of the event planner is realized.

Event Planner

An event planner organizes, coordinates and executes the event. They’re in charge of coming up with the idea, overseeing the setup and breakdown of the event. They’ll select the venue, create the budget and ensure everything is taken care of. What sets them apart is they design the strategy for the event to the smallest detail.

Event Producer

The event producer fleshes out the strategic plan of the event planner. They are the one who takes the idea and turns it into a living event. They will take charge of the technical aspects of the event, such as audio/visual, stage design, etc. They work with the event planner to schedule the event , but the event producer uses their skills and expertise in producing events to deliver the event that’ll impress both attendees and the client.

Event Planning Tips

Unfortunately, there are always going to be variables out of your control that’ll affect the event planning process, such as the weather, delivery delays, technical difficulties and other potential mix-ups. As stated earlier, you can’t change the date of your event, so you’ll want to be as prepared as possible for any risks or issues that may pop up on the day of your event.

Do a Post-Event Review

A post-event review or a post-mortem as they’re often called, is very valuable. By looking back at the past event and seeing what worked and what didn’t work, you can better plan your next event. There are always lessons to be learned and applying them to the next project will avoid previous mistakes and increase your chances of a better outcome.

Use Event Planning Templates

Having an event planning template is a great way to make sure you’re not missing any important pieces of the larger event. It’ll help you organize your tasks and resources, costs and more. Use our free event plan template to get started on the right foot.

Use Event Planning Tools

A template is fine, but limited. You have to manually update everything and it’s not very collaborative. Event planning tools, such as Gantt charts , kanban boards, task lists and calendars, help you plan and implement the event plan. They also allow you to track the work to make sure it’s following the plan, which leads to a more successful event.

Prepare a Plan B

As important as your plan is, there can be issues with it. There might be acts of god, such as weather, which negatively impact the event. Whatever the cause, you’ll need a backup. That’s why developing a plan B is so critical to the success of the event. You might never have to use it, but in case you do, you’re prepared.

Use an Event Planning Checklist

Another tip is to have a checklist made up. That way you can collect all the things you have to do and why you’re doing it in one place. Using a checklist for event planning can be done in conjunction with project planning tools . The more safeguards, the better. Also, there are few things more satisfying than crossing something off your list.

Event Planning Checklist

There’s a lot to manage when planning an event, so it’s important to have a list of everything you need to include in your event management plan. The following is a general event planning checklist to help you get started. The more questions you ask, the better your event checklist. Feel free to add your own unique responsibilities and tasks.

Goals and Objectives

• What’s your event’s reason for existing?
• What are the goals this event is expected to achieve?
• What are the revenue objectives?
• What is your target audience?
• How many people will attend?
• Is there a cost associated with ticketing and what is it?
• Where is the event being held?
• Create an event schedule.

Event Budget

• Figure out what the costs will be
• If you held similar events, use and adjust an old budget for a baseline
• What ticketing and registration software will be used?
• Finalize sponsor contributions
• Set ticket price

Date & Venue

• When will the event take place?
• Have a backup date in case issues arise
• Is there the best location for the event?
• Is the venue appropriate for your expected number of attendees?
• Decide on needed infrastructure: wifi, capacity, bathrooms, near shopping & restaurants, etc.
• Hire a caterer
• Secure what equipment you’ll need
• What are your security needs?
• Do you need permits, licenses or insurance?
• Create event signage and communication plans for attendees
• Research potential speakers
• Create a list of relevant speakers
• Create a pitch for speakers
• Pitch speakers
• Finalize speaker selection, get bios and headshots and arrange travel and accommodations
• Develop a list of sponsors and what you can offer them.
• See if there are sponsors who have partnered with similar events.
• Reach out to potential sponsors.
• Design signoff.
• Update the site or build a unique one.
• Make sure the site can handle expected traffic.
• Have a mobile-friendly site.

Event Marketing & Advertising

• What’s your messaging?
• Coordinate with digital tools and social platforms
• Add the event to online calendars
• Market the event with blog posts and other promotions like videos and online ads
• Send reminders to all parties a month or two before the event date

Finalizing the Last Steps

• Speakers and scripts
• Decorations

Pro tip: That’s a lot to coordinate and plan, which is why there’s a need for project management software that has the right features for event management. It provides a common portal, where you can track costs and tasks with automated alerts. It also offers both a communication and a collaborative platform that reduces the need for unnecessary emails. Software collects all your files in one place and makes team reporting simpler by adding efficiencies and reducing stress.

ProjectManager Offers Robust Event Planning Tools

ProjectManager is online software that’s suited for event planning. We have event project management tools to keep all the parts of your events, from managing vendors to promotions, organized. Our planning software helps you keep track of all the elements that make up your event plan.

Keep Stakeholders Updated With Event Calendars

Our multiple project views mean that event planners and managers can use project calendars , Gantt charts and there are task lists and kanban boards for teams. While reports can keep stakeholders informed, they might want to have access to the project. Share the calendar view with your stakeholders, which allows them to see start and end dates for all the tasks as well as milestones. This manages their expectations.

Zoom Into Event Activities With Kanban Boards

Use ProjectManager’s kanban board to manage the daily activities that need to be executed to plan, schedule and track your event plan. Move tasks from column to column as you collaborate on work with your team, and it’s easy to spot bottlenecks and get everything over the line in time for the event.

Track Event Labor Costs With Timesheets & Real-Time Dashboards

Plus, timesheets make invoicing easy for all your events. They can be submitted and approved with a keystroke. Our software also offers a variety of views, from a list to a calendar and even a kanban board that helps you visualize the workflow to keep on task.

More About Planning an Event

Event planning can be complex. There’s a lot of balls to keep in the air. If the above is too much to digest immediately, you could start with our event plan template and watch one of our planning experts. Jennifer Bridges, PMP, has years of experience and uses it to teach you the fundamentals of event planning in this short video.

Related Content

• Free Event Proposal Template
• Event Management: A Quick Guide
• How to Plan a Virtual Event: Virtual Event Planning Checklist
• Event Project Management Software

ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that helps you plan and monitor your event details. From powerful planning tools to real-time reports and dashboards that capture all of your event details, you can use our software to stay on schedule and stick to your planned budget. Try our software today with a free 30-day trial.

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