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How To Write a Successful Party Planner Business Plan + Template

Business plan

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for party planner 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 party planner business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate Business Plan Template

What is a Party Planner Business Plan?

A party planner 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 a Party Planner Business Plan?

A party planner 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 Party Planner Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful party planner business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a party planner 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 party planner 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 party planner 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 party planner firm, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen party planner 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 a party planner 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 party planner 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 a party planner business may include brides-to-be, parents of young children, or corporate event planners.

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 party planner 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 party planner business may have:

  • Extensive event planning experience
  • Unique and creative event ideas
  • Strong relationships with vendors and suppliers
  • Diverse service offerings
  • Ability to manage large-scale events

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 party planner business via word-of-mouth or by exhibiting at trade shows.

Operations Plan

This part of your party planner 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 a party planner business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include adding new services, expanding to a new location, or hiring new employees.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific party planner 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 Party Planner 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 Party Planner 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 party planner business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Party Planner 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 party planner 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 party planner business. 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 party planner business plan.   

Finish Your Party Planner Business Plan in 1 Day!

Create an Outstanding Experience with Free Event Planning Templates

By Joe Weller | October 4, 2017 (updated December 29, 2023)

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In this article, we’ve sorted through all event planning templates and checklists to provide you with the best, most comprehensive listing, so you can effectively plan a product launch, conference , wedding, or other milestone event. 

Included on this page, you’ll find an event planner template , event budget template , event venue checklist template , and more.

Event Planning Templates

Event planner template.

Event Planner Template

Download Event Planner Template

Excel  |  PDF  | Smartsheet

This event plan template includes areas where you can list strategic elements such as objectives, target audience, and messaging as well as logistical details such as catering, programming, and audio-visual requirements. For each task, identify who is responsible, required actions, and deadlines. This thorough template can guide your planning process and provide a summary of tasks to accomplish during an event.

Event Schedule Template

Event Schedule template

Download Event Schedule Template

Excel  |  Smartsheet

Create an event itinerary that includes dates, locations, programming start and end times, and scheduled breaks. This simple spreadsheet is a useful tool for creating an organized event schedule that you can share with staff and attendees. You can also use this template for a single- or multi-day event, or for a conference featuring multiple speakers who will be presenting in various venue rooms. 

Event Marketing Timeline Template - Excel

Event Marketing Timeline

Download Event Marketing Timeline Template

Excel | Smartsheet

Marketing efforts for larger events may include national advertising, online content, public relations, and market research. This template provides a place for individual marketing campaigns along with a timeline for weekly planning. By creating a timeline for each task within a campaign, you can gauge how actions overlap, plan for significant dates, and see a visual representation of the time required for each item.

Event To-Do List Template

Event To Do List Template

Download Event To-Do List Template

Excel  |  PDF

Use this to-do list template to plan, prioritize, and carry out all the necessary tasks for your event. You can track the progress of each item toward completion by choosing a predetermined due date. The template includes room for additional notes or comments, which is particularly useful when sharing a to-do list.

Event Proposal Template - Word

Event Proposal Template

‌ Download Event Proposal Template - Word

If you’re an events planner, having a top-notch proposal to offer potential clients could give you an edge against the competition. This template provides an outline for you to work from as you craft a personalized event management proposal. You’ll find sections for listing client needs and expenses, detailing the services you will provide, and more. 

Event Planner Contract Template

Event Planner Contract Template

Download Event Planner Contract Template

Word  |  PDF

An event planner contract should clearly outline the expectations of the client, the responsibilities of the event planner, the terms of the agreement, and any pertinent project details. You may also want to include a contract with your event proposal - in this case, use this template as a model for creating your own event planner contract where you can list services, terms, and other important business details. Depending on the scope of the event and the management services you’re providing, you can keep the contents of the contract brief or expand the template to include more details.

Wedding Checklist Template - Excel

Wedding Checklist Template

Download Wedding Checklist Template

Professional wedding planners and individuals getting married can benefit from an event checklist template. Wedding planning involves many moving pieces, from decorations to food and photography, so a simple checklist can make planning easier, and help identify expenses and ensure that nothing important is forgotten. Get more wedding planning tips from the pros and discover additional useful templates by reading Expert Tips on How To Create A Wedding Timeline .

Event Evaluation Form

Event Evaluation Form

Download Event Evaluation Form

A post-conference evaluation can provide critical data about which elements of your event were successful and help identify areas for improvement. You can use this event evaluation for any type of event, and can customize it for internal team members or event attendees. Once you determine the information you want to collect, including which aspects of the event or planning process you want to review, simply customize the form to meet your needs.

Calendar of Events Template

2024 Monthly Calendar of Events Template

Download Calendar of Events 2024 Template

This template provides a calendar format with an adjacent column for listing events. The calendar displays all 12 months of the year on a single Excel sheet, making it easy to scan through months, plan ahead, and quickly view the events listed in the corresponding column. Each month is also color-coded with alternating hues for easy viewing.

Event Budget Templates

Conference budget template - excel.

Conference Budget template

Download Conference Budget Template

A budget is an important conference management tool that planners use to identify expenses and resource requirements, inform event decisions, and support an overall plan. Use this template to estimate projected costs and track actual expenses. Comparing your projections with actual costs can help to create more accurate estimations for future conferences.

Event Budget Template - Excel

Event Budget Template

Download Event Budget Template

This event budget template itemizes expenses in a spreadsheet format and also represents data as visual charts. You can use this format to quickly identify which costs are using the largest percentage of the budget. For example, you might discover that certain costs, such as event programming, food service, advertising, and venue rentals are the biggest expenses. The template includes a section for comments where you can jot down brainstorming notes or share messages with your event team. 

Party Budget Template - Excel

Party Budget Template

‌ Download Party Budget Template - Excel

Organize your party planning and track your budget with this template. It includes a summary of expenses and total costs, and a pie chart that both divides costs into categories and provides a detailed breakdown of expenses for each. Cells are pre-populated with common costs, such as equipment rentals or security and cleaning services; however, you can easily edit the fields to suit your requirements.

Wedding Budget Template - Excel

Wedding Budget Template

‌ Download Wedding Budget Template - Excel

This budget planner separates wedding costs into categories including apparel, decorations, reception, and photography. On the template, these categories are broken down into more detailed lists of expenses - this allows you to account for both large and small items, determine which categories are most costly, and ensure that the wedding stays within budget. 

Event Venue and Vendor Templates

Food vendor application template.

Food Vendor Application Template

Download Food Vendor Application Template

Excel    |    PDF

If you’re planning a conference or an event with food vendors, this template can help streamline the application process. Collect information from each vendor, including contact details, goods or services they offer, and permits. You can also add rules and regulations that each vendor must agree to in order to participate in the event.

Event Venue Checklist

Event Venue Checklist Template

Download Event Venue Checklist

Use this checklist template to inspect venues and determine whether they meet the requirements for your event. Items to check include fees, venue capacity, parking, audiovisual options, and more. Following a checklist can help you identify potential issues and provide a quick comparison between venue options.

Catering Vendor Checklist

Catering Vendor Checklist Template

Download Catering Vendor Checklist

This catering checklist template offers an easy way to interview caterers. Catering fees can add up quickly, so it’s important to request detailed estimates for accurate budgeting. While some venues may include catering with their services, you will still need to provide the vendor with event details and make sure you understand their policies.

Event Speaker Checklist

Event Speaker Checklist

Download Event Speaker Checklist

Organize all of the details about your speakers or event entertainment, including audiovisual and other equipment requirements for presentations or performances. Speaker selection is an integral part of event management, so it behooves you to ensure that each presentation is successful. Advance planning may include arranging transportation, collecting speaker bios, and locating and securing necessary equipment.

Wedding Vendor List Template

Wedding Vendor List Template

Download Wedding Vendor List Template

Excel  |  PDF  |  Word

Wedding planners can use this template to keep track of all the vendors they plan to work with or are supplying bids. There are sections to include contact information, contract status, costs, and services provided. You can also include a rating score based on your experience of working with a vendor, professional reviews, or comparison with their competitors.

Sign-Up and Attendance Templates

Event sign-up sheet template.

Event Sign Up Sheet Template

Download Event Sign-Up Sheet Template

If you’re recruiting volunteers for an event, you may find a printable sign-up sheet, such as this one, instrumental in gathering info. Simply post this template at the event to quickly collect names, contact information, and any other details you might need (such as affiliation with the event), or add a space where volunteers can sign up for specific tasks. Simply adjust the column labels to include the information you are seeking.

Conference Sign-In Sheet Template

Conference Sign In Sheet Template

Download Conference Sign-In Sheet Template

To ensure that all attendees are present at a conference or training event, have them add their signatures to this sign-in sheet. At the top of the template there is room for conference details so that the sheet can tracked and filed easily. You can modify this basic form and use it to collect attendance details at any type of event.

Party Sign-Up Sheet Template

Party Sign-Up Sheet Template

Download Party Sign-Up Sheet Template

Whether you’re planning a company party or team building outing , a sign-up sheet can give you an idea of how many people will attend. This template includes columns for setup and cleanup so that volunteers can plan ahead for these duties.

What to Include in a Strategic Event Plan

The planning process may begin with a brainstorming session as you consider the purpose of your event, what you hope to accomplish, and what resources are available. Keep in mind that, while it’s important to cover all your bases and not overlook important details, there is something to be said for brevity. Being concise - perhaps even limiting your event plan to one page - can encourage clarity and make you more likely to follow it. Keeping a plan short may be especially useful if you are creating an event template that other members of your organization will use to arrange future events. Having a clear protocol to follow will make it easier to maintain standards and requirements as team members and event details fluctuate.

As you think about how to craft an event that will meet your objectives, here are a few things to keep in mind and include in your plan:

  • Purpose of Event: In addition to vital event details like dates, times, location, and other logistics, it’s important to know what you hope to achieve. Do you want to accomplish a specific goal such as fundraising or education? Maybe you want your event to meet several objectives, such as launching a product, increasing brand awareness, and boosting sales. Keeping the purpose of the event in mind can help you develop an effective strategy for meeting those objectives.
  • Target Audience: Identifying your target audience and their needs can guide your marketing efforts as well as your event planning. How will you meet their needs? How will your event stand out from the competition?  
  • Event Benefits and Value: Once you determine what your audience needs, you can identify the speakers, entertainment, activities, and messaging that will be most effective. Does your event offer a unique value proposition that potential attendees won’t want to miss?
  • Event Marketing and Metrics: Outline all of the marketing channels you will utilize to promote your event, and create a timeline for each phase of marketing. In addition to metrics for tracking the effectiveness of your campaigns, identify any other key metrics that you’ll use to evaluate the event as a whole.
  • Budget: Consider both costs and revenue as you plan your event. 

Once an event ends, the purpose of event management is to collect and evaluate key metrics. Whether you measure ticket sales and attendance, solicit feedback from participants, or conduct a performance review of the entire planning and event process, performing an evaluation can help you understand what was successful and what needs improvement. This type of information is critical data that you can use to inform decisions about future events.

Increase Event Success with Real-Time Planning in Smartsheet

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

How to start a party planning business

  • Jeremy Greenbaum

How to start a party planning business

If you have a passion for organizing events, love bringing people together and enjoy creating memorable experiences, starting a party planning business can be a rewarding and exciting venture. In this guide, we'll take you through the process of launching a party planning business, from developing your concept to creating a professional business website . It’s time to turn your party-planning dreams into a reality.

What is a party planning business?

A party planning business is a service-based enterprise that specializes in organizing and executing various types of events, such as birthdays, weddings, corporate gatherings and special occasions. In this type of business , you will work closely with clients to understand their vision, coordinate logistics and ensure that every detail of the event is meticulously planned and executed.

Party planning businesses have become increasingly popular as people seek professional assistance to alleviate the stress and complexity of organizing events. By providing expert guidance, creative ideas and impeccable coordination, party planners help clients bring their vision to life and create unforgettable experiences for their guests.

Why start a party planning business?

The demand for professional party planning services is on the rise as people value convenience, expertise and the desire for exceptional celebrations. In fact, the global party planning industry is projected to reach $1,552.9 billion by 2028 , giving it a compound annual growth rate of over 11%. In the US, that growth rate is up to 18% .

Besides having major growth potential, this field can also be extremely fun and creative. If you have a genuine love for organizing events and making people happy, starting a party planning business allows you to turn your passion into a fulfilling career. As a party planner, you have the opportunity to unleash your creativity and bring unique ideas to life. Each event presents a new canvas for you to design memorable experiences tailored to your clients' preferences.

Speaking of clients, planning parties allows you to connect with clients on a personal level and make a positive impact on their lives. The joy and satisfaction of seeing happy clients and their guests enjoying a flawlessly executed event can be immensely rewarding.

Benefits of starting a party planning business

In summary, starting a party planning business comes with benefits such as:

Diverse clientele: Party planning businesses cater to a wide range of clients, including individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and community groups. This diversity allows you to work on various types of events and expand your network.

Endless creativity: From themed parties to unique décor and entertainment ideas, party planning offers limitless opportunities for creativity. You can continuously explore new trends, innovative designs and exciting concepts to impress your clients and stay ahead of the competition.

Collaboration opportunities: As a party planner, you have the chance to collaborate with different vendors, such as caterers, florists (read also: how to start a flower business ), DJs and photographers. These collaborations not only enhance the quality of your events but also help you build a strong network within the event industry. And if you're interesting in taking that on yourself, check out our guide on how to start a dj business .

