event management business plan word

Upmetrics AI Assistant: Simplifying Business Planning through AI-Powered Insights. Learn How

Entrepreneurs & Small Business

Accelerators & Incubators

Business Consultants & Advisors

Educators & Business Schools

Students & Scholars

AI Business Plan Generator

Financial Forecasting

AI Assistance

Ai Pitch Deck Generator

Strategic Planning

See How Upmetrics Works  →

• Sample Plans
• WHY UPMETRICS?

Customer Success Stories

Business Plan Course

Small Business Tools

Strategic Planning Templates

E-books, Guides & More

• Sample Business Plans

How to Write an Event Planning Business Plan + Free Template

Planned a few events in the past?

And, if you feel that event planning is your forte, and you have ideas that are both creative and functional, event planning might be an exciting endeavor for you!

Although most people start out by working under someone, everyone dreams of starting their own event planning business.

Also, you are about to go ahead and start yours; wait a moment!

You might have sufficient knowledge for planning events, but navigating the complexities of the event planning industry needs a well-thought-out roadmap. And that roadmap is a comprehensive event management business plan.

Yes, you read it correctly. A business plan can be of great help while starting your own event planning company. It not only sets the foundation for your venture but also enhances your opportunities for success.

So, we have created a Sample Event Planning Business Plan for you to get a good idea about how a perfect event business plan should look like!

Now, without any further ado; let’s explore all the details you will need to write in your stunning business plan.

Key Takeaways

• Clearly define your goals, mission statement, service offerings, and management team in your business plan.
• Perform thorough market and industry analysis to identify target customers, and adapt to the latest trends.
• Present a realistic financial plan, including startup costs, revenue projections, and a break-even analysis to attract investors.
• Effectively draft your pricing strategy and unique selling propositions to meet the specific needs of your target customers.
• Provide a clear outline of your business operations to efficiently deliver your planning services and seize new opportunities.
• Craft your marketing techniques, sales tactics, and promotional activities to reach a wider audience.
• Recognize your key competitors, and develop strategies that make your event planning business stand out in the competitive landscape.

How to Write an Event Planning Business Plan?

• Get a Business Plan Template
• Write an Executive Summary
• Provide a Company Overview
• Conduct an Industry and Market Analysis
• Describe your Product and Service Offerings
• Outline a Sales and Marketing Plan
• Introduce Your Team
• Outline Business Operations
• Prepare a Financial Plan

1. Get a Business Plan Template

Before you start writing a business plan for your event planning business, it is recommended to get a business plan template first.

It’s like having a valuable resource for your business planning. It not only simplifies the business plan writing process but also helps you include all the essential elements in your plan.

However, you can effectively organize your thoughts and accurately draft a strategically sound business document according to your specific requirements and preferences.

Not only that, it sets the stage for a comprehensive, professional business plan that empowers you to highlight your vision, attract potential investors, and navigate the competitive event planning landscape.

If you are a budding entrepreneur or looking for a polished template, choose Upmetrics’ business plan template now and ensure that you won’t skip any important facts in your plan.

Say goodbye to boring templates

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Plans starting from $7/month

2. Write an Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first and foremost section of your event planning business plan. It provides a brief introduction to the entire business plan.

Make sure that it is clear, concise, and engaging, as it will create your first impression and attract investors or readers to delve further into your plan.

Start this section by describing your idea behind an event planning and type of business; for example, are you a startup business, want to grow an existing one, or running a business chain?

Communicate your business objectives and emphasize how you will be different from other event-planning businesses. Here is an example of event planning objectives using Upmetrics:

Next, give an overview of each of the subsequent sections, including offered services, market opportunities, marketing strategies, and financial projections that will be explored in greater detail within the plan.

Not only that, you can end this summary with a compelling call to action, inviting potential investors or readers to the next meeting if they are interested in your event planning.

Generally, this section is written after the whole event business plan is ready. It is often the easiest way to do so as you have simply gone through and written all the key sections of your plan.

3. Provide a Company Overview

Now, provide detailed information about your event plan business. It contains ownership, legal structure, office location, business history, and other such business-related facts.

Begin with the intro of what type of events you are organizing. For instance, it will be corporate events (catering to businesses), social events/celebrations(wedding planning, birthday parties, etc), or niche events(specialized in just one type).

Discuss a little bit more about your business history, including when you started event planning and what milestones you have accomplished. Also, accentuate your mission statement.

Take reference from the below example describing the mission of the event planning company:

In an ever-changing, fast-paced world, success is determined by good choices for lasting effects. Eventel strives to be the best choice for clients by helping to ease their event planning burden.

Through consistent, predictable professionalism, Eventel will ensure a worry-free and hassle-free event at a reasonable price.

Event also has internal clients to serve. The event will strive to provide the same predictable and professional working environment to its employees and contracted vendors, justly compensating them for their services.

It is also a priority to make a comfortable living wage for its owners, founders, full-time staff, and their families.

Keeping in tune with the needs of the market, utilizing the latest technology and trends, all while ensuring the client receives the individual attention they deserve, is the vision and daily mission of Eventel; The Event Planning Specialists.

In addition to that, you can mention your startup summary and future business goals, as this section gives an in-depth overview of your business.

4. Conduct an Industry and Market Analysis

Starting an event management business requires a strategic events industry and market analysis. So, take some time to go further and locate more accurate data.

Try to include certain key elements in this section:

Market size and growth potential

You need to study specific data about various markets in which you are trying to get into and ensure profitability. So, describe your market size & growth potential and whether you will target a niche or a much broader market.

For instance, the USA industry revenue for event planners has grown at a CAGR of 4.1% over the past five years and reached $5.6 billion in 2023. So, it is crucial to define the target market segment.

Target market segment

Start this section by describing your target market. Define your ideal customer and explain what types of services they prefer. Creating a buyer persona will help you easily define your target market to your readers.

Do proper market research and try to create a buyer’s persona in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles.

Take reference from the below example written using our innovative AI writing assistant :

Competitive analysis

Identify and analyze your direct and indirect competitors. Recognize their strengths & weaknesses, and describe what differentiates your business from other planners.

Direct competitors can be other event planning businesses, while wedding planners, local venues, caterers, or conference centers can be indirect competitors.

Point out how you have a competitive edge in the market, such as superior event management options, user-friendly methods/tools to book your services, and adequate pricing plans with better services.

Not only that, describe emerging market trends in the industry and explain how you will cope with all the directions. You can also list regulations and licensing requirements that may affect your company.

5. Describe your Product and Service Offerings

Next, specify the scope of your products and service offerings. As an event management business, you can describe the size and type of events you cater to, including a variety of event planning services.

This section must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors or readers understand the value of your business.

While drafting your  event planning services and products, you can take reference from the below example:

Eventel provides event planning in a wide range of applications. We guarantee satisfaction in the areas of appearance, performance, and taste. 

The following is a sampling of the types of events we plan every year:

• Corporate events or meetings, Training, and Retreats
• Conferences and Workshops
• Birthday parties, Anniversaries, Graduations, and Holidays
• Weddings, Receptions, and Showers
• Company picnics, banquets, and award ceremonies
• Caterer coordination and decor
• Trade shows and fashion shows

Effectively define your pricing plans for event planning services. Also, communicate your services to the customers by sharing a detailed description of the procedure you use while working with clients.

Mention if your event planning company offers any additional services. You may include services like lighting & sound, vendor negotiation, guest concierge services, etc.

6. Outline a Sales and Marketing Plan

Writing the sales and marketing strategy section means a list of tactics you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing strategies:

Social media marketing

Use social media platforms to present your company’s essence. Regularly post exquisite snapshots or videos of your planned social events, decor, and behind-the-scenes moments.

User-friendly website

Assure that your event management company has a user-friendly website that provides basic information about your services, pricing, and contact

details. Also, share informative blog post content or event videos.

Pricing strategy

Describe your pricing strategy—how you plan to price your services and stay competitive in the local market. You can mention any discounts you plan on offering to attract new customers.

Collaborations

Build an extensive vendor network to expand your reach and draw their existing customers. This might do wonders for your business and enhance your brand image.

Offline advertising

Effectively reach your target audience using offline advertising methods like brochures, newspapers, social gatherings, or events. Also, try to offer a personalized approach or stress-free planning to retain existing clients.

7. Introduce Your Team

A powerful management team is paramount for demonstrating your business’s ability to thrive in the event planning industry.

Letting your readers or investors know about your business leadership or key managers will help them have a clear idea of who is running your event planning company.

So, start this section by introducing key team members and highlighting their event planning skills & previous experience.

Jot down their qualifications and specific responsibilities. You can also shed light on how your experienced event planners contribute to the success of your business.

Next, describe the compensation plan for the leadership team and event planners, including salaries, bonuses, and other benefits. This can help key stakeholders to ascertain how much percentage is allocated to salaries.

If you have a board of advisors for your event management business, then mention them along with their roles and experience.

8. Outline Business Operations

Now, it’s time to outline the processes and procedures involved in your day-to-day business operations. Detail how you will eventually plan to manage your business effectively.

Staffing & training

Highlight your staffing needs by mentioning the number of employees, planners, or coordinators. Also, include their qualifications, the training required, and the duties they will perform.

Operational process

Outline the processes and procedures you will use to run your event planning business. It may include initial client meetings, decor, party favors, caterer coordination, set up/clean up, etc.

Equipment and machinery

You can also include the list of equipment and machinery required for event planning, such as office supplies, camera & photography equipment, event planning software, etc.

Explain how these technologies will help you maintain quality standards and improve the efficiency of your business operations. Refer to the below example written using Upmetrics AI assistant:

9. Prepare a Financial Plan

For a successful event planning business, you need to prepare a well-structured and in-depth financial plan with a realistic financial projection. It comes last in the business plan but is the most important section for investors.

So, mention all the below key components in your financial plan:

• Profit and loss statement
• Sales forecast
• Cash flow statement
• Balance sheet
• Break-even analysis
• Financial needs
• Tax considerations

From the above, you can identify the funding needs and evaluate the funding resources for your event planning company, including bank loans, SBA-guaranteed loans, angel investors, and personal savings.

In this section, you need to make a few assumptions. It will greatly affect the financial forecasts of your business. Refer below table to make important assumptions:

Well, having a realistic financial plan in your hand not only helps you present your business’s fiscal health but also emphasizes its sustainability.

However, calculating all the financial statements from scratch can be an overwhelming task. But, not to worry; use Upmetrics’ financial forecasting tool to formulate all your financial projections.

All you need to do is provide the information you have, and let the tool estimate financial factors, and create visual reports for you. No manual data entry, recalling Excel formulas, or preparing graphs—nothing.

Here’s an example of a projected cash flow statement for an event planning business:

Download Free Event Planning Business Plan Template

Need help writing your event planning business plan from scratch? Well, here you go; download our free event planning business plan template now and start writing.

This modern, user-friendly event management business plan template is specifically designed for your event business.

With a step-by-step guide and example, it assists you in creating your own plan without missing any crucial details.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Prepare Your Business Plan with Upmetrics AI

Finally! You know how to write an event planning business plan with the help of our free sample business plan template. So, you are one step closer to starting or growing your business confidently- pretty exciting, right?

But you know what else is exciting? Your business planning process can be even faster and easier than this. Yes, you heard it right; it’s possible with the power of the Upmetrics AI assistant tool .

So, take a sigh of relief and focus only on planning the most happening events in the town!

Related Posts

Wedding Planning Business Plan

Home Decor Business Plan

Proven Business Plan Templates

Writing a Business Plan from Scratch

AI Generated Business Plan

Event Industry Statistics

Frequently asked questions, what are the key components of an event planning business plan.

Writing a professional event planning business plan involves the following key components:

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Industry and market analysis
• Product and service offerings
• Sales and marketing plan
• Management team
• Business operations
• Financial plan

How often should I update my Event Planning Business Plan?

Your event planning business plan should be reviewed and updated at least once in a year or more often if there are significant changes in your business environment or services.

What are some tips for writing an Event Planning Business Plan?

Consider the following factors before writing an Event Planning Business Plan:

• Define your niche and business objectives
• Clearly mention unique selling points
• Be realistic in the financial statement
• Understand your target customer
• Stay agile in a dynamic industry

How much does it cost to start an event planning business?

A fair estimation for an event planning business can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. It can vary widely depending on office space, equipment, and initial inventory.

About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

Plan your business in the shortest time possible

No Risk – Cancel at Any Time – 15 Day Money Back Guarantee

Popular Templates

Create a great Business Plan with great price.

• 400+ Business plan templates & examples
• AI Assistance & step by step guidance
• 4.8 Star rating on Trustpilot

Streamline your business planning process with Upmetrics .

Event Planning Company Business Plan

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Event Planning Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your event planning business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their event planning companies

Below is an event planning business plan sample to help you create each section of your Event Planning business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Special Occasions Event Planning is a startup event planning business located in Des Moines, Iowa. The Company is founded by Jennifer Brown, an experienced event planner who has been planning themed weddings and birthday parties as the manager of a local event venue for the past ten years. Now that Jennifer has gained valuable experience managing an event venue and planning special events of various sizes and styles, she is ready to start her own event planning company, Special Occasions Event Planning. Jennifer is confident that her event planning skills, combined with her understanding of business management, will enable her to run a profitable event planning company of her own. Jennifer is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running an event planning business – sales and marketing, supply sourcing and procurement, customer relationship management, budgeting, financial reporting, and vendor relationship management. 

Special Occasions Event Planning will provide customized event planning services for special occasions big and small. Special Occasions will specialize in themed birthday parties, but will provide planning services for other types of events such as weddings, parties, and corporate gatherings upon request. The Company will be the ultimate choice for unique and memorable themed birthday parties for clients of all ages. 

Product Offering

The following are the event planning products and services that Special Occasions Event Planning will provide:

• Venue Sourcing 
• Tables & Chairs
• Dinnerware & Utensils
• Caterer Coordination
• Entertainment
• Party Favors
• Photography/Videography
• Lighting/Sound
• Bartending/Liquor 
• Set-up/Clean up

Customer Focus

Special Occasions Event Planning will target individuals, families, and social groups in Des Moines, Iowa. The Company will target people looking to plan a one-of-a-kind birthday party for their child, significant other, friend, or other relative. No matter the customer, Special Occasions Event Planning will deliver the best communication, service, and attention to detail. 

Management Team

Special Occasions Event Planning will be owned and operated by Jennifer Brown. Jennifer is a graduate of Iowa University with a degree in Business Management. She has over ten years of experience working as an event planner for another local venue. Jennifer will be the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Head Event Planner. She will lead the more complex events and oversee the event planning staff. 

Jennifer has recruited an experienced administrative assistant, Patricia Smith, to help manage the day-to-day business operations. Patricia has been an administrative assistant in the event planning industry for more than 15 years. Jennifer relies on Patricia’s organization, attention to detail, and punctuality when organizing her schedule, managing clients, and maintaining her files. 

Jennifer and Patricia have recruited an experienced marketing director, John Jones, to become a member of the Special Occasions Event Planning management team. John is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Jennifer and Patricia rely on John’s expertise to execute the Company’s marketing plan and advertising strategies.  

Success Factors

Special Occasions Event Planning will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Skilled team of event planners who will ensure every client receives exceptional customer service and that all reasonable requests are met. 
• Special Occasions Event Planning’s leadership team has established relationships with local venues, vendors, and entertainers, thus providing customers with a wide selection of options to choose from when planning their special event. 
• The Company specializes in the themed birthday party niche and is well-versed in the latest trends in the industry. 

Financial Highlights

Special Occasions Event Planning is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its event planning business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing an office space and purchasing equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office lease and renovation: $80,000
• Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $20,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $90,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Special Occasions Event Planning.

Company Overview

Who is special occasions event planning .

Special Occasions Event Planning is a newly established event planning company based in Des Moines, Iowa. Special Occasions will be the first choice for unique themed birthday parties for people of all ages in Des Moines and the surrounding communities. The company will provide customized event planning services for parties large and small. 

Special Occasions Event Planning will be able to provide all the essentials for any special event from highly rated caterers to the hottest entertainment due to the Company’s existing relationships with industry professionals and vendors. The Company’s team of highly qualified event planning professionals will manage the entire planning process from ideation to execution. Special Occasions even provides clean-up services. Clients can opt for full-service event planning services or purchase specific aspects (such as decor or catering) a la carte. 

