| Are you a highly organized individual? Do you love to | | | | on you will need a few items. You will need at the |
| take the reins when a party or wedding comes up and | | | | very least, a cell phone, a laptop computer, business |
| find yourself doing most of if not all the planning? Do | | | | cards, stationary, and an ad in your local Yellow Pages. |
| your friends and family come to you for help when | | | | You will want to be sure that anything of |
| they are planning a party or other special occasion? If | | | | correspondence such as your business cards, e-mails, |
| so then becoming a professional event planner may | | | | and stationary displays you logo. |
| be up your alley. | | | | Being an event planner is no different from any other |
| Being an event planner is a highly rewarding way to | | | | business when it comes to growth. Joining the local |
| own your own business and put your planning skills to | | | | Chamber of Commerce will give you the opportunity |
| work. To become an event planner you should be | | | | to network with other business members in the |
| proficient in organization, have some sense of | | | | community and can be a great place to get a few |
| accounting, and also know about marketing. If you don't | | | | jobs. Word of mouth is always important, but is |
| know all of these things fear not. | | | | extremely important in the early stages. The better |
| There are college degrees in the area of event | | | | services you provide in your event planning the more |
| planning but attaining one is not mandatory to break | | | | referrals you will get. |
| into the business. There are many courses that | | | | Once you have successfully planned some events |
| different schools offer that will give a certificate in | | | | and have a little extra money to spare for advertising, |
| event planning. At these schools you will learn things | | | | a good direct mailing to your target audience is always |
| such as marketing and networking, different types of | | | | a good idea. You can also do an e-mail marketing |
| event planning to get into, and how to present yourself | | | | campaign with relative ease. Having a website |
| and your business in a professional manner. | | | | designed is always a great idea and can be filled with |
| Your start up cost will all depend on what type of | | | | information on your company such as pricing and what |
| event planner you want to be. If you plan on having | | | | types of event you cover. |
| catering as part of your business for example you will | | | | But the most important factor in your event planning |
| need a full kitchen. These types of things can often be | | | | business is you. You have to be professional, |
| outsourced, but it is important to pick an area that you | | | | courteous, and above all else organized. Being an |
| will focus your business plan on. Do you want to do | | | | event planner can take some time to perfect, but with |
| weddings, parties, corporate events or a combination | | | | a little bit of schooling and a lot of hard work and |
| of two or more? | | | | dedication you too can claim your piece of a business |
| No matter what area you decide you want to focus | | | | that boasts billions of dollars in revenues every year. |