Event Planning Business Plan Template
If you want to start an Event Planning business or expand your current Event Planning or Event Management business, you need a business plan.
The following Event Planning business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning event planner business plan or event management business plan.
Event Planning Business Plan Example
I. Executive Summary
Business Overview
[Company Name] is a start-up company that specializes in organizing and planning events, from small and intimate occasions to big and grand gatherings. The company provides services for both corporate and personal events, personalizing its level of service for each event..
The company was found by [Founder’s Name] along with a couple of her friends [Name1] and [Name 2]. They were interns at one of the event companies in the city and then began working in the industry shortly after.
Products Served
Below is [Company Name]’s initial list of services:
- Organizing corporate events and meetings
- Organizing weddings and special occasions
- Provide logistics for big and small events
- Design events
- Professional photography and videography
- Provide professional catering services and professional host/emcee
Customer Focus
[Company Name] will primarily serve the residents and businesses in [Location]. The demographics of these customers are as follows:
- 33,279 residents
- Average income of $79,800
- 33% married
- 49.6% in Mgt./Professional occupations
- Median age: 36 years
Management Team
The [Company Name] is led by [Founder’s Name], a graduate of [University Name] with a degree in business management and finance. She runs and co-owns two other successful companies. Her business expertise is remarkable and would be of great use to help [Company Name] reach long-term success. Running the company along with her is [Name 1], a fine arts graduate of [University Name] and has been working as a logistics coordinator for event planning companies such as [Company 1] and [Company 2]. [Name 2] on the other hand, oversees the look and feel of the event. She is worked in the industry for over [# years]. She has excellent creative skills.
Success Factors
[Company Name] is uniquely qualified to succeed due to the following reasons:
- There are not a lot of event planners in the community we are entering. In addition, we have surveyed the local population and received extremely positive feedback saying that they explicitly want to frequent our business when launched.
- The management team has a track record of success in the business.
- Events planning is a proven business and has succeeded in communities throughout the United States.
- Trends such as well-planned engagement proposals, gender reveal parties, baby showers, etc. support our business opportunity
Financial Highlights
[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $160,000 of debt capital to open the business. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and location build-out, salaries, marketing expenses and working capital.
Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:
- Headquarters design/build: $60,000
- Working capital: $100,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and lease costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $738,000 | $1,716,272 | $2,007,297 | $2,331,125 | $2,694,524 |
| Total Expenses | $639,595 | $1,021,515 | $1,110,127 | $1,190,308 | $1,273,715 |
| EBITDA | $98,405 | $694,757 | $897,169 | $1,140,817 | $1,420,809 |
| Depreciation | $16,560 | $16,560 | $16,560 | $16,560 | $16,560 |
| EBIT | $81,845 | $678,197 | $880,609 | $1,124,257 | $1,404,249 |
| Interest | $18,554 | $16,235 | $13,916 | $11,596 | $9,277 |
| Pre Tax Income | $63,291 | $661,962 | $866,694 | $1,112,661 | $1,394,972 |
| Income Tax Expense | $22,152 | $231,687 | $303,343 | $389,431 | $488,240 |
| Net Income | $41,139 | $430,276 | $563,351 | $723,230 | $906,732 |
| Number of locations | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Social clients/year | 75 | 100 | 150 | 175 | 200 |
| Corporate clients/year | 12 | 28 | 44 | 60 | 76 |
II. Company Overview
Who is [Company Name]?
[Company Name] is a start-up company that specializes in organizing and planning events, from small and intimate occasions to big and grand gatherings. It offers a variety of services such as venue booking and design, catering services, floral, menu planning and more. It also accommodates personal requests from clients and makes sure that everything turns out exactly as the client expects.
With its vast network of connections with event suppliers and highly skilled and talented team, [Company Name] is able to provide affordable and excellent services without compromising the overall experience of its guests and clients.
[Company Name]’s History
The company was found by [Founder’s Name] along with a couple of her friends [Name1] and [Name 2]. They were interns at one of the event companies in the city and then began working in the industry, shortly after.
In [year], [Founder’s Name] decided to start her own events planning firm. She then got in touch with [Name 1] and [Name 2], and pitched them the idea of building a company together. With [Founder’s Name]’s outstanding business record, the two were convinced that they can make this dream into a reality.
It was only until [Month, Year] that the company was legally registered. Currently, they are still building an office at [Location], but operations are ongoing via online calls or home/outdoor meetings.
