How to Make Money with Event Planning (No Fluff Guide)
You love organizing things. People keep telling you, “You should be an event planner!” But how do you actually make money with it?
Is event planning profitable? Hell yes. But only if you do it right.
I’ve seen people turn side hustles into six-figure businesses just by planning weddings, corporate events, and birthday parties. Others fail because they don’t know the game.
Let’s fix that.
Why Event Planning is a Goldmine
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High demand – People will always pay for well-executed events.
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Big margins – Charge premium prices for your expertise.
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Scalable – Start small, then build a team or agency.
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Flexible – Work when you want (mostly).
But… how do you start?
Step 1: Pick Your Niche (This is Critical)
Generalists struggle. Specialists get paid.
Profitable event niches:
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Weddings (Big budgets, emotional buyers)
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Corporate Events (Companies pay top dollar)
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Birthday Parties (Recurring clients)
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Non-Profit Galas (High-ticket sponsors)
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Virtual Events (Low overhead, global reach)
Pro Tip: Start with one niche. Master it. Then expand.
Step 2: Set Up Your Business (Fast & Cheap)
You don’t need a fancy office. Just:
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A business name (Check LegalZoom for LLC setup)
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A simple website (Use Wix or Squarespace)
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Social media (Instagram & TikTok for visuals)
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A contract (Protect yourself – LawDepot has templates)
Cost? Less than $500 to start.
Step 3: Get Clients (Without Begging)
No clients = no money. Here’s how to fix that:
Free Methods:
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Network locally (Join Chamber of Commerce, wedding expos)
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Leverage Facebook Groups (Find brides, entrepreneurs, etc.)
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Ask for referrals (Offer discounts for word-of-mouth)
Paid Methods (Worth It):
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Facebook/Instagram Ads (Target engaged couples, CEOs)
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Google Ads (Get leads searching “event planner near me”)
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Cold emailing (Find corporate clients on LinkedIn)
Pro Tip: Start with free methods, then scale with ads.
Step 4: Price for Profit (Don’t Undercharge)
Most new planners charge way too little.
Pricing models:
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Flat fee (Best for beginners – e.g., $2,000 per wedding)
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Percentage of budget (10-20% of total event cost)
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Hourly rate (Rare, but works for consulting)
Example:
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Plan a
30Kweddingat1530K wedding at 15% = **
4,500 profit**. -
Corporate retreat at $5K flat fee = Easy money.
Don’t compete on price. Sell your expertise instead.
Step 5: Scale Up (Make More, Work Less)
Once you’re booked solid, stop trading time for money.
Ways to scale:
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Hire assistants (Delegate logistics)
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Offer premium packages (Upsell VIP services)
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Create digital products (Sell event planning templates)
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Start an agency (Outsource, take a cut)
Pro Move: Systematize everything so you’re not stuck in the weeds.
FAQs (Quick Answers)
1. Do I need a certification to be an event planner?
No. But courses (like from The Event Planner Expo) can boost credibility.
2. How much can I make as an event planner?
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Side hustle:
1K−1K-
5K/month -
Full-time:
50K−50K-
150K/year -
Agency owner: $200K+/year
3. What’s the hardest part of event planning?
Managing clients. Some will be difficult. A solid contract saves you.
4. Can I do this part-time?
Yes. Start with weekends/evenings, then go full-time when profitable.
Final Tip: Keep It Simple
Event planning isn’t rocket science. Find clients. Deliver value. Get paid.
If you want more ways to make money online, check out:
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MillionFormula.com (My top pick)
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Upwork (Freelance gigs)
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Fiverr (Sell event planning services)
Now go book your first client. Time to get paid.
Keyword Recap: How to make money with event planning starts with picking a niche and ends with scaling up. Simple, profitable, doable. Get after it.