How to Start a Home Party Planning Business
The decision to start up a home business of party planning should carefully thought-out. The owner should be an organized individual that is outgoing and well connected within the community. A party planning business can cost minimal start-up cost, but should require thorough preparation. Word-of-mouth will be your best marketing tool, so be sure to make a great impression.
Supplies needed:
- Theme book/Portfolio
- Business license
- Insurance
- Office space and supplies
- Business phone
- Computer program for scheduling parties
- Reach out to party vendors for special services they may offer. Make contact with local caterers, photographers, entertainers, and other businesses that you will access on a regular basis. Introduce yourself to these future partners. Refer customers to their services and in turn you will gain clientele for your services.
- Create a theme book with a variety of party ideas. Cover as many themes as possible, also include specific-color parties. The theme book should also have samples of invitation styles and different linens. The theme book can also be your portfolio; once you do your first event take pictures to add to your book.
- Create the foundation of how you want to run your business. Organization and date keeping will be some of the most important factors in event planning. You need your computer program to be as simple as you can deal with; you may have multiple clients at one time and you need to remain as organized as possible. Some event planners prefer to use a traditional planner. Have prices already lain out; some things may alter the basic prices, but your system should easily fix these costs together. Will you charge based on the size of the event? Will you charge by the hour? Be as detailed as possible when deciding on prices for customers so everything can be known upfront.
- Obtain insurance for your business and register your company according to local guidelines.
- Begin your advertisement by posting ads in local newspapers; set a website and join social networking sites. Visit local stores and leave fliers or business cards.