In all countries, there are public organizations to help entrepreneurs. In the Additional Resources section you will find the way to contact the organization that matches your country.

Steps

Part 1

Do the preliminary work

1. Find out what kind of party planner you want to be. While many party planners venture into various types of clients and events, most others find their niche and specialize. While you can always change later what type of business you do, it is helpful to think about these questions in the planning phase.

• What kind of customers do you want to focus on? There are two main client markets for a party planner: corporate and social. Corporate party planners organize events such as important meetings, retirement parties, receptions, conferences and trade shows. Social events, on the other hand, form the category most of us think of when we hear the word "party". These events cover a wide range of occasions, including birthdays, wedding receptions, baby showers and family gatherings.
• What kind of parties do you want to plan? Many party planners choose a niche that they enjoy the most. It can be a type of event, such as birthdays, or a specific style or theme that you present
• Do you want to work with children? Parties for young children are very different from family reunions and gatherings for adults. Everything from decorations to entertainment and refreshments needs to be tailored for the right age group. As a result, some planners prefer to specialize in children's parties. Others prefer not to plan these types of events.

2. Consider your training and your experience. Although a college degree is not required to start a party planning business, many planners have bachelors and advanced degrees in a variety of related fields. College majors that provide valuable skills for an aspiring party planner include Business Administration, Marketing and Hotel Management. Some universities and professional organizations also offer certification programs specifically in Event Planning.

3. Talk to a lawyer or someone else who is informed about local business law. Although some planners usually do not require a license, some governments or municipalities may require it. Since parties often involve large and potentially unfair crowds, it is also wise to invest in liability insurance for your business. This will help you to protect yourself in the event of a guest being injured or causing damage to the party premises. Talk to your lawyer about the type of coverage that is right for your business.

4. Learn more about the party planning sector where you live. Do research on what other party planners and companies are organizing events in your area. Try calling them or visiting them and asking them questions.

• Get information on local competitors and take note of their styles and approaches. Keep this in mind when determining your niche. Try to distinguish yourself so uniquely by offering a different kind of service or experience.
• Ask for possible new business contacts and find out more about venues. As a party planner, you need to know a wide variety of caterers, vendors, entertainers and other local professionals. It will be your job to organize and coordinate these different elements to create a memorable event.

5. Write a business plan. Write down exactly what niche you plan to fill and how your business will achieve it.

• Create a market analysis for the sector. Use the information you gathered earlier to determine the size of your potential market. Determine the fees you will charge for your services and the target revenue you will need to target.
• Any cost estimates start-up that may be required as first advertising rates and rent of office space if you do not intend to work from home. Find out if you can finance your business yourself or if you need to take out a small loan to cover the initial costs.

Part 2

Begins

1. Choose a name for your business. Choose an unmistakable name that tells potential customers exactly what your company does. It can be something as simple as "Formal Event Planners (name of your city)". Try to find a name with a simple and accessible web address.

• It uses the services of the local patent and trademark office to compare potential names with existing trademarks. If the name of your company is similar to another one already registered, it is better to choose another one.
• You may register your business as a business name with the state or provincial government, as applicable. Check local business laws to find out.

2. Register your new company if necessary. Check local business laws to determine if your company requires any type of registration, license or authorization.

• Apart from the collection of taxes, party plans are usually not subject to any special type of business registration. However, make sure you review the relevant government policies carefully before doing business. You can use the website of the local small business support agency as a guideline to help you.

3. Install your office. Although it will be small compared to other companies, you will still need some space to do your job effectively. Many party planners use their office at home. You will need a personal computer and a printer that can print large pieces of stationery and advertisements. Your office should also have a place where materials such as holiday supplies can be stored safely and away from dirt. A large closet or some storage areas may be all you need.

• You can choose to rent a permanent office space or a temporary meeting to meet with clients.
• Many professionals who work from home meet their clients in public spaces, such as cafeterias or restaurants.

4. Stand out from your competition. Consider what kind of parties you specialize in and compare your style with those of other party planners in the area. When advertising your services or meetings with clients, make sure it makes you unique.

• In the early stages of your business, it may make more sense to be "generic" and plan a variety of parties. As your reputation grows, you can begin to focus more on specific types of parties, who are a "specialist".

5. Apply the prices of your services accordingly. Fees for party planners range widely, ranging from $ 12 to $ 150 per hour. There are a variety of factors to consider when determining the prices of your company:

• What are the normal rates for your location? Take note of your competitors' rates to get a good idea of how much to charge. In general, areas with a high cost of living will lead to higher hourly rates.
• How much experience do you have? A planner with previous experience in professional party planning will require a higher rate than one who is just starting out. To attract customers, you may need to start low and gradually increase your prices over the years if you gain a positive reputation.
• Are you going to charge strictly per hour or are you going to add surcharge rates? A standard practice in the field of party planning is to charge a surcharge of about 15% for each item you rent. For example, if you coordinate an event where the store costs $ 500 and the catering costs $ 200, you can charge for your payable hours plus $ 105. In contrast, some party planners charge affordable hours plus one "project rate" flat. This billing method is much more common among corporate vacation planners.

6. Be flexible and prepare for the unexpected. As anyone who has planned an event knows, plans can change. A successful party planner must be willing to organize a successful party no matter what happens. Your service provider may get sick or the roof of the store may fall the day before. Do not panic. Instead, have backups for all events. Keep a long list of reputable caterers, locals and facilitators with matching skills and specialties.

• This is especially important when planning outdoor events. Predicting the weather is difficult from day to day, but as a holiday planner you will often make plans in advance. There is no way to know from now on if you have to deal with inclement weather. Make sure you can change premises or provide cover for guests at any time.

Part 3

Grow your business

1. Market your business effectively. In the early stages of your business, marketing is critical to establishing a reputation and a customer base.

• Make sure your website is aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate. Try to write the name and contact details of your company clearly on each page.
• Create flyers to showcase your graphic design skills. Distribute them door to door and ask local businesses to display them on their cork board.
• Tell your family and friends about your new company and ask them to recommend you to someone they know who is looking for a party planner.

2. Has a strong presence in social networks. Social networking is an incredibly effective advertising method that is often free. Create official accounts for your company on popular sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

• If current and potential customers send questions through these wide-ranging channels (such as your rates or specialties), they answer publicly for others to see. Interacting actively and directly with customers will show them what you care about.
• If you are trying to encourage customers for a specific event or type of party, try to make publications with appropriate local labels. For example, if you want to advertise your Halloween party services
• Show off your talents by uploading photos and videos of successful parties you have planned. Make sure you always get explicit written permission from your clients when they appear in the photos or videos.

7. Request criticism from your customers. When a customer is satisfied with the party you have planned, ask him to post a review of your services. Do not ask for a positive review or mention a specific website.

• Create your own account on relevant critical sites. Thanks for their time to those who write them. State any concern or negative criticism honestly and mature. Remember that these publications may be the first impression you give to future clients.

3. Offer your services on a voluntary basis. Donate your time to help with community events, such as school functions. While this will be a lot of work for you, it will be good exposure and excellent advertising for your company. Make sure you include the name and contact details of your company in all the materials where appropriate. For example, it is common to have this information on the back of any paper program.

4. Continue to make contacts. As a party planner, good networking skills are crucial to keep your business running smoothly.

• You should always be aware of new caterers and artists in your area. You never know when a client may request a type of food or interpreter with whom you do not have an established contact. In addition, companies may eventually move or close. It is important to keep your contact list fresh.
• Attend event planning issues to meet other planners and service providers. You can learn about new trends and developments in the sector or continue your training. Scholarships are a great way to inspire you to try something new with your company.
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