Special Occasions Event Planning History

Special Occasions Event Planning is owned and operated by Jennifer Brown, an experienced event planner who has been planning themed weddings and birthday parties as the manager of a local event venue for the past ten years. Now that Jennifer has experienced managing an event venue and planning special events of various sizes and styles, she is ready to start her own event planning company. Jennifer is confident that her event planning skills, combined with her understanding of business management, will enable her to run a profitable event planning company of her own. Jennifer is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running an event planning business – sales and marketing, supply sourcing and procurement, customer relationship management, budgeting, financial reporting, and vendor relationship management. 

Since incorporation, Special Occasions Event Planning has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Special Occasions Event Planning, LLC to transact business in the state of Iowa. 
• Has signed a contract to lease the office space. 
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include local venues, catering companies, entertainers, and decor suppliers to spread the word about her new business opportunities. 
• Began recruiting a staff of accountants, event planners, sales and marketing associates, and office staff to work at Special Occasions Event Planning Services.

Special Occasions Event Planning Services

Industry analysis.

The Party and Event Planning industry in the United States is valued at approximately $4B, with 70,000 businesses in operation, and over 82,000 employees. The market for event planning services is expected to grow over the next several years due to an aging baby boomer population, many of whom have children and grandchildren who will have weddings, birthday parties, graduations, anniversaries, and other special events in the coming years. Additionally, the corporate event planning segment is expected to grow due to more companies pursuing team building opportunities and hosting events that can serve as marketing for the business. 

The event planning market is split into two broad segments: corporate and social. Corporate events such as holiday parties, meetings, trade shows, conventions, fundraisers, and receptions are just some of the events included in this segment. Corporate customers include companies, non-profit organizations, and charities. The social segment includes a wide range of special occasions such as weddings, bridal showers, birthday parties, anniversary parties, reunions, and more. The largest and most lucrative category in the social event planning segment is wedding planning. 

Industry operators can specialize in one or two niches such as wedding planners or corporate planners. Alternatively, industry operators can provide planning services for a wide range of events. Industry operators that specialize in a specific niche and even narrow their niche to a specific type of event, such as “kids’ parties” or “fashion shows” may have more success because they can become an expert in one area and target a highly specific customer segment. Industry operators who provide a broad range of services to a variety of customers can be successful if they provide high levels of organization, customer service, and unique or highly customized services. 

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Special Occasions Event Planning will target individuals, families, and social groups in Des Moines, Iowa. The Company will target people looking to plan a one-of-a-kind birthday party for their child, significant other, friend, or other relative. Special Occasions Event Planning will also target young adults looking to plan a memorable, themed 21st birthday party. No matter the customer, Special Occasions Event Planning will deliver the best communication, service, and attention to detail. 

The precise demographics for Des Moines, Iowa are:

Customer Segmentation

Special Occasions will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Millennials
• Individuals with disposable income
• Families with children and disposable income

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Special Occasions Event Planning will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Emily’s Event Planning

Established in 2017, Emily’s Event Planning is now a well-known event planner in the Des Moines, Iowa area. The company provides event planning services for large corporate events, weddings, and birthday parties. Emily’s Event Planning is most well-known for its picturesque venue choices. The company has relationships with some of the most in-demand venues in the area. Emily’s Event Planning provides an all-inclusive event planning and management service with packages that include venue rental, decor, entertainment, food, and clean-up services. 

While Emily’s Event Planning has an established reputation in the market for quality event planning services, it has a list of predefined event packages and does not customize its services or take unique requests from customers. 

Fancy Event Planner

Fancy Event Planner has been operating in the state of Iowa since 1982. This company is a small business run by a husband and wife team that specializes in event planning and catering services for weddings, birthday parties, and other special occasions. Fancy Event Planner provides decor, venue coordination, and food service for events of up to 100 guests. The company specializes in providing gourmet dinners, desserts, and appetizers. Additionally, Fancy Event Planner provides hand crafted decor and floral arrangements for weddings and parties. Fancy Event Planner is for customers looking for an elegant presentation in a traditional setting. 

Fancy Event Planner has a limited selection of services and does not offer entertainment, set-up/clean-up, lighting/sound, or liquor accommodations. 

Wonderfully Perfect Event Planning Services

Wonderfully Perfect Event Planning Services is a new Des Moines, Iowa-based event planner that provides superior service to its customers. The company is managed by an experienced entrepreneur who has been working in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. She opened Wonderfully Perfect Event Planning Services in 2019 when she discovered a lack of options for themed party planning in the area. The company provides customized planning services for any event and will strive to ensure all customer requests are met to ensure a perfect event experience every time. 

The company does not have established relationships with vendors, venues, or entertainment in the area and as such, trails behind Special Occasions Event Planning in this area. 

Competitive Advantage

Special Occasions Event Planning will be able to offer the following advantages over the competition:

• Skilled team of experienced event planners who are able to provide customized planning services and fulfill any reasonable request. 
• Special Occasions Event Planning’s management team has long-standing relationships with industry professionals and is able to provide customers with a wide selection of options when it comes to venues, entertainment, and catering.  
• The Company specializes in themed birthday parties and keeps up on the latest trends in the industry. 

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Special Occasions Event Planning will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Special Occasions Event Planning provides full-services event planning from ideation to execution. 
• The Company’s wide selection of options allows each customer to create their dream event.  

Promotions Strategy 

The promotions strategy for Special Occasions Event Planning is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

The Company’s marketing director will create accounts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. He will ensure Special Occasions maintains an active social media presence with regular daily updates and fun content to get customers excited about using the Company’s event planning services. 

Professional Associations and Networking

Special Occasions Event Planning will become a member of professional associations such as the Event Planners’ Association, American Party Planning Society, and the Iowa Special Event Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the Company’s vendor and client network. 

Print Advertising

Special Occasions Event Planning will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events. The Company will also send direct mailers to local businesses with employees who are in the target market. 

Website/SEO Marketing

Special Occasions Event Planning will utilize its in-house marketing director that designed the print ads to also design the Company’s website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Special Occasions is able to provide. The website will also list information on the Company’s events and promotions. 

The marketing director will also manage the Company’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “Des Moines Event Planner” or “Event Planner near me”, Special Occasions Event Planning will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Special Occasions Event Planning will be premium due to the high level of customization and hands-on planning services involved. Customers will feel they receive great value when purchasing the Company’s services.  

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Special Occasions Event Planning.

Operation Functions:

• Jennifer Brown will be the CEO and Head Event Planner. She will lead the more complex events and oversee the event planning staff. Jennifer has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Patricia Smith – Administrative Assistant who will manage the budgeting, vendor relationships, and logistics.
• Sam Johnson – Accountant/Bookkeeper who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• John Jones – Marketing Director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the Company and manage the website, social media, and outreach. 
• Michelle Garcia – Customer Success Officer who will oversee customer relationships. 

Milestones:

Special Occasions Event Planning will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

11/1/2022 – Finalize contract to lease the office space. 

11/15/2022 – Finalize employment contracts for the Special Occasions Event Planning management team.

12/1/2022 – Begin renovations on the office and purchase office equipment and supplies. 

12/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan. 

1/15/2023 – Begin recruiting and training office staff and event planners. 

2/15/2023 – Special Occasions Event Planning officially opens for business. 

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Special Occasions Event Planning are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the Company’s event planning services. Customers will be able to purchase full-service, customizable packages or select specific aspects (such as entertainment or catering) a la carte. 

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff an event planning business. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, party supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average number of events per month: 4 
• Average fees per month: $20,000
• Overhead costs per year: $360,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, event planning company business plan faqs, what is an event planning company business plan.

An e vent planning company business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your event planning company business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your event planning company business plan using our Event Planning Company Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Event Planning Companies?

There are a number of different kinds of event planning companies , some examples include: Corporate Events, Social Events, and Niche Events Planning.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Event Planning Company Business Plan?

Event planning companies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding. This is true for an event business plan or an event management business plan.

What are the Steps To Start an Event Planning Business?

Starting an event planning business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop An Event Planning Company Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed event planning company business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your event planning business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your event planning business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Event Planning Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your event planning business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your event planning business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Event Planning Company Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your event planning business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your event planning business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful event planning business:

• How to Start an Event Planning Business

Other Helpful Business Plan Templates

Photography Business Plan Template Event Venue Business Plan Template Catering Business Plan Template

Free Download

Event Planning Business Plan Template

Download this free event planning business plan template, with pre-filled examples, to create your own plan..

Or plan with professional support in LivePlan. Save 50% today

Available formats:

What you get with this template

A complete business plan.

Text and financials are already filled out and ready for you to update.

• SBA-lender approved format

Your plan is formatted the way lenders and investors expect.

Edit to your needs

Download as a Word document and edit your business plan right away.

• Detailed instructions

Features clear and simple instructions from expert business plan writers.

All 100% free. We're here to help you succeed in business, no strings attached.

Get the most out of your business plan example

Follow these tips to quickly develop a working business plan from this sample.

1. Don't worry about finding an exact match

We have over 550 sample business plan templates . So, make sure the plan is a close match, but don't get hung up on the details.

Your business is unique and will differ from any example or template you come across. So, use this example as a starting point and customize it to your needs.

2. Remember it's just an example

Our sample business plans are examples of what one business owner did. That doesn't make them perfect or require you to cram your business idea to fit the plan structure.

Use the information, financials, and formatting for inspiration. It will speed up and guide the plan writing process.

3. Know why you're writing a business plan

To create a plan that fits your needs , you need to know what you intend to do with it.

Are you planning to use your plan to apply for a loan or pitch to investors? Then it's worth following the format from your chosen sample plan to ensure you cover all necessary information.

But, if you don't plan to share your plan with anyone outside of your business—you likely don't need everything.

More business planning resources

How to Write a Business Plan for Investors

How to Start a Business With No Money

How to Create a Business Plan Presentation

10 Qualities of a Good Business Plan

Industry Business Planning Guides

Simple Business Plan Outline

Business Plan Template

How to Write a Business Plan

Download your template now

Need to validate your idea, secure funding, or grow your business this template is for you..

• Fill-in-the-blank simplicity
• Expert tips & tricks

We care about your privacy. See our privacy policy .

Not ready to download right now? We'll email you the link so you can download it whenever you're ready.

Download as Docx

Download as PDF

Finish your business plan with confidence

Step-by-step guidance and world-class support from the #1 business planning software

From template to plan in 30 minutes

• Step-by-step guidance
• Crystal clear financials
• Expert advice at your fingertips
• Funding & lender ready formats
• PLUS all the tools to manage & grow

The quickest way to turn a business idea into a business plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software

Researched by Consultants from Top-Tier Management Companies

Powerpoint Templates

Icon Bundle

Kpi Dashboard

Professional

Business Plans

Swot Analysis

Gantt Chart

Business Proposal

• Marketing Plan

Project Management

Business Case

Business Model

Cyber Security

Business PPT

Digital Marketing

Digital Transformation

Human Resources

Product Management

Artificial Intelligence

Company Profile

Acknowledgement PPT

PPT Presentation

Reports Brochures

One Page Pitch

Interview PPT

All Categories

Top 10 Event Management Business Plan Templates with Examples and Samples (Editable Word Doc, Excel and PDF Included)

Gunjan Gupta

Imagine, for a moment, the glitz and glamour of the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. It was a stunning display of culture and technology that captured the world's attention. But what most of us didn't see was the extensive planning and coordination that went into creating this global spectacle. Behind the scenes, a team of dedicated event management professionals meticulously crafted every moment, ensuring that every detail, from the grandest fireworks display to the tiniest costume accessory, was executed flawlessly.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony is a shining example of what the world of event management is all about. It's an industry where dreams become reality, creativity meets precision, and the magic of any event, big or small, takes center stage. If you've ever dreamed of turning your passion for planning and organizing into a thriving business, you're in the right place.

We have created the ultimate Event Management Business Plan Template with 64 meticulously designed slides for you. This template is your roadmap to turning your event management dreams into a flourishing business reality. It includes everything you need to develop a solid business plan template , from market analysis and financial projections to marketing strategies and operational plans.

Let's roll up our sleeves and embark on this exciting journey to create memorable experiences and make your mark in the world of events!

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Industry Analysis
• Customer Analysis
• Competitive Landscape
• SWOT Analysis
• Operational Plan
• Financial Plan
• Management Summary

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary gives a concise yet engaging overview of your event planning business plan. It provides a snapshot of the crucial components of your plan and should be written last, summarizing key elements such as:

1.1 The Quick Pitch: It includes factors like:  

• Market Overview: This section provides statistical insights into the event planning market, highlighting its size, trends, and potential.
• Opportunity: Detail the opportunities in the event planning industry, such as emerging technologies, the rise of virtual events, and integration possibilities.
• Technology Integration: Discuss how technology plays a pivotal role in your business, covering aspects like event management software and digital tools.
• Virtual Events: Explain your strategy for catering to the virtual event trend, outlining the benefits and services you offer in this domain.

1.2 The Entity: Include essential information about your business entity, such as its name, date of incorporation, initial investment, physical location, web address, target market, and founder's name.

Here is a visual representing all this and more:

Download this

(Want to make your dream event a reality? Access this Event Management Business Plan Template to get started!)

2. Company Overview

Describe your event planning business's specific niche, whether it caters to corporate events, social gatherings or specializes in unique niche events. Clearly outline your target clientele for each category. Also, share the history of your business, explaining when and why it was established, as well as key milestones achieved.

Additionally, ensure your company overview has the following elements:

2.1 Mission and Vision: Outline your long-term objectives and core values that guide your operations.

2.2 Goals and Objectives: Elaborate on your business goals, both short-term and long-term, and present your strategies for achieving them. Clearly define measurable milestones.

2.3 Start-up Summary: Provide a comprehensive summary of the initial costs required to launch your business, including capital investment, equipment purchases, and operational expenses.

2.4 Market Gap and Business Statement: Explain how your business identifies and addresses gaps in the market, emphasizing your unique value proposition. Define your business's core purpose.

2.5 Products and Services Offered: List the range of event planning services and products you offer, including any additional services like catering, decor, entertainment, or technology integration.

2.6 Key Success Factors: Identify and elaborate on the critical factors contributing to your business's success, such as exceptional customer service, innovative offerings, strategic partnerships, and market knowledge.

Take a look at this graphic to know more:

(Excited to kickstart your event planning journey but need a one-pager ? Download our comprehensive business plan template now!)

3. Industry Analysis

The industry analysis section provides a comprehensive overview of the event planning industry, emphasizing the importance of market research.

Key components to include are:

3.1 Market Analysis: Present an in-depth analysis of the event planning market, covering its size, projected growth, and potential opportunities and challenges.

3.2 Market Trends: Discuss current event industry trends, including the prevalence of hybrid events, safety measures, sustainability practices, personalization, etc.

3.3 Major Challenges: Identify and analyze the significant challenges your business encounters, such as rising operational costs, stiff competition, safety, etc.

3.4 Growth Drivers: Highlight the key factors driving growth in the industry, such as technological advancements, corporate event market size, and more.

3.5 Geographical Analysis: Conduct a geographical analysis to determine how local demographics impact your target market and explore opportunities for growth within specific regions.

Observe this sample to help present your event industry analysis like a pro: 

4. Customer Analysis

Customer analysis is a crucial component of your business strategy, as it lays the foundation for understanding your audience and tailoring your offerings to meet their needs effectively.

In this section, we will delve into the key elements of customer analysis, including:

4.1 Target Market

Represent the specific group of individuals or entities you want to serve and consider factors like age, gender, location, income level, and any other relevant demographic data.

4.2 Buyer Persona

These personas are fictional depictions of your ideal customers with names, photos, motivations, and pain points. They humanize your target audience and enable you to personalize your marketing strategies. Thus, create detailed buyer personas for each customer segment for effective marketing.

4.3 Market Sizing

Estimate the size of your target market for business planning and growth. This involves analyzing national market data and local population figures to determine the potential reach of your business.

Get a visual grasp of this concept with the following representation:

5. Competitive Landscape

Delve deeper into your analysis of the competitive environment within the event planning industry. Identify and evaluate direct and indirect competitors to understand your competitive positioning comprehensively.

And don’t forget to include elements like:

5.1 Major Players

Recognize and analyze the major players who significantly impact the market. These prominent competitors often have well-established brands, extensive client networks, and a range of services.

5.2 Attribute-Based Comparison

Performing an attribute-based comparison between your event planning business and direct competitors is essential. This involves a detailed assessment of specific attributes, such as:

• Pricing: Analyze how your pricing strategy compares to that of your competitors. Are you offering competitive rates or premium services?
• Service Offerings: Compare the range of services you provide with those of your competitors. Highlight any unique or specialized services that set you apart.
• Customer Satisfaction: Collect feedback from past clients and compare your customer satisfaction ratings with those of competitors.
• Innovation: Assess your ability to adapt to industry trends and technological advancements compared to your competitors.

