It would be great to be able to start a wedding planning business full time then quickly earn a living doing it, unfortunately it’s not always possible. You may need to be employed at a full time job for the financial or health benefits it offers until your business takes off. This means, to start your wedding planning business, you must do it “on-the-side,” along with a full time job. Many wedding and event planners start out this way and do very well.
If you are thinking of starting a business “on-the-side”, here are 3 things you need to know before doing it:
1) You will need to be willing to make some sacrifices
The time you might have previously spent relaxing after an 8-hour-a-day job will now be spent running and marketing your business, meeting with brides, and planning weddings. Be sure you are ready to give up your nights and weekends before you start.
2) It’s best to start small
Refrain from spending a lot of money that you haven’t yet made. Wait until you’ve planned a few weddings, earned some money, and clearly defined your niche before spending a lot on advertising and marketing
3) You have to give it time
You may have heard stories about how someone started planning part time, made lots of money and was able to quit their full time job in a few months. The reality is you may not make a lot of money in the beginning but don’t let this discourage you. It takes time to build a business and if you are doing it “on-the-side,” with very little time, it will take longer than if you were able to make a full time commitment.
While a bride may know you are not a full time wedding planner, make it a point to keep information about your full time job out of your conversations and, of course, respect your employer by not doing any wedding planning on their time.
Also, remember to get all the proper licenses and the insurance you need to run a business. Just because you are doing it “on-the-side” doesn’t mean you can cut corners!