Personal and professional growth: Running a party planning business allows you to develop essential skills in project management, negotiation, budgeting and customer service. Each event presents an opportunity for growth and learning, enabling you to refine your expertise and expand your knowledge.

Challenges of running a party planning business

While starting a business has numerous benefits, it's important to be aware of the challenges that come with it. Here are some common challenges you may face:

Time management: Planning and executing events require meticulous attention to detail and effective time management. Juggling multiple projects, coordinating with clients and vendors and meeting deadlines can be demanding, especially during peak event seasons.

Budget constraints: Balancing clients' expectations and budget limitations can be a challenge. It's crucial to find creative solutions, negotiate with vendors and effectively communicate with clients to deliver exceptional experiences within their financial constraints.

Vendor management: Building relationships with reliable and trustworthy vendors is essential. However, finding the right vendors who align with your clients' needs and standards can be time-consuming. Maintaining these relationships and ensuring consistent quality from vendors is crucial for successful events.

Event logistics: Managing logistics, such as venue selection, transportation, guest seating and equipment rentals, requires careful coordination and attention to detail. Overlooking any aspect of event logistics can result in delays, misunderstandings or last-minute complications.

Starting a party planning business involves several essential steps. By following these steps, you can establish a strong foundation for your business and set yourself up for success:

Define your party planning services

Develop a comprehensive business plan

Set up your business

Build your professional network

Develop pricing packages and contracts

Establish online presence with a Wix website

Market your party planning business

01. Define your party planning services

Identify the types of events you want to specialize in and the services you will offer. Determine your target market based on factors such as event size, budget range, location and specific event themes or styles, as well as your unique selling proposition . Defining your niche will help you focus your marketing efforts and differentiate yourself from competitors.

02. Develop a comprehensive business plan

Create a detailed business plan that outlines your goals, target market analysis, marketing strategies, pricing structure, financial projections and operational plans. You’ll also want to create a detailed financial forecast, including how you plan to raise money for your business , monthly expenses, revenue projections and profitability analysis. These documents will serve as a roadmap for your party planning business and guide your decision-making process.

Once you've written your party planning business plan , write a concept statement to outline your vision.

03. Set up your business

When you are figuring out how to name your business , try using dedicated tools like Wix’s business name generator and register your business with the appropriate local authorities. Determine your business entity ( sole proprietorship , partnership , LLC , corporation ) and obtain any required licenses or permits to operate legally. Additionally, consider getting liability insurance to protect your business.

Some examples of potential party planning business names include:

CelebrateJoy Events

FestiveFiesta Planners

GlamourGatherings

SparkleSoiree Services

PartyPerfection Pros

JubileeJunction Events

BlissfulBash Planners

EliteEntertain Events

RazzleDazzle Celebrations

ChicCharm Events

VelvetVibe Parties

GalaGrove Planners

EnchantedOccasions

RadiantRevelry Events

MajesticMingle Planners

04. Build your professional network

Establish relationships with vendors, venues, caterers, entertainers and other professionals in the event industry. Collaborate with reliable partners who share your commitment to quality and professionalism. Building a strong network will ensure that you have access to reliable resources for every event.

05. Develop pricing packages and contracts

Create pricing packages for your party planning services based on the type of event, services provided and estimated hours of work. Develop clear and comprehensive contracts that outline the terms and conditions of your services, including payment schedules, cancellation policies and liability disclaimers.

06. Establish your online presence with a Wix website

Create a professional website using a user-friendly website maker like Wix. Showcase your services, portfolio of past events, client testimonials and contact information. Implement an inquiry form to capture leads and make it easy for potential clients to reach out to you.

07. Market your party planning business

Implement a strategic marketing plan to promote your party planning services. Consider online and offline marketing tactics, such as social media marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing, attending industry events and networking with local businesses. Utilize your website and social media platforms to showcase your expertise, share event inspiration and engage with your target audience.

Thinking of starting another type of business? Check out some of these creative service business ideas  to help get you started.

Promote your party planning business

Promoting your party planning business effectively is essential for sustainable growth and client satisfaction. Here are five key steps to effectively manage your party planning business:

Streamline processes and workflow: Develop efficient processes for client communication, vendor coordination, budget management and event execution. Use project management tools and software to track progress, assign tasks and streamline workflow. Regularly review and refine your processes to optimize efficiency and productivity.

Maintain strong vendor relationships: Nurture your relationships with vendors by communicating effectively, providing clear guidelines and promptly addressing any concerns or issues. Maintain an updated vendor database with detailed information, such as pricing, specialties and past collaborations. Establishing trust and reliability with vendors will ensure smooth event execution.

Prioritize customer service: Deliver exceptional customer service by actively listening to your clients, promptly responding to their inquiries and going above and beyond to exceed their expectations. Tailor your services to meet their unique needs and preferences. Providing a personalized and attentive experience will build trust and loyalty among your clients.

Leverage social media and visual content: Utilize social media platforms to showcase your past events, share event inspiration and engage with your target audience. Utilize visual content, such as high-quality photos and videos, to highlight your creativity and expertise. Encourage clients to share their experiences and reviews on social media, further enhancing your online presence.

Build client testimonials and referrals: Request testimonials from satisfied clients and feature them on your website and social media platforms. Positive reviews and testimonials build trust and credibility among potential clients. Implement referral programs that incentivize existing clients to refer new clients to your party planning business. Offer discounts, exclusive packages or rewards as a token of appreciation for referrals.

How to start a business in a specific state

Registration and licensing requirements can vary by state and local jurisdiction. Therefore, it's important to research and comply with the specific guidelines of your location so you’re operating legally and protecting your business. Here are some helpful resources:

Start a business in Pennsylvania

Start a business in Tennessee

Start a business in Connecticut

Start a business in Texas

Start a business in New York

How to start a business in Washington

Start a business in Georgia

Don’t see your state here? Just use the search bar in the Wix Blog to find all the information you need.

No matter where you promote your business, make sure to keep your branding consistent. Use Wix’s logo maker to create a logo that you can feature in all of your digital assets. Check out these photography logo ideas for inspiration.

Party planning businesses on Wix

Pop Tier Party Solutions : PopTier Parties is your go-to destination for creating unforgettable and personalized party experiences. From themed decorations to entertainment, they curate every detail to make your special occasions truly magical.

Social Peanut Planning : Social Peanut Planning specializes in crafting seamless and stylish parties for any child event, birthday or baby shower. Their expert team brings creativity and attention to detail to ensure your gatherings are a resounding success.

The Peachtree Party Planner : Located in the Greater Atlanta Region, The Peachtree Party Planner is a premier event planning service dedicated to extravagant and stylistic themed parties. Meet your new secret weapon when it comes to impressing your party guests.

For more inspiration, you can check out these service business examples to help you get your creative juices flowing.

What are some of the qualities of a good event planner?

Looking to be successful with an event planning business? You'll need to posses and hone some of the following skills:

Effective communication

Good organizational ability

Leadership qualities and experience

Problem solving

People skills

Great time management

If you're interested in other business ideas...

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How to start a print on demand business

How to start a laundromat business

How to start a wedding business

How to start a hotel business

How to start a marketing business

How to start a party planning business FAQ

How to start an event planning business from home.

As general advice - research the market, define your niche, create a business plan, set up a home office, build a website, network with vendors for party planning supplies and offer exceptional service to launch your home-based event planning business successfully.

How to start an event planning business with no experience?

How to start a party planning business with no money, related posts.

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Party Planner Business Plan Template & Guidebook

If you're ready to start a party planning business and make your dreams a reality, then you'll need a clear and comprehensive business plan to get the ball rolling. The #1 Party Planner Business Plan Template & Guidebook provides an unparalleled resource that covers everything you need to know to create a successful party planning business. With an easy-to-follow template and comprehensive step-by-step instructions, this guidebook gives you the tools you need to design and implement an effective plan for success. Read on to discover how this guidebook can help you create and launch your party planning business!

Nick

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  • How to Start a Profitable Party Planner Business [11 Steps]
  • 25 Catchy Party Planner Business Names:
  • List of the Best Marketing Ideas For Your Party Planner Business:

How to Write a Party Planner Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your party planner business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your party planner business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a party planner business:

Our mission is to provide our clients with an optimal experience by delivering unique, creative, and professionally organized events that fulfill the vision of their special occasion. We strive to create an atmosphere filled with joy and celebration, regardless of the size and scope of the event.

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2. Products & Services Offered by Your Party Planner Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your party planner business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

  • What is my business?
  • What are the products and/or services that I offer?
  • Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
  • How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
  • How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

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3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your party planner business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your party planner business includes the following elements:

Target market

  • Who is your target market?
  • What do these customers have in common?
  • How many of them are there?
  • How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

  • Who are your current customers? 
  • Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
  • How can their experience with your party planner business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

  • How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
  • Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
  • Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
  • How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

  • Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
  • Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
  • What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

  • Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
  • What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
  • What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
  • How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

party planning business outline

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

  • The equipment and facilities needed
  • Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
  • Financial requirements for each step
  • Milestones & KPIs
  • Location of your business
  • Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a party planner business?

To run a Party Planner business, you will need the following equipment, supplies, and permit:

  • Party planning equipment (e.g., tables, tents, chairs, sound systems)
  • Party supplies (e.g., decorations, food and drink, plates and utensils)
  • Permits (e.g., a public events permit or a liquor license to serve alcohol)
  • Insurance (e.g., liability insurance to cover potential damages or losses)

5. Management & Organization of Your Party Planner Business.

The second part of your party planner business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

  • How many employees you need in order to run your party planner business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
  • The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
  • How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Party Planner Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a party planner business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a party planner business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your party planner business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your party planner business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your party planner business plan:

  • Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
  • Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
  • Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
  • Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
  • Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
  • Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

party planning business outline

Frequently Asked Questions About Party Planner Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a party planner business.

A business plan is essential for any new business venture and a party planner business is no exception. A thoughtful, detailed business plan can help you determine if your idea is feasible, while also providing potential investors, partners, and lenders with an in-depth look at your objectives, vision, and financials. It can help you gain clarity on the costs associated with starting a party planning business such as equipment and insurance needs, determine pricing or services offered, establish marketing strategies and timelines, understand legal requirements for the industry or location you operate in, and identify long-term goals and strategies to help achieve success.

Who should you ask for help with your party planner business plan?

You should ask for help from a business consultant, accountant, financial advisor, or lawyer. These professionals can provide advice and information to help you create an effective business plan. Additionally, you can look for advice from other successful party planner business owners.

Can you write a party planner business plan yourself?

Yes, you can write a party planner business plan yourself. To do so, you will need to develop a comprehensive strategy that takes into account the type of services you will offer, the target market for your services, the necessary resources needed to run your business, and the financial projections for the venture. Additionally, you should also include details on how you plan to market and promote your business. You may also want to consider including information on certain legal requirements related to operating a party planning business. Last but not least, make sure that your plan is sound and comprehensive enough for potential investors or other stakeholders to understand.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

party planning business outline

Small Business Trends

How to start a party planning business.

Starting an event planning business can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor. In this article, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of how to start a party planning business, ensuring you’re equipped with the knowledge and insights to become a successful party planner. Whether it’s the allure of the industry’s profitability, the evolving dynamics of event planning, or the niche specifics like wedding planning, we’ve covered it all for you. 

Why Start a Party Planning Business?

how to start a party planning business

The journey to start a successful event planning business comes with its share of perks. Not only do you get the opportunity to showcase your creativity and organizational skills, but there’s a substantial market out there ready to be tapped.

In 2022, the US party and event planning service market bounced back valiantly, boasting a size of $3.2 billion. Following a few challenging years with an annualized dip of -9.1% from 2016 to 2021, the industry regained momentum with a growth of 4% by the start of 2022, making it again one of the top service business ideas for aspiring entrepreneurs. This resurgence signals a shift, with corporate events, holiday parties, and professional social occasions, like company picnics, emerging as the frontrunners for potential growth.

Diving into this business now can offer you a chance to ride this wave of recovery, as many sectors are actively looking to revitalize their event calendars. You get to play a part in creating memorable experiences and helping people reconnect in delightful settings.

The Event Planning Industry Today

how to start a party planning business

Getting a clear picture of the current industry landscape is vital before you roll up your sleeves and immerse yourself in the events industry. Recent shifts and developments have reshaped how the industry operates in recent years.

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Technology, for one, has significantly influenced the industry. From virtual event platforms to sophisticated event management software, embracing technology can give your business a competitive edge. Moreover, consumer demands constantly evolve, with a notable inclination towards personalized and unique experiences. The contemporary clientele seeks more than just an event; they crave an experience that resonates with them personally.

Furthermore, significant global events have urged businesses to rethink their strategies. Flexibility and innovation have become the keystones for survival and growth. Keeping a pulse on these trends and adapting your business model can pave the way for a successful and sustainable event planning service.

What Does an Event Planning Company Do?

how to start a party planning business

If you’ve ever been to a seamless event and marveled at how everything just seemed to fall into place, you’ve probably experienced the work of a skilled event planner. But what do these wizards behind the curtains do? Let’s peel back those curtains and uncover the myriad of roles and responsibilities an event planning business typically handles.

From Vision to Reality

At its core, an event planning company is responsible for turning a vision into a tangible reality. This means they’ll tackle everything from the nitty-gritty details to the grander aspects of an event. The planner works closely with clients to understand their requirements and preferences, drawing up an actionable plan to ensure everything proceeds without a hitch.

