I'm interested in starting an Event Planning business?
342625
I suggest you read the article "How to Start an Event and Meeting Planning Business"   http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol153/eventplanning.htm . The article is comprehensive and contains information on the market segments of this business, how to market and get clients for an event planning business, and the key success factors of this business.\n\nAdvertising is not the best way to get clients for an event planning business, but rather more as a branding and to get your name out there. Rather, networking and word of mouth are the most effective ways of getting clients. \n\nThe first step, however, is to determine your market segment. Will you go after the social market, corporate market, non profits, regional markets, etc? Given that each market segment has different needs, your marketing strategy will vary depending on the market segment that you cater. \n\nIf you are focusing on social events catering to individuals, your pitch may be based on the premise that your services can release them from all the tasks required to create a great and worry-free event. By outsourcing the event to you, your customers can have more free time for their family and friends. \n\nWhen marketing to public or private organizations, your main selling point should be greater efficiency for the money and a professional event without error. Groups, especially large ones, do not wish to deal with problems that arise due to oversight on their part. If the guarantee of worry-free, error-free events is available at a cost benefit to them, there really appears to be no better choice. \n\nI suggest you check out the following books for detailed information on how to run an event planning business:\n\n- How to Start a Home-Based Event Planning Business \n- The Essential Event Planning Kit \n- The Business of Event Planning: Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Successful Special Events \n- Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Your Own Event Planning Business : Your Step by Step Guide to Success (Start Your Own Event Planning) \n- Event Planning : The Ultimate Guide to Successful Meetings, Corporate Events, Fundraising Galas, Conferences, Conventions, Incentives and Other Special Events
781177
Here are some:\n\nLocation - is it large enough, well equiped, do you need a kitchen, or food facility, are there adequate restrooms for the amount of people, does it have an address that is easy to find, does it have acess for the disabled, is it close to an airport, is it in a nice setting, are the acoustics good for speaking or music, can trucks or vehicles pull close to unload, is there adequate parking for your group, is in one story or two or more (is that good or bad), what is the cost of this location, any cleaning fees at end of conference, what is the deposit, how far in advance do you need to reserve this spot, READ THE CONTRACT before you commit.\n\nNumber of People (will there be a limit)\nWhat Material will you need (projectors, tables, chairs)\nWill you provide food or snacks and water for group (how, catered or onsite or off site)\nHow will your attendees dress?\nWhat handouts and sign up forms do you need to mail out?\nWhat speakers will you have?\nWhat entertainment will you have if any?\nWhat backgroud music will you have if any?\nWhere will you get equipment like microphones, speakers, stage?\nWhat city will it be held? Is it practical for most people?\nThink about your goal and make a plan. Write down all the ways to accomplish this goal. Make sure you plan at least 6 months in advance for a large crowd. Even more time up to a year is better so people can add to their calendars.\nYou have lots of computer and phone work to do to pull this off. Get help early.\nGood Luck
1178692
consider all options. don't play safe\nsetting up a business is a huge responsibility\n\nTo look into\n\n1. Business plan\n2. Business marketing plan\n3. Financial plan / Start-up loan\n\nHave you checked to make sure your business name is available?; Have you registered your business?; Have you checked and registered your trademark?; Do you need a business licence?;Have you got insurance?;Do you have a business account?; Do you have an accountant?; Have you created a budget?; Can you get to the phone and electrical sockets easily?; Will your furniture fit in the space?; Do you have sufficient light and ventilation?; What is the temperature like in the office?; Do you have enough storage?; Have you all the equipment that you need?; Computers, telephone, fax machine, printer, scanner, etc...?\n\nWould you invest in all that or would you for an alternative like say, a virtual office?
1098501
It would help to have more info to answer the question with. However, think about a big "PR" type event. It doesn't have to be practical, it just has to be something that gets the cameras there.\n\nA new soap? Set up showers in the mall and see who can sing best in the shower. \n\nTake whatever your product is and think about using it in a wacky way. An electric dog polisher. A fur lined sink. \n\nEventually, bring yourself back to earth with something you can actually pull off. \n\nDon't forget to have fun. \n\nRex
701988
I think it is very possible.  My business does both.  The key is finding a nitche market.  We are in the wedding business so that is always a large market.  What specifically are you looking to sell?  Product or service?
1124814
There are many site on the web you can look at.... I started working as an event coordinator for my local chamber of  commerce convention and visitors bureau, and it has just grown from there.  After a few years of planning a few major events in the area and the attendance by some major player in my town, people just started to call me to help plan weddings, birthday parties, luncheons and many other events....I have since resigned the chamber of commerce and now run a small event planning business from home.  I also have a few friends that caters and they are always asking me to use my Rolodex and my expertise.... you have got to take your own business savvy into your own  hands and market you ideas .\n\n\nAlso, many colleges as well as technical schools are now offering Hospitality and Hotel classes, this would be a good way to get into the  industry... Also,check with you state industry and trade commission about job openings across the state, your local Civic Center, there are just numerous ways of getting into the industry....\n\nGood Luck and God Bless
524971
Local colleges and university libraries might be good resource for sample business plans within the same or similar business.  Also try locating a SCORE office (Service corp of retired executives) or the SBA.  Try off the beaten path, what about local bars, auditoriums etc.  that book acts -- they might be a good resource.
