If you’re here, you’re likely thinking about how to start an event planning business and turn your passion for events into a rewarding career. I also know that starting an event planning business can feel like jumping headfirst into an exciting (but sometimes overwhelming!) journey. You might be fueled by a love for creating unforgettable experiences or the dream of running a business that feels as fulfilling as it is profitable.
Whether your goal is to design stunning weddings, orchestrate corporate events, or bring luxury social gatherings to life, starting an event planning business can be your path to doing what you love every day. But as a business coach for wedding and event planners, I also know that there’s more to it than meets the eye (so I’m really glad you’re reading this today).
Step 1: Define Your Niche and Vision
The first step in how to start an event planning business is defining your niche. If you want to hit the ground running, I strongly recommend you take time to define your niche (or ideal customer) right from the start. The event industry is vast, and having a clear focus helps you stand out and attract the clients you want to work with.
Do you see yourself planning weddings for couples with big dreams and sentimental details? Or is corporate event planning more your jam? Maybe you want to dive into the luxury market? Or you’d feel more comfortable getting your footing planning birthday parties and baby showers?
Whatever your area of interest is, your niche will ultimately serve as the compass that guides your brand, your messaging, and the clients you’ll ultimately serve.
Finding Your Unique Value
If you’re struggling to narrow down your niche, try this simple exercise:
- List your top three reasons for wanting to start an event planning business.
- Reflect on past events you’ve planned, whether professionally or personally. What did you enjoy most?
- Identify the people you’d love to work with—what’s their style, budget, or vibe?
At the intersection of these answers lies your niche. From here, you can develop your unique value proposition (UVP), the quality that sets you apart. For example, maybe your UVP is your calm-under-pressure attitude or your knack for blending timeless elegance with current trends. Keep your UVP at the forefront—it will serve as the foundation for everything from your marketing to your client relationships.
Want to dive even deeper into this? I promise the results are powerful when you do. Check out my Client Cocktail mini course for my help walking you through it!
Step 2: Set Up the Basics (Legally and Financially)
Now that you’ve identified your niche, let’s move to the foundational steps in how to start an event planning business: setting up legally and financially. Getting the legal and financial aspects in order is non-negotiable. Okay? Okay. Let’s break it down.
Business Structure: LLC or Sole Proprietorship?
Choosing your business structure is a big first step in starting an event planning business. As a new event planner, you’ll likely choose between an LLC (Limited Liability Company) or a sole proprietorship.
An LLC can provide some legal protection for your personal assets, while a sole proprietorship is easier to set up but lacks this shield. If you’re serious about growth and protecting your personal assets, you may want to consider an LLC as it keeps your business and personal finances separate. Regardless of what you choose though, it’s a good idea to set up a separate bank account!
Keep in mind though, this is likely a conversation you want to have with your lawyer or accountant!
Budgeting and Setting Realistic Revenue Goals
Knowing how to start an event planning business also means planning for the financial ups and downs. When you’re just starting out, budgeting is your friend! Estimate your startup costs (think branding, website, marketing, and initial equipment or supplies) and set a realistic revenue goal for your first year. Not every month will be profitable right away, so plan for the ups and downs by setting aside funds from early income for leaner months. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!
Step 3: Create a Brand That Stands Out
Next, when you think about how to start an event planning business in an industry full of talented planners already, building a standout brand is key. Your brand is more than a name or logo—it’s the way clients experience working with you and how they remember you. From the moment potential clients see your social media profiles or visit your website, they should feel that connection that says, “Yes, I want to work with this planner!”
Love this? Head here for some of my favorite blog posts and podcasts about branding!
Focus on Client-Centric Branding
Branding is a whole other topic (that would make this blog post on how to start an event planning business feel like a novel), but I will leave you with this: you need to viewing branding from your ideal client’s perspective. Think about what they’re looking for: Do they want an organized, detail-focused experience? Are they looking for a planner who can take their ideas and elevate them? A collaborative experience? A completely-done-for-them experience?
I want you to think about this as you start to put together all of the “fun” stuff like websites, social media content, or building your portfolio. Make sure your brand speaks directly to their needs and dreams!
Step 4: Build a Client-Centric Marketing Strategy
The next step in how to start an event planning business is creating a solid marketing strategy. Marketing as a new business can be overwhelming—there are so many options! The goal here isn’t to do it all; it’s to set up foundational strategies that will help you get noticed and booked.
Let’s talk about a few key strategies to get your lead generation system off the ground.
Getting Started with Social Media, SEO, and Networking
Social media is a great place to showcase your work and connect with potential clients. Set up profiles on Instagram and Pinterest (ideal for my more visual people), and be sure your posts reflect your brand identity and showcase your style.
Next, get familiar with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) basics. Focus on using location specific keywords in your website copy and blog posts. This will help local clients find you more easily online.
Lastly, networking is a must when it comes to learning how to start an event planning business. Networking is still one of the best ways to build a client base in the event planning industry. Attend local industry meetups, introduce yourself to venue managers, photographers, and caterers—building these relationships can only lead to good things (like referrals and collaborative projects).
Step 5: Get Your Systems In Order
A huge part of how to start an event planning business is knowing how to streamline processes so your business can grow without constant burnout. When your systems are solid, you save time, prevent burnout, and deliver a consistent experience to every client.
For example, for client onboarding, create a checklist for each step, from initial inquiry to signing the contract (my onboarding playbook will help you do this a lot faster). Having consistency here helps you make a great first impression every time.
You’ll also need to set up systems for getting client work done, for marketing your business, for offboarding your customers—the list goes on. If you start to feel overwhelmed and want a short cut (and also want to make sure things are done really, really well), head to my shop for tons of playbooks filled with both information AND templates to help you get it done!