The Intricacies of Planning and Coordination

While the word ‘party’ sounds like all fun and games, a lot of groundwork goes into it. This includes budgeting, selecting the venue, arranging for equipment, coordinating with various vendors, managing invites and RSVPs, and ensuring proper transportation and accommodations for guests if needed.

Execution – The Final Countdown

On the day of the event, an event planner morphs into a maestro, orchestrating every detail. They ensure everything is set up as planned, resolve any last-minute hiccups, manage the event schedule, and ensure guests have a pleasant experience.

Types of Events An Event Planner May Handle

how to start a party planning business

An event planner’s role is varied, but their skill set is transferable across various event types. Let’s delve into some of the most common events they handle:

Corporate Events

These are often large-scale events organized by businesses for their employees, stakeholders, or clients. It could be product launches, conferences, workshops, or team-building retreats. Each comes with its own set of requirements, from professional settings to interactive activities, and an event planner ensures the event aligns with the company’s goals and brand image.

Arguably one of the most significant events in a person’s life, weddings require meticulous planning. From venue selection to dĂ©cor, catering, entertainment, and coordinating ceremonies, an event planner makes the special day truly memorable for the couple and their guests.

Birthday Parties

Birthday parties are joyous occasions, whether a child’s first birthday or a grandparent’s milestone celebration. Planners help with theme selection, activities, food, and ensuring the birthday person is the center of attention.

Holiday Celebrations

Holiday events have a unique charm, from planning a business holiday party to vibrant New Year’s Eve bashes. An event planner can craft experiences centered around the holiday’s theme, ensuring everyone soaks in the festive spirit. For example, a Christmas party may feature a Santa for hire , while New Year’s Eve bashes may include live music late into the evening.

Charity Galas and Fundraisers

These events are increasingly popular and require a balance of entertainment and a deeper purpose. Planners ensure the event entertains, effectively conveys the cause, and encourages donations or support.

Specific Tasks Handled by an Event Planning Company

The beauty of an event often lies in its details. Behind every successful event, there’s a plethora of tasks that an event planning company takes on to ensure everything is just right. While we’ve touched on what event planners do broadly, let’s take a closer look at some of the specific roles they manage on a day-to-day basis:

Booking Venues

Finding the perfect backdrop for an event is crucial. Event planners:

  • Scout potential venues based on client preferences and event requirements.
  • Negotiate prices to fit within budgets.
  • Handle contracts, including terms for cancellations or changes.
  • Ensure the venue complies with health and safety regulations.
  • Coordinate logistics like parking, accessibility, and event flow within the venue.

Arranging for Catering

Good food can elevate the event experience.

  • Work closely with clients to finalize the menu, taking into account dietary restrictions and preferences.
  • Source reliable catering services known for quality.
  • Handle tastings to finalize dishes.
  • Ensure timely food service during the event.

Managing Invitations and RSVPs

Proper communication sets the tone for an event. Planners:

  • Design and order invitations aligned with the event’s theme.
  • Manage mailing or e-invitations to the guest list.
  • Handle RSVPs, keeping track of attendees.
  • Make provisions for special requests or requirements from guests.

Coordinating Entertainment and Activities

Ensuring guests are engaged and entertained is vital. To achieve this, planners:

  • Source entertainers or hosts, be it a DJ, a band, or a keynote speaker.
  • Arrange for technical equipment like microphones, speakers, or projectors.
  • Plan activities, games, or workshops that align with the event’s objective.
  • Manage event schedules to ensure timely transitions between segments.

Handling Decorations and Themes

The visual appeal sets the mood. In this regard, event planners:

  • Collaborate with clients to decide on a theme or aesthetic.
  • Source decorations that resonate with the chosen theme.
  • Collaborate with decorators or florists to bring the vision to life.
  • Ensure timely setup and teardown, keeping the venue’s policies in mind.

Budgeting and Finance Management

A crucial behind-the-scenes task, planners:

  • Create a comprehensive budget outline based on client inputs.
  • Monitor expenses, ensuring they stay within allocated budgets.
  • Handle payments to vendors, venues, and service providers.
  • Provide financial summaries post-event for transparency.

Unraveling the magic of a memorable event means diving deep into these intricate tasks. When thoughtfully managed, each detail culminates in an experience that leaves an indelible mark on the attendees.

Key Steps to Start Your Own Event Planning Business

how to start a party planning business

Venturing into the event planning business? Beyond the glitz and glamour of the events themselves, there’s a structured approach to planning events and setting up a successful business in this space. Here are some foundational steps for how to start a business in this exciting industry :

Market Research Local Event Planning Services

Before you dive into the event planning business, you’ll want a lay of the land. Here’s how you go about it:

  • Identify your competitors: Look for other event planning companies in your area. Understand their strengths, offerings, and pricing structures.
  • Understand your target audience: Are you focusing on corporate events, weddings, or private parties? Understanding your niche will help in tailoring your services.
  • Gather feedback: Speak to friends, family, or potential clients to understand what they look for in an event planner. Their insights can help shape your business.
  • Analyze trends: Stay updated with the latest in event themes, technologies, and preferences. This ensures your services remain current and in demand.

Crafting Your Event Planning Business Plan

Every successful venture starts with a robust hires . Here’s what yours should include:

  • Mission Statement: Define what your business stands for and what you hope to achieve .
  • Services Offered: Detail out the range of services you’ll provide, from end-to-end planning to specific tasks like catering or dĂ©cor.
  • Pricing Structure: Decide on your pricing. Will you charge a flat fee, a percentage of the event budget, or hourly rates?
  • Marketing and Promotion: Outline strategies to promote your business, be it through social media, word-of-mouth, or partnerships.

Registering Your Business and Legal Requirements

It’s not just about planning parties; you’ll need to ensure your business is above board:

  • Choose a Business Structure: Will you operate as a sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, or a corporation? Each has its tax and liability implications.
  • Register Your Business: Register your business with the appropriate governmental bodies depending on your locale.
  • Licenses and Permits: Research and obtain any necessary licenses or permits. Some locations may require special permits for public events or large gatherings.
  • Insurance: Consider getting business insurance. Given the nature of events, liability insurance can be a lifesaver in case of unforeseen issues.

Financing Your Party Planning Business

Even event planning service requires some initial capital:

  • Startup Costs: Calculate costs for setting up your office, marketing materials, a website, and any initial hires.
  • Secure Funding: Depending on your needs, you could self-fund, take a business loan, or look for investors.
  • Maintain a Budget: Especially in the early days, track your expenses and income meticulously. This not only helps in managing cash flow but also in future financial planning.

How to Become a Successful Party Planner

how to start a party planning business

So, you’ve set the stage with your event planning business. Now, how do you ensure that your venture not only survives but thrives? Let’s delve into some crucial event planning service tips and practices that can pave the way for your success.

Essential Tools and Software

In the digital age, leveraging technology can make all the difference:

  • Event Management Software: Invest in software that helps you manage every aspect of an event, from budgeting to scheduling and vendor management.
  • Design Tools: Platforms like Canva or Adobe Suite can be handy for creating promotional materials, designing invitations, or presenting event mock-ups to clients.
  • Communication Tools: Apps like Slack or WhatsApp Business can streamline communication with clients and vendors. Moreover, video conferencing tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams are invaluable for remote consultations.
  • Feedback and Survey Platforms: Use tools like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms to collect feedback post-event. It’s a goldmine for improvement!

Networking and Partnerships

Your network is your net worth, especially in the event planning service industry:

  • Attend Industry Events: These can be conferences, workshops, or seminars. It’s a fantastic way to meet potential clients, vendors, or even competitors.
  • Forge Strategic Partnerships: Partner with related businesses like catering companies, dĂ©cor agencies, or venues. Mutual referrals can significantly boost clientele.
  • Join Associations: Consider memberships in event planning associations or groups. They often offer training, resources, and networking opportunities.

Marketing and Social Media

Visibility is key in the event planning industry:

  • Build a Stellar Website: Ensure it showcases your portfolio, client testimonials, and services. An integrated blog can also boost SEO and provide value to visitors.
  • Leverage Social Media: Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are visual-heavy and perfect for showcasing your events. Regular posts, stories, and reels can help engage a wider audience.
  • Engage in Content Marketing: Share articles, videos, or infographics related to event planning. It positions you as an expert in your field.

Building Client Satisfaction and Repeat Business

Happy clients are your business’s best promoters:

  • Over-communicate: Ensure your clients are always in the loop. Regular check-ins and updates can instill confidence.
  • Go the Extra Mile: Little gestures, like sending a thank-you note post-event or giving a small gift, can leave a lasting impression.
  • Seek Feedback: Post-event, actively ask for feedback. This shows clients you value their opinion and are keen on improving.
  • Loyalty Programs: Consider offering discounts or added services for repeat clients. It encourages them to come back and can also lead to referrals.

Required Skills and Qualifications for a Professional Event Planner

how to start a party planning business

The exhilarating event planning industry demands a unique mix of skills. Here’s what you need to have in your toolkit, both in terms of soft skills and formal qualifications, to shine in this industry:

Communication Skills

In event planning, communication is the bedrock of success:

  • Clarity and Precision: Clear communication prevents mishaps, whether it’s understanding client requirements or conveying those to vendors.
  • Listening Skills: Paying attention to the needs and feedback of clients, vendors, and team members ensures that everyone is on the same page.
  • Negotiation Abilities: Event planners often juggle budgets, and negotiating with suppliers or venues can ensure top-notch services without breaking the bank.

Time Management

Every event is bound by time, making this skill crucial:

  • Prioritization: With multiple tasks vying for attention, understanding what to tackle first is essential.
  • Scheduling: Using tools or software to lay out tasks, set reminders, and ensure nothing is overlooked can be a lifesaver.
  • Flexibility: Things don’t always go as planned. The ability to swiftly adjust and reorganize is a trait every event planner needs.

Creative Thinking

Events are as much about experience as they are about logistics:

  • Innovative Solutions: Whether it’s a last-minute venue change or a sudden rainstorm, coming up with quick, creative fixes is key.
  • Design Sensibility: An eye for aesthetics helps in creating memorable event atmospheres.
  • Trend Awareness: Keeping tabs on the latest in event themes, technologies, or entertainment can give your events a fresh appeal.

Formal Qualifications

While not always mandatory, some qualifications can give you an edge:

  • Certifications: Many institutions offer event planning certifications. These can be valuable in showcasing your expertise and commitment to the profession.
  • Related Fields of Study: Degrees in hospitality, public relations, marketing, or business can provide foundational knowledge beneficial in event planning.

How to Set Up Your Event Planning Business Operations

how to start a party planning business

Getting your operations up and running smoothly is fundamental. Here’s how to structure this crucial aspect of your event planning service business:

Choosing a Location

  • Home Office: Many event planners start out from home offices. It’s cost-effective and offers flexibility.
  • Co-working Spaces: As your business grows, co-working spaces can provide a professional setting without the hefty price tag of a private office.
  • Rental Offices: For larger operations with a team, renting an office space might be the way to go. Ensure it’s easily accessible for clients and staff.

Hiring Staff

  • Freelancers vs. Full-time: Initially, you might rely on freelancers for tasks like design or marketing. As the workload grows, consider hiring full-time staff.
  • Roles to Consider: Assistants for handling administrative tasks, marketing professionals for promotion, and coordinators for managing events are some of the first hires many planners consider.
  • Training: The event industry is dynamic. Regular training sessions can keep your team updated on the latest trends and best practices.
  • Building a Cohesive Team: Team building activities and regular feedback sessions can foster a collaborative and efficient work environment.

Marketing and Branding Your Party Planning Business

how to start a party planning business

In the event planning service industry, how you present and market your business can set you apart. Here’s a roadmap to making your brand the talk of the town:

Digital Marketing for Your Event Planning Service

Digital platforms offer a vast audience waiting to discover your brand:

  • Website Optimization: A user-friendly, visually appealing website that’s mobile-responsive and SEO-friendly can draw potential clients.
  • Social Media Engagement: Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook are perfect for showcasing event visuals. Regular posts, behind-the-scenes stories, and client testimonials can enhance engagement.
  • Pay-per-click (PPC) Advertising: Platforms like Google Ads allow you to target specific keywords related to event planning, driving targeted traffic to your website.
  • Email Marketing: Periodic newsletters with event tips, discounts, or industry news can help you stay in the minds of past and potential clients.

Networking at Local Events

Personal connections are invaluable for a party planner:

  • Exhibitions and Trade Shows: Setting up a stall or even attending can get you direct contacts.
  • Community Events: Participating or volunteering in local community events can offer organic promotion.
  • Business Chambers and Clubs: Joining local business networks can help you forge ties with potential clients and collaborators.

Customer Testimonials

Word of mouth is golden:

  • Website Features: Display glowing reviews prominently on your website.
  • Social Proof: Share testimonials on social media, perhaps as short video clips or graphic cards.
  • Incentivize Reviews: Encourage feedback by offering discounts on future bookings or small giveaways for detailed reviews.

How to Grow Your Event Planning Business

how to start a party planning business

With a solid foundation, scaling your event planning services is the next frontier. Here are some steps to consider:

Expanding Services

  • Diversify Offerings: From intimate house parties to large corporate events, widening your spectrum can tap into new client bases.
  • Skill Development: Offering unique services like thematic decor, sustainable events, or technology-driven setups can set you apart.
  • Training and Workshops: Hosting workshops on event planning or allied topics can offer an additional revenue stream.