[Company Name]’s Products/Services
Below is [Company Name]’s initial list of services:
- Organizing corporate events and meetings
- Organizing weddings and special occasions
- Provide logistics for big and small events
- Design events
- Professional photography and videography
- Provide professional catering services and professional host/emcee
III. Industry Analysis
The Event Planning industry is highly dependent on the willingness of households and businesses to spend money on social gatherings. Consequently, per capita disposable income and consumer confidence levels are the key drivers of demand from the household market.
With that said, over the past five years, the industry has benefitted from an increase in per capita disposable income and consumer confidence. In particular, rising per capita disposable income and an increase in the number of households earning above $100,000 have bolstered demand from individual customers.
Favorable macroeconomic conditions will keep industry revenue afloat over the next five years. The number of businesses in the United States is also expected to rise an annualized 1.7% over the next five years, while the total labor force is expected to grow an annualized 2.5% during the same five-year period. As total employment rises, average sales to business clients will grow in turn since corporate event planners typically base their service fees on the number of guests served per event. As more employees join the workforce and decide to attend corporate dinners and parties, businesses will demand larger venues and more amenities, which directly boosts per-event sales, while helping to support profit margins for industry operators.
IV. Customer Analysis
Demographic Profile of Target Market
[Company Name] will serve the residents and businesses operating in [company location] looking to plan and organize the best celebrations and company events for its clients.
The area we serve is affluent and has the disposable income/profits required to demand our services.
The precise demographics of the town in which our business is based are as follows:
| Wilmette | Winnetka | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 26,097 | 10,725 |
| Square Miles | 6.89 | 3.96 |
| Population Density | 3,789.20 | 2,710.80 |
| Population Male | 48.04% | 48.84% |
| Population Female | 51.96% | 51.16% |
| Target Population by Age Group | ||
| Age 18-24 | 3.68% | 3.52% |
| Age 25-34 | 5.22% | 4.50% |
| Age 35-44 | 13.80% | 13.91% |
| Age 45-54 | 18.09% | 18.22% |
| Target Population by Income | ||
| Income $50,000 to $74,999 | 11.16% | 6.00% |
| Income $75,000 to $99,999 | 10.91% | 4.41% |
| Income $100,000 to $124,999 | 9.07% | 6.40% |
| Income $125,000 to $149,999 | 9.95% | 8.02% |
| Income $150,000 to $199,999 | 12.20% | 11.11% |
| Income $200,000 and Over | 32.48% | 54.99% |
Customer Segmentation
We will primarily target the following four customer segments:
- Young Couples: The majority of the city’s population consist of young working couples who can be potential clients for weddings and engagement parties.
- New Parents: We can organize small and intimate baby showers and gender reveal events for new parents.
- Families: The company can cater to birthday parties and any other events where families get together and make memories.
- Businesses: Businesses often need assistance in organizing conferences, holiday parties, and other events. We aim to be the company that businesses look to to help plan for events and parties.
V. Competitive Analysis
Direct & Indirect Competitors
Benchmark Events Company
Helping with some 5,000 events a year, Benchmark Events produces and markets the entire experience — from architectural engineering, graphic design, digital marketing, and lighting to scripting, storyboarding, and gathering an audience. It also helps with logistics staffing, financial strategy, management and pricing, and food and beverage offerings. Benchmark Event clients have included big names such as IBM, Cisco Systems, Toyota, and Life Technologies. Founded in 1914, Benchmark Events now operates nearly 30 offices worldwide.
Firefly Conventions
Firefly Conventions is an events planning company that stages thousands of conventions, corporate meetings, expositions, and trade shows every year and prepares exhibits for its clients. Its operations include event design and production, stage rigging, market research analysis, social media branding strategy, translations services, and electrical services. The company’s mobile application allows clients to track and update their freight deliveries from their mobile device or PC. Founded in 1927; the company is owned by the founding family and company employees.
Firefly annually produces 4,300 expositions and 11,000 corporate and special events from its more than 70 offices in the US, Canada, and the UK. Its diverse clientele have included 3M, Alcon, General Dynamics, Mary Kay, McDonald’s, Microsoft, and Texas Instruments.
Pinpoint Planning
Established in 1984, Pinpoint Events is an event and meeting/conference planning firm recognized for its creative work, attention to detail, and highly personalized service. With its broad range of corporate, media and not-for-profit clients, Pinpoint offers full-service meeting, destination management and special-event planning.
