If you are looking for a fun business that you can start with little capital, learning how to start a party planning business may be the perfect fit.
Everyone loves parties, but most people and businesses don’t have the time it takes to plan and pull everything together successfully.
Everyone loves parties, but most people and businesses don’t have the time it takes to plan and pull everything together successfully.
Party planning services have enjoyed enormous growth over the past few years, so there couldn’t be a better time to learn more about this small business idea.
Learning how to start a party planning business begins with evaluating your skill set. Successful party planners know there is more to planning an event than decorating and table arrangements.
Many schools offer classes in party and event planning, so if you find your skills lacking in certain areas, you may want to enroll. Another way to fine tune your party planning skills when first starting out is to offer your services to friends and relatives for free. This will give you a lower-pressure environment in which to hone your skills.
You will also gain valuable firsthand knowledge of what it takes to organize and plan a party or event before you offer your services publicly.
How To Start A Party Planning Business – Get Started
When you’re just starting out as a party planner, there are a couple of key activities that will help you get started on the right foot…
1. Form partnerships with caterers, entertainers, and local businesses that rent or sell party supplies. Only work with those who have a solid reputation.
2. Make an appointment with a contract lawyer who can help you draw up contracts to use when you are hired for events. A good contract is essential to avoiding legal difficulties later on.
3. Contact your local city or county clerk to find out what licenses will be required to legally run a party planning business.
As you learn more about how to start a party planning business, remember that there is no such thing as being too organized. Expert party planning requires finely honed organizational and people skills. Any business benefits from building a good reputation, but party planners need a phenomenal one.
Whatever the occasion, be it birthdays, retirements, anniversaries, or other celebrations, the people who hire you expect a party that will be remembered and goes according to plan. If something goes wrong, and it will, jump at the chance to make it right with your customer.
Accidents and mistakes happen, but it’s how you handle them that makes a difference. In a service business, such as party planning, the fair and reasonable way you treat customers is the key to success.
The secret to a successful party planning business is this: Know Your Key to the Industry.
How Do I Find Clients?
Advertising in local newspapers and media and direct mailings to corporations and small businesses should be used to let people know about your services. If you do excellent work, you can count on positive word of mouth advertising.
To find more customers, do the following:
- Develop a portfolio of your work. Include testimonials and photos of events you have planned.
- Contact charity organizations and offer your services at a discounted rate.
- Put fliers up at local meeting places.
- Use reciprocal partnerships. For example, the caterer you work with agrees to recommend your party planning services to customers and you return the favor.
Growing Your Planning Business
Once you have established your party planning business, expanding into planning other events is a logical step for growth. Corporations and small businesses in particular hire planners to organize meetings and conferences.
Community leaders are often in need of planners for civic and local events. Wedding and reception planning is another avenue to explore.
Hands on experience is the best training when you first learn how to start a party planning business. You will find that with each event, your confidence grows. With little start-up money needed, a party planning business lets you do what you love and earn money doing it.
Depending on location and qualifications, the average salary for a party or event planner is about $42,000 a year.
Depending on location and qualifications, the average salary for a party or event planner is about $42,000 a year.