Partnerships and Collaborations

  • Vendors and Suppliers: Forge deals with decor agencies, caterers, or entertainment groups for mutual referrals.
  • Collaborate with Non-competitors: Consider tie-ups with businesses like florists, bakers, or photographers. Their clientele can be a direct lead into your target audience.

Customer Retention Strategies

Repeat business is a surefire growth strategy:

  • Loyalty Programs: Offer discounts or complimentary services for repeat bookings.
  • Post-event Feedback: Regularly seek and act upon feedback. It not only aids improvement but also shows clients that you value their opinions.
  • Anniversary Reminders: Send out reminders for annual events, be it birthdays or corporate anniversaries. It’s a gentle nudge for repeat business.

Specializing as a Wedding Planner

how to start a party planning business

Often hailed as the most significant events in many individuals’ lives, weddings demand a unique blend of skills and sensibilities. Picking wedding planning as a specialization within the broader event planning spectrum can be both challenging and highly rewarding. Let’s explore this niche:

  • The Magic and Magnitude: Weddings aren’t just events but deeply personal and emotional. A wedding planner isn’t just organizing a day; they’re crafting memories that last a lifetime.
  • Attention to Detail: The details matter immensely in weddings, from matching the napkins to the bride’s dress shade to ensuring the music aligns with the couple’s love story.
  • Cultural Sensitivity: Weddings are deeply rooted in traditions. A wedding planner should be well-versed and respectful of diverse cultural customs, rituals, and etiquette.
  • Stress Management: With high emotions can come high stress. Being the calming presence, mediating disagreements, and ensuring smooth execution is part of the job.

Tips for Focusing on the Wedding Niche:

  • Educate Yourself: There are specific courses and certifications for wedding planning. Investing in these can give you an edge.
  • Portfolio Building: A stunning portfolio with photos, testimonials, and detailed breakdowns of weddings you’ve managed can be your strongest marketing tool.
  • Forge Relationships: Build solid relationships with suppliers catering to weddings—florists, caterers, photographers, and venue managers.
  • Stay Updated: Wedding trends evolve rapidly. From sustainable weddings to tech-driven ceremonies, be aware of what’s new in the wedding world.

FAQs: How to Start a Party Planning Business

How profitable is a party planning business.

The profitability of a party of event planning business varies based on location, specialization, market demand, and business acumen. In the US, the party and event planning market has seen growth, especially after overcoming the challenges in previous years. With dedication, networking, and effective marketing, many party planners have built lucrative careers.

Do you need a certification to start a party planning business?

No, you don’t necessarily need a certification to start an event planning business. However, having a certification can provide credibility, showcase your commitment to the profession, and equip you with essential industry knowledge. It can also be beneficial when seeking certain clientele or corporate contracts.

What is the best way to market event planning services?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but digital marketing, especially through visually-rich platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, has proven effective for many event planners. Showcasing your work, using customer testimonials, attending local networking events, and leveraging word of mouth are also valuable marketing strategies. Regularly engaging with your audience, updating your portfolio, and highlighting unique offerings can set you apart in the market.

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10 Free Event Planning Templates and Checklists to Get Ready for 2024

Haillie Parker

February 14, 2024

What do work conferences, weddings, and your dog’s birthday party all have in common? 

They started with a flexible event planning template
 probably !

Event planning is no small feat. Like managing any complex project, there are a ton of moving parts that must come together perfectly to pull off a successful event—even virtual ones! 

Whether it’s securing the venue, catering, managing the budget , forming the guest list, or sending invitations, you will need more than the average checklist to arrange it all without sprouting a few grey hairs in the process. đŸ‘ŽđŸŒ

The best templates will help you execute all of these elements and then some. With multiple views, task statuses, and customizable features built right in, your perfect template will ease the pain during the planning process so you can simply enjoy the event when it arrives!

And we’re here to help! With 10 detailed event planning templates for everything from virtual happy hours to your next company-wide conference . 

Why is Event Planning Important? 

1. event brief template by clickup, 2. large event planning template by clickup, 3. event budget template by clickup, 4. event management template by clickup, 5. events planning document template by clickup, 6. event planning tracker template by microsoft office, 7. event & party planner template for excel, 8. word event planner template by microsoft office, 9. event marketing template by clickup, 10. excel five-day event schedule template, what to look for in an event planning template.

Well-planned events can do wonders for your reputation, company morale, community engagement, and more! 

And a poorly planned event? Well, that can do more harm than good for everyone involved.

Events are a great way to connect with your community, give back to your employees, encourage networking, and draw in more business. They are an extension of your company and every little detail reflects the core values and philosophies of your brand as a whole.

No pressure, right? 😅

This isn’t meant to scare you, though! It’s to remind you that the best events come from the heart, and as stressful as the planning process may be, events are supposed to be fun. Showing that you put time and effort into creating a meaningful experience for a group of people you appreciate is a really impactful gesture. 

It may be as big as a virtual conference or as small as a catered team lunch, but your next occasion will require a specific and thorough event project management process.

10 Free Event Planning Templates for 2024

With guest lists, vendors, tickets, speakers, and seating arrangements to oversee, you’ll need powerful event planning software to manage your progress, stay on top of tasks, and visualize critical dates on a customizable calendar.

The perfect template will enhance your event planning tool’s features with pre-built and customizable elements like calendars, lists, task statuses, and workflow views. Not to mention, your ideal template will also be 100% free .

Here are 10 of our favorite event planning templates for ClickUp, Microsoft Office , and Excel that check every box. 📩

The Event Brief Template by ClickUp will help you gain alignment across all stakeholders and kickstart your event planning.

The Event Project Brief Template by ClickUp helps event teams plan, track, and organize projects. With this template, your event team can create a project outline quickly and efficiently.

The template includes tasks for each event phase, from pre-planning to post-event evaluation. Each task and subtask is structured with assignees, due dates and estimated hours for effort tracking. The template ensures that each phase of the event is planned thoroughly, without missing key steps or communication points.

Plus, you’ll be able to assign responsibilities and set deadlines for each task. This is the perfect way to ensure that all tasks

Large Event Planning Template by ClickUp

While the previous template is an excellent resource for event planners juggling multiple events, this Large Event Planning Template by ClickUp is created for those planning large stand-alone events like sporting events, music festivals, conferences, and more.

With 16 custom task statuses and four project view types included, this template Folder has everything you need to execute mid-sized events with separate Lists for managing your overarching vendors , checklists, RSVPs, and budgets.

Plus, in true ClickUp fashion, this template automatically applies a Getting Started Guide to cover the ins, outs, and must-dos to make this template really shine.

Event Budget Planning Template by ClickUp

It’s almost spooky how easy it is to blow through your event budget. đŸ‘»đŸ„Č

Especially when you’re eager to give back to your team or planning several events at a time, the invoices just start flying! The Event Budget Template by ClickUp might sound like a buzz kill, but it’s actually an essential (and deeply satisfying) part of pulling off your next event.

This template helps you stay in control when it comes to your spending by establishing due dates, laying down key action items, and managing the venue selection process in pre-built Lists. 

You can also keep an eye on upcoming expenses with three custom statuses for purchases left To Do , In Progress , or Complete . 💾

Event Management Template by ClickUp

The Event Management Template by ClickUp is the stepping stone to its Event Planning template (see recommendation #1). đŸ€Ș

With separate event Lists, three custom statuses, Tags, and six workflow views included in this Folder, you can organize multiple events at a time—and deliver them within budget!

Custom Fields are where this template really hits its stride with eight categories for filtering, sorting, and grouping tasks by various budget-related items. You can even add data like progress percentages, payment statuses, and location to your workflow view for more information at every glance.

Events Planning Document Template by ClickUp

Repeat after me: This is your ultimate event planning checklist. 🗣

You’ve closed out your tasks, finalized the invoices, sent the invitations, and are now, you’re ready to attend the event you worked so hard for! This Events Planning Document Template by ClickUp is the day-of checklist that covers everything—seriously, everything.

In your Doc, you’ll find pages separated by categories including General Information , Setup Details , Invitation List , and Vendor List . Need an extra page? No problem! Easily copy pages, add new ones, or create subpages to customize your template even further in an organized visual hierarchy. 

On each page, formatting is automatically created to help you distribute and access must-have information as quickly as possible. With checklists that you can strike off when completed (even from your mobile device), pre-built tables for your guest list, and Slash Command tips, this ClickUp Doc is the ultimate guide to calm your event planning jitters. 

Event Planning Tracker Template by Microsoft Office

This Event Template helps you stay on top of event information in an Excel workbook with different worksheets for your project parameters, project details, and project totals. Each worksheet has a modifiable table or chart to determine how many resources or how much of your budget you’ve already used per event. 

This is a great template for comparing the bottom line for multiple projects in the event that you need to present findings to stakeholders or reassess your budget. It’s less of a task management tool and more of a shortcut for quickly comparing grand totals to your initial planned costs including time, staff, overall budget, and logistics.

Event and Party Planner Template for Excel

If you prefer to see all of your event information organized in a spreadsheet format, this Event and Party Planner Template for Excel is right up your alley. Better for small to mid-sized events, this single spreadsheet template is divided into sections to add guest information, musical arrangements, decorations, supplies, notes, and more. Each section has a number of related columns to convey whether an item has been completed or not, as well as a cumulative breakdown of your budget and expected costs.

Word Event Planner Template by Microsoft Office

Not a spreadsheet girlie? No problem! This Event Planner Template for Microsoft Word will help you achieve the same amount of structure in a formatted document. This is an easy template to set up and edit for each event on your calendar and is best used for tracking milestones or key updates in the event planning process. When presenting event progress to managers or stakeholders, you can use this template to express where you are on your project timeline and the major tasks that are still yet to be completed. 

Download This Template

This Event Marketing Template from ClickUp provides a clear overview of your event’s goals and objectives, as well as an organized structure for tracking event details like target audience, event timeline , budget management, and more. You can assign tasks to specific team members and monitor progress in one easy-to-navigate interface.

Plus, ClickUp’s event planning template comes with features like reminders, tags and custom fields to ensure that your event goes off without a hitch. With all the essential event-planning details in one place, you can rest assured that your event will be successful.

Five-Day Event Schedule Template for Excel

This Five-Day Event Schedule Template by Microsoft is as helpful for the guests as it is for the event planner. Conferences and networking events are often several days long and can feature dozens of speakers, scheduled lunches, activities—and minimal breaks. 

This free event planning template can be kept on hand during the event and used by the event organizers to ensure each element is starting and ending as expected. And for guests, this template can be edited throughout the event or used ahead of time to plan each day around their most anticipated speakers or sessions.

During the event planning process, an event planning template can be a game-changer. It streamlines your workflow, keeps everything organized, and ensures that no detail is overlooked. But not all templates are created equal. Here’s what to look for when choosing an event planning template:

Comprehensiveness: A good event planning template should cover all aspects of event organization. This includes event details like budgeting, scheduling, venue selection, guest list management, marketing, and post-event analysis. If a template doesn’t address a key area of event planning, it might leave you scrambling at the last minute.

Customizability: Every event is unique, so your event planning template should be flexible enough to accommodate your specific needs. Look for templates that allow you to add, remove, or modify sections as needed.

Ease of Use: An event planning template should simplify your work, not complicate it. It should be easy to understand and navigate, with a clear, intuitive layout. If you’re spending more time figuring out how to use the template than actually planning your event, it’s not the right tool for you.

Collaboration Features: If you’re working with a team, you’ll want a template that supports collaboration. This means multiple people can view and edit the template simultaneously, making it easier to coordinate efforts and keep everyone on the same page.

Accessibility: Your event planning template should be accessible from anywhere, at any time. This is especially important if you or your team members are often on the go. Look for cloud-based templates that can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.

Scalability: Finally, consider whether the template can handle the size and complexity of your event. If you’re planning a large, multi-day conference, for example, you’ll need a more robust template than if you’re organizing a small, informal gathering.

Plan a Successful Event with Free Event Planning Templates

Efficient event planning starts with event free project management software that can keep up with your process, establish your event’s important details, and help you communicate updates to everyone involved. 

Think of your ideal event planning template as a structure to layer on top of your project management tool to give you and the team a clear starting point from the get-go. 

Templates are more than just a plug-and-play resource for double-checking your work. To make the most of them, your event planning templates should offer support during every event-related task with dynamic features like workflow automation, customizable task statuses, and flexible project views.

Plus, event planning is a collaborative job. So a template that can’t sync across multiple devices or be shared with contributors outside of your workspace will cause a few obstacles along the way. 

TL;DR , event planning can be stressful . But with the right template? There is hope. 💜

The best templates are customizable, completely free, and attached to an event management software that’s designed to centralize your work, bring the team together, and keep things moving. 

Like ClickUp . 🙂

ClickUp is the all-in-one productivity platform for event planners, teams, and stakeholders to brainstorm, act on their ideas, and bring events to life using a single collaborative Workspace. With a rich set of completely customizable features , 15 unique workflow views, and over 1,000 integrations , ClickUp helps teams access work across apps and streamline any process.

