Event planning as an entrepreneur can be stressful and intense at any time, but it can be even more chaotic when you are also struggling with the demands of a start-up which is just beginning to teeter onto its legs.
Read on for a guide on how to plan an event that everyone will remember during your early days as a business owner, including how to juggle the planning and be a great host on the night.
· Start Small
There is no point in setting up a complex event in a huge venue when only a few hundred people know about your business or what it is. Rather than trying to run before you can walk, you should instead focus on getting the formula right before you expand it.
While a smaller event might not always seem worth it, this is a chance to speak to loyal customers and integral people in your industry on a one-to-one basis who you would not otherwise be able to—especially if you were in a larger and busier room. You should also minimize the time it goes on for so that your guests are left wanting more rather than being more enthusiastic about going home.
· Create a Budget
Before you do anything else, it is paramount that you set a budget for your event that considers all its different elements—but that still respects your bank account. This is especially important as you will have already just spent out a lot of money on getting your business off the ground, such as on office space or store hire.
By creating a budget, you will be able to check that you are not digging too much into your company’s resources and that you still have enough left over for a rainy day.
· Pick the Perfect Venue
Once you have done this, it is time to pick the perfect venue. This should be a venue that will inspire your guests and yet can show them what your company is all about. This does not have to be extravagant at this time. It can simply be one where your guests feel comfortable and which is able to accommodate them with engaging talks and workshops—a space to network and socialize, and that offers catering facilities. If you have not done much research into business events before now, you should take some time to search around for corporate event venues in your local area.
· Center Your Employees
If you have just started to employ a team of people to support you, it is vital that you make them a part of the evening so that they can feel as if they are an integral and invaluable element of your business. For instance, you might decide to host a dinner just for them where you give them new information, provide them with a first look into your new products, offer awards and rewards, and allow them to let loose for a while.
This is a perfect opportunity to thank them for dedicating themselves to your company in its earliest and most precarious days.
