The party planning business is a relatively simple one to get into. A person who wants to work as a party planner does not need to go to college, obtain any type of certification, or even receive any specific training. Organizing, planning, and marketing skills, as well as a love of fun parties and events, are frequently all that is required.
While there is no formal training or education required to become a party planner, some people may find it beneficial to do so. Event planning seminars and marketing training courses are available to aspiring party planners. Some people may even volunteer to work for other event planners to gain experience. There are also numerous books available to assist new party planners in getting started.
Determining which types of parties a person wants to organize may be one of the most important steps for someone who wants to become a party planner. For example, he might want to concentrate on individual celebrations such as birthday and anniversary parties. Alternatively, he might prefer to focus on business and organization parties and special events. While some people choose to host a variety of parties, others find it easier to establish themselves focusing on a single type of event.
A business plan is often a necessary step for someone who wants to become a party planner. This includes calculating the startup costs of the business and the amount of money the new party planner will need to keep it running until it becomes profitable. The marketing section of the business plan should be detailed, and it may even include plans for future expansion.
Licensing and vendor selection are also issues that a prospective party planner will have to deal with. Party planners do not usually require licensing to plan parties, but they may require business licenses or a special license to throw a specific type of party. Even if a person intends to operate his business from his home, he may require a business license. He’ll also have to locate vendors and compile a list of their contact information as well as their ordering policies. A party planner may need to work with caterers, musicians, disc jockeys, florists, and party supply stores, for example, and having their ordering requirements on hand can make the planning process go more smoothly.
If you want to be a party planner, you should think about marketing. He’ll have to figure out what kind of image he wants to project to the public and then create or purchase marketing materials that reflect that vision. He might, for example, design business cards, flyers, and brochures to spread the word about his company. He could also set up a Web site or advertise party planning in local papers.