Sign up for ClickUp’s Free Forever Plan today to access hundreds of pre-built templates for every use case—including dozens created specifically for planning your next event. đŸȘ©

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Your party planning checklist

Whether it’s for a graduation or sales goal celebration, parties require the same event planning skills required to host any other type of group gathering. Depending on the size or complexity of your party, you may want to brush up on best practices or party planning articles to prepare yourself.

Parties require the same event planning skills required to host any other type of group gathering. Click To Tweet

Next, you’ll want to draft your plan of attack. Luckily for you, we’ve already done most of the heavy lifting! Following a party planning list like the one below, you’ll be able to plan a party step by step without missing a single item, activity, or deadline.

And since birthday parties are in such high demand for the DIY party planning crowd, we thought it’d be worth mentioning how to shop for them.

Guide: How to Create an Event Planning Checklist

What items are needed for a birthday party?

Take this list with you to any local party supply shop near you and you’ll pretty much have everything you need to host and decorate your celebration.

  • A birthday cake. Egyptians invented cake so we have them to thank for this centuries-old tradition. Whether you buy it or make one yourself, make sure you have candles and a lighter handy as well.
  • Entertainment rentals. Magicians, bouncy castles, and karaoke machines are popular.
  • Party favors. In Rachel Ray’s party by the numbers article, party experts mention that you are welcome to choose affordable favors like candy bars or bubbles.
  • Food and beverage party supplies. Everything from serving platters to cups.
  • Invitations. Feel free to make your guest list long. On average, only 60% of attendees will respond Yes to cocktail party invitations .
  • Signage. Direct guests towards your private venue and clearly mark parking areas.
  • Balloons. A classic birthday party decor item, just make sure you dispose of them properly – lawmakers in several states are currently trying to make balloon releases illegal .
  • Tables and chairs. Use furniture you already own or rent some. If you’re renting furniture for an outdoor party that takes place in the evening, consider adding heaters to your order.
  • Tablecloths, centerpieces, streamers, etc.  Etsy has over 67,000 birthday centerpiece options to choose from if you want the handmade look or customization of DIY without the actual doing it yourself part.

Whether you’re making an 80th birthday party planning checklist or a casual office get together, keep the following template handy as you begin the process of creating a fun-filled event for your loved ones or colleagues.

Complete your party planning checklist faster with easy tools

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The ultimate party planning checklist template

No matter what kind of party you’re planning, remember to complete all of these checklist items:

Party planning tips 2-3 months before:

Depending on your party planning experience, what time of year it is, and how large or complex you think the party will be, you’ll want to begin preparation as soon as possible!

  • Choose a theme. Check out these ideas for spring parties and summer event themes to get started.
  • Determine your budget. A party actually costs around $30-$60 per person.
  • Choose a few date and time options for the event. Ever wondered how common your birthday is ? September 9th is the most popular birth date according to recent data reports.
  • Book an event venue . 69% of event planners select venues based on word of mouth recommendations. 58% will use search engines and 34% use online listings and marketplaces.
  • Arrange entertainment. Great party ideas for adults include DIY personal pizza stations, DJs, and themed photo booths.
  • Make a guest list. Guest list etiquette states that party planners should give hosts or key stakeholders a strict number of people they can invite.
  • Order supplies if you’re making your own decor. And take a peek at these simple and creative DIY party decorating ideas while you’re at it.

Party checklist 1 month before:

With all the major decisions out of the way, now all you need to do is sort out details!

  • Send invitations. If you’re interested in going green and sending paperless invites, check out services like evite , Paperless Post , Greenvelope , and Minted’s online invitations .
  • Order food & beverages. If you’re not working with a chef, you’ll want to put in orders for alcohol and non-perishables now.
  • Hire a chef. The popularity and demand for professional chefs is expected to grow another 10% by 2026.
  • Purchase or make your decor. You can also always borrow decor from other people’s parties and style it in a way that puts your own personal touch on their products. Or take inspiration from these summer event decor ideas .
  • Plan activities. You can choose anything from dancing to board games to trivia competitions. And (surprise, surprise) Pinterest has a lot of interesting party activity ideas to inspire you.  
  • Enlist party helpers or hire event staff. Whether you’ll have family in town or need help serving food to hundreds of corporate guests, make sure you have people ready to lend a hand before, during, and after the celebration.

party planning business outline

Party planning tips 1 week before:

A little running around now will save you unnecessary headaches the day before or of!

  • Order baked goods. Cakes, cupcakes, or pies should be ordered now. Some bakeries will require more or less notice depending on your preferences and their schedule so be sure to triple check their ordering instructions ahead of time.
  • Follow up on RSVPs. Then use event planning software to share your final guest list to your caterers, party helpers, or anyone else involved in the planning process.
  • Create and begin sharing your party hashtag. Check out these event hashtag trends while you’re at it.

party planning business outline

Party planning checklist 1 day before:

It’s almost time, keep going!

  • Go grocery shopping. Or hire a TaskRabbit or grocery delivery service to do it for you.
  • Pick up your bakery order. You’ll probably be in a hurry when you do but try to remember to take a peek inside the boxes before you drive away to make sure everything is there and looks how you pictured it would.
  • Prepare tip envelopes for party entertainers and staff. To give you an idea of how much is appropriate, children’s party entertainers usually expect $15-$20 in tips each while wedding vendors like chefs often see anywhere from $50 to $100 an event, on average.
  • Place catering orders (if you’re not working with a chef). The same applies to your fast food options like sandwiches or pizza. Again, double check the companies ordering rules beforehand.
  • Prep your event space. If it’s at your home or a private residence, hire a maid or clean the party areas and restrooms yourself. If you’re renting a space, double check your contract to see if you’ll be responsible for cleanliness at any point. Here are some cleaning tips to get your house party ready in an hour or less .
  • Prep non-perishable food items.

Bring memorable parties to life, no stress

Day-of party planning:.

You made it – finish these last few tasks then go enjoy yourself!

  • Buy ice. Don’t be afraid to delegate this task to someone else. Just make sure they bring a cooler to store it in.
  • Set up your event decor and centerpieces. If you find you need some more ideas last minute, here are budget-friendly centerpiece ideas you can diy .
  • For outdoor events, prepare according to the weather forecast. Citronella candles, umbrellas, string lights, blankets, and umbrella caddies add a nice touch.  
  • Clean up after it’s all over. Or hire take down staff to help you disassemble your rentals and decor.

What about my party planning checklist at a venue ?

We’ve already mentioned some of the specifics of dealing with rental spaces in the party checklist above, but here are some more things to add to your list if you’re working with a commercial event venue:

  • Confirm what time your party crew will be allowed to enter the venue for set up. Note where deliveries can be made as well.
  • Ask if there is a hard out time as part of your rental or if you’ll have the option to come and pick up left items the next day.
  • Get the contact information for the venue manager in case of emergencies (like being locked out or other issues).
  • Sort out the parking situation. Where is it? Is it free? If not, who will valet and collect money?
  • If you need audio or visual equipment for slideshows or presentations, does the venue offer those tools?
  • If the venue works with a list of preferred vendors, make sure you review their selection before finding your own (if that’s even an option).
  • Consider using a party planning app or party planning website to organize everything.

Takeaways for planning your event

This guide has covered the ins and outs of just about every celebratory event you’ll need to arrange.

Before you go, make sure you check out these other great party planning tips with resources like free event planning tools , and how to plan an event stress-free .

Looking for more tips about party planning checklists?

The basic ingredients for a party are a location and guests. To move beyond the basics, you should plan to secure a great venue, entertainment, decorations, food, and beverages.

To determine what you need on a party checklist, start with the big picture – approximately how many guests and what type of party will you be throwing? For a small personal celebration, you may only need some drinks, snacks, and ice. However for a large, themed gala you will need decorations, photo backdrops, catering, staff, and likely a coat check.

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How to Start an Event Planning Business in (2024): Step-by-Step Guide

Plan Template thumb

Free How to Write an Event Planning Business Plan + Free Template Template

how to start an event planning business

The joy of making special days and big events even more special for the attendees seems exciting right? This is what event planners exactly do.

Whether it’s birthday celebrations, weddings, anniversaries, or corporate galas, the demand for expert event planners is soaring.

Starting an event planning business can be a great move because initially it needs a small investment, and you can make good money out of it.

It is a profitable venture but if are you confused about how to start an event planning business , then let us understand it through this guide.

Get to know the basics of event planning

Before you start getting into the process of starting an event planning business, you should know the basics of event planning, like what would be your responsibilities, what kind of events are there, etc.

So let’s get started:

Event Planning is most often used for purposes like

  • Social Events: Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, etc
  • Corporate Events: Seminars, workshops,  conferences, product launches, award ceremonies, gala dinners, etc.
  • Cultural and Art Events: Art cultural celebrations, exhibitions, music festivals, etc

Key responsibilities of an Event Planner include

  • First of all, consult with your client properly before the event to understand their needs, objectives, and preferences.
  • You need to build a team as per the event type, whether it is a corporate or social event.
  • Prepare a budget to ensure that the event’s overall costs stay within the financial constraints of the customer.
  • Choose a venue that aligns with the event’s size, and theme.
  • Oversee the various vendors including florists, caterers, and photographers ensuring that they are all synchronized with the timeline.

After having a glimpse of the basics of event planning business, let’s see what is required next to start your business journey.

Quick Steps to Start an Event Planning Business

  • Conduct Industry and Market Research
  • Identify Your Event Planning Niche
  • Prepare an Event Planning Business Plan
  • Consider Startup and Operations Costs
  • Paperwork and Legal Registration
  • Figure Out Pricing Strategy
  • Get Licenses, Permits, and Insurance
  • Build a Core Team
  • Marketing to Spread the Word

1. Conduct Industry and Market Research

All businesses have competition – that’s what keeps the market in balance.So it is necessary to conduct thorough research of the market to identify your competitors and the current trends.

Moreover, it also helps you understand your target customers, identify market needs, develop marketing strategies, and maintain a competitive edge.

At the primary stage of your research, you may conduct surveys to learn more about your potential clients and their problems.

Now gather information for the secondary research from online resources and industry reports. Compiling and analyzing this data with your primary research will help you highlight the areas that need attention.

Besides identifying your target market, market research is instrumental in strategic planning for the future of your business. It also helps you discover effective growth strategies by setting the targets for your business and making you aware of your competitors.

2. Identify Your Event Planning Niche

Are you aware that knowing a “niche” is a must in the Event Planning Company? A niche is a segment of the market that an event planner focuses on serving.

Identifying your niche involves determining a specific area or target audience within the broader event industry where you can focus and distinguish your services. This allows you to delve into a specific client base and build a reputation for expertise in that particular niche.

Let’s have a look at a few of the common niches and event types:

Social Events

  • Wedding planning
  • Baby Showers
  • Anniversaries
  • Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
  • Birthday Parties

Corporate Events

  • Award ceremonies
  • Conferences
  • Corporate Meetings
  • Grand Openings
  • Product or Service Launch Party

So you can develop various strategies for your venture after deciding upon any of the following above-mentioned niches as per the demand in the events industry.

3. Prepare an Event Planning Business Plan

Once you know your niche, it’s time to put together your business plan, which is an essential step of any business. A well-structured event planning business plan will help you build a roadmap for your business, by setting out where you want your business to go and how you intend to go there.

This business document will include details about your business, its history, service offerings, management, financial health, and more.

A business plan becomes particularly crucial when one seeks financial support from banks or other institutions. It provides a transparent overview of your plans to attain financial and operational objectives, offering reassurance to funders about the feasibility of loan repayment.

Although, many consider it just a way to peak investors’ interest, a solid business plan can change the entire course of your small business.

Besides these, it also provides a structure for your company’s daily operations, helps you understand the market trend, provides an exit strategy, and also helps to attract key employees.

Not very good at writing? Need help with your plan?

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party planning business outline

4. Consider Startup and Operations Costs

The next foremost step is determining your financing requirements. You must have an in-depth understanding of your startup and operational costs.

You can estimate your startup costs by listing down the essential startup supplies, insurance costs, licensing requirements, office space, and associated expenses.

The operational costs include venue costs, decoration costs, employee salary, marketing, advertising costs, etc.

5. Paperwork and Legal Registration

Setting up the paperwork and legal registration for your event planning company is an important step to ensure that you are committed to legal norms.

First things first – before you start your event planning business finalize the legal structure and do business as (DBA) name of your business.

Brainstorm different names and pick something that reflects your business idea.

You can also opt for the DBA (Doing Business As) name. It allows the business to operate under another name other than the formal business name.

Register your Business Name

Once you have a name decided, it’s time to register your business entity with the state and local government. This will ensure that your business name is yours and you can do the business using that name.

Register your Business Structure

A business structure describes how a company is legally organized. This is an essential part.

You can choose from different business structures like operating as a sole proprietor (if you’ll be running the company on your own), a partnership, as well as other entities that provide limited liability (which ensures you won’t be held responsible for the company’s debts or other actions).

Get an EIN: Federal Tax ID Number

The process for this can vary, so you can reach out to the office of your state’s Secretary for specific guidance. Moreover, obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS Internal Revenue System is essential.

Once you have your EIN, you can open a business bank account, apply for a loan, and separate your personal and business finances.

6. Figure Out Pricing Strategy

The pricing structure depends on the market segment you serve, your potential customers, geographic location, expertise, and most importantly your competitor will help you decide your fees.

How you price your event planning services will impact how often you get requests.