1118049
I suggest you read the article "How to Start an Event and Meeting Planning Business" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol153/eventplanning.htm The article is comprehensive and contains information on the market segments of this business, how to market and get clients for an event planning business, and the key success factors of this business.\n\nBelow are some characteristics and skills you need in order to become a good event planner and succeed in this business: \n\nPossess high energy and stamina \nEfficient and well-organized \nCreative and imaginative \nSelf-motivated and driven \nExcellent people skills \nKnows how to motivate people \nAbility to multi-task at once, and work to tight schedules \nAbility to think fast on their feet \nAble to work under pressure \nExtroverted \nHas a can-do attitude \nStrong attention to detail \nHas excellent communication skills \nHas good business, marketing, negotiating and selling skills \nFlexible, and able to deal with last-minute changes and conflicting demands on time \nAble to lead a team, supervise and delegate tasks \nHas good project, time-management and problem-solving skills \nLikes working with a wide variety of people \n\nYou may want to consider getting certified. Some of the certifications in this field include: \n\nInternational Special Events Society: Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) http://www.ises.com/csep/intro.cfm \nMeeting Professionals International: Certification in Meeting Management (CMM) http://www.mpiweb.org/education/cmm/ \nConvention Industry Council: Certified Meeting Professional Program (CMP) http://www.conventionindustry.org/cmp/ \nConnected International Meeting Professionals Association: Certified Global Meeting Planner http://www.cimpa.org/cgmp.htm \nAssociation of Destination Management Executives: Destination Management Certified Professional  http://www.adme.org/members/DMCPCertification.asp  \n\n\nAdvertising is not the best way to get clients for an event planning business, but rather more as a branding and to get your name out there. Rather, networking and word of mouth are the most effective ways of getting clients. \n\nThe first step, however, is to determine your market segment. Will you go after the social market, corporate market, non profits, regional markets, etc? Given that each market segment has different needs, your marketing strategy will vary depending on the market segment that you cater. \n\nIf you are focusing on social events catering to individuals, your pitch may be based on the premise that your services can release them from all the tasks required to create a great and worry-free event. By outsourcing the event to you, your customers can have more free time for their family and friends. \n\nWhen marketing to public or private organizations, your main selling point should be greater efficiency for the money and a professional event without error. Groups, especially large ones, do not wish to deal with problems that arise due to oversight on their part. If the guarantee of worry-free, error-free events is available at a cost benefit to them, there really appears to be no better choice. \n\nI suggest you check out the following books for detailed information on how to run an event planning business:\n\n- How to Start a Home-Based Event Planning Business \n- The Essential Event Planning Kit \n- The Business of Event Planning: Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Successful Special Events \n- Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Your Own Event Planning Business : Your Step by Step Guide to Success (Start Your Own Event Planning) \n- Event Planning : The Ultimate Guide to Successful Meetings, Corporate Events, Fundraising Galas, Conferences, Conventions, Incentives and Other Special Events
943541
You have a good proposition.  Now do the planning.  You will need capital and since you are a non-profit you can approach community businesses and ask for support in the way of money, materials, property and the like.  \n\nYou can also do grant research on the web to apply for monies available for your endeavor.  And be prepared for hard work and road blocks.  There is often very vocal opposition in community organizing.\n\nIt helps to find others of like minds and enlist their aid.  Such as teachers, professors, political organizers and local and state politicians.\n\nGood luck.\n\nPeace.
980839
I would just do a search on food marketing.  If you are just starting out, I would have a big party and invite lots of people such as friends and family but also people like beauty shop owners or small store owners.  If you feel like being bold, try large companies too.  Tell them that you're trying to start a business and having a get together.  It may cost you a lot out of pocket, but it's a great way to advertise and let people sample your food.  Make sure you print out business cards and hand them out at your party.  Good luck!!!
377194
Hi, I have no experience with this but I've found two sites that may help in starting up your business.\n\nGood luck!
