Prior to creating an event, it’s important to establish a budget. Below are items you’ll want to account for when planning for your event.
- Venue rental
- Food and beverage
- Equipment rental (speakers, mics, technical assistance, etc.)
- Photography and videography
- Decorations (flowers, table decorations, etc.)
- Design and printing (invitations, programs, tickets, awards, etc.)
- Supplies (name tags, extra markers, etc.)
- Gifts for guests
- Speaker fees
- Lodging
- Travel
- Registration fees (for sponsorship opportunities)
- Tax and gratuity (this is very important to remember)
Now that you know types of events you can plan, options for who can plan your events, and what to account for in your event budget, it’s time to make sure you know how to evaluate the success of your event. HubSpot, a company that focuses on marketing automation, wrote an article called “5 Must-Have Marketing Event Success Metrics” that will help you do just that. As a small business owner, your skill set is likely a combination of big-picture thinking and detail orientation (or you have someone who manages the details who should be reading this blog). Either way, you’re well on your way to planning fantastic events for your company. Happy event planning!