Take a visual look at the concept here, but before that, also look at Must-have Event Management Company Profile Templates .

6. SWOT Analysis

The SWOT Analysis is a pivotal component of your business plan, offering a comprehensive examination of your event planning company's internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats.

So, make sure you journal it properly, as done in this visual sample by SlideTeam:

7. Marketing Plan

The Marketing Plan section is pivotal for promoting your event management business and reaching your target audience with ease. It also helps grow your business by combining the traditional four Ps: Product, Promotion, Price, and Place.

Additionally, it includes factors like:

7.1 Social Media Implementation Strategy and Promotional Strategies

Detail your social media implementation strategy, outlining how to leverage platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to engage with potential clients.

Additionally, describe your promotional strategies, including:

• Sponsored posts and advertisements.
• Collaborations with influencers in the event industry.
• Engaging content creation to showcase your expertise.
• Running targeted online campaigns to reach your desired audience.

7.2 Pricing Strategy

Elaborate on your pricing strategy, which should align with your target market and competitive positioning. Explain how your pricing compares to competitors, emphasizing unique value propositions or pricing structures.

7.3 Sales Funnel

Outline your sales funnel, illustrating your potential client's journey from initial awareness to purchase. Highlight key touchpoints, lead generation strategies, and conversion tactics.

The following image portrays this idea:

8. Operational Plan

Outline the processes and milestones to help you achieve your short and long-term business objectives. Also, provide a detailed roadmap for how your event planning business will operate with the following attributes:

8.1 Business Milestones

Define specific milestones you aim to achieve, such as reaching a certain number of clients, expanding to new markets, or launching new service offerings. Include target dates for these milestones.

8.2 Business Model Canvas

Present your business model canvas and its key components, including customer segments, channels, value propositions, customer relationships, cost structure, and more.

To help you visualize this concept, here's a sample:

9. Financial Plan

The Financial Plan is a critical section that projects the financial performance of your event planning business over the next five years. It offers insights into the following: 

9.1 Financial Assumptions : Explicitly state the assumptions upon which your financial projections are based, such as growth rates, pricing strategies, and market trends.

9.2 Revenue Model and Sales Forecast : Detail your revenue model, including how you generate income, such as event planning fees, commissions, or additional services. Provide a sales forecast that outlines your expected revenue over the projection period.

9.3 Break-even Analysis : Demarcate the point at which your revenue equals your expenditure. This helps identify the minimum level of sales needed to cover costs.

9.4 Projected Profit & Loss Account : Present a projected profit and loss statement showcasing your expected revenue, expenses, and net income over the five years.

9.5 Projected Cash Flow Statement : Outline your projected cash flow statement, highlighting how cash moves in and out of your business. This helps ensure you have sufficient liquidity to cover expenses.

9.6 Projected Balance Sheet : Provide a projected balance sheet, offering a snapshot of your assets, liabilities, and equity at different points in time.

9.7 Scenario Analysis : Evaluate how changes in various factors, such as market conditions or pricing strategies, could impact your financial projections.

9.8 DCF Valuation Analysis : Consider performing a discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation analysis to estimate the present value of future cash flows, aiding in investment decision-making.

Looking for a better understanding of financials? Here is a slide visual to help you out: 

10. Management Summary

Highlight the strengths and expertise of your event planning business's key team members. This section plays a vital role in demonstrating your company's ability to succeed and grow. So, make sure it is well laid out with elements like:

10.1 Team Structure : Describe the organizational structure of your team, including key roles and responsibilities. Emphasize the skills and experience that make your team well-suited for the event planning industry.

10.2 Professional Summary : Provide professional summaries for each key team member, emphasizing their relevant experience, qualifications, and contributions to the business.

10.3 Roles and Responsibilities : Detail each team member's specific roles and responsibilities, illustrating how their expertise contributes to the success of your event planning business.

Here's a visual representation to clarify this:

To Conclude

After an in-depth exploration of this Event Business Plan Template, you're well-equipped to embark on your event planning journey. It's time to download, bring your vision to life, and shine in the world of events.

Your adventure begins here. Let the magic of event management commence!

P.S. Don't forget to grab more design options with 80 slides for your next big event by clicking here !

FAQs on Event Management Business Plan

1. what is an event management business plan.

An event management business plan is a comprehensive document outlining the strategy and details for launching and running an event planning or management company. It typically includes key components such as the company's mission and vision, market analysis, target audience identification, services offered, marketing and sales strategies, financial projections, and operational plans. This plan serves as a roadmap for entrepreneurs and potential investors, guiding them in understanding the business's goals, competitive landscape, and potential challenges. A well-crafted event management business plan is essential for securing financing, attracting clients, and effectively managing the business for success in the event planning industry.

2. How do you write an event management business plan?

Follow these steps to write an event management business plan: 

• Begin with an executive summary outlining your business concept and goals.
• Describe your event management company, its mission, and vision.
• Identify your target audience and competitors by conducting market research.
• Define your services, including event planning, coordination, and any specialized offerings.
• Create a marketing strategy to reach potential clients.
• Develop a pricing structure and revenue projections.
• Outline your team's qualifications and roles.
• Detail your operational plan, including logistics and vendor relationships.
• Address financial aspects like startup costs, funding sources, and financial projections.
• Include a risk analysis and contingency plan.
• Conclude with a concise summary of the plan's key points.

3. Is event management a profitable business?

Yes, event management can be a profitable business. It involves planning and executing various events, such as weddings, corporate gatherings, and conferences. With effective marketing, good client relationships, and exceptional organizational skills, event managers can generate substantial income. The profitability depends on factors like experience, reputation, and market demand, making it a potentially lucrative venture.

4. What are the 7 stages in an event management planning?

Event management planning typically involves the following seven stages:

• Conceptualization: Define the event's purpose, objectives, and target audience.
• Research and Planning: Gather information, set goals, and create a detailed plan, including budget and timeline.
• Venue Selection: Choose a suitable location based on event requirements and logistics.
• Supplier Coordination: Secure vendors for catering, decor, audiovisual, and other services.
• Promotion and Marketing: Develop a marketing strategy to promote the event and reach the intended audience.
• Execution: Manage logistics, coordinate activities, and ensure everything runs smoothly on the event day.
• Post-Event Evaluation: Assess the event's success, gather feedback, and analyze the results for future improvements.

Related posts:

• The Ultimate Guide To Event Marketing (Best PowerPoint Templates Included)
• Top 10 Event Timeline Templates For Successful Execution
• Top 10 Childcare Business Plan Templates with Examples and Samples(Editable Word Doc, Excel, and PDF Included)
• Top 10 Confectionery Business Plan Templates with Examples and Samples (Editable Word Doc, Excel, and PDF Included)

Liked this blog? Please recommend us

Top 10 Team Structure Templates With Examples and Samples

Must-Have Security Action Plan Templates with Samples and Examples

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA - the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Digital revolution powerpoint presentation slides

Sales funnel results presentation layouts

3d men joinning circular jigsaw puzzles ppt graphics icons

Business Strategic Planning Template For Organizations Powerpoint Presentation Slides

Future plan powerpoint template slide

Project Management Team Powerpoint Presentation Slides

Brand marketing powerpoint presentation slides

Launching a new service powerpoint presentation with slides go to market

Agenda powerpoint slide show

Four key metrics donut chart with percentage

Engineering and technology ppt inspiration example introduction continuous process improvement

Meet our team representing in circular format

Event Planning Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Event Planning Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their event planning businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through an event planning business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is an Event Planning Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your own event planning business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for Your Event Planning Company

If you’re looking to start an event planner business or grow your existing one you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your event planning business to improve your chances of success. Your event planning business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Source of Funding for Event Planning Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of secure funding for an event planning business are bank loans, personal funding, credit cards, and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.

Another common form of secure funding for an event planning business is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding or, like a bank, they will give you a loan. Venture capitalists will not fund an event planning business.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for event planning.

When you write a business plan, you should include the following 10 key aspects:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each important component of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of event planning business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have an event planning business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of businesses.

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the event planning business industry. Discuss the type of business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target audience. Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy and plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types:

• Corporate Events : this type of event planning business caters to businesses, charities, nonprofit organizations, and the like to plan fundraisers, receptions, conventions, trade shows, competitions, award ceremonies, product launches, and other types of meetings.
• Social Events : this type of event planning business targets middle- to upper-income individuals and families to plan events such as weddings, birthdays, reunions, and other types of celebrations.
• Niche Events : some event planners specialize in just one of the above event types.

In addition to explaining the type of event planning business you operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include sales goals you’ve reached, new contracts, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your business structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the event planning business.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the industry educates you. It helps you understand the target market in which you are operating. 

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy particularly if your research identifies market trends. For example, if there was a trend towards events that adhere to social distancing guidelines, it would be helpful to ensure your plan details what approach you would take (suggested venues, creative solutions for inclusion, etc.).

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section:

• How big is the event planning industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your business. You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section must detail the clientele you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: private and corporate clients, high-income households, medium-income households, engaged couples, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of event planning company you operate and the event services you offer. Clearly, businesses would want a different atmosphere, pricing, and product options, and would respond to different marketing promotions than engaged couples.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the age groups, genders, locations, and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most event planning companies primarily serve customers living in the same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target market. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do to attract customers and retain your existing customers.

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other planners and businesses that offer event planning services.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from you that aren’t direct competitors. This includes caterers, venues, and customers planning events on their own. You need to mention such competition to show you understand that not everyone who throws a party hires an event planner each time.

With regards to direct competition, you want to detail the other businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be other businesses that offer event planning services very close to your site.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What planning services do they offer (wedding planning, baby showers, birthday parties, social events, etc.)?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. 

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide superior event management options (e.g., more cuisine types, better venue options, etc.)?
• Will you provide event options that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you make it easier or faster for customers to book your services (e.g., utilizing event planning software, etc.)?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For an event management business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

In the product section, you should reiterate the type of business that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products/services you will be offering. For example, in addition to designing the event, locating the venue, arranging vendors, coordinating personnel, and supervising the event, will you offer services such as catering, decor, and entertainment?

In this section, document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place refers to the location of your event management business, conference centers, and/or venues in which you own and/or have a relationship. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success.

The final part of your event planning business marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your site. The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Social media marketing
• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local bloggers and websites 
• Partnerships with local organizations (e.g., getting on the list of recommended vendors with local venues)
• Local radio advertising
• Banner ads at local venues

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your event planner business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your event planning business such as interviewing clients, making arrangements, keeping the store/studio clean, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to serve your 100th customer, or when you hope to reach $X in total sales. It could also be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or launch in a new market.

Management Team

To demonstrate your own event planning business’ ability to succeed as a business, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company. 

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience as event planners or in the industry. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in event planning and/or successfully running small businesses.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you plan one event per week or several events? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. For instance, if you spend $100,000 on building out your business, that will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $100.000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. For example, let’s say a company approached you with a massive $100,000 event contract, that would cost you $50,000 to fulfill. Well, in most cases, you would have to pay that $50,000 now for supplies, equipment rentals, employee salaries, etc. But let’s say the company didn’t pay you for 180 days. During those 180 days, you could run out of money.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key startup costs needed in starting or growing your business:

• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• The total cost of equipment and furnishings like decor, sound systems, etc.
• Cost of maintaining an adequate amount of supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your store design blueprint or location lease.

  Event Planning Summary Putting together your own event planner business plan is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the event planning sample template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the business, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful event planning business.

Event Planning Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my event planning business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Event Planning Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of event planning business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have an event planning business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of event planning businesses.

  OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how Growthink’s business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you.   Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

• Contact sales

Start free trial

10 Free Event Planning Templates for Excel and Word

Planning an event can range from a meeting at work to a convention and everything in between. It’s another project where you have to manage time, cost and scope (and don’t forget quality) to deliver on a deadline. Using planning templates can help you stay organized and keep to your budget and they allow you to schedule and create the kind of event that serves its purpose, whether that’s networking at a trade show or launching a team-building workshop.

ProjectManager is award-winning software that can help you plan, manage and track your events. We’re also the online hub for everything project management-related. You can read weekly blogs, guides and download free event planning templates for Excel and Word. We have free templates for every phase of a project. Below, we collected 10 free event planning templates that you can use to propose, plan and manage your next event.

1. Event Proposal Template

Every event starts as an idea. Someone or some organization wants to have an event and puts out requests for proposals (RFPs). Just as you’d bid for any project, you have to propose why you’re the best contractor to do the job. Convincing that potential client is where our free event proposal template for Word comes in. It gives you the space to prove to stakeholders that you can do what they need to deliver a successful event.

2. Event Plan Template

Once you get the job you’ll need an event plan template to show how the event will run from start to finish. Our free event plan template for Excel helps make sure that you’ll meet deadlines and do so within the budget approved by your client. No different than any other type of project plan, the free event planning template identifies resources and includes phases to make it easier to manage.

Best of all, there’s an option to skip the Excel spreadsheet and get a free trial of ProjectManager , award-winning project management software that can do much more than a static template. Open the software in the Gantt chart to organize your event tasks and add resources and associated costs. You can even make assignments, attach files and add descriptions, tags, priority and more. Everything you add to the spreadsheet populates on a visual timeline so you can see the event in one place, adding milestones and linking dependent tasks to avoid delays. Then set a baseline to track your planned effort against your actual effort in real time, something you can’t do on a spreadsheet. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

3. Event Budget Template

You got the job and you’re making a plan, but you need to have an event budget to know what to bill your client. If your financial forecast is off, then you could possibly be out a large sum of money. It could be enough to make the whole event a loss for you. To avoid that disaster, you need to use our free event budget template for Excel . This allows you to more accurately estimate the costs of the event before you commit to it so you can make a profit and not lose money.

It’s hard to know how much an event will cost . There are a lot of variables and you have to consider risk, which might impact the event’s costs. Our free budget template lets you collect costs, such as those associated with labor, any consultant fees you might have, raw materials and more. Of course, no two events are exactly alike. That’s why our free template is customizable. You can add things like marketing and promotions or anything else that might be missing from the template to ensure you come up with an accurate figure. There are even columns to track your actual budget against your planned budget to keep on track.

4. Event Marketing Calendar Template

Speaking of marketing, no event is successful without a marketing campaign to attract the event’s target audience. That’s easier said than done. Just like the event plan, there are deadlines, resources and costs involved. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on an email blitz, direct mail or even billboards; there’s a lot to coordinate. Our free event marketing calendar template for Excel helps you put all those ducks in a row. This versatile tool shows you the marketing campaign on a monthly, quarterly or yearly calendar. You can see who’s responsible for what and when that work is due.

The deceptively simple design is very powerful for marketing management . It’s a grid, the same as what you’d see in any calendar, but it allows you to look at the big picture and see the marketing campaign laid out over the month, quarter or year. The template is broken up into tabs, each with the date on the left and the name of the campaign. Following that are the tasks associated with that campaign, including a description, due date and who’s responsible for completing that work. Then you can add the cost for that task, which is a line item of the total budget. There’s even space to add the goals of the campaign and the duration of the entire marketing campaign.

5. Event Task Tracker Template

We’ve talked about landing the job, planning for the event, estimating the budget and even the marketing and promotion campaign that’ll ensure that it’s well attended. What we’ve not talked about yet is how to ensure you’re staying on track. To do that, you need to compare the planned versus actual effort. That way you can see if you’re adhering to your event schedule or lagging behind. You don’t want to find out that you’re behind schedule when it’s too late to take action. You don’t have to worry if you use our free event task tracker template for Excel .

You’ll find everything you need to track your tasks. There’s a place to list the name of your tasks and add a description of the work. If there’s a dependency , you can also list that to avoid costly delays. Then add who on your team is assigned to that task. There’s a place to add the priority of the tasks to know which needs to be done first and the due dates, including start, planned end and actual end dates. Then add the task status to know if it’s delayed, paused open or completed.

6. Event Timeline Template

Of course, all of this must be done within a certain timeframe. Events take place over a specific time, day or days. There’s no wiggle room. Marketing materials have been sent out with the time of the event and nothing is going to change that. Producing that event on time means you have to schedule wisely. Using our free event timeline template for Excel can help you make sure that everything is done when it needs to be done.