1002360
I have found a free business plan for starting an inn/resort:\n\nhttp://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-01/Inn-Resort.html\n\nMost of hotel business plans are not free and here are some of them:\n\nhttp://planmagic.com/business_plan/hotel_business_plan.html\nhttp://www.teneric.co.uk/hotel-business-plan.html\nhttp://www.hotelbusinessplan.com/\n\nThese books are specifically about hotel business plans\n\nBusiness Plans Handbook: Business Plans for Hotel and Motel Industries http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006G38J/ref=nosim/powerhomebizguid\nDeveloping a hotel business plan: a how-to manual. : An article from: Cornell Hotel & Restaurant Administration Quarterly http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000925JCI/103-5034565-7700659?v=glance&n=551440\n\nYou may also want to read the following books:\n\nHotel Design, Planning, and Development, New Edition by Walter A. Rutes\nHotel Operations Management by David K. Hayes\nHotel Management and Operations, 3rd Edition by Denney G. Rutherford\nInside the Minds: The Hotel Business - Industry Leaders from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Orient-Express Hotels, Relais & Chateaux Association & More ... the Hospitality Industry (Inside the Minds) by Aspatore Books\n\nHere are some resources that can help you write your business plan:\n\n- SBA Business Plan Basics http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html\n- PowerHomeBiz.com Creating a Business Plan section http://www.powerhomebiz.com/startup/businessplan.htm\n- Entrepreneur.com Writing a Business Plan section http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizplan/0,7253,,00.html\n\nYou may also want to review some sample business plans to see how it actually looks like:\n\n- Bplans.com http://www.bplans.com/sp/businessplans.cfm\n- MOOT Corp Business Plan competition winners\nhttp://www.businessplans.org/businessplans.html\n- VFinance - View hundreds of real business plans in pdf format. http://www.vfinance.com/home.asp?bps=1&ToolPage=bps_main.asp\n- Business Owners Toolkit Sample business plans and information on how to create a plan. http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/buspln_m.asp\n- PlanWare Planning software and information. http://www.planware.org/\n- Virtual Business Plan Walk through the design of a business plan. http://www.bizplanit.com/vplan.html \n- SBA Business Planning Guide http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html\n- Small Business Advancement Center http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/business_plan/businessPlan.pdf\n- Sample Business Plan General planning guide created by the Canadian Business Service Center. http://www.cbsc.org/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=CBSC_FE/display&c=GuideFactSheet&cid\n- Business Plans Index - A subject guide to sample business plans and profiles for specific business types from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. http://216.183.184.20/subject/business/bplansindex.html\n- \nSome recommended books are :\n\n- Business Plans Kit for Dummies \n- The Complete Book of Business Plans : Simple Steps to Writing a Powerful Business Plan \n- Writing Business Plans That Get Results : A Step-By-Step Guide \n- Business Plans For Dummies® \n- Your First Business Plan : A Simple Question and Answer Format Designed to Help You Write Your Own Plan \n\nHope that the above resources help
860006
Wow - that's a big question to answer for something that is due tomorrow!!\n\nI'm a conference producer and here are a few initial thoughts...\n\nWho are your guests?  How many people are you expecting?  \nWhat time of year is best for those guests to have a conference (ie. don't hold a conference for accountants during tax season).  \nWhat is your budget - where is the money coming from?  Registration fees, Sponsorship, etc.  \nWhat is the purpose of the conference - networking, education, certification, annual review, etc.\nLocation - country, city, venue\nLength of the conference - # of days - lngth of each day\nWhat else is included - spousal program, dinners, parties, awards night?\nHow will you promote your conference - ads in trade magazines, website, direct mailing.\n\nThere are many, many more things, but that should give you a start.\n\nGood Luck!
826319
There are many ways to go about doing what you are planning. If you are thinking about selling your product at fairs, shows and or events, you might want to go and talk to all the people that are selling their baked goods at these events.\n\nThere is a reasonalbe book out about craft business, published by the self council publisher, available at most decent book stores.\n\nalso the BC government has a very good small business web site , I believe it is at www.smallbusinessbc.ca.\n\nWe started a small business from our basement, not baked goods and found that it is important to keep it simple, to document everything so that you can repeat everything you do. and to not worry about govenrment to too much, and take action as quickly as you can to keep the momentum going.\n\nKeep in mind that in all business, it is most important to figure out who you are going to sell to and to have a "stupid proof" system to prospect for current and new business for ever. Because the best product in the world, will not sell unless you consistantly target and approach the marketplace for your buyers.\n\nBooks for that are things like the E-Myth by Michael Gerber,  and Guerrila Marketing series Jay Conrad Levinson.\n\nGood Luck and send me a cake if any of my suggestions are of benefit to you.
654805
theres a good site with all the business planning tools on for free.\nwww.businessballs.com\n\nIts really good and it has little funny quotes and ice breaker ideas. If you can make people feel relaxed then they are more likely to feel OK to speak up.
313688
A couple different ways I can think of.\n\nFirst, you could start a new LLC and just use the same name; e.g., if it's XYZ Event Planning, organize XYZ Travel Agency.  Ownership of the new LLC would mirror that of the event planning business.\n\nSecond, don't start a new LLC, just run the travel agency as a separate division from event planning (separate financials, although you'd only file one tax return for the business).
1028158
The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.\n\nI recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\nCatering Specific:\n* How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business, 5th by Denise Vivaldo\n* How to Run a Catering Business from Home by Christopher Egerton-Thomas\n* Start and Run a Catering Business by George Erdosh\n\nBakery Specific:\n* How to Open a Financially Successful Bakery by Sharon Fullen, Douglas R. Brown\n* The Baker's Trade: A Recipe for Creating the Successful Small Bakery by Zachary Y. Schat\n* Baking for Profit: Starting a Small Bakery by George Bathie\n\nIndiana Specific:\n* How to Start a Business in Indiana by Entrepreneur Press\n* How To Incorporate and Start a Business in Indiana by J. W. Dicks\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!