If decorating has always been your favorite part of throwing a party, you've probably considered becoming a professional party decorator. Not everyone is as excited as you are about coming up with the perfect decorating scheme, so why not take advantage of these skills and start your own professional party-planning business? Read on for a guide on how to get started.
Choose Your Business Model
The first thing to consider is your business model. How will your party decoration business make money? Under the umbrella of party decorations, what scope of services will you offer and what type of clients will you be targeting?
A useful starting point is to decide whether you are in B2B, B2C, or B2B2C business. B2B businesses sell their goods and services to other businesses, while B2C services sell directly to consumers. The lesser-known B2B2C model consists of an intermediary business between you and your consumers.
Your choice of business model will depend on the type of party you'd most like to have. A B2B party decoration business might specialize in corporate events, while a B2C business in the same industry might specialize in wedding decorations. B2B2C businesses may also specialize in weddings, but the business model will include working with a specific intermediary, such as a designated event planner.
Develop a Solid Business Plan
You might be tempted to jump right in and start courting those dream clients, but taking the time to write a well-thought-out plan is an essential step for any aspiring entrepreneur, party decorator included. This step will help you think through all the small business details and give you the opportunity to spot flaws in your plan, such as unsustainable pricing structures, before they become a problem.
Another reason to create this document before starting an event or
party decoration business is to secure funding. Banks, creditors, and funding organizations often want to see that you've thought through your operations to help them ensure they're willing to finance your small business. They also want to see that you have considered the budget and can work within it. A business plan allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of the industry, market size and opportunities, an overview of your services, how you will enter the market, and how your business will be profitable.
Determine How Much Your Party Decoration Business Will Charge
You'll do this as part of your business plan, but it's an important aspect of your business that needs careful consideration. If you underestimate your operating costs and cost of living, you may find that you are not charging enough, and raising prices significantly may confuse and turn off customers. On the other hand, if you charge far more than the industry standard in your area, you may not be able to attract customers at all. By considering all the costs associated with party planning and decorating, and determining how much profit you need to stay in business, you can avoid both problems.
Choose Your Preferred Business Name
This step of starting a party decoration business can be daunting, but it's also exciting. Your business name is an important element of your brand and helps sales clients work with you. Consider the needs of your ideal customer and brainstorm ideas that can resonate with that customer.
Consider the ease of pronunciation and spelling when choosing a name. After all, you want people to be able to easily share information about your service with others.
Register Your Business and Open Your Business Account
Once you have your plan and name, you can start setting up the legal and financial aspects of your decorating business.
Registering your business, whether a sole proprietor or corporation, is an important step, even if you're starting small. It enables you to register your unique business name, which is usually required by banks when opening a business account. Once your annual income reaches $30,000, you will also need to register for a GST/HST account to collect and remit sales tax.
If you're a one-person business, you might think that a party decoration business doesn't need a bank account. There are many benefits to having a business bank account. As tax time approaches, both you and your accountant will appreciate the complete separation of your personal financial activities from your business finances.
Build a Website and Showcase Your Portfolio
With your legal and financial affairs in order, it's time to start sharing your work and enlisting those clients. Almost every legitimate business these days need a website, and decoration or event-planning businesses are no exception.
If you don't already have a portfolio, you can offer your services to local businesses or your social networks for free or at a steep discount. Decorating a friend's birthday or holiday party for business clients in your area is a great way to showcase your work, collect testimonials that can be used for marketing, and build a portfolio image collection for your website and other channels.
Marketing Using Social Media and the Web
With your portfolio website up and running, you can start advertising your services. While you can certainly run paid advertising, social media is a great way to get your work in front of potential clients for free. You can use Instagram to share visuals of your parties and events to let people know about your services. You can also use it to connect with local businesses or people you might want to work with in the future.
In addition to using digital platforms to network and build a client base, introducing yourself to potential clients in your community and finding out if they need your services is a great way to network as a planner or decorator.
While starting in a new industry is always a challenge, it can also be exciting and rewarding. Once you find your niche and build a portfolio, you'll find it easier to acquire new clients. There are many benefits to a career as a party decorator, from being able to be creative in your work to knowing that each new job is different from the last. With these tips, you can start making your party decoration business dreams a reality today.
The above introduces the steps to start a party decoration business, if you are looking for a party decoration manufacturer to help you provide products, welcome to
contact us.
SUNBEAUTY is a professional
custom party decoration supplies manufacturer. From the very beginning of our business, we have provided personalized service for each event. From seasonal celebrations to hearty goodbyes, birthday parties to sweet baby showers, every party starts and ends with a smile. Life is one big celebration - let's have some quality fun!