With our event timeline, you have two parts. On the left is a spreadsheet, again fully customizable, in which we have four columns. There you can list the tasks, start dates, end dates and duration. On the right is a visual timeline, like a Gantt chart , which automatically populates the timeline for your event. You can make phases different colors to make them easy to discern as you get an overview of the event plan in one place.

7. Cost-Benefit Analysis Template

Before you propose to produce an event, you need to know that the project is going to bring a return on your investment. Otherwise, you’re a charity, not a business (though even charities need to remain solvent to continue their good work). To determine whether the event is worth bidding for, use our free cost-benefit analysis template for Excel and see if the expenses you have to put out are going to be recouped.

Our free event planning template does this by capturing the quantitative costs , such as indirect, intangible and opportunity, and pushes those out to whatever the length of your event plan is. Then you list the quantitative benefits, such as direct, indirect, intangible and competitive, again forecast out over the life cycle of the event. From that, the template calculates the total cost and compares that to the total benefit to help you make the right decision.

8. RACI Matrix Template

If you’ve bid and won the event, then you’ve already done a cost-benefit analysis, plan and schedule. Now you have to get your team to work and keep your client updated. They do, after all, have a vested interest in your success. This requires identifying the stakeholders and defining their roles and responsibilities, including your team, and how they relate to the project and its tasks. This is done with our free RACI matrix template for Excel.

RACI is an acronym for responsible, accountable, consulted and informed. Our free event planning template is a spreadsheet in which you can list the project tasks as rows and across the top list all the members of your team, each as an individual column. Then next to the box where their name meets the task, you can note whether they’re an R, A, C or I. This greatly improves your management of the project, team and client.

9. Stakeholder Map Template

Another tool to identify the stakeholders in your event project is our free stakeholder map template for Excel . Remember, stakeholders can be anyone from your team and the target audience for the event, and, of course, the client. Using this visual tool makes it easy for you to see each stakeholder’s impact and how they influence your work.

The free event planning template is easy to use. It’s broken up into a grid of four squares. First, list your stakeholders and color-code them either green to indicate they’re an advocate, yellow if they’re neutral and red if they’re critical and potentially can block work. Then add each to the grip, which is broken up by how to manage them, keep satisfied, manage closely, and the level of their influence, from low to high. This helps you create a stakeholder management and communication plan .

10. Timesheet Template

Finally, you’ll need to keep track of your team as they do their work. Timesheets are valuable tools not only for payroll but to keep track of the cost per hour, vacation and overtime of your team. Using our free timesheet template for Excel can help you manage your team’s time while keeping track of their hours.

The timesheet template helps you track your employees. Start with capturing the personal data, such as name, department, hourly rate, etc. Then define a timeframe for the timesheet and collect their hours. Add the total work hours and you’re able to keep track of where they are in terms of completing their tasks and ensure they’re paid promptly and accurately.

Use ProjectManager to Deliver a Successful Event

Free event planning templates are great, but only to a point. For example, our timesheet template has to be manually inputted and there’s no security. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that has timesheet features that automatically populate and give managers a real-time look into how far they are in completing their tasks. But that’s just one feature of many to help you manage and deliver a quality event for your client.

Plan Your Event on a Gantt Chart

Rather than using an event planning template, timeline template, event budget, tracker, etc., our Gantt chart organizes your tasks, resources and costs and tracks your progress in real time. You can link all four task dependencies and set a schedule baseline , which allows our software to show you real-time data on your progress and performance. That’s how you stay on track and don’t go over budget.

Track Your Progress on Real-Time Dashboards

It’s easy to edit the Gantt; just drag and drop as things change. All details of your event plan adjust accordingly. Then you can toggle over to our real-time dashboard and get a high-level view of everything from your time, cost to workload and the overall health of your project. You don’t have to waste time configuring it as you do with lightweight tools. It’s ready when you are.

Our software has more than Gantt charts, which are more suited for managers. There are kanban boards to visualize the workflow, task lists and calendars for your marketing and promotion push. The multiple project views all work in unison so no matter which tool you’re using, it has the most up-to-date data. Everyone is always on the same page.

Related Event Content

Whether you’re new to managing an event or have worked on dozens in the past, there’s always more to learn. Our site is an online hub for all things project management, which includes event planning. Here is a sampling of our weekly blogs, guides and tutorial videos.

• How to Plan an Event: Event Planning Steps, Tips & Checklist
• How to Plan a Virtual Event: Virtual Event Planning Checklist
• Event Management: A Quick Guide
• Event Project Management Software
• How to Create an Event Budget

ProjectManager is online software that empowers teams to plan, manage and track events in real time. Use our task management, risk management and resource management features to stay productive and on track. Our collaborative platform makes it easy to comment and share files wherever you are. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our tool to deliver success. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Deliver your projects on time and under budget

Start planning your projects.

How to write a business plan for an event planning company?

Writing a business plan for an event planning company can be an intimidating task, especially for those just starting.

This in-depth guide is designed to help entrepreneurs like you understand how to create a comprehensive business plan so that you can approach the exercise with method and confidence.

We'll cover: why writing an event planning company business plan is so important - both when starting up, and when running and growing the business - what information you need to include in your plan, how it should be structured, and what tools you can use to get the job done efficiently.

Let's get started!

In this guide:

Why write a business plan for an event planning company?

• What information is needed to create a business plan for an event planning company?
• What goes in the financial forecast for an event planning company?
• What goes in the written part of an event planning company business plan?
• What tool can I use to write my event planning company business plan?

Being clear on the scope and goals of the document will make it easier to understand its structure and content. So before diving into the actual content of the plan, let's have a quick look at the main reasons why you would want to write an event planning company business plan in the first place.

To have a clear roadmap to grow the business

Running a small business is tough! Economic cycles bring growth and recessions, while the business landscape is ever-changing with new technologies, regulations, competitors, and consumer behaviours emerging constantly.

In such a dynamic context, operating a business without a clear roadmap is akin to driving blindfolded: it's risky, to say the least. That's why crafting a business plan for your event planning company is vital to establish a successful and sustainable venture.

To create an effective business plan, you'll need to assess your current position (if you're already in business) and define where you want the business to be in the next three to five years.

Once you have a clear destination for your event planning company, you'll have to:

• Identify the necessary resources (human, equipment, and capital) needed to reach your goals,
• Determine the pace at which the business needs to progress to meet its objectives as scheduled,
• Recognize and address the potential risks you may encounter along the way.

Engaging in this process regularly proves advantageous for both startups and established companies. It empowers you to make informed decisions about resource allocation, ensuring the long-term success of your business.

Need a convincing business plan?

The Business Plan Shop makes it easy to create a financial forecast to assess the potential profitability of your projects, and write a business plan that’ll wow investors.

To maintain visibility on future cash flows

Businesses can go for years without making a profit, but they go bust as soon as they run out of cash. That's why "cash is king", and maintaining visibility on your event planning company's future cash flows is critical.

How do I do that? That's simple: you need an up-to-date financial forecast.

The good news is that your event planning company business plan already contains a financial forecast (more on that later in this guide), so all you have to do is to keep it up-to-date.

To do this, you need to regularly compare the actual financial performance of your business to what was planned in your financial forecast, and adjust the forecast based on the current trajectory of your business.

Monitoring your event planning company's financial health will enable you to identify potential financial problems (such as an unexpected cash shortfall) early and to put in place corrective measures. It will also allow you to detect and capitalize on potential growth opportunities (higher demand from a given segment of customers for example).

To secure financing

Whether you are a startup or an existing business, writing a detailed event planning company business plan is essential when seeking financing from banks or investors.

This makes sense given what we've just seen: financiers want to ensure you have a clear roadmap and visibility on your future cash flows.

Banks will use the information included in the plan to assess your borrowing capacity (how much debt your business can support) and your ability to repay the loan before deciding whether they will extend credit to your business and on what terms.

Similarly, investors will review your plan carefully to assess if their investment can generate an attractive return on investment.

To do so, they will be looking for evidence that your event planning company has the potential for healthy growth, profitability, and cash flow generation over time.

Now that you understand why it is important to create a business plan for an event planning company, let's take a look at what information is needed to create one.

Need inspiration for your business plan?

The Business Plan Shop has dozens of business plan templates that you can use to get a clear idea of what a complete business plan looks like.

Information needed to create a business plan for an event planning company

Drafting an event planning company business plan requires research so that you can project sales, investments and cost accurately in your financial forecast, and convince the reader that there is a viable commercial opportunity to be seized.

Below, we'll focus on three critical pieces of information you should gather before starting to write your plan.

Carrying out market research for an event planning company

Carrying out market research before writing a business plan for an event planning company is essential to ensure that the financial projections are accurate and realistic.

Market research helps you gain insight into your target customer base, competitors, pricing strategies and other key factors which can have an impact on the commercial success of your business.

In particular, it is useful in forecasting revenue as it provides valuable data regarding potential customers’ spending habits and preferences.

You may discover that customers are increasingly interested in eco-friendly event planning. This could include using recyclable materials, working with local vendors, and hosting events outdoors. Additionally, you might find that customers are more interested in interactive events. This could range from activities that encourage collaboration and networking to immersive experiences that create lasting memories.

This information can then be used to create more accurate financial projections which will help investors make informed decisions about investing in your event planning company.

Developing the marketing plan for an event planning company

Before delving into your event planning company business plan, it's imperative to budget for sales and marketing expenses.

To achieve this, a comprehensive sales and marketing plan is essential. This plan should provide an accurate projection of the necessary actions to acquire and retain customers.

Additionally, it will outline the required workforce to carry out these initiatives and the corresponding budget for promotions, advertising, and other marketing endeavours.

By budgeting accordingly, you can ensure that the right resources are allocated to these vital activities, aligning them with the sales and growth objectives outlined in your business plan.

The staffing and equipment needs of an event planning company

As you embark on starting or expanding your event planning company, having a clear plan for recruitment and capital expenditures (investment in equipment and real estate) is essential for ensuring your business's success.

Both the recruitment and investment plans must align with the timing and level of growth projected in your forecast, and they require appropriate funding.

A event planning company might incur staffing costs for event coordinators, catering personnel, and security personnel. They may also need to rent equipment such as tents, tables, chairs, and other supplies for the event. Additionally, they may need to rent or purchase audio/visual equipment such as microphones, speakers, and projectors.

To create a realistic financial forecast, you also need to consider other operating expenses associated with the day-to-day running of your business, such as insurance and bookkeeping.

With all the necessary information at hand, you are ready to begin crafting your business plan and developing your financial forecast.

Need a solid financial forecast?

The Business Plan Shop does the maths for you. Simply enter your revenues, costs and investments. Click save and our online tool builds a three-way forecast for you instantly.

What goes into your event planning company's financial forecast?

The financial forecast of your event planning company's business plan will enable you to assess the growth, profitability, funding requirements, and cash generation potential of your business in the coming years.

The four key outputs of a financial forecast for a event planning company are:

• The profit and loss (P&L) statement ,
• The projected balance sheet ,
• The cash flow forecast ,
• And the sources and uses table .

Let's look at each of these in a bit more detail.

The projected P&L statement

Your event planning company forecasted P&L statement enables the reader of your business plan to get an idea of how much revenue and profits your business is expected to make in the near future.

Ideally, your reader will want to see:

• Growth above the inflation level
• Expanding profit margins
• Positive net profit throughout the plan

Expectations for an established event planning company will of course be different than for a startup. Existing businesses which have reached their cruising altitude might have slower growth and higher margins than ventures just being started.

The projected balance sheet of your event planning company

The balance sheet for an event planning company is a financial document that provides a snapshot of your business’s financial health at a given point in time.

It shows three main components: assets, liabilities and equity:

• Assets: are resources owned by the business, such as cash, equipment, and accounts receivable (money owed by clients).
• Liabilities: are debts owed to creditors and other entities, such as accounts payable (money owed to suppliers) and loans.
• Equity: includes the sums invested by the shareholders or business owners and the cumulative profits and losses of the business to date (called retained earnings). It is a proxy for the value of the owner's stake in the business.

Examining the balance sheet is important for lenders, investors, or other stakeholders who are interested in assessing your event planning company's liquidity and solvency:

• Liquidity: assesses whether or not your business has sufficient cash and short-term assets to honour its liabilities due over the next 12 months. It is a short-term focus.
• Solvency: assesses whether or not your business has the capacity to repay its debt over the medium-term.

Looking at the balance sheet can also provide insights into your event planning company's investment and financing policies.

In particular, stakeholders can compare the value of equity to the value of the outstanding financial debt to assess how the business is funded and what level of financial risk has been taken by the owners (financial debt is riskier because it has to be repaid, while equity doesn't need to be repaid).

The projected cash flow statement

A cash flow forecast for an event planning company shows how much cash the business is projected to generate or consume.

The cash flow statement is divided into 3 main areas:

• The operating cash flow shows how much cash is generated or consumed by the operations (running the business)
• The investing cash flow shows how much cash is being invested in capital expenditure (equipment, real estate, etc.)
• The financing cash flow shows how much cash is raised or distributed to investors and lenders

Looking at the cash flow forecast helps you to ensure that your business has enough cash to keep running, and can help you anticipate potential cash shortfalls.

It is also a best practice to include a monthly cash flow statement in the appendices of your event planning company business plan so that the readers can view the impact of seasonality on your business cash position and generation.

The initial financing plan

The sources and uses table or initial financing plan is a key component of your business plan when starting an event planning company.

It shows where the capital needed to set up the business will come from (sources) and how it will be spent (uses).

This table helps size the investment required to set up the event planning company, and understand how risks will be distributed between the business owners, and the financiers.

The sources and uses table also highlights what the starting cash position will be. This is key for startups as the business needs to have sufficient funding to sustain operations until the break-even point is reached.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what will go into the financial forecast of your event planning company business plan, let's have a look at the written part of the plan.

The written part of an event planning company business plan

The written part of an event planning company business plan plays a key role: it lays out the plan of action you intend to execute to seize the commercial opportunity you've identified on the market and provides the context needed for the reader to decide if they believe your plan to be achievable and your financial forecast to be realistic.

The written part of an event planning company business plan is composed of 7 main sections:

• The executive summary
• The presentation of the company
• The products and services
• The market analysis
• The strategy
• The operations
• The financial plan

Let's go through the content of each section in more detail!

1. The executive summary

The executive summary, the first section of your event planning company's business plan, serves as an inviting snapshot of your entire plan, leaving readers eager to know more about your business.

To compose an effective executive summary, start with a concise introduction of your business, covering its name, concept, location, history, and unique aspects. Share insights about the services or products you intend to offer and your target customer base.

Subsequently, provide an overview of your event planning company's addressable market, highlighting current trends and potential growth opportunities.

Then, present a summary of critical financial figures, such as projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

You should then include a summary of your key financial figures such as projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

Lastly, address any funding needs in the "ask" section of your executive summary.

2. The presentation of the company

The second section in your event planning company's business plan should focus on the structure and ownership, location, and management team of the company.

The structure and ownership part provides an overview of the legal structure of the business, who the owners are and how much each has invested and owns. If you are seeking financing it is important that the reader gets a clear picture of which legal entity is receiving the funds, and who controls the business.

The location part should give an overview of the premises from which the company is operating, and why that location is of particular interest (catchment area, accessibility, amenities nearby, etc.).

When describing the location of your event planning company, you could emphasize its potential for success due to its access to a large population base. It may be situated in a metropolitan area with many businesses and a large, diverse population, offering ample opportunities to reach potential customers. You could also highlight its access to public transportation, as well as its proximity to other major cultural and commercial hubs that could attract further business. It may also be close to major highways and airports, providing easy access to the rest of the region. All of these features may make the location of your event planning company ideal for success.

Finally, you should introduce the management team. Explain each member's role, background, and experience.

It is also important to emphasize any past successes that the members of the management team have achieved, and how long they've been working together, as this will help potential lenders or investors understand why they should trust in their leadership.

3. The products and services section

The products and services section of your business plan should include a detailed description of what your company offers, who are the target customers, and what distribution channels are part of your go-to-market. 

For example, your event planning company could offer event design, venue selection, and catering services to its customers. Event design could include creating a theme, color palette, and layout for the event that will give the experience a cohesive look. Venue selection could involve finding the optimal space for the customer's needs, such as a large ballroom or an outdoor garden. Catering services could be offered to provide a delicious meal to guests, such as an array of appetizers or a buffet-style dinner. These services could help to create an enjoyable and memorable experience for customers.

4. The market analysis

When presenting your market analysis in your event planning company business plan, you should detail the customers' demographics and segmentation, target market, competition, barriers to entry, and any regulations that may apply.