Beginner Tools to Manage Tasks and Communication
As you start to set up systems, you’ll likely want to invest in a few tools to manage it all. I recommend you start with simple tools: Asana is great for task management, HoneyBook is great client communications, and even things like Google Drive for shared documents.
Become an Event Planner Today!
The steps above are just the beginning of how to start an event planning business. But that’s usually what you need to do to get started—taking the first step. You don’t need to have every piece in place right away either. Small, consistent actions will get you where you want to be. And remember, the effort you’re putting in now lays the groundwork for a rewarding, profitable event planning business!
If you’re looking for more guidance, support, and insider tips to help you build a successful wedding and event planning business, check out my wedding planner tools in my shop and join me in The Planner’s Playbook. It’s where I share proven strategies, resources, and a community to keep you inspired and moving forward. I can’t wait to watch your business grow!
Explore More Wedding Industry Resources
- Is Month-of Wedding Coordinator A Niche? The Truth About This Wedding Planning Service
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- The Ultimate Checklist for Wedding Coordinators
- What Does A Wedding Coordinator Do? Here’s Everything They’re Responsible For
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- How Much Does It Cost to Become a Wedding Planner?
- How To Become A Wedding Planner in 2025 With No Experience
For More Wedding Industry Business Secrets, Follow Me on Instagram
You could spend all your energy trying to cut back... or you could use that same energy to make more.
In this week’s episode of The Power in Purpose, @erinn_bridgman shares such a refreshing perspective on money, and it’s one that I believe every creative entrepreneur needs to hear.
Sure, there’s a time and place to look at where your money’s going. I believe one of the fastest ways to put money in your pocket is to stop spending it. But what if you shifted your focus to how easily you could bring more in?
One additional wedding.
A higher-margin package.
A simple pricing adjustment.
That’s the difference between staying in survival mode and stepping into abundance.
For most wedding pros, the latte isn’t the problem. It’s the story you’re telling yourself about what’s possible.
You’re closer than you think to creating the income and stability you’ve been chasing.
✨ Comment 197 and I’ll DM you the link to listen (along with the invite to a FREE masterclass Erinn is hosting tomorrow if you want to learn more)
#candicecoppola #weddingpros #weddingindustry #weddingpro #weddingindustryexperts #weddingpodcast #weddingbusiness #thepowerinpurposepodcast #weddingindustryeducation
Here’s one of my favorite things about being a business owner...
You don’t have to wait for permission to make more money.
You don’t need to ask for a raise.
You are the raise.
In this week’s episode of The Power in Purpose, @erinn_bridgman and I talked about one of the most empowering parts of being a wedding pro and that’s the ability to create income on demand.
When you understand your numbers, you realize how much control you actually have. You can double down on your most profitable offer, take on one or two more weddings at a higher rate, or make small shifts that directly impact your paycheck.
If only someone would show you the way, right?
My hope is that this conversation will light a fire under you to stop waiting for “someday” and start acting like the CEO your business needs today.
Comment 197 and I will send you the link to listen (and an invite to a FREE masterclass Erinn is hosting next week to help you too!).
#candicecoppola #weddingindustry #weddingindustryexperts #weddingpro #weddingpros #weddingpodcast #weddingbusiness #thepowerinpurposepodcast #weddingindustryeducation #weddingplanner
You keep waiting for that future version of yourself (you know, the one who’s confident with money, pays herself first, and runs a business that feels calm, sustainable, and profitable).
But she’s not coming.
You aren’t just going to wake up and “become her” someday. You need to start building her now.
In this episode, I brought on @erinn_bridgman to talk all about building WEALTH as a wedding pro, and this future self exercise is truly just the beginning.
I know firsthand that when you start identifying as that version of yourself now, everything changes. You stop operating from survival mode and start leading from security and abundance.
I want that for you and Erinn does too!
Next week, she’s hosting a free masterclass where she’s sharing her 4-part framework to help you ditch the money stress and pay yourself first every month.
Comment 197 and I will send you the link to listen to this week’s episode (and sign up for the masterclass).
I will see you there ⬇️
#candicecoppola #weddingindustry #weddingpros #weddingpro #weddingindustryexperts #weddingpodcast #weddingbusiness #thepowerinpurposepodcast #weddingindustryeducation #weddingpodcast #weddingbusiness #weddingindustryeducation
💸 Last year, I spent $60,000 on my own education and business development.
Courses. Masterminds. One-on-one coaching. All of it.
And while those numbers sound big (and they are), I also love investing in my business. I’ve worked with a coach since 2017, and I can confidently say while not every investment I make is a winner, many of the investments I’ve made are a major reason my business looks the way it does today.
But here’s what I’ve learned along the way:
✨ Not every investment gives you the same ROI.
✨ Where you are in your journey matters when deciding which style of education and support is right for you
✨ Growth happens when you’re the smallest fish in the room
In this week’s podcast episode, I’m breaking down exactly what I learned from investing $60K into my growth and more importantly, how you can use those lessons to make smarter decisions about YOUR next investment.
Think of it as a buyer’s guide to business education, told by someone who’s been on both sides: student and coach.
Comment 196 and I will send you the link to listen.
#candicecoppola #weddingpros #weddingpros #weddingpro #weddingindustryexperts #weddingpodcast #weddingbusiness #thepowerinpurposepodcast #weddingindustryeducation
Some of the links used in this blog post are affiliate links. When you purchase something, our company receives a small compensation at no cost to you. This compensation helps to maintain the cost of creating helpful content, like our podcast, so you can build a profitable business with purpose.
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