You can determine your pricing structure as follows:

Hourly Rate: Initially, some event planners might charge around $25 per hour, while experienced planners can command rates exceeding $100 per hour. Corporate events tend to bring in rates about 30% higher than social events.

Flat Fee: This is a common approach where you charge a fixed price for your event planning services, often including a percentage of the total fees from vendors.

Percentage of Total Event Budget: Some planners prefer charging a percentage of the overall event budget, which could range from 15% to 20%.

Vendor Commission : A few planners choose to decrease their charges or may charge nothing for their services instead they prefer to make their income solely from commissions received from vendors they work with.

7. Get Licenses, Permits, and Insurance

Licensing and legal requirements are important in starting and running your own event planning business.

Common licenses you need to run this business are:

  • Business License
  • Special Event Permit
  • Liquor license
  • Fire/fireworks permit
  • Health and Safety Permit
  • Seller’s Permit

Insurance: While not a permit or license, having general liability insurance, and possibly professional liability insurance, is highly recommended to protect your business from potential liabilities.

8. Build a Core Team

Hiring employees is a crucial step. The team you set up will be the business’s backbone, helping you effectively manage and execute events.

Here are key roles you need to consider when building your core team:

  • Event Coordinator
  • Marketing and Communication Specialist
  • Sales Representative
  • Logistics Coordinator
  • Administrative Support

You can hire event planners from Zippia, Upwork, Workstream, and also through LinkedIn.

9. Marketing to Spread the Word

You need to build effective marketing strategies to spread the word about your business to attract clients and establish your brand in the competitive world of events. You also need to set some marketing budget.

Here are some key areas to consider:

Target Audience

Who are you trying to reach and cover? Understand their interests, objectives, and event planning needs.

Developing a Strong Brand Identity

First, see what makes your service stand out. Developing a strong USP(Unique Selling Proposition) will help you grow your business by making it recognizable in a competitive market.

Build a professional website

Create a website that is visually appealing, informative, user-friendly, and easy to navigate.

Content Marketing

Be active on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, sharing visually appealing content and engaging with your audience.

Showcase your successful events and satisfied clients to demonstrate your capabilities. Post the reviews of your customers on social media accounts.

Now you might be pretty much clear about how to kick-start an Event Planning Business.

To launch successfully, it’s essential to have a deep understanding of your target market, a solid business plan, and a clear grasp of the legal structure and financial aspects of running the business.

You’ve got everything now! What are you waiting for? Let’s start your journey as an event planner.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do you need to start an event planning business.

To start an event planning business, you’ll need several key components:

  • Business Plan
  • Market Research
  • Legal Setup
  • Financial Management
  • Branding and Marketing

Do you need a degree to start an event planning business?

Technically speaking, you don’t need an event planning degree to become a professional event planner. However, there are certain qualities, skills, and certificates to help you attract clients when you start the event planning industry.

A degree in a field related to events planning, design, and management may give you an edge. All other skills can be developed over time.

How can I find clients as a new event planner?

You can get your customers through:

  • Building an online presence
  • Collaborations with known faces
  • Referral Programs
  • Advertisement

Should I register my business as an LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation?

Each structure has pros and cons, so consult with a legal or financial           advisor for the best fit:

  • Sole proprietorship: Easiest to set up, but you have unlimited personal liability.
  • LLC: Offers some liability protection and is relatively simple to manage.
  • Corporation: More complex setup, but provides greater liability protection and tax benefits.

What skills are required to be an event planner?

To become a successful event planner, you may not need formal education, but you do have to master these skills:

  • Communication Skills
  • Networking skills
  • Adaptability
  • Negotiation Skills
  • Budget Management
  • Level-headed and calm under pressure
  • Attentive to details
  • Humble and Responsive to Clients’ Needs

About the Author

party planning business outline

Shyam Dua is a seasoned tax professional with 40+ years of experience & a mentor at SCORE. He stands out due to his exceptional business planning skills. With a keen eye for detail and a strong financial acumen, Shyam crafts compelling business plans that pave the way to success. A CPA with a philanthropic heart, Shyam's strategic expertise, and dedication make him an invaluable asset in shaping thriving business ventures. Read more

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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. 

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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 competitive edge will be based on two factors, specialization and strategic relationships. CRP will be specializing in two distinct areas of corporate planning. While specializing essentially precludes CRP out of a lot of different markets, it allows CRP to excel in the markets that it has chosen to participate in. Specialization allows CRP to be an expert in the two areas that it is in. Additionally, the expert knowledge allows CRP to provide the service as a cost saving to the company because the fewer services CRP offers, the more they can concentrate on improving the current offerings. Improvements that CRP strive for is a reduction in cost charged to the client and an improvement to the level of services offered.

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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Event Planning Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

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Event Planning Business Plan Template

If you want to start an Event Planning business or expand your current Event Planning or Event Management business, you need a business plan.

The following Event Planning business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning event planner business plan or event management business plan.

You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Below are links to each of the key sections of a free Event Planning business plan template:

Event Business Plan Template I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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Event Planning Business Plan Home I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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Party Rental Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

party rental business plan

Party Rental Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their party rental companies. 

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a party rental business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a party rental business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

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

Why You Need a Business Plan

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

Sources of Funding for Party Rental Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a party rental business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan (hand it to them in person or email to them as a PDF file) 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 ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for party rental companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a party rental business.

If you want to start a party rental business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide and sample below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your party rental business plan.

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 key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of party rental business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a party rental business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of party rental businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. 

  • Give a brief overv iew of the party rental industry. 
  • Discuss the type of party rental business you are operating. 
  • Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. 
  • Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team. 
  • Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of party rental business you are operating.

For example, you m ight specialize in one of the following types of party rental businesses:

  • Full-service party rental retail store : This is the store to visit when you need everything from A to Z for your next party. Whether it’s chairs and tables, linens, or special cooking equipment, this store delivers your items and picks them up after your party.
  • Partial-service party rental store : You may choose everything you need for your party at this type of party rental store; however, you will need to provide transport to pick up and return all party rental items the next day. 
  • Online party rental business: An online party rental store generally has excellent pricing; however, you will need to go to various locations to pick up and return party items. This may involve visiting more than one location for various items, as the online store doesn’t have a brick and mortar store location. 

In addition to explaining the type of party rental business you will operate, the company overview 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 the number of rentals serviced, the number of positive social media reviews, reaching X number of customers served, etc.
  • Your legal business structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the party rental industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

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

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason 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 of your party rental business plan:

  • How big is the party rental 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 target market for your party rental 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 of your party rental business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, families, party groups and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of party rental business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers. Ideally you can speak with a sample of your target customers before writing your plan to better understand their needs.

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Competitive Analysis

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

Direct competitors are othe r party rental businesses. 

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes stores that sell tables, chairs, linens, etc., online stores that sell party items, and DIY services for parties. You need to mention direct competition, as well.

For each direct competitor, provide an overview of their business 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 type of party rental business are they?
  • 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. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

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

  • Will you provide options for delivery and pick up of party supplies?
  • Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
  • 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 a party rental business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type o f party rental company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide a petting zoo experience, a holiday-themed party setup and take down, or a casino or bingo fundraiser setup and take down?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of yo ur plan, yo u are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your party rental company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your party rental business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a standalone office, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your party rental marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

  • Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
  • Reach out to websites 
  • Distribute flyers
  • Engage in email marketing
  • Advertise on social media platforms
  • Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your 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 party rental business, including answering calls, planning and providing rental equipment, linens, furnishings, etc.  

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth party rental delivery, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your party rental business to a second location.

Management Team

To demonstrate your party rental business’ potential to succeed, 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 in managing party rental businesses. 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 managing a party rental business or successfully working in an equipment rental store.

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 s heet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue 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 see 25 customers per week, and/or offer large-group rental discounts ? 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

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your party rental business, this 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 lender writes you a check for $50,000, 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 ensure 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. 

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a party rental business:

  • Cost of rental furnishings, linens and equipment
  • Payroll or salaries paid to staff
  • Business insurance
  • Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

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 office location lease or a list of contracted parties booked six months ahead. 

Writing a business plan for your party rental business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert and know everything you need about how to start a party rental business. You will understand the party rental industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful party rental business.

Party Rental Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my party rental business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your party rental business plan.

How Do You Start a Party Rental Business?

Starting a party rental business is easy with these 14 steps:

  • Choose the Name for Your Party Rental Business
  • Create Your Party Rental Business Plan
  • Choose the Legal Structure for Your Party Rental Business
  • Secure Startup Funding for Your Party Rental Business (If Needed)
  • Secure a Location for Your Business
  • Register Your Party Rental Business with the IRS
  • Open a Business Bank Account
  • Get a Business Credit Card
  • Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
  • Get Business Insurance for Your Party Rental Business
  • Buy or Lease the Right Party Rental Business Equipment
  • Develop Your Party Rental Business Marketing Materials
  • Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Party Rental Business
  • Open for Business

Where Can I Download a Free Business Plan Template PDF?

Click here to download the pdf version of our basic business plan template.

Our free business plan template pdf allows you to see the key sections to complete in your plan and the key questions that each must answer. The business plan pdf will definitely get you started in the right direction.

We do offer a premium version of our business plan template. Click here to learn more about it. The premium version includes numerous features allowing you to quickly and easily create a professional business plan. Its most touted feature is its financial projections template which allows you to simply enter your estimated sales and growth rates, and it automatically calculates your complete five-year financial projections including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Here’s the link to our Ultimate Business Plan Template.

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Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how a Growthink business planning advisor can create your business plan for you.

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10 Free Event Planning Templates for Excel and Word

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Planning an event can range from a meeting at work to a convention and everything in between. It’s another project where you have to manage time, cost and scope (and don’t forget quality) to deliver on a deadline. Using planning templates can help you stay organized and keep to your budget and they allow you to schedule and create the kind of event that serves its purpose, whether that’s networking at a trade show or launching a team-building workshop.

ProjectManager is award-winning software that can help you plan, manage and track your events. We’re also the online hub for everything project management-related. You can read weekly blogs, guides and download free event planning templates for Excel and Word. We have free templates for every phase of a project. Below, we collected 10 free event planning templates that you can use to propose, plan and manage your next event.

1. Event Proposal Template

Every event starts as an idea. Someone or some organization wants to have an event and puts out requests for proposals (RFPs). Just as you’d bid for any project, you have to propose why you’re the best contractor to do the job. Convincing that potential client is where our free event proposal template for Word comes in. It gives you the space to prove to stakeholders that you can do what they need to deliver a successful event.

ProjectManager's free event proposal template for Word

2. Event Plan Template

Once you get the job you’ll need an event plan template to show how the event will run from start to finish. Our free event plan template for Excel helps make sure that you’ll meet deadlines and do so within the budget approved by your client. No different than any other type of project plan, the free event planning template identifies resources and includes phases to make it easier to manage.

Best of all, there’s an option to skip the Excel spreadsheet and get a free trial of ProjectManager , award-winning project management software that can do much more than a static template. Open the software in the Gantt chart to organize your event tasks and add resources and associated costs. You can even make assignments, attach files and add descriptions, tags, priority and more. Everything you add to the spreadsheet populates on a visual timeline so you can see the event in one place, adding milestones and linking dependent tasks to avoid delays. Then set a baseline to track your planned effort against your actual effort in real time, something you can’t do on a spreadsheet. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

ProjectManager's Gantt chart

3. Event Budget Template

You got the job and you’re making a plan, but you need to have an event budget to know what to bill your client. If your financial forecast is off, then you could possibly be out a large sum of money. It could be enough to make the whole event a loss for you. To avoid that disaster, you need to use our free event budget template for Excel . This allows you to more accurately estimate the costs of the event before you commit to it so you can make a profit and not lose money.

ProjectManager's free project budget template

It’s hard to know how much an event will cost . There are a lot of variables and you have to consider risk, which might impact the event’s costs. Our free budget template lets you collect costs, such as those associated with labor, any consultant fees you might have, raw materials and more. Of course, no two events are exactly alike. That’s why our free template is customizable. You can add things like marketing and promotions or anything else that might be missing from the template to ensure you come up with an accurate figure. There are even columns to track your actual budget against your planned budget to keep on track.

4. Event Marketing Calendar Template

Speaking of marketing, no event is successful without a marketing campaign to attract the event’s target audience. That’s easier said than done. Just like the event plan, there are deadlines, resources and costs involved. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on an email blitz, direct mail or even billboards; there’s a lot to coordinate. Our free event marketing calendar template for Excel helps you put all those ducks in a row. This versatile tool shows you the marketing campaign on a monthly, quarterly or yearly calendar. You can see who’s responsible for what and when that work is due.

ProjectManager's free marketing calendar template

The deceptively simple design is very powerful for marketing management . It’s a grid, the same as what you’d see in any calendar, but it allows you to look at the big picture and see the marketing campaign laid out over the month, quarter or year. The template is broken up into tabs, each with the date on the left and the name of the campaign. Following that are the tasks associated with that campaign, including a description, due date and who’s responsible for completing that work. Then you can add the cost for that task, which is a line item of the total budget. There’s even space to add the goals of the campaign and the duration of the entire marketing campaign.

5. Event Task Tracker Template

We’ve talked about landing the job, planning for the event, estimating the budget and even the marketing and promotion campaign that’ll ensure that it’s well attended. What we’ve not talked about yet is how to ensure you’re staying on track. To do that, you need to compare the planned versus actual effort. That way you can see if you’re adhering to your event schedule or lagging behind. You don’t want to find out that you’re behind schedule when it’s too late to take action. You don’t have to worry if you use our free event task tracker template for Excel .