Pinpoint approaches each event as a unique undertaking. Hundreds of organizations and corporations have entrusted their most significant programs to their dedicated and professional team for development, management, and implementation. Some of the projects it has been involved with are non-profit fundraising events, conferences, citywide festivals for tens of thousands, and private events featuring headline entertainment.
Competitive Advantage
[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. These advantages include:
- Service Customization: [Company Name] offers a myriad of options and allows extensive customization based on the specific event’s needs.
- Management: Our management team has years of experience in different areas relevant to event organizing that allows us to market and serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than our competitors.
- Relationships: Having lived in the community for 13 years, [Founder’s Name] knows all of the local leaders, newspapers and other influences. As such, it will be relatively easy for us to build branding and awareness of our photography business.
VI. Marketing Plan
The [Company Name] Brand
The [Company Name] brand will focus on the Company’s unique value proposition:
- Offering customer-focused events and celebrations
- Provide all the necessities and client-requests in any aspect (logistics, design, food, theme, program flow, etc)
- Create unique and professional events for all clients
- Providing excellent customer service
Promotions Strategy
[Company Name] expects its target market to be individuals and businesses working and/or living in [location] and its other surrounding cities. The Company’s promotions strategy to reach these individuals includes:
Direct Mail
[Company Name] will use local business mailing lists and business association lists to send information to area businesses. These pieces will provide general information on [Company Name], offer discounts and/or provide other inducements for people to frequent the business.
Public Relations
We will contact all local and area newspapers and television stations and send them a press release describing the opening and unique value proposition of [Company Name].
Advertising
[Company Name] will initially advertise in local newspapers and event publications in order to gain awareness.
Ongoing Customer Communications
[Company Name] will maintain a website and publish a monthly email newsletter to tell customers about trends, promotions and tips for “making moments memorable”.
Business Networking Groups
The president of [Company’s Name] will use his contacts as part of local business networking groups to find qualified leads for any need for an event organizer among businesses.
VII. Operations Plan
Functional Roles
In order to execute on [Company Name]’s business model, the Company needs to perform many functions including the following:
Service Functions
- Preparing décor, giveaways and arranging the location
- Creating menu
- Creating a fun/efficient program flow
- Photography and video documentation of the actual event
- Organise a sound system and book a professional emcee
Administrative Functions
- General & administrative functions including legal, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.
- Sales work and ongoing corporate account management
- Planning and supervising the actual event
Milestones
[Company name]’s long term goal is to become the dominant provider of eyelash extensions and related services and products in the [city] area. We seek to be the standard by which other providers are judged.
The following are a series of steps that lead to our vision of long-term success. [Company Name] expects to achieve the following milestones in the following [xyz] months:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| [Date 1] | Finalize lease agreement |
| [Date 2] | Design and build out [Company Name] |
| [Date 3] | Hire and train initial staff |
| [Date 4] | Kickoff of promotional campaign |
| [Date 5] | Launch [Company Name] |
| [Date 6] | Reach break-even |
VIII. Management Team
Management Team Members
The [Company Name] is led by [Founder’s Name], a graduate of [University Name] with a degree in business management and finance. She runs and co-owns two other successful companies. Her business expertise is remarkable and would be of great use to help [Company Name] reach long-term success. Running the company along with her is [Name 1], a fine arts graduate of [University Name] and has been working as a logistics coordinator for event planning companies such as [Company 1] and [Company 2]. [Name 2] on the other hand, oversees the look and feel of the event. She is worked in the industry for over [# years]. She has excellent creative skills.
Hiring Plan
In order to launch the business, we will hire the following employees:
- Sales and customer service: 2 full-time employees to manage the day to day sales and customer service
- Communication Team: 3 full-time
- Logistics Team: 4 full-time
- General Staff: 3 either full-time or part-time
- Administrative Assistant: Must be organized, with good phone skills, facility with numbers for bookkeeping, and good writing skills.
IX. Financial Plan
Revenue and Cost Drivers
[Company Name]’s revenues will come from corporate and social clients. The major costs of [Company Name] are employee salaries, lease on business location, equipment, design, and other third party hires (caterers, sound system, etc).
Moreover, ongoing marketing expenditures are also notable costs for [Company Name].
Capital Requirements and Use of Funds
[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $160,000 of debt capital to open the business. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and location build-out, salaries, marketing expenses and working capital.
Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:
- Headquarters design/build: $60,000
- Working capital: $100,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and lease costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even
Key Assumptions
The following table reflects the key revenue and cost assumptions made in the financial model:
| Number of customers per year | Per location |
|---|---|
| FY 1 | 75 |
| FY 2 | 100 |
| FY 3 | 125 |
| FY 4 | 150 |
| FY 5 | 175 |
| Average revenue per social event | $5000 |
| Average revenue per corporate event | $10,000 |
| Annual Lease ( per location) | $50,000 |
5 Year Annual Income Statement
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | ||||||
| Product/Service A | $151,200 | $333,396 | $367,569 | $405,245 | $446,783 | |
| Product/Service B | $100,800 | $222,264 | $245,046 | $270,163 | $297,855 | |
| Total Revenues | $252,000 | $555,660 | $612,615 | $675,408 | $744,638 | |
| Expenses & Costs | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | $57,960 | $122,245 | $122,523 | $128,328 | $134,035 | |
| Lease | $60,000 | $61,500 | $63,038 | $64,613 | $66,229 | |
| Marketing | $20,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| Salaries | $133,890 | $204,030 | $224,943 | $236,190 | $248,000 | |
| Other Expenses | $3,500 | $4,000 | $4,500 | $5,000 | $5,500 | |
| Total Expenses & Costs | $271,850 | $412,775 | $435,504 | $454,131 | $473,263 | |
| EBITDA | ($19,850) | $142,885 | $177,112 | $221,277 | $271,374 | |
| Depreciation | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | |
| EBIT | ($56,810) | $105,925 | $140,152 | $184,317 | $234,414 | |
| Interest | $23,621 | $20,668 | $17,716 | $14,763 | $11,810 | |
| PRETAX INCOME | ($80,431) | $85,257 | $122,436 | $169,554 | $222,604 | |
| Net Operating Loss | ($80,431) | ($80,431) | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Income Tax Expense | $0 | $1,689 | $42,853 | $59,344 | $77,911 | |
| NET INCOME | ($80,431) | $83,568 | $79,583 | $110,210 | $144,693 | |
| Net Profit Margin (%) | - | 15.00% | 13.00% | 16.30% | 19.40% |
5 Year Annual Balance Sheet
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Cash | $16,710 | $90,188 | $158,957 | $258,570 | $392,389 | |
| Accounts receivable | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Inventory | $21,000 | $23,153 | $25,526 | $28,142 | $31,027 | |
| Total Current Assets | $37,710 | $113,340 | $184,482 | $286,712 | $423,416 | |
| Fixed assets | $246,450 | $246,450 | $246,450 | $246,450 | $246,450 | |
| Depreciation | $36,960 | $73,920 | $110,880 | $147,840 | $184,800 | |
| Net fixed assets | $209,490 | $172,530 | $135,570 | $98,610 | $61,650 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $247,200 | $285,870 | $320,052 | $385,322 | $485,066 | |
| LIABILITIES & EQUITY | ||||||
| Debt | $317,971 | $272,546 | $227,122 | $181,698 | $136,273 | |
| Accounts payable | $9,660 | $10,187 | $10,210 | $10,694 | $11,170 | |
| Total Liabilities | $327,631 | $282,733 | $237,332 | $192,391 | $147,443 | |
| Share Capital | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Retained earnings | ($80,431) | $3,137 | $82,720 | $192,930 | $337,623 | |
| Total Equity | ($80,431) | $3,137 | $82,720 | $192,930 | $337,623 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $247,200 | $285,870 | $320,052 | $385,322 | $485,066 |
5 Year Annual Cash Flow Statement
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS | |||||
| Net Income (Loss) | ($80,431) | $83,568 | $79,583 | $110,210 | $144,693 |
| Change in working capital | ($11,340) | ($1,625) | ($2,350) | ($2,133) | ($2,409) |
| Depreciation | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 |
| Net Cash Flow from Operations | ($54,811) | $118,902 | $114,193 | $145,037 | $179,244 |
| CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS | |||||
| Investment | ($246,450) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net Cash Flow from Investments | ($246,450) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING | |||||
| Cash from equity | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Cash from debt | $317,971 | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) |
| Net Cash Flow from Financing | $317,971 | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) |
| SUMMARY | |||||
| Net Cash Flow | $16,710 | $73,478 | $68,769 | $99,613 | $133,819 |
| Cash at Beginning of Period | $0 | $16,710 | $90,188 | $158,957 | $258,570 |
| Cash at End of Period | $16,710 | $90,188 | $158,957 | $258,570 | $392,389 |
