How To Start An Event Planning Business In Nigeria

Event planning business is among these rising business opportunities in Nigeria cause there’s always an event that needs to be planned and managed.

If there’s one business that will never go extinct, it’s event planning business cause there’s always an event that requires the services of an event planner. There’s always a wedding going on. There’s always a birthday party and a gathering that requires planning.. These days, event host prefer to leave everything to an expert while they focus on their guest.

This is going to be a detailed Business Plan on how to start an event planning business here in Nigeria or anywhere in the world. If you have a question, don’t forget to drop them using the comment box. I will try my best to answer them. Let’s begin.

WHY EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS IS LUCRATIVE

• Hiring an event planner saves time and at the same time, brings out the very best in every event. One of the core duty of an event planner is to organise and coördinate the event while you sleep.

• If an event host wants to save cost, he has to hire an event planner. Such an expert already have partners who are in different fields in the event industry. They know the DJ to employ.. They know the best food catering company and the appropriate price to pay them.

• Another reason event planning business is very lucrative is because people don’t want to go through the stress of planning an event, especially if they have never done such before.

• Everybody wants to have a memorable and awe-striking event that will be the talk of the town. Everybody wants such an event hence, the haunt for a professional event planner.

HOW TO START AN EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS

1. GET TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

Event planning is a skill business which means, you have to know the how tos to really excel. Enroll in any reputable event company like Finesse Event Service. Skill and experience shouldn’t be joked with. As you forge ahead, you hone your skills and become better. The training might be six to a year and the time is worth the gain. Learning the art of decoration will be an added bonus. Lots of components make up an event, like the DJ, band, food caterers, MC etc. The work of an event planner is to pull them together into having the best event ever. In an event planning institute, you learn almost how to do all that.

2. GET CERTIFIED

Your certificate as a professional event planner makes tremendous ways for you. You can acquire this certificate from a one week program from a reputable event company or take an event management course in any Nigerian university. Whichever option that’s best for you, go ahead but make sure you have a paper certificate to show to your clients. This convinces them that you’re a professional and up to the job.

3. NICHE

You need to be a professional and you can’t do that if you multi-niche.. Even if you do become an expert in all the niche, your potential clients will still dwell in doubt. They want someone who have done the same thing for years cause they believe such people to be experts in the planning of such event. Determine if you’ll be going into event niches like wedding, birthday parties, ceremony, festivals etc.. Working under a niche makes you a specialist.

4. BUILD YOUR PARTNERS

In the event industry, we have lots of professionals in their own various fields that helps make an event entertaining and memorable. As an event planner, you need to have them as connection. They are what makes your event what it’s ought to be. Partners like;

• An Mc
• A music band
• A DJ
• A food catering company
• A photographer etc

5. BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO

This is your selling edge and you should dedicate time and resources to build them. This comprises of your previous works or materials that will convince a prospective clients or employer to work with you.. It could be pictures of events you have planned on time past. It could be recommendation letters, awards etc. Have an album and stock them up. Don’t be scared to reveal the most beautiful work. One of the best way to build a portfolio now is online. You don’t need to break a bank to own one. Not only will building a website or blog give prospective clients quick access to your portfolio, they also get the chance to know more about your brand. Not forgetting that it helps build your Business Brand.

6. GET A SPACE

If you can afford to rent a space, it will be best. If not, there’s no need for an alarm. You can run this right from your home. Why i advice getting a rented space is because it makes you look more professional and serious. When getting a space, make sure it’s on a good location and easily accessible.

7. EMPLOY A HAND

Event planning business is very demanding and you definitely can’t do it alone. Hire a professional event planner to assist you in the business. Two heads are always better than one. Having an extra hand will lighten the load thereby avoiding getting overwhelmed.

HINTS THAT YOU’LL BE A GOOD EVENT PLANNER

Event planning business can be done by anyone as long as you’re passionate and craves for success. However, there are some attributes you need to have to really widen your chances of success. If you find out that they are lacked, you don’t have to worry. No body is born an event planner, but we can build ourselves to be.

1. GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILL– As an event planner, you need to have a good communication skill cause you’ll be dealing with a lot of people. You need to be able to pass information flawlessly to your clients to avoid misinformation which can sometimes be catastrophic.

2. READY TO MULTITASK – Handling the event decoration, making sure the catering company is up and doing, planning the order of event and lots of other things can be overwhelming. During one of my Event Management Class, being able to multitask is one of the core attributes of a good event planner.

3. BE FLEXIBLE – Lots of things can sometimes spin out of control and it is in such situations that you prove to your clients that you’re indeed a professional. Things like weather, people and technology cannot be control. Whenever such elements try to sabotage your event, it’s your duty to adapt and improvise a better option.

4. WORK UNDER PRESSURE – In event planning business, get ready to work under pressure. It will get to a point where you will feel like shouting, even if they are going to pay you millions at the end of the day. However, your ability to clam down and have everything under control is an ability you can’t do without.

FINANCIAL BENEFITS IN EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS

You can become a millionaire as an event planner. This is not an exaggeration but fact. A professional event planner goes home with nothing less than N500,000 per event, depending on the kind of event. Events like weddings are known to turn most event planners to millionaire overnight. But you have to work really hard to earn it. A thousand miles journey begins with a step.

COST OF STARTING AN EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS

With N100,000, you can start a home-base event planning business and make money. Getting a space is an expense on its own, if you can afford it, go ahead. There also some equipment you need to have too.. These equipment will ease smooth service in this business. Below are the things you need.

• Computer
• Printer
• Telephone
• Fax machine
• Basic Party Supply
• A truck or a van (Optional) etc..

ADVERTISEMENTS

Immediately you kick off with the business, the first thing is to spend more time on promoting your service as an event planner. There are numerous ways you can do that. Effective promotion will always bring in new clients.

CONCLUSION

Event Planning Business is a profitable business anyone can do. There’s always an event going on, why not join the players and make money for yourself? It’s not capital-intensive. All that is required is the necessary skills and you’re on your way to success