The goal of this section is to help the reader understand how big and attractive your market is, and demonstrate that you have a solid understanding of the industry.

You should start with the demographics and segmentation subsection, which gives an overview of the addressable market for your event planning company, the main trends in the marketplace, and introduces the different customer segments and their preferences in terms of purchasing habits and budgets.

The target market section should follow and zoom on the customer segments your event planning company is targeting, and explain how your products and services meet the specific needs of these customers.

For example, your target market might include wedding planners. Wedding planners are often looking for creative and unique ideas for their events, making them an ideal customer segment for an event planning company. They also often require assistance with coordinating and executing the events, meaning your services would be of immense value to them. Finally, wedding planners typically have a larger budget for their event planning needs than individuals planning one-off events, making them an attractive customer segment for your business.

Then comes the competition subsection, where you should introduce your main competitors and explain what differentiates you from them.

Finally, you should finish your market analysis by giving an overview of the main regulations applicable to your event planning company.

5. The strategy section

When you write the strategy section of your event planning company business plan, remember to cover key elements such as your competitive edge, pricing strategy, sales & marketing plan, milestones, and risks and mitigants.

In the competitive edge subsection, elaborate on what makes your company stand out from competitors. This becomes especially important if you're a startup, aiming to carve a place for yourself amidst established players in the marketplace.

The pricing strategy subsection should demonstrate how you plan to maintain profitability while offering competitive prices to attract customers.

Outline your sales & marketing plan, detailing how you'll reach out to new customers and retain existing ones through loyalty programs or special offers.

For the milestones subsection, outline your company's achievements to date and your main objectives for the future, complete with specific dates to set clear expectations for progress.

Lastly, the risks and mitigants subsection should address the main risks that could affect your plan's execution. Explain the measures you've put in place to minimize these risks, assuring potential investors or lenders.

Your event planning company faces a variety of risks that could have a negative impact on your business. For example, your clients may not be satisfied with the results of your services and may choose not to use your services in the future. Additionally, your company could face financial risks if you are not able to adequately manage the costs associated with running the business. If you are unable to accurately budget for event costs, you may end up spending more than planned, leading to financial losses.

6. The operations section

The operations of your event planning company must be presented in detail in your business plan.

Begin by addressing your staff, specifying the main roles and your recruitment plan to support the anticipated growth. Outline the qualifications and experience needed for each role and discuss your recruitment strategies, which may involve using job boards, referrals, or headhunters.

Next, clearly state your event planning company's operating hours, allowing the reader to gauge the adequacy of your staffing levels. Additionally, mention any considerations for varying opening times during peak seasons and your approach to handling customer queries outside regular operating hours.

The key assets and intellectual property (IP) required to run your business should also be highlighted. If you rely on licenses, trademarks, physical structures like equipment or property, or lease agreements, ensure they are well-documented in this section.

You may have key assets such as event planning software and a trusted network of vendors. These could help you to manage the planning process more efficiently and ensure that you have access to the best possible resources. Additionally, you might have intellectual property such as event planning templates and other processes that you have developed over time to ensure that each event runs smoothly. These assets and IP could be very valuable to the success of your event planning company.

Finally, provide a comprehensive list of suppliers you intend to collaborate with, along with a breakdown of their services and main commercial terms, such as price, payment terms, break clauses and contract duration. Investors often seek insight into the reasons behind your supplier choices, which may include a preference for higher-quality products or established relationships from past ventures.

7. The presentation of the financial plan

The financial plan section is where we will include the financial forecast we talked about earlier in this guide.

Now that you have a clear idea of the content of an event planning company business plan, let's look at some of the tools you can use to create yours.

What tool should I use to write my event planning company's business plan?

There are two main ways of creating your event planning company business plan:

• Using specialized business planning software,
• Hiring a business plan writer.

Using an online business plan software for your event planning company's business plan

Using online business planning software is the most efficient and modern way to create an event planning company business plan.

There are several advantages to using specialized software:

• You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
• You can access a library of dozens of complete business plan samples and templates for inspiration
• You get a professional business plan, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast
• You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
• You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows
• You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck

If you're interested in using this type of solution, you can try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up here .

Hiring a business plan writer to write your event planning company's business plan

Outsourcing your event planning company business plan to a business plan writer can also be a viable option.

Business plan writers are skilled in creating error-free business plans and accurate financial forecasts. Moreover, hiring a consultant can save you valuable time, allowing you to focus on day-to-day business operations.

However, it's essential to be aware that hiring business plan writers will be expensive, as you're not only paying for their time but also the software they use and their profit margin.

Based on experience, you should budget at least £1.5k ($2.0k) excluding tax for a comprehensive business plan, and more if you require changes after initial discussions with lenders or investors.

Also, exercise caution when seeking investment. Investors prefer their funds to be directed towards business growth rather than spent on consulting fees. Therefore, the amount you spend on business plan writing services and other consulting services should be insignificant compared to the amount raised.

Keep in mind that one drawback is that you usually don't own the business plan itself; you only receive the output, while the actual document is saved in the consultant's business planning software. This can make it challenging to update the document without retaining the consultant's services.

For these reasons, carefully consider outsourcing your event planning company business plan to a business plan writer, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of seeking outside assistance.

Why not create your event planning company's business plan using Word or Excel?

I must advise against using Microsoft Excel and Word (or their Google, Apple, or open-source equivalents) to write your event planning company business plan. Let me explain why.

Firstly, creating an accurate and error-free financial forecast on Excel (or any spreadsheet) is highly technical and requires a strong grasp of accounting principles and financial modelling skills. It is, therefore, unlikely that anyone will fully trust your numbers unless you have both a degree in finance and accounting and significant financial modelling experience, like us at The Business Plan Shop.

Secondly, relying on spreadsheets is inefficient. While it may have been the only option in the past, technology has advanced significantly, and software can now perform these tasks much faster and with greater accuracy. With the rise of AI, software can even help us detect mistakes in forecasts and analyze the numbers for better decision-making.

And with the rise of AI, software is also becoming smarter at helping us detect mistakes in our forecasts and helping us analyse the numbers to make better decisions.

Moreover, software makes it easier to compare actuals versus forecasts and maintain up-to-date forecasts to keep visibility on future cash flows, as we discussed earlier in this guide. This task is cumbersome when using spreadsheets.

Now, let's talk about the written part of your event planning company business plan. While it may be less error-prone, using software can bring tremendous gains in productivity. Word processors, for example, lack instructions and examples for each part of your business plan. They also won't automatically update your numbers when changes occur in your forecast, and they don't handle formatting for you.

Overall, while Word or Excel may seem viable for some entrepreneurs to create a business plan, it's by far becoming an antiquated way of doing things.

• Using business plan software is a modern and cost-effective way of writing and maintaining business plans.
• A business plan is not a one-shot exercise as maintaining it current is the only way to keep visibility on your future cash flows.
• A business plan has 2 main parts: a financial forecast outlining the funding requirements of your event planning company and the expected growth, profits and cash flows for the next 3 to 5 years; and a written part which gives the reader the information needed to decide if they believe the forecast is achievable.

We hope that this in-depth guide met your expectations and that you now have a clear understanding of how to write your event planning company business plan. Do not hesitate to contact our friendly team if you have questions additional questions we haven't addressed here.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• How to write a business plan to secure a bank loan?
• Key steps to write a business plan?
• Top mistakes to avoid in your business plan

Do you know entrepreneurs interested in starting or growing an event planning company? Share this article with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

Create a convincing business plan

Assess the profitability of your business idea and create a persuasive business plan to pitch to investors

500,000+ entrepreneurs have already tried our solution - why not join them?

Not ready to try our on-line tool ? Learn more about our solution here

Need some inspiration for your business plan?

Subscribe to The Business Plan Shop and gain access to our business plan template library.

Need a professional business plan? Discover our solution

Write your business plan with ease!

It's easy to create a professional business plan with The Business Plan Shop

Want to find out more before you try? Learn more about our solution here

How to start an event planning business

If you’re looking to snag one of the 116,700+ (on average) jobs available to meeting, convention, and event managers out there, here’s what you’ll need to get started.

Step 1: Determine if it’s a good fit.

Like most jobs, your skill set and personality will largely determine your success in this field. And while you don’t need to check off all the qualities on this list, here are some things to consider before you start an event management business :

• You can keep the big picture in mind while still taking care of all the little details.
• Whether it’s Sunday brunch or the company holiday party, you’re everyone’s go-to person for all group events.
• Working within a budget and strict timeline makes you feel creatively stimulated, not stunted.

Try the most popular event management business software

Get Started Free

Step 2: Research certifications.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that demand for event managers will grow an additional 11% by the time we reach 2026. With such a positive industry outlook, it’s good to find new ways to stand out amongst the competition as new event planners enter the market in coming years.

Certifications are fantastic ways to add credibility to your business , regardless of your experience level. Besides proving you’re dedicated to further your education in the field, these credentials show that respected institutions can vouch for your abilities (and your business).

Some of the top certifications event managers pursue include:

• Certified Special Events Professional
• Certified Event Planning Specialist
• Certified Quality Event Planner

There are lots more options to choose from, but these serve as a great jumping off point. However, if you aren’t able to acquire one right now, you can still get your business off the ground without it.

It’s worth noting that beyond certifications, there are no strict college degree requirements (although it seems most event planners do have some sort of bachelor’s education under their belts when starting out).  

Step 3: Fill out an event management business plan.

Any cursory Google search for the phrase event management business plan will inevitably lead you to some free wedding and event planning business plan templates .

However, you’ll find that the one we’ve created (below) provides a not too much, not too little approach you won’t find in any other guides.

Each point has been carefully selected so that you can create the event management business plan of your dreams without getting overwhelmed or missing out on details you definitely need to include. As long as you check off the items we listed, you’ll have a solid business plan ready to go in no time.

Step 4: Handle all the necessary paperwork.

To start an event management business, you’ll need each of the following:

• An event management business plan (use the free template we made below)
• Approval for a tax business structure that suits your financial needs
• General business liability insurance

These documents cover all the basics. But as you gain more experience, you might want to add on things like home-based insurance or upgrade to a new tax entity once you enter into the appropriate bracket.

We won’t get into these more advanced concepts for this beginner guide, but make sure to revisit these categories before you’re officially open for business.

Step 5: Figure out finances.

To be clear, you definitely can start an event management business with no money ! However, whether your funding is from your own bank account or someone else’s, small businesses in the events industry should consider starting out with these budget line items:

• Office space and essentials. You can use the computer, printer, and supplies you already have, assuming you do have (or can at least borrow) those things now. But keep in mind: if you’d like to write off your in-home office space on your federal taxes, your room must be secluded and have its own door.
• Advertising. At the very least make sure you have a small batch of business cards and a portfolio website ready to go. If you have some cash to spare, consider getting into paid social media ads or printed marketing materials like mailers.
• Software. The good news is there are plenty of great free event management software programs available these days, so you might not even have to budget for this one!

And that’s basically it! Depending on your niche or preferences, it would be good to also use this startup costs guide created by the Small Business Association to see if there’s anything else specific to you that might be missing.

Step 6: Choose a team.

Vendors, chefs, marketing agencies, software providers, event staff, and personal or office assistants all make wonderful additions to your event management business.

You can start out on your own (which, according to small business statistics , most people do) or you can go through the process of finding, interviewing, and hiring employees.

Depending on the amount of new business you plan to take on, you may or may not need to ever hire someone to help you part-time. At the very least though, you should start compiling a list of people who fit into this network so you can collaborate, get referrals, and perhaps even sub-contract them in the future.

Grow your event management business with the best tools

Get Started Now

What is your vision for an event planning business?

Once you’ve completed all of these steps, it’s time to review the big picture. As you figure out your plan, budget, and staffing options, your idea of what you want for your business might change. And that’s totally okay!

Learning how to be flexible is a skill all small business owners must learn. Just make sure you adjust now so you can carry your vision with you for future decision making.

How to write a personal event planning business plan

1. create an executive summary.

• Objectives. Write down your realistic and measurable business goals .
• Mission. Check out these inspiring company mission statements for ideas.
• Keys to Success. Also known as why you think your business will succeed and how you will make sure it does.

2. Make a company summary

• Company Ownership. If it’s just you, consider doing a sole proprietorship .
• Start-up Summary . Think of it like a company overview . Include your business’s back story, location, and anything else you’d basically put on your website’s About section.
• Company Locations and Facilities. Include the address you’ll put on your taxes and any long term rentals like kitchen prep spaces or coworking offices.

3. Identify your products and services

• Services. Event management services can really vary so use this section to outline what you do and what you don’t do.
• Prices. The average yearly event planner’s salary comes out to about $50,000 so plan accordingly.
• Competitive Comparison. Who are your immediate competitors? What do they have that you don’t? Record this research and look for imaginative ways to stand out. Be very honest with your assessment of how your business stacks up against them and what you should do to improve your chances of success.

Try the most popular event management software in the world

4. create a marketing analysis summary.

• Marketing Segmentation. Targeting means finding what area, demographic, or behavioral patterns your high ROI prospects all have in common, just like you’d do for any customer-focused corporate event.
• Target Market Segmentation Strategy. Now that you know who you audience it is, it’s time to research and define all the ways you plan to gain their business.

5. Do a strategy and implementation summary

• Sales Strategy. Here are the two best advanced event business pricing strategies to choose from.
• Sales Forecast. It’s a bit complicated, but figuring out how much money you think your business will make over the next six months to a year (or more) makes studying a sales forecasting guide well worth the effort.
• Milestones . Whether your goal is the total number of sales or income from sales (or something else entirely), you’ll want to formally establish what milestones you’d like to hit by when. Just leave wiggle room for the unexpected and adjust expectations as you go.

6. Write a management summary

• Organizational Structure. For event management teams, clearly defined roles are more important for teamwork than pretty much anything else.
• Personnel Plan. Here are some things to know about hiring staff for an event specifically that will also apply to your company as a whole.

7. Create your financial plan

• Important Assumptions. Business plan assumptions can be fairly complex. For now, just focus on listing your anticipated fixed and variable event planning expenses , marketing costs, and what taxes you’ll have to pay on your earned income.
• Break-Even Analysis . How much did you invest? And how much will you need to earn (after taxes, equipment costs, etc. are subtracted) in order to equal your initial investment? Keep this number handy – it’ll help you decide whether or not to take on more projects, motivate you to upsell whenever possible, and give you a realistic for success.
• Projected Profit and Loss. The IRS might want to see your profit and loss statements at some point, so make a point to regularly record your expenses and sales in one organized document.
• Projected Cash Flow. This free (and very helpful) small business book says to calculate it one month at a time for more accurate figures.
• Projected Balance Sheet. If you’ll be acting as your own bookkeeper, check out this balance sheet template to speed up the process.
• Business Ratios. Even if you’re not a math person, you can definitely handle this last (but very important) event management business plan step. There are lots of business ratios to choose from, but if you want the quickstart version go with these 3 most important balance sheet ratios for professional services firms .

Now you know how to start an event management business!

How do you become an event planner? You plan. Plan your business, plan your client’s events, and plan for a successful future.

There are lots of details involved but if you follow the ideas laid out in this guide, you’ll have yourself a healthy event management business plan along with some great strategies for reaching your goals!

For more on starting your own company , check out these tips for financing your event business , current event statistics worth considering, and event trends you should know for 2019.

• Free Planner Tools
• Event Seating Software
• Event Check-In Software

Venue Tools

• Event Diagramming Software
• Interactive Floor Plans
• Photo-Realistic 3D
• Lead Capture Tools
• Event Planning
• Guides & Webinars
• Customer Stories
• Contact Sales: +1 (877) 973-2863
• About Cvent
• Cvent Community
• Help & Support
• Training & Certification
• Status & Uptime
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• +1 (877) 973-2863 - Option 1
• [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Cvent Inc. All rights reserved.

• Business Templates
• Sample Plans

FREE 10+ Event Management Business Plan Samples in MS Word | Google Docs | Apple Pages | PDF

If you are a keen event planner and want to formally start an event management company then the best way to do it is by developing an event management business plan. Business plans are important documents most especially to new business owners. With an effective business plan, entrepreneurs can focus on the specific steps necessary for them to make business ideas succeed, and it also helps them to achieve short-term and long-term objectives. As an event planner or coordinator, you already have a clear idea of how important planning is, so the same thing goes when running a business. Read more about this type of business plan in our article below and if you need templates, check out our free event management business plan samples for your perusal.

