Home
Based Business Event Planner
The title "Event Planner" covers a range of
home based business niches. You can specialize
in
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Business events, such as conferences, meetings,
seminars, fundraisers, and so on.
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Personal or social events, such as parties,
weddings, reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, and
so on.
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Or, you can run a full-service business.
Events require planning and can be
time-consuming. Individuals and businesses hire event planning
companies to relieve the pressure of coordinating all the
activities to make an event successful. You can develop a
successful home based business as an event
planner.
The industry is growing. There may be several
businesses in your area performing this service but you can
build a referral network that will provide you with contacts to
make this a profitable home based business.
What does it take for this
business?
This home based business requires excellent
organization and communication skills. You must be
detail-oriented and have strong project management skills. You
also need a network of reliable vendors.
What does it take to
operate this business?
You should set up a separate space for your
home based business office.
The start-up cost for this business ranges from
$500 to $1500; more if you need a delivery van.
Basic equipment and supplies include:
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Computer
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Printer
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Fax
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Cellular phone/pager
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Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
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Business phone line
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Contact Management or Database software
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Word processing software
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Spreadsheet software
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Business stationery, cards
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Brochures
Review the resources for this home based
business here.
What services do I
provide?
Some of the services include:
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Design a them for the event
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Find a site for the event
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Arrange for food
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Plan and arrange decorations
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Plan and arrange entertainment
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Provide transportation to and from event
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Plan guest list
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Select invitations
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Send invitations
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Coordinate responses
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Arrange accommodations, if needed
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Coordinate all activities
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Provide on-site supervision of event
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Conduct evaluations of event
What are my potential earnings?
$45,000 to $100,000 +
How much do I charge for my
services?
Hourly rates range from $25 to $50 for small
events; 15 to 20 percent of total event cost for large
events.
How do I bill for my
services?
You present your client with an itemized bill
for services rendered. You may want to contract for services
and collect a deposit. Vendor bills should be promptly
presented to the client for payment.
How do I market my
business?
Offline
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Purchase ads in local and community newpapers.
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List your home based business services in the
Yellow Pages.
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Present seminars to business and professional
organizations and to groups at churches and
community centers.
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Purchase ads in business publications.
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Write articles on event planning for local and
community newspapers.
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Create brochures and place in related businesses,
such as bakeries, florists, party stores, hotels,
and so on.
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Network with professional and business
organizations in your community.
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Encourage friends, family, and previous clients for
referrals.
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Create a portfolio of events you have planned.
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Issue a press release.
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Contact businesses in your area.
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List your Web site in print businesses,
professional, and trade journals.
Online
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Create an informative Web site listing your home
based business services and include tips for
parties, meetings, and so on.
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Display pictures of events you have planned.
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List your Web site in online directories.
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Issue an online press release.
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Link your Web site to related businesses.
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Link your Web site to local sites in your
community.
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Publish client testimonials on your Web site.
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Participate in newsgroups and discussion forums
related to your target market.
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Contribute articles to e-zines and online
publications.
If you are well organized and can get long with
people, you can be successful as a home based event planner.
You can review resources for this home based business
here.
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