If you want to become a wedding planner and start your own wedding planning business, you need to do more than learn how to plan weddings. You’ll have to learn how to run a professional business as well.
Here are the steps you should follow:
1) Write a business plan
This doesn’t have to be difficult. Just start by writing down answers to these basic questions such as: Why do you want to start a wedding planning business? What do you want your business to look like? Who do you want your clients to be? When do you plan to be up and running? Where will you work? How will you make money – what services, packages and products do you plan to offer? After you have answered these questions, spell out the details so it is clear what your business will look like when you start, then one year from now and five years from now. You can revisit and revise your plan at any time.
2) find and talk with a good accountant, attorney, and an insurance agent about setting up your business
These are the business professionals who can help you decide the best structure for your business (sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation) and they will make sure you are legally covered and protected.
3) Obtain financing
It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to start your business. You might finance it yourself, get help from your family, or a close friend or you might approach a financial institution or a non-profit, such as the Small Business Administration, for a loan.
4) Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Instead of using your social security number for your business, you will want to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service so your personal number can be kept private.
5) Determine your niche and services
You will need to take some time and do the research to set up your wedding planning business so that you target a niche and don’t just market to every bride. Find out what your niche wants and create your business selling those services.
6) Select a business name and buy the domain name
Your business name should be one that is easy to say and spell, and it should be attractive to your niche. You will need to create and search for a domain name for your website to be sure it is available in your area.
7) Get the proper licenses
Check with your local government offices for the requirements for running a business in your area as rules will differ between counties. You will also need to register your business name and possibly get a license that allows you to do business in your city and you may need to get a sellers permit.
8) Set up bookkeeping and banking
Get bookkeeping software so you can keep track of your income and expenses and easily handle your taxes at the end of the year. Also you must open a business bank account to keep your business finances separate from your personal ones.
9) Set up your office
Make sure you have a space in which you can work quietly, without interruptions, that is set up with the furniture and tools you’ll need to run a business. This includes a desk, chair, filing cabinets, computer, printer and phone.
10) Set up your website and blog and order business cards
Hire a designer who can work with you to create a professional logo or image for your website, blog and cards. They may also be able to build your website and blog or you can hire a webmaster to do that for you. Do not invest too much of your budget into these things, new wedding planners often change their images after being in business for about a year.
11) Put together a portfolio
Gather photographs and information from the weddings you have planned and assemble them in a nice album. Put in your education certificates and testimonials from the brides. You can present this to potential clients and vendors so they can see your work.