Event Management Business Plan

10+ event management business plan samples, 1. event management business plan template, 2. event management business plan, 3. personal event management business plan, 4. sample event management business plan, 5. event management business plan checklist, 6. sports event management business plan, 7. event management strategic business plan, 8. event management business study plan, 9. event management vendor business plan, 10. standard event management business plan, 11. event management development business plan, what is an event management business plan, how to create an event management business plan, 1. executive summary, 2. services offered, 3. marketing analysis, 4. marketing plan, 5. management and operational structure, 6. financial plan, what is event planning, why is event management important, what is a marketing plan.

• Google Docs

Size: 522 KB

Size: 228 KB

Size: 414 KB

Size: 356 KB

Size: 65 KB

Size: 133 KB

Size: 539 KB

Size: 457 KB

Event planning is a lucrative business as there is a demand for it in the market. But of course, you need to think of your competitors and make your event management company stand out from the rest. And most importantly drawing in new clients. This is why you need an event management business plan, to be able to give you the direction you need and help you establish the basis of your company’s future operations and decisions. This document gives a clear view of your company’s objectives, how it operates, the structure, and other important elements. More or less, it may have some similarities in event planning with you coming up with goals, objectives, strategies, and budgeting.

The good thing about business plans is that this can help you identify potential problems early on since a lot of major areas would be covered. With this, you can come up with strategies on how to work your way around it. To get started with your event management business plan, here are the following key elements that you may include:

Although usually written last, an executive summary is where you define your business, its purpose, objectives, and importance in the event planning industry. It is mainly written for summing up your business idea, the management, customers, and for acquiring funding.

In this section of the business plan, make a detailed list of the services your event management company will be offering. Include everything from negotiating hotel contracts to hiring vendors and providing on-site staffing.

By carefully analyzing the market, you will find out the particular market you are getting into. This includes identifying your customers, your competitors, the different market trends, and other relevant details associated with the event planning industry.

With a clear understanding of your market and competitors, you need to create marketing strategies that can help you seize clients, reach a wider audience, promote your company on several traditional and online platforms, and other promotional opportunities that you can use to build up your company. All these could be summarized in a dedicated document called a marketing plan .

In this section of the business plan, include a list of your staff/employees and their roles; how your operations would go about, and also about your daily business activities and long-term goals.

One of the most important aspects of your business plan is the financial section, most especially if you are seeking out investors or funding from the bank. You need to develop a detailed map of the financial projections covering all aspects of the company. This includes the cost of startup, inventory, payroll, equipment, rent, utilities, and how these costs will be covered by the earned profits.

Event planning involves detailed coordination of any type of events such as meetings, conventions, trade shows, ceremonies, retreats, or parties.

Proper event management would lead to the success of any given event. Being able to prioritize and stay on task is what leads to an eventful outcome.

This is a document that outlines your marketing strategies and efforts for the specific period usually a year.

Start working on your event management marketing plan now, to ensure the success and development of your event planning company.

Related Posts

Free 50+ strategic planning samples in google docs | pages | pdf | ms word, free 10+ construction project plan samples in ms word | google docs | apple pages | pdf, free 10+ construction marketing business plan samples in ms word | google docs | pdf, free 17+ construction business continuity plan samples in ms word | google docs | pdf, free 11+ construction business development plan samples in ms word | google docs | pdf, free 20+ budget planning samples in pdf, free 20+ workout plan samples in ms word | google docs | pages | pdf, free 20+ lesson planning samples in pdf, free 14+ employee work plan templates in pdf | ms word, free 8+ sample weekly meal plan templates in pdf, free 17+ sample classroom management plan templates in pdf | ms word, free 13+ homework planner samples and templates in pdf | ms word, free 14+ leadership development plan samples in ms word | pages | google docs | pdf, free 15+ sample math lesson plan templates in pdf | ms word, free 11+ gym business plan templates in pdf | ms word, free 46+ sample event proposal, free 45+ event proposals, free 35+ sample plan, free 15+ sample outline.

How to Write an Event Organiser Business Plan (With Examples)

If you’re looking to turn your event into a viable and profitable enterprise, you’ll need to devise a solid business plan. Whether your aim is making more money, securing investment and partners, or simply keeping up with your commercial goals, an event business plan is the launchpad of a successful business.

A well-written plan can be an invaluable resource for you, your team , and your event – but writing one need not be difficult. Our systematic and straightforward event business plan step-by-step guide will show you how to create one, while providing you with useful examples for budgeting and promotion that you can adapt for your particular market.

How do you write a business plan as an event planner?

From coming up with your blue-sky mission statement to the nitty-gritty details of hosting your event, there are several steps to creating a great event business plan. Read on to get our in-depth tips and examples and to find out exactly what should go into your plan.

In this article, our tips for writing an event business plan are broken down into eight sections. We’ll show you how to:

• Begin your event business plan with a mission statement
• Describe your greater vision with a vision statement
• List the key objectives you want to track
• Enhance your event business plan with storytelling
• Detail an event marketing strategy
• Outline your event’s operational requirements
• Crunch the numbers for your event budget
• Nail SWOT analysis with this business plan event example

1. Begin your event business plan with a mission statement

Your mission statement describes your event in a short sentence or two. It helps to sell your event to important stakeholders and forms the foundation of your marketing. In fact, it’ll also help to keep you focused since every decision you make will ultimately trace back to your mission.

Mercato Metropolitano (MM), a sprawling community market and event space with good food at its core, is just one example of how a simple mission statement turned into a successful real-life venture.

Andrea Rasca of MM has a simple philosophy based on food being a human right that’s part of an adequate standard of living according to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It sums up how MM operates as well as what it stands for:

“Adequate means food needs to be accessible to all people, at all times, and in any circumstances. It has to be nutritious – to enrich you – and it has to be locally or culturally compatible.”

This high-level mission statement sells the spirit of MM succinctly. Make yours equally inspiring, and keep it as short as possible to make it easy to keep your mission in mind. The Waste Not Supper Club , for example, summed up their mission statement – “Waste Not” – in just two words and integrated it into the name of their event.

Following a UN report urging a move to more sustainable diets, the Umbrella Cafe in Kent started running the Waste Not Supper Club to use up not only their leftover food but other people’s as well. Guests receive a three-course vegan or vegetarian evening meal at a pay-as-you-feel price. All the dishes are made from unwanted ingredients sourced by FareShare Kent , an organisation that teams up with supermarkets and local farmers to make use of their “wonky” veg and overstocked food.

2. Describe your greater vision with a vision statement

While a mission statement says what your event is about, a vision statement describes what you hope your event brand will become . It could also be known as your Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (your BHAG ).

The Susan G. Komen Foundation uses the mission statement “Save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.”

But the foundation’s vision is even more aspirational:

A world without breast cancer.

What’s your blue-sky vision? You might not cure cancer, but perhaps you want to eventually turn your foodie pop-up into a nationwide series of “locavore” festivals. Perhaps you want to introduce attendees to a new style of dance? Or bring art into the homes of the nation?

Brevity and clarity are also key in this section of your business plan, so you should be able to sum up your vision statement in one short sentence. For example, a lot of businesses these days want their activities to produce no carbon emissions whatsoever, so they might use a vision statement like “net-zero by 2050”.

A good way to come up with your vision statement is to ask yourself what effect you eventually want your event to have more widely. Be as imaginative as you can and also think about why you created your event in the first place. This will help you to produce evocative language, which will have a greater effect on your audience.

3. List the key objectives you want to track

Your key objectives convert your mission statement into on-the-ground action. They are realistic goals that you can achieve in the short term and in the future. Examples might include:

• Gaining a set number of followers on social media
• Expanding your event to a different area
• Pinning down a special guest to make an appearance
• Selling a certain amount of tickets for each event

Make a list of the key tasks and deliverables integral to your event. In the foodie pop-up example above, a few key objectives might be to:

• Host three foodie pop-ups in your local area this year
• Find at least ten sponsors
• – local food purveyors or restaurants
• Acquire 10,000 followers on Instagram

Make your objectives aspirational but achievable – and definitely measurable . Make records of where you currently are in regard to achieving these goals and attach metrics to each one. Eventbrite offers useful analytic data, which can be used to help you track your return on investment (ROI) and more.

4. Enhance your event business plan with storytelling

Here’s the heart of your business plan: a tangible description of your event. This is important because not only does it tell potential investors what they’re being asked to buy into but it’s also often the first (and only) chance you’ll get to grab a potential attendee’s attention online.

The key here is to provide a text that’s as informative as it is readable. Strike a balance between providing the reader with all the essential details they need, without overwhelming them with information.

Define what makes your event unique and sell your audience on your vision with data that grounds it in reality. For example, if you’ve had a high demand for tickets in the past, let the reader know how many tickets you’ve sold for your events to date.

Craft a succinct event story with our event business plan checklist:

• Describe your target audience, with research into the market
• List potential or actual sponsors, investors, and partners who will support and influence your event
• Lay out the team structure you intend to build – who will get what done?

Your job here is to convince the reader that your event will be successful. Give proof that you can back up your ideas with business acumen.

5. Detail an event marketing strategy

Word of mouth is a timeless marketing channel, but most events don’t sell themselves right away. You’ve already described your mission, your vision, and the event itself, so now you can use this content in your marketing strategy and include additional information:

How will you price your event?

Will you use a flat rate or provide an early bird option at a discount? While the latter might prove a great idea for festivals and conferences, recurring events like workshops would benefit from a different marketing approach. For example, consider providing tiered ticketing options for regular events, giving guests a choice of a standard or VIP ticket with added extras. This can create a buzz of prestige around your event.

What’s your promotion budget?

Knowing what resources you have is integral to marketing your event effectively and securing a good ROI.

Which marketing channels will you use?

Your target audience will determine the direction of your marketing channels. This includes which social media platform you choose to market your event on. For example, if your arts event caters to twenty-somethings, the highly visual environment that Instagram provides will often be a better marketing match than LinkedIn , which is more suited for specialist industry lectures and business networking events.

Making the right choice of channel means that half your work is done because your event will get more exposure to people who are already interested in your sector, generating a higher lead-to-conversion rate.

6. Outline your event’s operational requirements

There are countless logistics that go into even the smallest event. Break your needs into categories: facilities, services, staffing , production, technology, legal, and insurance – just as a starting point!

Then start to anticipate what the real implications are for your event with reference to each of these categories. Depending on your specific event, facilities might include setting up a cloakroom or the hire of portaloos, shower cubicles, or charging points. Services might include anything from catering, rubbish disposal, cleaning, or the cost of basic utilities if they aren’t included in the venue hire. Production might cover contracting performers, printing tickets or wristbands, and transport of sound equipment.

Don’t leave anything out. This exercise will help you with the next step – assigning a cost to each aspect of your event.

7. Crunch the numbers for your event budget

Financial forecasts are essential to showing whether the event will be profitable – and to making your plan a business plan. It’s common to include both an overview of your numbers as well as a full budget spreadsheet, usually as part of an appendix.

Identify all potential income streams, like ticket sales , exhibition space sales, food, or merchandise. If you have funding secured or capital saved, include that as well.

You’ll also need to tally all expenditures , including your operational and promotional costs. These might include venue and equipment hire, paying staff working at the event, and the cost of targeted ads.

Your business plan might serve as a way to win over potential investors. For instance, if your idea for a national yoga teachers’ conference will require an initial cash infusion to get it off the ground, show how it will pay for itself in a matter of years in your budget. You should go into detail about cover prices, including any deals you’ve been able to get with suppliers or the venue.

Make sure to illustrate your event’s projected earnings in a simple graph, such as a bar or pie chart. This is an effective and simple of way communicating how you’re making your budget work for you.

8. Conduct a SWOT analysis for your event

SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This assessment is important because every event carries inherent risks, and it’s a liability to ignore them. You’ll want to identify and acknowledge any risks, and then provide solutions. Let’s take a look at this concept using the example of a fundraising triathlon.

You’ve sold many tickets so far.

You’ve planned the event for the mildest time of year.

You’ve got catastrophe insurance.

There’s high competition from other similar events.

Opportunities

Extra funds can be raised with a cold drinks stall.

The triathlon may need to be called off in the event of bad weather, e.g. a thunderstorm.

Event business plan FAQs

How do i start an event organising business.

You could start by writing an event management business plan. See the above section, “Outline your event’s operational requirements,” to get an idea of what managing an event involves.

What is a business plan in event management?

A business plan is where you convince investors that your idea for turning your event into a business is not only viable but profitable. This will include presenting the necessary figures detailing why your business will offer a good ROI. Check out the sections “Enhance your event business plan with storytelling” and “Crunch the numbers for your event budget” for more tips on how to write an event planning business plan.

How do you write a business plan for an event?

The above steps in this article explain how, but try looking for an event business plan example online if you’d like to see how it’s done.

What is an event planning proposal?

A proposal is a resumé of how you plan to execute your event, written with key stakeholders as the audience.

Set your event business plan in motion

To dive deep into the details of creating an event business plan, and to learn how to compile these sections into an effective document, download our free Event Plan Template .

Plan and host your events with Eventbrite.

• WAS THIS ARTICLE HELPFUL?

SPREAD THE WORD

about the author

Hannah Phelvin-Hartley

Hannah Phelvin-Hartley specialises in producing content for the lifestyle, education, engineering and automotive, politics, human rights and legal sectors. She can translate from Italian, Spanish and French into English. In her free time, Hannah can usually be found cooking, reading, practising Yoga and dancing.

You might also like these

Event Proposal Template for Word, PDF

Download Free Template

Available for Word & PDF

Your download is available!

Click to download your document template in the format you need.

Your download is ready!

Download Event Proposal Template for Word & PDF or email it to yourself later.

Download Event Proposal Template for Word & PDF.

• Send to email

Plus, you've unlocked access to our full collection of 130 hand-built business templates!

Template Highlights

• First, describe your company, the services you offer, and the team that'll be handling this event or customer relationship
• Next, describe the event itself. This is the part where you paint a vision for your potential client. Make sure to include key details, like the location, theme, main objective, and so on
• Provide an overview of the planning and prep process, from the very early stages to the day of
• Include pricing information and a payment schedule
• Give the client guidance on next steps
• Download it as a PDF or Word file
• Print it, email it,

Template Preview

Event Proposal Template

As an event planner, you know how to organize and execute any occasion so that it runs smoothly and offers an excellent experience for guests and hosts alike. However, you might need some help with developing a professional proposal that you can proudly deliver to potential clients. This template offers a structure and examples to help you create a clear, comprehensive proposal for any event.

HubSpot Tip: Make specific updates to the template for each new event you are managing. It is important to provide each client a customized proposal that is specific to the unique requirements of their event.

Our Company and Team

Provide a one-paragraph overview of your event management company. Describe when, why, and by whom your company was founded. Mention key events that you have planned in the past, focusing on ones that are similar to the event you are currently proposing. Describe your company’s mission and tell the reader what sets you apart from other event planning firms.

Our Services

Give an overview of the types of assistance you offer to clients. This list does not need to be specific to this particular event proposal; you should include all of the event management services that your company offers. After giving a brief introduction, you can provide the services in a bulleted list, as shown below:

• Service 1

• Service 2

• Service 3

Our Proposed Event Management Team

Offering a credible team is essential to the success of any event management proposal. In this section, you should provide an overview of your team and the role each member will play in managing this event. Then, you should provide the names, titles, and brief profiles or biographies of each of your proposed staff.

Each profile should comprise a short paragraph and should include the team member’s years of experience in event management, any relevant certifications or educational milestones, and similar events they have managed in the past.

• Team Member 1, Title – Profile

• Team Member 2, Title – Profile

• Team Member 3, Title – Profile

HubSpot Tip: Consider including professional headshots of your proposed team, to personalize the proposal and connect faces with the names.

Provide an overview of the event, describing the different activities that will take place, the type of food and beverages, and the style of décor. If applicable, explain how the event fits with your client’s strategic goals.

After giving a brief introduction, present the important details of the event, perhaps using the table below as a template.

Date and Time

Number of Invitees

Expected Number of Attendees

Key Message

HubSpot Tip: Customize it! The items in the table above are only suggestions. Feel free to edit them to the specifics of the event you are proposing.

Major Activities and Timeline

After describing the event in general, you should show the activities involved in planning and executing the event, with start and completion dates. This gives the potential client a sense of the timeline for the event, how many times you will need to meet throughout the process, and allows them to follow along with the schedule and know that all activities are being completed on time. You can use a simple table, like the one that follows, to depict the timeline.

Completion Date

HubSpot Tip: Including a detailed schedule highlights your credibility and shows your ability to execute the event on time.

