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