ProjectManager's free task tracking template

You’ll find everything you need to track your tasks. There’s a place to list the name of your tasks and add a description of the work. If there’s a dependency , you can also list that to avoid costly delays. Then add who on your team is assigned to that task. There’s a place to add the priority of the tasks to know which needs to be done first and the due dates, including start, planned end and actual end dates. Then add the task status to know if it’s delayed, paused open or completed.

6. Event Timeline Template

Of course, all of this must be done within a certain timeframe. Events take place over a specific time, day or days. There’s no wiggle room. Marketing materials have been sent out with the time of the event and nothing is going to change that. Producing that event on time means you have to schedule wisely. Using our free event timeline template for Excel can help you make sure that everything is done when it needs to be done.

ProjectManager's free project timeline template for Excel.

With our event timeline, you have two parts. On the left is a spreadsheet, again fully customizable, in which we have four columns. There you can list the tasks, start dates, end dates and duration. On the right is a visual timeline, like a Gantt chart , which automatically populates the timeline for your event. You can make phases different colors to make them easy to discern as you get an overview of the event plan in one place.

7. Cost-Benefit Analysis Template

Before you propose to produce an event, you need to know that the project is going to bring a return on your investment. Otherwise, you’re a charity, not a business (though even charities need to remain solvent to continue their good work). To determine whether the event is worth bidding for, use our free cost-benefit analysis template for Excel and see if the expenses you have to put out are going to be recouped.

ProjectManager's free cost-benefit analysis template

Our free event planning template does this by capturing the quantitative costs , such as indirect, intangible and opportunity, and pushes those out to whatever the length of your event plan is. Then you list the quantitative benefits, such as direct, indirect, intangible and competitive, again forecast out over the life cycle of the event. From that, the template calculates the total cost and compares that to the total benefit to help you make the right decision.

8. RACI Matrix Template

If you’ve bid and won the event, then you’ve already done a cost-benefit analysis, plan and schedule. Now you have to get your team to work and keep your client updated. They do, after all, have a vested interest in your success. This requires identifying the stakeholders and defining their roles and responsibilities, including your team, and how they relate to the project and its tasks. This is done with our free RACI matrix template for Excel.

ProjectManager's free RACI matrix template

RACI is an acronym for responsible, accountable, consulted and informed. Our free event planning template is a spreadsheet in which you can list the project tasks as rows and across the top list all the members of your team, each as an individual column. Then next to the box where their name meets the task, you can note whether they’re an R, A, C or I. This greatly improves your management of the project, team and client.

9. Stakeholder Map Template

Another tool to identify the stakeholders in your event project is our free stakeholder map template for Excel . Remember, stakeholders can be anyone from your team and the target audience for the event, and, of course, the client. Using this visual tool makes it easy for you to see each stakeholder’s impact and how they influence your work.

ProjectManager's free stakeholder map template

The free event planning template is easy to use. It’s broken up into a grid of four squares. First, list your stakeholders and color-code them either green to indicate they’re an advocate, yellow if they’re neutral and red if they’re critical and potentially can block work. Then add each to the grip, which is broken up by how to manage them, keep satisfied, manage closely, and the level of their influence, from low to high. This helps you create a stakeholder management and communication plan .

10. Timesheet Template

Finally, you’ll need to keep track of your team as they do their work. Timesheets are valuable tools not only for payroll but to keep track of the cost per hour, vacation and overtime of your team. Using our free timesheet template for Excel can help you manage your team’s time while keeping track of their hours.

ProjectManager's free timesheet template

The timesheet template helps you track your employees. Start with capturing the personal data, such as name, department, hourly rate, etc. Then define a timeframe for the timesheet and collect their hours. Add the total work hours and you’re able to keep track of where they are in terms of completing their tasks and ensure they’re paid promptly and accurately.

Use ProjectManager to Deliver a Successful Event

Free event planning templates are great, but only to a point. For example, our timesheet template has to be manually inputted and there’s no security. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that has timesheet features that automatically populate and give managers a real-time look into how far they are in completing their tasks. But that’s just one feature of many to help you manage and deliver a quality event for your client.

Plan Your Event on a Gantt Chart

Rather than using an event planning template, timeline template, event budget, tracker, etc., our Gantt chart organizes your tasks, resources and costs and tracks your progress in real time. You can link all four task dependencies and set a schedule baseline , which allows our software to show you real-time data on your progress and performance. That’s how you stay on track and don’t go over budget.

Track Your Progress on Real-Time Dashboards

It’s easy to edit the Gantt; just drag and drop as things change. All details of your event plan adjust accordingly. Then you can toggle over to our real-time dashboard and get a high-level view of everything from your time, cost to workload and the overall health of your project. You don’t have to waste time configuring it as you do with lightweight tools. It’s ready when you are.

ProjectManager's dashboard

Our software has more than Gantt charts, which are more suited for managers. There are kanban boards to visualize the workflow, task lists and calendars for your marketing and promotion push. The multiple project views all work in unison so no matter which tool you’re using, it has the most up-to-date data. Everyone is always on the same page.

Related Event Content

Whether you’re new to managing an event or have worked on dozens in the past, there’s always more to learn. Our site is an online hub for all things project management, which includes event planning. Here is a sampling of our weekly blogs, guides and tutorial videos.

  • How to Plan an Event: Event Planning Steps, Tips & Checklist
  • How to Plan a Virtual Event: Virtual Event Planning Checklist
  • Event Management: A Quick Guide
  • Event Project Management Software
  • How to Create an Event Budget

ProjectManager is online software that empowers teams to plan, manage and track events in real time. Use our task management, risk management and resource management features to stay productive and on track. Our collaborative platform makes it easy to comment and share files wherever you are. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our tool to deliver success. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

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Major Challenges Faced in Planning an Event and Their Solutions

Darryl Scotti 15 September 2018

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Planning a corporate event can be an overwhelming task for those with no prior event planning experience. Great organizational skills are required to plan a corporate and these skills develop with experience. That said, planning can also be fun and it’s incredibly rewarding when you manage to pull off a successful event.

Whether you are planning a product launch event of your company or organizing a conference, you are bound to face challenges in organizing the event. Unforeseen mishaps, scheduling conflicts and caterer-related issues can ruin your event if not managed properly. While you cannot foresee all event-related problems, understanding common challenges faced in planning corporate events is a good way to get prepared for mishaps. Many challenges that you may encounter while planning a corporate event for your company have simple solutions.

In this post, we’ll highlight a few common challenges faced in planning a corporate event and their solutions. Read them to prepare yourself for the hard event planning task that lies ahead of you.

Challenge: Over Spending

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Many people who don’t have any event planning experience overspend when they are organizing a corporate event. Instead of planning before spending the money, they plan and spend as they go and thus end up spending a lot more than the allotted budget. They realize their mistake after they have made all the preparations and by then, it is too late.

To avoid this problem, you should always frame a corporate event budget beforehand. You should consider your budget before making a decision. For instance, when you are selecting a venue, you should consider the total cost of the location. If the venue is too expensive for you, select another less luxurious location. You should also research about event supplies and determine how much you can afford to spend on catering, entertainment, and other essential activities.

Challenge: Thinking that You Have a Lot of Time

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Some people think that event planning is easy and they just have to make a few calls to make all the arrangements. However, that is not the case. Event planning isn’t something that you can wrap up in two or three days. It takes time to plan a successful corporate event. If you start planning a few days before the date of your big event, you are bound to miss something important. Even professional event planners start preparing for an event early to ensure that nothing gets missed.

Therefore, start planning as early as possible by outlining your goals. Once you have outlined your goals, prepare a specific timeline depending upon those goals. For instance, if your event is due in February, define your goals and event schedule and set your budget in October. In the next month, say November, search for the venue, find speakers and make arrangements for catering and entertainment. In December, finalize your invitation strategy and start inviting guests. In January, confirm the guests list and send reminder to your guests. Also, remind the caterer about the arrangements required. By doing all these things before your big day, you’ll be able to pay attention to all the details and successfully pull off the corporate event.

Challenge: Losing Attention of Guests

Solution: Make Event Exciting

A corporate event is only successful when the guests remain interested in the event. If your event is dull and boring, your guests would regret accepting your invitation in the first place. Holding the attention of guests in a corporate can be extremely difficult.

You can keep the guests interested by breaking up your presentations with interesting activities that require involvement of guests. You should also have a plan to counter boredom. For example, if your audience is losing interest because of speeches and guests-speaker sessions, you can offer entertainment to keep the interest alive. You can offer photo booths or organize magician acts, circus show, comedian acts or a rock band performance to keep the guests entertained during the corporate event.

Challenge: Bad Weather

Solution: Have a Back-up Plan

Bad weather can break your corporate event within seconds. Although you would obviously have to postpone your event if a hurricane or snowstorm is on the horizon, you should be prepared to tackle light snowfall, rain or extreme heat.

You should always have a back-up plan to address bad weather challenge. For instance, if rain is expected and you have organized an event in the outdoors, arrange umbrellas. If the forecast reports a heat wave, then be prepared to offer water bottles, juices and sunglasses to your guests. Your guests will appreciate your special arrangements to tackle bad weather.

Challenge: Too Many Guests

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Getting a lot more guests than what you expected means that you went overboard with marketing. While a big crowd is generally good for your company, but managing it can be extremely hard especially when you weren’t expecting so many guests to show up. You can run out of food or the space can become crowded.

To avoid this problem, you should keep your marketing activities under control and track how many guests are planning to come at your corporate event. If you figure out these things, you will able to offer a stress-free experience to your guests and they’ll be able to enjoy their time at your corporate event.

Challenge: Not Paying Attention to Little Things

Solution: Create an Event Planning Team

When planning a corporate event, most people fail to pay attention to little things. By little things, we mean those details that seem small, but can have a major impact on the bottom line of your event. For instance, you may forget to investigate needs for any special licenses, permits, insurance etc.

You should pay attention to these minor details to ensure that not a single thing gets missed. If you think that you can’t focus on all the event planning details, you should create a team. When you have a team, you don’t have to do every minor task or remember every detail yourself. You can assign different tasks to the team member and ask them to report back to you when they have completed the task. This way you can get things done more efficiently and pay attention to all the details of the event.

Challenge: Attracting Guests During Winter

Solution: Create an Engaging and Inviting Atmosphere

It can be extremely difficult to convince a large number of guests to attend a corporate event during the winter months. People are more drawn to indoors because of the cold weather and don’t like to leave their comfortable homes.

You can counter this challenge and increase the turnout on your corporate event during the winter months by creating an engaging and inviting atmosphere. There are many winter themes that you can use for your corporate event to make it more appealing for your guests. You can find a few winter themes and ideas for your corporate event in one of earlier blog posts . Also, you can organize the event indoors to avoid the harsh winter weather. You can offer hot soups, cocoa and other dishes to beat the cold.

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Challenge: Unexpected Issues

Solution: Have a Plan B

During a corporate event, unexpected issues can arise anytime. Many people who are inexperienced fail to tackle unexpected issue and these unforeseen problems end up ruining their event.

Tackling unexpected issues isn’t easy as you don’t know what or when things will go wrong. But, you can minimize the impact of such issues by having a plan B. By plan B, we mean having an alternative planned for every major detail. For example, if you think that the comedian you have hired for your corporate event is going to bail on you, you should hire other entertainers as well. This way you’ll be able to provide entertainment to your guests even if the comedian doesn’t show up.

Now that you have read all these challenges faced in corporate event planning and their solutions do you think you can successfully pull off your company’s next big event? If you prepare a budget, start the preparations early, prepare a back-up plan to tackle bad weather and create an engaging event atmosphere, you can organize a successful corporate event. However, if you are struggling to focus on all these things, it is better to leave the event planning job to the professionals. Contact the Great Event for your corporate event planning to ensure that your event is not ruined because of the common event planning challenges.

At the Great Event, our experienced planners have successfully worked with companies like Samsung, PayPal, Apple, Twitter and many more. We can deliver the same level of quality customer service tailored to your company’s need.

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The 5 Most Common Mistakes in Event Planning (and how to avoid them!)

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Events can be dogged by cost overruns, poor scheduling and customer dissatisfaction due to a range of factors related to planning, communication and resource allocation. Here are the five most common event planning mistakes, and ways smart event planners can avoid them.

Mistake No. 1: Failure to allocate the right resources, with the right skills.

Problem: It’s seems fairly obvious that proper event staffing is critical, yet improperly allocating resources tops the list of most common event management mistakes. Not having the right people managing an event can be a recipe for disaster. The key to a successful event is getting the right people with the right skills. All the planning in the world won't overcome an insufficiency of talent.

Solution: Event managers need full visibility into the skills and workloads of all of their resources, including vendors, contractors and outsourcers, who often get left out of skills assessments even though they're doing a "huge" proportion of work. A thorough assessment of all resources at the outset of the planning process can provide such visibility into everyone's skills and workloads. Once event planners know everyone's capabilities and who's doing what, it becomes far easier to figure out how to allocate resources across the myriad elements and day-to-day work.

Mistake No. 2: Failure to keep a track of changes to the scope of the event.

Problem: As with most real-life scenarios, most events will have changes in plans and scope before the big day. Failure to keep a track of the smallest change can mean an out of control budget, or an impossible timeline.

