The statistics say that every 1 in 3 start-up businesses fail within the first three years. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t bother starting up your own business because there’s more chance you’ll be part of the majority who succeed. However, you need to keep in mind that many do fail and for this reason you need hit the ground running from the get go. You need to start your wedding business with a solid foundation to ensure your ultimate success.
1 Get to know the industry
It’s completely unrealistic to think that you would be able to start your wedding planning business with absolutely no experience whatsoever. So, you’ll want to get as much experience as possible either through formal education or work experience. Prospects has some great information as to where you can get training.
2 Consider your style
This is an important aspect of starting any business, not just a wedding planning business. You’ll want to create a marketable image and brand. This means creating the bare bones of your branding strategy to begin with. You’ll want a business name and logo that reflects your style. You may want to write down your company’s ethos and even set up a website.
3 Build up contacts
It’s safe to say that you won’t be able to do every job yourself. Therefore, you’ll need to make contact with various professionals you’d like to work with. This includes photographers, florists, venues etc. Using a wedding directory to find relevant people is a good idea. Send out a few emails and organise some meetings. You might also need to hire catering equipment from time to time using a company like Four Candles.
4 Tick all the boxes
You’ll need to make everything official if you want to set up a legitimate business. This means registering as a sole trader or limited company. Here’s some information on registering your business in the UK.
5 Market your business
So you now have a great business and lots of contacts, but this is absolutely no use if you have no clients to work with. Nowadays, the easiest way to reach prospective couples is online. You’ll want to make sure your website is search engine optimised. And you almost definitely want to reach out to people via social media too.
Remember that achieving business success takes time. So, don’t be disheartened if your wedding business isn’t thriving from the get go.
Image: Jonathan Day
1 Get to know the industry
It’s completely unrealistic to think that you would be able to start your wedding planning business with absolutely no experience whatsoever. So, you’ll want to get as much experience as possible either through formal education or work experience. Prospects has some great information as to where you can get training.
2 Consider your style
This is an important aspect of starting any business, not just a wedding planning business. You’ll want to create a marketable image and brand. This means creating the bare bones of your branding strategy to begin with. You’ll want a business name and logo that reflects your style. You may want to write down your company’s ethos and even set up a website.
3 Build up contacts
It’s safe to say that you won’t be able to do every job yourself. Therefore, you’ll need to make contact with various professionals you’d like to work with. This includes photographers, florists, venues etc. Using a wedding directory to find relevant people is a good idea. Send out a few emails and organise some meetings. You might also need to hire catering equipment from time to time using a company like Four Candles.
4 Tick all the boxes
You’ll need to make everything official if you want to set up a legitimate business. This means registering as a sole trader or limited company. Here’s some information on registering your business in the UK.
5 Market your business
So you now have a great business and lots of contacts, but this is absolutely no use if you have no clients to work with. Nowadays, the easiest way to reach prospective couples is online. You’ll want to make sure your website is search engine optimised. And you almost definitely want to reach out to people via social media too.
Remember that achieving business success takes time. So, don’t be disheartened if your wedding business isn’t thriving from the get go.
Image: Jonathan Day