How to start a wedding planning business

To start a wedding planning business, you must determine what wedding planning services you will offer, obtain the required business insurance, licenses, and EIN, develop a marketing plan, and decide on prices. For details on the steps you can take to start a wedding planning business, use this guide:

• Determine what wedding planning services your business will offer. The first step in starting a wedding planning business is to decide what types of wedding planning services you are going to offer.

This step is very important, because wedding planners can offer all different types of services and different plan options for their clients. You should consider these questions when taking this step:

• What size weddings will your business have the ability to plan?

• Do you have relationships with venues, caterers, photographers, and others in place already?

• Who is your target market? In other words, what kind of couples?

Wedding planning can offer a variety of services and packages. Here are the most common packages and the money you can expect to make from each:

• Full planning. This means your business will oversee the entire process of planning a couple's wedding. This usually entails months, if not weeks of preparation, and then services on the day of the wedding. Average price: $10,000 or more.

• Day of the wedding. This package is a cheaper one and is meant for couples that only need assistance on the actual day of the wedding. Average price: $1,750 to $2,225

• Day of "plus". This is a very popular package. It includes handling all wedding activities on the day, plus any last-minute details or issues. Average price: $2,500 to $3,000

Do some market research, this means finding out the consumer base in your area, as well as any competitors that may exist. From this, you can help determine the proper niche for your wedding planning business and the services that you can provide.

You should also try to find ways to help your business stand out through its unique wedding planning services, and any relationships of value you can leverage, such as ones with event venues, wedding photographers, etc.

• Obtain the required business insurance, licenses, and EIN. This all depends on your local state laws where you are starting your wedding planning business.

The next step is to get federal and state tax IDs. Your employer identification number (EIN) is critical to starting and growing your business.

It helps with matters like opening a business bank account and paying taxes. Essentially it is like a social security number, but for your business. In certain states, you may also have to get a tax ID as well.

You now should apply for the proper licenses and permits for your wedding planning business. This guarantees that the business stays legally compliant. The licenses and permits you may need for your business varies, depending on what state your business is in, and other factors as well.

• Develop a marketing plan and decide on prices. Utilize the internet to market your wedding planning business and do some local market research to decide on the prices of your services.

Social media is an important marketing tool. You should create social media accounts for your wedding planning business and try to gain friends and followers. You can post about your services and show pictures of weddings you have planned.

Similarly, you should also develop a website for your wedding planning business. This is relatively inexpensive, and if you have some extra cash, you can hire a professional to do a stellar website for your business.

• Contact information (email, phone, etc.)

• Links to your wedding business social media accounts

• Descriptions and prices of your wedding planning packages

• Customer testimonials from satisfied married couples

• Pictures of weddings your business has planned

• Professional relationships to relevant parties, such as venues, and photographers

If possible, you want to try to fill a void in the wedding planning market of your local community. This will make it easier to market your company, and will also attract more clients.