Pricing and Payment Schedule

Indicate all of the activities and items that are required for the event to be successfully planned and executed. Some of your costs will be at an hourly rate and some will be associated with a flat fee. You can present and total them in a table like the one below.

Activity/Item

Hourly Rate/Flat Fee

Estimated Hours/Quantity

For this type of work, payment often happens on a schedule, with a percentage being owed upon signing the contract, and then additional amounts being due leading up to the event. You can use a table like the one below to indicate the proposed payment schedule.

Deposit – 20% of total

Upon contract signing

25% of total

2 months prior to event

30% of total

1 month prior to event

Final 25% of total

1 week before event

HubSpot Tip: Update the pricing information and payment schedule according to the specifics of the event.

Indicate what is needed to move to next steps. Most likely, you will need a signature from the client, and payment of a deposit. You should also include your company’s specific contract details indicating the terms and conditions for this work.

HubSpot Tip: Consider including your contact information (email address and phone number) so that the customer can get in touch with you quickly to discuss the proposal, if necessary.

Following the contract, you should include a place for signatures by the client.

________________________

[Name], [Role]

HubSpot Tip: Include signature lines for everyone who is responsible for approving the proposal. Include their names and roles to personalize the document.

If you have photos of past events, consider collecting and including them at the end of your proposal to give the client a sense of your style and skillset. You can include photos of the kinds of décor, food, drinks, and event invitations that you typically offer.

HubSpot Tip: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” While the written word is powerful, never underestimate the influence of a photo! You might even consider including photos throughout your proposal to illustrate your points in each section.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i write an event proposal, is this template free, can i edit this template, related tags:.

• Proposals, Estimates & Quotes

Related Business Templates

Standard operating procedures (sop).

Describe the how, what, and where of your organizational tasks to employees with this free SOP templ...

Gap Analysis

Conduct thorough assessments of your current state vs. goals with this free gap analysis template.

Root Cause Analysis

Use this free root cause analysis template to identify the source of business issues and create a pl...

Business Case

Make a case for an upcoming project or investment with the help of this free business case template.

Progress Report

Share your project progress with other team members, departments, or relevant parties with this free...

Action Plan

Use our free action plan template to help get your business or project goals off the ground.

Simplify order management with this easily customizable free online order form template.

Process Map

Streamline your workflow, enhance efficiency, and foster continuous improvement in your organization...

Download the free 5 whys template to identify the root cause of business challenges and develop prac...

Succession Plan

Enhance your organization’s leadership continuity, improve workforce readiness, and ensure smooth tr...

Business One-Pager Template

Use this professional one-pager template to help capture the attention of stakeholders and potential...

Decision Tree

Use this free decision tree template to understand the potential outcomes of your business decisions...

Get this template for free!

11 Event Planning Templates: Customizable, Free, and Easy to Use

In this article, we’ll be providing you with a wide range of free event planning templates you can use to streamline the process of organizing events large or small.

The templates are made available in Google Docs and Google Sheets, making them easily accessible, shareable, and customizable. Moreover, you can download Microsoft Word or Excel versions if you wish to work on them offline or take advantage of some of the Office suite’s unique features.

Finally, if you need a printable event planning template, some are also available in a PDF format, so you can distribute them safely or print them out without fear of the layout getting jumbled.

Without further ado, let’s get to the templates!

Table of Contents

Template #1: General event planner template

This is a simple all-in-one template for event planning. It’s not as extensive as some of the other templates you’ll find here, but it has all of the most important bases covered. 

It includes basic event information, along with the scope, milestones, and goals. It also has a table where you can note your expenses, risks, and planned measures for mitigating said risks. On top of that, there’s a task-tracking event checklist, too.

This makes it a good general template for smaller or simpler events that don’t involve too many moving parts.

Templates :

• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word
• Google Sheets
• Microsoft Excel

💡 Plaky Pro Tip

If you’d like to learn more about different types of event planning and how to best utilize and customize this template, you might be interested in the following articles:

• Corporate Event Planning Guide (+ Checklists)
• Nonprofit Event Planning in 12 Steps + Checklist

Template #2: Event schedule template

This template allows you to create a detailed and precise schedule for your event within 15-minute increments. You can also easily plan out several sets of activities for different venues or groups.

In addition to using it for planning, you can distribute this sheet to the staff for organization and coordination. Moreover, you can also distribute it to the guests to give them an accurate overview of how the event will go.

This template is great for events that need to stick to a schedule, or events that involve several sets of activities side by side. 

Need a little help choosing between Google Sheets and Excel? Our comparison post might help you make the decision:

• Google Sheets vs Excel: Hands-On App Comparison for 2024

Template #3: 5-day event schedule template

In case you’re planning an event that will span several days, then you’ll likely find this template useful.

Similar to the 1-day template above, it allows you to create a detailed schedule with 30-minute increments over the course of 5 or more days. As before, the template is useful both for internal planning and as an itinerary for attendees.

You can use this template independently, or in combination with the 1-day template for more precise planning.

Template #4: Event task tracking + event timeline template

This template is meant for advanced task tracking, allowing you to track various information pertaining to a task, including:

• Start date,
• Task status,
• Task instructions, 
• Additional notes, and
• The team the task is assigned to.

The template is easy to customize, as you can add additional rows and columns to account for more tasks, teams, or any additional values tied to the tasks you want to track.

Furthermore, this template also allows you to create an event timeline, which is extremely useful for planning events with lots of time-sensitive tasks and/or tasks with dependencies .

To do this, simply select all the fields you want to include in the timeline. Then, select Insert, and click “Timeline.” This will create a new page with a timeline based on the dates specified, complete with color-coding based on the Status column.

Overall, this template is great for event organizers who are managing multiple teams or are simply organizing events with lots of delegation of interconnected tasks.

If you’d like to try out additional templates for task tracking or learn more about how to create task lists and timelines for your projects, take a look at the following pages:

• 20 Free To-Do List Templates (Customizable & Printable)
• How to Create a Project Timeline in 9 Easy Steps (+ Free Templates)
• ​​How to Create a Project Task List (+ Free Task List Template)

Template #5: Event budget template

The event budget template is meant to give organizers a convenient overview of all event-related expenses. 

You can note your expenses across multiple categories, input your projected expenses and your total expenses, followed by the difference between the two — if you’re going over budget, you’ll know exactly by how much.

That said, this template is good for any event planner who wishes to have an accurate overview of where their money is going, and it’s especially good for high-cost events.

Looking to learn more about different budgeting methods you can use to plan your events or other projects? You might find the following article useful:

• Best Project Management Budgeting Methods to Try

Template #6: Event proposal template

This simple template covers all the important information you need to include in an event proposal, regardless of whether you’re pitching to a client or to a superior.

It includes tables and fields for:

• Personal information,
• Event scope,
• Event goals,
• Projected costs, and more.

All in all, this template is ideal for professional event planners looking to pitch an event to a client, or for anyone aiming to organize an event within a company they work at, be it a team building event, a professional development conference, or anything else.

Template #7: Event feedback template

This simple template is used to collect quantitative and qualitative feedback from event attendees. It includes a Likert scale questionnaire, as well as a table for open-ended questions.

You can easily expand and tweak this template to suit exactly the kind of feedback you need to collect on your event.

This template is useful for any event planner who wishes to collect feedback from attendees, be it as a metric of how successful the event was, or to improve future events.

Template #8: Event sign-up template

This template has two purposes:

• It can be posted publicly or shared with people you wish to invite, and
• It lets the event planner know who and how many people will be attending.

Alternatively, this template can also be used as the event planner’s own master list of attendees, based on responses to public sign-up sheets or invitations that were previously sent out.

By default, the template has the following fields:

• Attendee name,
• Additional notes.

Naturally, the template can easily be customized with additional columns if there’s any additional information you’d like your attendees to share.

As such, this sign-up template is great for any event planner who needs to have an accurate number of attendees in order to plan for factors such as catering, transportation, venue size, accommodation, etc.

Template #9: Event catering template

If you’re planning on having catering at your event or even basic snacks, you will need a caterer. With this event catering template, you can:

• Note all important information about the caterer and their company,
• Have an overview of the services they offer,
• List their certificates, permits, and licenses,
• Note their fee, and
• Break down the food costs.

This template is useful for any event planner looking to hire a caterer, have the most important information pertaining to them in one place, and form a budget effectively.

Template #10: Event venue template

Many events require large, properly equipped venues, and this template allows you to keep track of all the important details tied to the venue where you wish to hold your event.

This includes:

• Basic venue details,
• Available areas and their guest capacities,
• Parking details,
• Venue policies, and
• Additional services offered by the venue.

If you need to create a comprehensive overview of a venue you have your sights set on for your event, then this is the template to use.

Template #11: Event speaker template

Your event might involve one or multiple speakers. These could be subject matter experts, industry veterans, professional consultants, or even entertainers. 

This template makes it easier to keep track of all the important factors tied to your event’s speakers, such as:

• Information about their presentation,
• The equipment that needs to be secured,
• The time of any rehearsals you might hold,
• The time and length of their presentation,
• Their fee, and
• Any additional notes they might provide.

All in all, this template is a great way to keep an accurate overview of important information tied to your event’s schedule, budget, task timeline, equipment requirements, and more.

  Templates:

How to plan events with Plaky

If you’d like to avoid juggling multiple templates and would prefer an all-in-one solution, then the Plaky and its comprehensive event planning template will likely be a good fit for you.

From the get-go, the template has tasks grouped into the following categories:

• Preparation,
• At event, and
• Post event.

Creating additional tasks and categories is easy, and each task offers much more customizability than you could get from a spreadsheet or a text-processing app. 

Specifically, each task’s item card shows the following information:

• Person responsible,
• Status, and
• Approval status.

Moreover, each item card allows users to leave comments, as well as upload files for easy sharing, ensuring that all important information is accessible and facilitating communication in project management .

On top of that, at the bottom of each category, you can find a summary row that displays information such as:

• Workload distribution between teams,
• The final due date for the task group,
• Percentage of completed tasks,
• Percentage of approved tasks, and
• An automatic sum of all the costs listed.

With features such as multiple view modes, filters, and a search function, Plaky makes it much easier to find and review specific information than you ever could with an event planning spreadsheet.

Ultimately, Plaky is a user-friendly tool you’ll be able to get a hang of easily, even if you don’t have experience in project management , event planning, or similar fields. In addition to its intuitive interface, it also offers a number of useful templates in its project management template center .

Free project management software

Looking for a simpler way to manage your event planning projects? Try Plaky.

FREE project management app

Alternative to Monday and Asana for managing projects, teams, and all types of work.

Plan the main event with these event planning templates

It's happens all in one day, but all the days and tasks leading up to your event matter just as much as what happens when the clock strikes the hour. with these event planning templates and designs, you'll know what's supposed to happen at every moment..

Help your event go off without a hitch with planning templates

Maybe you can’t plan for everything, but you can get pretty close with all these event planning templates. Make your event feel seamless for everyone in attendance, and even for those behind the scenes. From budgets to invitations , posters to menus, videos to calendars , you’ll be able to put on the event you want without a lot of headaches from the planning process. Whether you’re planning an open house, fundraiser or simply an easygoing BBQ, it’s the planning that separates the good from the great and helps you avoid disaster. Make your event an event to remember—and never let them see you sweat. These templates will be your righthand plan to make your celebration every bit as smooth and special as you were hoping the day you first sat down to put your event ideas to paper. Don’t get started without giving these event planning templates a look.

Filter by Keywords

10 Free Event Planning Templates and Checklists to Get Ready for 2024

Haillie Parker

February 14, 2024

What do work conferences, weddings, and your dog’s birthday party all have in common? 

They started with a flexible event planning template… probably !

Event planning is no small feat. Like managing any complex project, there are a ton of moving parts that must come together perfectly to pull off a successful event—even virtual ones! 

Whether it’s securing the venue, catering, managing the budget , forming the guest list, or sending invitations, you will need more than the average checklist to arrange it all without sprouting a few grey hairs in the process. 👴🏼

The best templates will help you execute all of these elements and then some. With multiple views, task statuses, and customizable features built right in, your perfect template will ease the pain during the planning process so you can simply enjoy the event when it arrives!

And we’re here to help! With 10 detailed event planning templates for everything from virtual happy hours to your next company-wide conference . 

Why is Event Planning Important? 

1. event brief template by clickup, 2. large event planning template by clickup, 3. event budget template by clickup, 4. event management template by clickup, 5. events planning document template by clickup, 6. event planning tracker template by microsoft office, 7. event & party planner template for excel, 8. word event planner template by microsoft office, 9. event marketing template by clickup, 10. excel five-day event schedule template, what to look for in an event planning template.

Well-planned events can do wonders for your reputation, company morale, community engagement, and more! 

And a poorly planned event? Well, that can do more harm than good for everyone involved.

Events are a great way to connect with your community, give back to your employees, encourage networking, and draw in more business. They are an extension of your company and every little detail reflects the core values and philosophies of your brand as a whole.

No pressure, right? 😅

This isn’t meant to scare you, though! It’s to remind you that the best events come from the heart, and as stressful as the planning process may be, events are supposed to be fun. Showing that you put time and effort into creating a meaningful experience for a group of people you appreciate is a really impactful gesture. 

It may be as big as a virtual conference or as small as a catered team lunch, but your next occasion will require a specific and thorough event project management process.

10 Free Event Planning Templates for 2024

With guest lists, vendors, tickets, speakers, and seating arrangements to oversee, you’ll need powerful event planning software to manage your progress, stay on top of tasks, and visualize critical dates on a customizable calendar.

The perfect template will enhance your event planning tool’s features with pre-built and customizable elements like calendars, lists, task statuses, and workflow views. Not to mention, your ideal template will also be 100% free .

Here are 10 of our favorite event planning templates for ClickUp, Microsoft Office , and Excel that check every box. 📦

The Event Project Brief Template by ClickUp helps event teams plan, track, and organize projects. With this template, your event team can create a project outline quickly and efficiently.

The template includes tasks for each event phase, from pre-planning to post-event evaluation. Each task and subtask is structured with assignees, due dates and estimated hours for effort tracking. The template ensures that each phase of the event is planned thoroughly, without missing key steps or communication points.

Plus, you’ll be able to assign responsibilities and set deadlines for each task. This is the perfect way to ensure that all tasks

While the previous template is an excellent resource for event planners juggling multiple events, this Large Event Planning Template by ClickUp is created for those planning large stand-alone events like sporting events, music festivals, conferences, and more.

With 16 custom task statuses and four project view types included, this template Folder has everything you need to execute mid-sized events with separate Lists for managing your overarching vendors , checklists, RSVPs, and budgets.

Plus, in true ClickUp fashion, this template automatically applies a Getting Started Guide to cover the ins, outs, and must-dos to make this template really shine.

It’s almost spooky how easy it is to blow through your event budget. 👻🥲

Especially when you’re eager to give back to your team or planning several events at a time, the invoices just start flying! The Event Budget Template by ClickUp might sound like a buzz kill, but it’s actually an essential (and deeply satisfying) part of pulling off your next event.

This template helps you stay in control when it comes to your spending by establishing due dates, laying down key action items, and managing the venue selection process in pre-built Lists. 

You can also keep an eye on upcoming expenses with three custom statuses for purchases left To Do , In Progress , or Complete . 💸

The Event Management Template by ClickUp is the stepping stone to its Event Planning template (see recommendation #1). 🤪

With separate event Lists, three custom statuses, Tags, and six workflow views included in this Folder, you can organize multiple events at a time—and deliver them within budget!

Custom Fields are where this template really hits its stride with eight categories for filtering, sorting, and grouping tasks by various budget-related items. You can even add data like progress percentages, payment statuses, and location to your workflow view for more information at every glance.

Repeat after me: This is your ultimate event planning checklist. 🗣

You’ve closed out your tasks, finalized the invoices, sent the invitations, and are now, you’re ready to attend the event you worked so hard for! This Events Planning Document Template by ClickUp is the day-of checklist that covers everything—seriously, everything.

In your Doc, you’ll find pages separated by categories including General Information , Setup Details , Invitation List , and Vendor List . Need an extra page? No problem! Easily copy pages, add new ones, or create subpages to customize your template even further in an organized visual hierarchy. 

On each page, formatting is automatically created to help you distribute and access must-have information as quickly as possible. With checklists that you can strike off when completed (even from your mobile device), pre-built tables for your guest list, and Slash Command tips, this ClickUp Doc is the ultimate guide to calm your event planning jitters. 

