Entrepreneur Magazine's Startup Start Your Own Event Planning Business : Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success

by Entrepreneur Press

• ISBN13: 9781932156843
• ISBN10: 1932156844
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-27
• Publisher: Entrepreneur Pr

Summary

Celebrate All the Way to the BankWeddings, parades, fairs, graduations, conferences, political rallies, fashion shows, what do they have in common? Answer: Everyone would rather have someone else plan and conduct them. That someone else can be you, if you're a professional event planner who knows how to design an event, find a location, arrange entertainment, plan transportation, and do the myriad things needed to bring it off successfully.Start Your Own Event Planning Business, part of Entrepreneur magazine'shighly regarded Startup Series, provides all the tools you need to start, run, and grow one of today's most profitable businesses. Why should you buy this book? If you're a highly creative person who likes working with people, event planning is a natural outlet. With gross profits in the 30-to-40 percent range, you can easily earn $50,000 to $100,000 per year planning and conducting events. You can specialize in a variety of areas, including commercial, political, civic, social and personal events. Start Your Own Event Planning Businessshows you how to handle everything-conducting market research, choosing a location, financing, buying equipment, finding customers, hiring employees, and much more. It also includes useful sample forms, checklists, and worksheets to guide you through every aspect of the startup process.If you're good at planning and conducting celebrations, conferences and other events, if you like a flexible schedule, a wide variety of responsibilities and new adventures every week; and you'd like to make a living doing what you enjoy,Start Your Own Event Planning Businessis a must-read.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Chapter 1 Blueprint of an Industry	1	(14)
Questions, Always Questions	2	(5)
What?	2	(1)
When Do Event Planners Work?	3	(1)
Where Do Event Planners Work?	3	(1)
Why Do People Hire Event Planners?	3	(1)
Who Becomes an Event Planner?	3	(4)
How Do Event Planners Do It?	7	(1)
A History Lesson	7	(1)
Going Glam	8	(1)
To Market, To Market	8	(2)
The Corporate Market	9	(1)
The Social Market	10	(1)
Scoping It Out	10	(5)
Conduct a Market Analysis	10	(2)
Interview Prospective Clients	12	(1)
Analyze the Competition	12	(3)
Chapter 2 Getting There from Here-Laying the Groundwork	15	(8)
Researching the Industry	16	(1)
Finding Your Niche	17	(2)
Specialize!	17	(2)
Determining Your Start-Up Costs	19	(1)
Creating a Map for Success	20	(3)
Your Business Plan	20	(1)
Your Mission Statement	21	(2)
Chapter 3 A Day in the Life	23	(22)
Research	24	(4)
Design	28	(7)
Get the Idea	29	(1)
Going in Style	29	(6)
The Main Event-Putting It All Together	35	(1)
Organization	35	(5)
Organization Checklist	38	(1)
Logistics	38	(2)
Coordination	40	(1)
Evaluation	40	(5)
Chapter 4 In the Beginning	45	(16)
What's in a Name?	46	(2)
Places, Everyone!	48	(1)
Brand-New Baby	49	(4)
In Fine Form	49	(1)
The Words and the Fees-Licenses and Permits	50	(2)
Damage Control	52	(1)
Hashing It Out-Proposals and Agreements	53	(8)
Proposals	53	(1)
Agreements	54	(7)
Chapter 5 No Guts, No Glory-Acquiring and Spending Money	61	(12)
On Target	62	(2)
Totaling Up	62	(1)
Going for the Green	63	(1)
The Right Stuff	64	(9)
Equipment	65	(4)
Keeping It All Together-Inventory	69	(4)
Chapter 6 With a Little Help from My Friends	73	(10)
Hiring Personnel	74	(3)
Just Rewards: Salaries, Wages, and Benefits	76	(1)
Team Picks	76	(1)
Choosing Vendors	77	(2)
Playing It Safe	77	(2)
Consulting Professionals	79	(2)
The Direct Approach	79	(2)
The Indirect Approach	81	(1)
Off and Running	81	(2)
Chapter 7 You Can Always Get What You Want-Attracting and Keeping Clients	83	(10)
Madison Avenue	84	(4)
Mailing It Out	85	(1)
Going Glossy	85	(1)
Directing Traffic	85	(1)
Web-Weaving	86	(1)
Be Creative!	87	(1)
This One's a Keeper	88	(5)
Serving It Up	88	(1)
Goodwill Hunting	89	(2)
You're Only as Good as Your Last Event	91	(2)
Chapter 8 Right on the Money	93	(10)
Financially Speaking	94	(9)
Bucking Up	94	(1)
The Price Is Right	95	(2)
Adding Up the Costs	97	(2)
Even-Steven	99	(1)
You and Your Taxes	100	(2)
Spare the Expense	102	(1)
Chapter 9 "I Came, I Planned, I Conquered"	103	(6)
Avoiding a Capsize	104	(1)
Smoothing Troubled Waters	105	(2)
Keeping the Boat Afloat	107	(2)
Smooth Sailing	108	(1)
Appendix Event Planning Resources	109	(6)
Glossary	115	(2)
Index	117