B: Tracey Manailescu, WPIC Co-founder
You’ve taken the WPIC certification course, or another one, and now you are getting ready to launch your new business with your new templates, contracts and knowledge. You’ve registered your business name, bought a domain, hired someone to build a great website (or are savvy and did it yourself), ordered business cards, purchased a CRM that fits you, and are feeling confident and ready to take on the world.
Here are some other ideas of things to do before launching your wedding business.
1. Open a Business Bank Account
You cannot accept payments from clients under a business name, until you have a business bank account. Also, keep your business account separate from your personal account so there is no confusion. This way anything that comes in or goes out is business related.
2. Build your Instagram/TikTok/Twitter/LinkedIn
Start posting wedding related posts. Show photos or videos of you attending open houses, visiting wedding venues, sharing trends and behind the scenes photos of you working for other planners at weddings and events. Share photos from a styled shoot or your new business branding photos. Keep liking and commenting on other wedding pros posts and stories. Follow wedding and event pros that you admire.
3. Get Professional Branding Photos
It is recommended to get new business photos every three to six months. Make sure they fit the look and feel that you want for your business. Ensure there are a variety of images that show what you do. You could be creating timelines on your computer, updating a budget sheet, working on a room diagram, having a meeting with a couple, creating a mood board, at a site visit, a cake tasting or helping a groom pin on his boutonnière. There are so many things that we as wedding planners do. We just never think to take photos of us doing it. Now you will 🙂 Remember to have fun and show your personality!
4. Network
Nurture and build relationships with others in the wedding and event industry. Friendors are everything! Introduce yourself to others at open houses and in your courses that you take. Join Facebook groups and attend conferences and get togethers.
5. Get Your Backend in Order
Get to know and be comfortable with numbers. Take some online or in-person bookkeeping courses. Know what you need to make each month to cover your expenses. Can you afford to attend a conference, take another course or decorate your office space? Have an onboarding process ready for new clients, and have templates and documents ready at the go.
What other tips would you give, or have you done to get ready for your business launch? Let us know below in the comments.
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