This Event Template helps you stay on top of event information in an Excel workbook with different worksheets for your project parameters, project details, and project totals. Each worksheet has a modifiable table or chart to determine how many resources or how much of your budget you’ve already used per event. 

This is a great template for comparing the bottom line for multiple projects in the event that you need to present findings to stakeholders or reassess your budget. It’s less of a task management tool and more of a shortcut for quickly comparing grand totals to your initial planned costs including time, staff, overall budget, and logistics.

If you prefer to see all of your event information organized in a spreadsheet format, this Event and Party Planner Template for Excel is right up your alley. Better for small to mid-sized events, this single spreadsheet template is divided into sections to add guest information, musical arrangements, decorations, supplies, notes, and more. Each section has a number of related columns to convey whether an item has been completed or not, as well as a cumulative breakdown of your budget and expected costs.

Not a spreadsheet girlie? No problem! This Event Planner Template for Microsoft Word will help you achieve the same amount of structure in a formatted document. This is an easy template to set up and edit for each event on your calendar and is best used for tracking milestones or key updates in the event planning process. When presenting event progress to managers or stakeholders, you can use this template to express where you are on your project timeline and the major tasks that are still yet to be completed. 

This Event Marketing Template from ClickUp provides a clear overview of your event’s goals and objectives, as well as an organized structure for tracking event details like target audience, event timeline , budget management, and more. You can assign tasks to specific team members and monitor progress in one easy-to-navigate interface.

Plus, ClickUp’s event planning template comes with features like reminders, tags and custom fields to ensure that your event goes off without a hitch. With all the essential event-planning details in one place, you can rest assured that your event will be successful.

This Five-Day Event Schedule Template by Microsoft is as helpful for the guests as it is for the event planner. Conferences and networking events are often several days long and can feature dozens of speakers, scheduled lunches, activities—and minimal breaks. 

This free event planning template can be kept on hand during the event and used by the event organizers to ensure each element is starting and ending as expected. And for guests, this template can be edited throughout the event or used ahead of time to plan each day around their most anticipated speakers or sessions.

During the event planning process, an event planning template can be a game-changer. It streamlines your workflow, keeps everything organized, and ensures that no detail is overlooked. But not all templates are created equal. Here’s what to look for when choosing an event planning template:

Comprehensiveness: A good event planning template should cover all aspects of event organization. This includes event details like budgeting, scheduling, venue selection, guest list management, marketing, and post-event analysis. If a template doesn’t address a key area of event planning, it might leave you scrambling at the last minute.

Customizability: Every event is unique, so your event planning template should be flexible enough to accommodate your specific needs. Look for templates that allow you to add, remove, or modify sections as needed.

Ease of Use: An event planning template should simplify your work, not complicate it. It should be easy to understand and navigate, with a clear, intuitive layout. If you’re spending more time figuring out how to use the template than actually planning your event, it’s not the right tool for you.

Collaboration Features: If you’re working with a team, you’ll want a template that supports collaboration. This means multiple people can view and edit the template simultaneously, making it easier to coordinate efforts and keep everyone on the same page.

Accessibility: Your event planning template should be accessible from anywhere, at any time. This is especially important if you or your team members are often on the go. Look for cloud-based templates that can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.

Scalability: Finally, consider whether the template can handle the size and complexity of your event. If you’re planning a large, multi-day conference, for example, you’ll need a more robust template than if you’re organizing a small, informal gathering.

Plan a Successful Event with Free Event Planning Templates

Efficient event planning starts with event free project management software that can keep up with your process, establish your event’s important details, and help you communicate updates to everyone involved. 

Think of your ideal event planning template as a structure to layer on top of your project management tool to give you and the team a clear starting point from the get-go. 

Templates are more than just a plug-and-play resource for double-checking your work. To make the most of them, your event planning templates should offer support during every event-related task with dynamic features like workflow automation, customizable task statuses, and flexible project views.

Plus, event planning is a collaborative job. So a template that can’t sync across multiple devices or be shared with contributors outside of your workspace will cause a few obstacles along the way. 

TL;DR , event planning can be stressful . But with the right template? There is hope. 💜

The best templates are customizable, completely free, and attached to an event management software that’s designed to centralize your work, bring the team together, and keep things moving. 

Like ClickUp . 🙂

ClickUp is the all-in-one productivity platform for event planners, teams, and stakeholders to brainstorm, act on their ideas, and bring events to life using a single collaborative Workspace. With a rich set of completely customizable features , 15 unique workflow views, and over 1,000 integrations , ClickUp helps teams access work across apps and streamline any process.

Sign up for ClickUp’s Free Forever Plan today to access hundreds of pre-built templates for every use case—including dozens created specifically for planning your next event. 🪩

Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

Receive the latest WriteClick Newsletter updates.

Thanks for subscribing to our blog!

Please enter a valid email

• Free training & 24-hour support
• Serious about security & privacy
• 99.99% uptime the last 12 months

All Formats

Plan Templates

Event plan template – 12+ free word, pdf documents download.

Event planning can be a lengthy and complicated process, which is why event planning templates are undoubtedly a boon for professional event planners. By making use of premade plan templates , the job can considerably be cut down on time and effort and also help you build a base for your event-planning venture. Many event planning guides, as well as party plan templates , are readily available for download on our site.

Event Planning Business Plan Template

• Google Docs

Event Marketing Plan Template

Event Action Plan Template

How to Create an Event Plan in 5 Steps

Step 1: event overview, step 2: strategy to be implemented, step 3: marketing products and target audience, step 4: financial plan, step 5: swot analysis, festival marketing plan template.

Event Marketing Plan Template in Apple Pages

Fundraising Event Action Plan Free PDF Template Download

Event Marketing Plan Free Word Template Download

Event Business Plan Word Template Free Download

Effective Event Plan Free PDF Template Download

Festival Event Plan Free PDF Template Download

Safety and Security Venue Event Plan Word Free Download

Wedding Event Plan Free PDF Template Download

Conference Event Plan Free PDF Template Download

More in Plan Templates

Event staffing plan template, event project plan template, nonprofit organization fundraising event plan template, event planning timeline template, product concept note template, event concept note template, event marketing action plan template, event email marketing plan template, event emergency management plan template.

• 7+ Financial Plan Templates
• 10+ Operational Plan Templates
• 9+ Training Plan Templates
• 5+ Shooting Schedule Template
• 11+ School Counselor Lesson Plan Templates in PDF | Word
• 9+ Interdisciplinary Lesson Plan Templates in PDF | MS Word
• 10+ Business Continuity Plan Templates in Google Docs | Ms Word | Pages | PDF
• 18+ Compensation Plan Templates in Google Docs | MS Word | Pages | PDF
• 10+ Executive Bonus Plan Templates in PDF
• 8+ Facility Management Plan Templates in PDF
• 10+ Diversity Recruitment Plan Templates in PDF | MS Word
• 11+ Audit Corrective Action Plan Templates in MS Word | Excel | PDF
• 9+ Recruitment Agency Marketing Plan Templates in PDF
• 10+ Recruitment Marketing Plan Templates in PDF | MS Word
• 10+ Student Recruitment Plan Templates in PDF | MS Word

File Formats

Word templates, google docs templates, excel templates, powerpoint templates, google sheets templates, google slides templates, pdf templates, publisher templates, psd templates, indesign templates, illustrator templates, pages templates, keynote templates, numbers templates, outlook templates.

23+ SAMPLE Event Management Plan Templates in PDF | MS Word | Google Docs | Apple Pages

Event management plan templates | ms word | google docs | apple pages, 23+ sample event management plan templates, what is an event management plan, why should you use an event management plan, make every event management plan work: crucial skills you need, how do you craft an event management plan.

Event Management Business Plan Template

Event Management Development Plan Template

Event Management Marketing Plan Template

Event Project Planning Template

Event Management Plan Template and Guidance Notes Outline

Event Management Chart Plan

Event Risk Management Plan

Event Organizer Management Plan (EMP) Checklist

Event Organizational Chart Management Plan Example

Generic Event Introduction Management Plan

Basic Event Preparation Management Plan

Editable Event Marketing Management Plan

Event Safety Management Proposal Plan

Event Management Flow Planning

Festival Event Management Plan Executive Summary

Event Management Budget Plan in Word

Event Management Plan in PDF Template

Event Management Plan Guidance

Sample Event Management Plan Template

Printable Event Management Plan

Event Management Plan SOP Checklist

Model Event Management Plan

Event Management Action Plan

Event Management Plan Proforma

No more money down the drain, makes ideas and events extra special, paves the way for grand event plans, anticipate risks and ensure safetyall at the same time, 1. create and comprehend event objectives, 2. determine the required tasks, 3. create a risk and safety management plan, 4. keep track of everything you have planned, share this post on your network, file formats, word templates, google docs templates, excel templates, powerpoint templates, google sheets templates, google slides templates, pdf templates, publisher templates, psd templates, indesign templates, illustrator templates, pages templates, keynote templates, numbers templates, outlook templates, you may also like these articles, 5+ sample investment company business plan in pdf.

What do you do when you have tons of spare cash lying around your home or burning a hole in your wallet or expensive jeans pocket? For some people, the…

41+ SAMPLE Unit Plan Templates in PDF | MS Word

As a teacher, you might know about every school policy, the steps to keep classrooms safe for intellectual development, how to set up an organized classroom, and the proposed…

browse by categories

• Questionnaire
• Description
• Reconciliation
• Certificate
• Spreadsheet

Information

• privacy policy
• Terms & Conditions

Free Microsoft Word Event Proposal Templates

By Kate Eby | April 13, 2024

• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn

Link copied

Our collection of the most useful Microsoft Word event proposal templates is tailored for business leaders, project managers, and organizational development professionals. Included on this page, you’ll find an  event sponsorship proposal template , a  conference event proposal template , a  charity event proposal template , a simple  event proposal outline , and more.

Microsoft Word Event Proposal Template

Download the Event Proposal Example Template for Microsoft Word

Download the Blank Event Proposal Template for Microsoft Word

When to Use This Template:  This versatile event proposal template — available for download with and without sample data — is designed for event planners, organizations, or individuals aiming to present a structured proposal for any type of event. Use this template when you need to communicate a detailed plan to convince decision-makers of your event’s value and feasibility.

Notable Template Features:  This template includes sections for defining event objectives and identifying target audience demographics. The marketing and promotion strategy section enables users to outline a multifaceted approach to event publicity, leveraging both digital and traditional channels. Additionally, the risk management section prompts planners to address potential challenges and craft a flexible, robust strategy. 

Microsoft Word Event Sponsorship Proposal Template

Download the Event Sponsorship Proposal Example Template for Microsoft Word

Download the Blank Event Sponsorship Proposal Template for Microsoft Word

When to Use This Template:  Use this template when you’re ready to approach potential sponsors with a structured event proposal that highlights the benefits of supporting your event. It’s perfect for differentiating sponsorship levels and outlining the marketing exposure that sponsors can expect. Available with or without sample data, this template is an essential tool for pitching and securing event partnerships. Notable Template Features:  With sections for tiered sponsorship packages that cater to diverse marketing budgets and goals, custom partnership opportunities, and a robust promotion plan, this template allows you to showcase how sponsors can be involved with the event. It offers space to highlight previous event successes and testimonials, and it can be adapted for a wide variety of events. Visit  this collection of event planning templates and checklists for the most comprehensive templates to assist you in planning any significant event, whether a product launch, a conference, or a wedding.

Microsoft Word Conference Event Proposal Template

Download the Conference Event Proposal Example Template for Microsoft Word

Download the Blank Conference Event Proposal Template for Microsoft Word  

When to Use This Template:  This template is ideal for event organizers aiming to secure approval, funding, or sponsorship for a conference. It provides a clear framework for organizers to detail all essential aspects of the event, from objectives and audience to logistics and budget. Utilize the blank template when you need to present your own compelling and structured proposal to stakeholders or potential sponsors, and download the example template for a guide on how to communicate a conference’s value.

Notable Template Features:  This template features sections for key elements such as objectives, target audience, program schedule, and sponsorship opportunities. It gives organizers the opportunity to delineate strategic marketing plans, a comprehensive budget overview, logistics, and risk management tactics. Easily adaptable to different conference themes and formats, this template is a standout tool for presenting a persuasive event proposal to stakeholders and sponsors.

Visit  this article for a variety of conference planning templates , from proposals to evaluations. Discover how to utilize these templates effectively, what advantages they offer, and which essential components to include in your conference planning process.

Microsoft Word Charity Event Proposal Template

Download the Charity Event Proposal Example Template for Microsoft Word

Download the Blank Charity Event Proposal Template for Microsoft Word  

When to Use This Template:  This template is perfect for nonprofits or community groups planning a fundraising or awareness event and seeking external support or sponsorship. Use this template — available both blank and with sample data — to outline your event's goals, benefits, and logistics, ensuring stakeholders understand the impact of their participation.

Notable Template Features:  This template is distinguished by its focus on the event's purpose, impact, and logistics. Key features include sections on marketing and sponsorship opportunities, so organizers can outline how they will garner support and visibility. It also provides the framework for a comprehensive budget overview and risk management strategies. 

Visit  this page of indispensable event marketing templates designed to help you create effective promotion timelines and boost attendance for your events. You’ll find templates for virtual and in-person event marketing plans, along with valuable insights on how to maximize your event's success.

Microsoft Word Virtual Event Proposal Template

Download the Virtual Event Proposal Example Template for Microsoft Word

Download the Blank Virtual Event Proposal Template for Microsoft Word

When to Use This Template:  Use this template to plan virtual events, such as webinars or online conferences. Downloadable both blank and with sample data, it is a valuable tool for pitching innovative digital event concepts to decision-makers, attracting sponsors, or communicating plans with stakeholders. It’s most effective in early planning stages where articulating the advantages of a virtual event is key to gaining support.

Notable Template Features:  This template focuses on virtual platform requirements and audience engagement strategies — crucial for online event success. It offers space to detail  sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities tailored to the digital format, alongside targeted online promotion strategies. The risk management section prompts organizers to consider challenges unique to virtual events, making it a comprehensive planning tool.

Check out  this article on designing an effective virtual event . You will find information on planning, hosting, and technology considerations to make sure your event runs smoothly. 

Event Proposal Outline

A comprehensive event proposal template might not be necessary for every event. Use this streamlined event proposal outline when you need quick stakeholder consensus or are planning small, straightforward functions. It focuses on the core components of the event, making it ideal for rapid proposal development and approval.

• Name of the Event
• Date and Time
• Brief Description
• Main Goals of the Event
• Expected Outcomes
• Demographics
• How to Attract This Audience
• Estimated Costs
• Potential Revenue Sources
• Promotion Channels
• Key Messaging
• Timeline for Marketing Activities

Related Templates

Explore these free templates to fulfill all your event planning needs. From budget planning to attendance and sign-in templates, find exactly what you need to ensure your event runs smoothly from start to finish.

Event Planner Template

This comprehensive  event planner template covers strategic elements such as objectives, target audience, and messaging, along with logistical details such as catering, programming, and audiovisual needs. Use the checklist to note what actions must be completed, who is responsible for each task and the corresponding deadlines.

Event Schedule Template

This handy  event schedule template — with space for dates, locations, program start and end times, and breaks — helps you create an orderly agenda to share with staff and attendees. It's adaptable for single- or multi-day events, as well as conferences with multiple speakers in different venue rooms.

Event To-Do List Template

Utilize this  to-do list template to organize, prioritize, and complete all essential tasks for your event. Track your progress on each item with clear due dates. The template also offers space for additional notes or comments from other team members.

Event Budget Template

This  event budget template helps you break down expenses in a spreadsheet and visualize data with charts. Use this tool to quickly identify major budget allocations, such as event programming, food service, advertising, and venue rentals. The template also features a comment section for jotting down notes or sharing messages with your team.

Event Sign-Up and Attendance Template

For recruiting event volunteers,  this printable sign-up sheet is invaluable. Post it at the event to gather names, contact details, affiliations, and task preferences. Customize column labels to suit your needs.

Event Request for Proposal Templates

Visit  this page of event request for proposal (RFP) templates to find essential information on crafting effective RFPs, including tips for outlining objectives, defining target audiences, and specifying logistical details.

Streamline Collection and Management of Event Proposals with Smartsheet

The best marketing teams know the importance of effective campaign management, consistent creative operations, and powerful event logistics -- and Smartsheet helps you deliver on all three so you can be more effective and achieve more. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed.

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time. Try Smartsheet for free, today.

Improve your marketing efforts and deliver best-in-class campaigns.