As a wedding planner, do you think renting an office for your business would help you attract more brides? In my Q&A today I discuss the pros and cons of renting space and you can decide if it is right for you.
Question
I have been reaching out to other wedding and event planners to get more information about working in my area but no one has had even five minutes for me. I have been planning to rent an office space with a window showcase. There is a temp agency next door so there’s a lot of traffic in the area. What are your thoughts about it?
Answer
Sorry you haven’t received much help from your peers; sometimes planners can be very hesitant to help others for fear they could lose their clients. Often it’s other types of local wedding vendors and entrepreneurs in other industries who can offer you some advice about having a successful business in your community.
The idea of having a rented office space can be very appealing. It gives you a place to meet brides, allows you room to collaborate with assistants and gives you an air of professionalism and credibility. It also gives you a dedicated work space that is free from the distractions of home and helps you separate your work life from your home life.
However, having an office space is not for everyone. If you’re a new wedding planner and just starting your business, or, if you have had your business for a while but are not yet making a profit, this isn’t the time to invest in office space. When you rent space you have to pay not only for your rent but also things such as phone and Internet services, utilities, and security and janitorial services. If you work from an office in your home, you are already paying for, or don’t need, these things.
Understand too that having an office, even if there’s a lot of traffic in the area, won’t necessarily bring you a lot of brides. People don’t usually shop for wedding planners like this. An office is more for meeting brides whom you have already spoken to on the phone, emailed or met at a bridal fair. Brides are more likely to hire you based on your reputation and from referrals from previous clients, family and friends.
I know you’ve probably seen movies where wedding planners have beautiful offices and this may have made you believe it would be a good idea to have one. Just remember that wedding planners in the movies aren’t real and celebrity wedding planner David Tutura, who has his own television show, meets clients in restaurants and wedding venues. You can become successful even if you don’t have an office!
And if you have a pressing question about starting or running your wedding planning business, you can send me an email at [email protected]. I’ll answer them on this blog or in my ezine, “Wedding Planner Tips,” which you can subscribe to here