Solution: Following a formal 'change tracking process' is a simple but extremely effective way to keep changes documented, communicated and under control. The individual requesting the change (e.g. additional seating capacity or change in the food service) needs to explain the specific changes and the event manager needs to determine how that request will impact the budget, timeline and communicate it to all other stakeholders involved.

Mistake No. 3: Ignoring Murphy's Law.

Problem: If anything can go wrong, it probably will! Stuff happens at the last minute, leaving everybody surprised by it. Consequently, the event goes into a tailspin while the event planner tries to clean up a mess they had not anticipated.

Solution: Perform an event risk assessment as an early part of the event planning process. Set time aside with your event team to brainstorm  what could happen to derail the event, cause a budget overrun, or to prevent you from delivering the expected results. Then figure out ways you can mitigate those risks. This exercise doesn't take a long time, and it's enormously helpful in understanding the weak links before planning even gets underway.

Mistake No. 4: Lack of experienced event managers.

Problem: Event planning can quickly grow out of control without an experienced event manager at the helm who knows what they are doing.

B The first step is to hire event managers with certifications and the finesse required to understand and manage the customer’s needs. Good event managers have the right combination of ‘soft skills’ and can demonstrate how to facilitate planning meetings, manage risk and handle a variety of different stakeholders. it’s really comes down to people skills, especially given the different stakeholders.

Mistake No. 5: Simple process mistakes by not following standard, repeatable event management processes.

Problem: This is a far more common event management mistake than most event planners imagine. Lack of an agreed uopn plan increases the risk that tasks related to the event will fall through the cracks, that the event will have last minute issues,  fall short on budget and ultimately miss a major objective.

Solution: A well defined and agreed upon event plan helps planners tackle every task efficiently and raises the appropriate level of awareness of all the activities involved in the execution of an event. Having baseline of repeatable processes for scoping, scheduling, allocating resources and communicating with stakeholders removes a lot of the guesswork associated with events.

Politics latest: Farage hits out at Starmer's 'extraordinary attack' on him; Speaker 'looked a broken man' at PMQs

Sir Keir Starmer spent PMQs focused on Rishi Sunak's predecessor, attacking comments made by Liz Truss during a recent visit to the US - including her suggestion that Nigel Farage should rejoin the Tory party.

Wednesday 28 February 2024 21:10, UK

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  • Police 'assessing' hate speech complaint against Lee Anderson
  • Farage hits out at Starmer's 'extraordinary attack'
  • Explained:  The infamous speech used to criticise Farage
  • PM refuses to rule out ex-UKIP leader's return
  • Truss responds to Labour leader's 'deep state' jibe
  • Beth Rigby: Starmer keen to remind voters of ex-PM's failings
  • Jon Craig: Under-fire Speaker looked broken at PMQs
  • Voters Panel: We will vote Reform even if it puts Starmer in No 10
  • Live reporting by Faith Ridler  

Lee Anderson has accused Sadiq Khan of "playing the race card" as he denied being racist following a row that resulted in his suspension as a Tory MP.

Mr Anderson used a column in the Daily Express to hit back at accusations of Islamophobia and racism following his comments about London's mayor.

The Ashfield MP, a former deputy Conservative party chairman, said in an interview with GB News that he believed "Islamists" had taken over control of London and Mr Khan.

He was suspended by Rishi Sunak after he refused to apologise for the comments, which were branded "divisive" and "dangerous".

Catch up with all the latest below:

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about different political parties.

Labour is still sitting comfortably on a roughly 18-point lead, averaging at 42.7% in the polls, and the Tories on 25.0%.

In third are the Lib Dems on 10.1%, followed by Reform on 10.0%.

The Green Party stands at 6.0%, and the SNP on 3.1%.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

More than 100 council leaders have urged Michael Gove to increase eviction notice period for renters with a bill going through parliament, Sky News can reveal.

The leader of Rishi Sunak's constituency council in North Yorkshire is one of 103 local authority leaders who have written to the housing secretary urging him to back an amendment to the Renters Reform Bill that would extend eviction notice periods from two months to four.

In the letter, shared exclusively with Sky News, the cross-party council leaders say such a change would "give tenants more security and time to find a new home which suits their needs in the event they are evicted" and would "reduce the number of people claiming homelessness support following the end of a private tenancy".

The Renters Reform Bill is aimed at strengthening renters' rights and includes a long-awaited ban on "no-fault" evictions, which allow landlords to claim back properties and remove tenants without giving a reason.

You can read more from Sky News below:

One year ago, Rishi Sunak made five pledges for voters to judge him on.

The prime minister met his pledge to halve inflation by the end of 2023, leaving four pledges outstanding.

However, he is faring less well with his other pledges.

It has been confirmed the UK is now in recession, which means the PM's pledge to grow the economy is not being met.

With the general election approaching, how is Mr Sunak doing on delivering his other promises?

You can see the progress for yourself below.

Police are "assessing" a report of hate speech made against Lee Anderson after his claim "Islamists" had taken control of London and its mayor, Sadiq Khan, Sky News understands.

The Ashfield MP was suspended from the Conservative Party last weekend after he refused to apologise for the remarks, which have been branded as racist by Mr Khan and others.

However, while ministers - including Rishi Sunak - have described the comments as "wrong", they have repeatedly declined to classify them as Islamophobic.

Read more on this breaking story here:

That brings tonight's Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge to a close.

While we're on the topic, here's a reminder of the latest measures to bolster the safety of MPs.

Elected politician will have a dedicated police contact for safety issues as part of a ÂŁ31m package to boost security measures.

Home Secretary James Cleverley said no MP should have to accept threats as "part of the job", following fears some have been targeted by demonstrators demanding an end to fighting in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the home of Tory backbencher Tobias Ellwood earlier this month - with police warning his family to "stay away" as arriving could "antagonise" the situation.

Now joining Sophy is Lee Cain, Boris Johnson's former Downing Street director of communications.

He is discussing research that shows young people are "overwhelmingly using social media to get their news" - but don't trust the content.

Mr Cain says this leaves them "very open to misinformation, deep fakes and other things that can really twist the narratives."

This could have "negative consequences," he says.

Asked about Sky News' Voters Panel, Mr Cain agrees "it is a pretty gloomy picture for the Conservatives" heading towards an election.

"Rishi inherited an incredibly difficult playing field after Liz Truss, but it certainly hasn't improved since then."

The polling looks "pretty bleak" in the Red Wall, Mr Cain adds.

Is there any way back for the Tories?

The former communications chief says the Conservatives will be looking to limit damage and "keep as many seats as possible".

Looking to win the election, Mr Cain "doesn't see a way through that".

Nestled in the foothills of the Pennines, Rochdale is a town with a proud history.

It was once home to the world's foremost cotton processing centres and is widely known as the birthplace of the modern co-operative movement.

But in recent years the town has been marred by child exploitation scandals, poverty and deprivation. According to Poverty Action's Monitor report, 28% of children in Rochdale are still living in poverty.

"There are housing issues that we need to deal with, there are homeless issues we deal with and there are child protection issues we need to deal with", one resident said.

The last thing this town wants is this dysfunctional by-election. But now that's just one day away.

The conversation now turns to defence, and John Healey's warning that we are in a "pre-war world" in 2024.

Asked what he meant by this, the Labour frontbencher says: "I used the defence secretary Grant Shapps' speech earlier this month, in which he said 'We are now in a pre-war world'.

"I used that as my starting point to argue we need a much stronger centre for defence, capable for making the changes to deal with the hollowed out state of our forces.

"And to allow us to prepare to respond to the threats and the conflicts that may threaten us now in this century ahead."

Asked how worried he is about the state of the international stage, Mr Healey says it is a "deep concern".

"We have war in Europe for the first time since the Second World War, we have a conflict in the Middle East, we have the prospect of at least a decade of continuing Russian aggression whatever happens in Ukraine.

"And we've seen 14 years in which our UK forces have been hollowed out and under funded."

So what's the Labour solution?

"We have to make some big decisions on defence for the future," he says.

"The current system isn't up for the challenges we face from the increasing threats. I am arguing today that we must make some big defence reforms."

Pressed on what these are, Mr Healey says the UK needs a "stronger defence centre" and a "clearer, stronger military authority and accountability".

He suggests that army chiefs should answer to the chief of the defence staff - the UK's most senior military commander. 

They would also be appointed for four years, rather than two.

Asked repeatedly whether the British Army should be bigger, Mr Healey refused to say.

However, he did concede there should not be further cuts.

Sophy is now chatting to shadow defence secretary John Healey.

They begin their conversation discussing today's particularly fiery PMQs, and the Labour frontbencher is asked whether he believes the Conservatives are an extremist party.

"Certainly, some of the MPs have extreme views," he says. "It's a divided party, it's a party that Rishi Sunak can't lead and is too weak to stand up to.

"And today Prime Minister's Questions really didn’t show Westminster at its best. People will be looking increasingly and saying 'Come on, call a general election, let's have a chance to vote whether we want this lot in government, or whether we want a change.'

"For many people, this is time for a change."

Sophy notes that Sir Keir Starmer spent a large amount of his time at PMQs mocking Liz Truss.

Why is that?

"We're all living with the consequences of Liz Truss,” Mr Healey says.

"Interest rates are now four times what they were when she took over."

He adds: "Keir Starmer is trying to say... another five years of a Conservative government is too big a risk.

"Let's have an election - it is now time for a change."

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NASA explains how it would alert the public of an apocalyptic asteroid strike

  • NASA works with a worldwide coalition of astronomers to find and track dangerous asteroids.
  • In the event of an impending hazardous asteroid strike, NASA already has its plan in place to alert the public.
  • Whether it could save Earth from such a disaster is a matter of timing. 

Insider Today

When the Chicxulub impactor, a six-mile-wide asteroid, struck Earth 66 million years ago, the dinosaurs had no warning . 

If an asteroid that size hit Earth today, a shock wave two million times more powerful than a hydrogen bomb would flatten forests and trigger tsunamis. A seismic pulse equal to a magnitude 10 earthquake would crumble cities. And long after the impact, a cloud of hot dust, ash, and steam would blot out the sun, plunging the Earth into freezing cold. 

But at least we'd probably know it was coming ahead of time. And if NASA has anything to say about it, we may even be able to prevent the apocalypse. 

NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office is tasked with finding, tracking, and assessing the risk associated with potentially hazardous asteroids in our solar system.

“We definitely want to find all those before they find us,” said Lindley Johnson , Lead Program Executive for the Planetary Defense Coordination Office.

To do that, NASA works with a global coalition of astronomers called the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN). 

Here’s what they would do if an apocalyptic asteroid strike was headed toward Earth. 

An international warning system 

In the event that a dangerous asteroid is headed toward Earth, IAWN has procedures in place to notify the public. 

First, the party members who detected the threat would share their observations across the IAWN network to verify their findings and assess the danger.

Once all parties agree that Earth should brace for impact, NASA would send out an alert.

“I don’t have a red phone on my desk or anything,” Johnson said. “But we do have formal procedures by which notification of a serious impact would be provided.”

If the asteroid was headed toward the US, NASA would notify the White House, and the government would release a formal statement to the public. If it was big enough to pose an international threat, IAWN would notify the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs.

Hunting for asteroids 

An asteroid is considered “ potentially hazardous ” if it is larger than roughly 460 feet across and intersects Earth’s orbit at a minimum distance of 0.5 astronomical units, which is half the distance between Earth and the sun. 

There are about 2,300 known potentially hazardous asteroids out there, and roughly 153 of them are larger than 0.6 miles across. That’s big enough to trigger a catastrophe if one struck Earth.

To find and track them, NASA and the other IAWN partners look for new asteroids in addition to tracking ones that have already been discovered. All their observations get compiled into a database at the Minor Planet Center.

So far, IAWN has found over 34,000 near-Earth asteroids. With enough observational data, NASA can confidently predict their orbits at least a century into the future, Johnson said.

There’s a slim chance that the potentially hazardous Bennu asteroid could hit Earth in 159 years, triggering an explosion equal to 24 nuclear bombs. But the odds of that happening are only about one in 2,700, according to a 2021 study .

If Bennu does head toward Earth, NASA has a few tricks up its sleeve to defend our planet.

Defending Earth

Most of the time, IAWN catches oncoming asteroids long before they become an immediate threat to Earth, according to Johnson. But NASA would need at least five to 10 years of advanced notice to prevent the apocalypse from an approaching asteroid. 

In 2021, NASA launched its first planetary defense test mission . It rammed an uncrewed spacecraft into an asteroid to shift its orbit away from Earth.

The mission was a success, and NASA plans to test more deflection techniques in the future. A developing “gravity tractor” technique would send a spacecraft to stay in position next to the asteroid and allow the gravitational interaction to pull the asteroid out of its orbit. NASA is also working on a technique that uses an ion beam to shift an asteroid's course.

But if the threat was coming in less than five years, NASA wouldn’t have time to deflect the asteroid. Then, it might resort to destruction to minimize and disperse the impact.

If NASA only had a few months of warning, then there’s not much it could do to save Earth .

Thankfully, IAWN’s strategy is to find asteroids decades, if not centuries, before the impact. 

“That gives us plenty of time to then try to do something about them while they’re still in space, so that we completely avoid any catastrophe here on Earth,” Johnson said.

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Watch: NASA's 5-step plan for when it discovers a giant, killer asteroid headed straight for Earth

party planning business outline

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