If you are wondering whether you can start an event planning career with little to no prior experience, the answer is - absolutely, yes you can! With these event planning start-up tips, we will take you through how to become an event planner, even if you are beginning with no experience. After all, event planning business tips and ideas do not need to be complicated! As you embark on your event planning career, it's crucial to consider the legal structure of your business; forming an LLC can provide you with personal liability protection and potential tax advantages, ensuring your new venture is off to a strong start.
How to start an event planning business:
● Familiarise yourself with the relevant skills
● Volunteer or secure an entry-level position
● Familiarise yourself with event planning software
● Form a
business plan
● Set your goals and objectives
● Set a strict budget
● Obtain the relevant licenses and permits
How to become an event planner - even with no experience
Here are 7 tips on how to get into the events planning industry:
1. Familiarise yourself with the relevant skills
Before you can get started in your career as an event planner, it is important to know what skills will be required for you to succeed.
Essential event planning skills include:
●
Project management
Event planning heavily relies on project management skills. When you are planning an event there are many different tasks that you must juggle at once, all with varying deadlines. Therefore, it is essential that you have great project management skills in order to keep on track with your to-do list, delegate tasks, and keep the event planning process in motion.
●
Problem-solving
No matter how well you have planned your event, there is always the chance that things can not go exactly as you had imagined. If you are able to plan well in advance and think on your feet, then this will certainly work in your favour as an event planner.
●
Good attention to detail
You should have good attention to detail as an event planner in order to keep control of all the finer details of the event planning process.
2. Volunteer or secure an entry-level position
If you would like to start a career in event planning but have no prior experience, then volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door. You could reach out to events that are happening locally and see if you can volunteer your help on the planning team. Alternatively, look for an intern position, as this can often lead to a permanent job.
3. Familiarise yourself with event planning software
A form of experience that you can obtain for yourself is knowledge of the technology and software that is frequently used for event planning so that you are ready to go when you get your first big opportunity. Event planning software ranges from project management to communications, as well as event ticketing and registration software.
4. Form a business plan
Forming a business plan helps you to start the organisational process of your new career. Your business plan should outline your objectives, budget, and your strategy for attracting sales and marketing strategies.
5. Set your goals and objectives
Ensuring that you have set goals and objectives for your event planning business will help you stay on track with which section of the industry you would like to build your career.
6. Set a strict budget
It is important to do your research on any hidden expenditures that you might not be familiar with, having not taken on a small business before. You can only fully commit to your business plan and the goals that you set out if you are fully certain that you have to funds to make your events go ahead.
7. Obtain the relevant licenses and permits
If you are setting up your own event planning business it is essential that you obtain all the required licenses and permits. The laws around licenses required for different businesses vary across councils, counties and states (depending on which country you live in) so it is important that you do this research yourself. As part of your business plan involves tracking your outgoings, you should remain attentive to taxes and fees for all licenses and permits you may need
Summary
It is safe to say that there is the option for you to get into event planning with no prior experience to your name. Starting your own event business or joining somebody elses just requires a little hard work and commitment on your end conducting the relevant research.
If you are looking to get into event planning, and/or start an event business then you will need to compile an event planning checklist to navigate your event planning process. The ultimate event planning checklist should include steps such as setting a specific time frame and building your agenda.
Check out our guide to the ultimate event planning checklist will have you navigating your first career as an event planner with success and ease!