Freelance meeting and conference planner
Plan team meetings, workshops and small conferences for local businesses and associations from your home office.
- C$500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
You organize corporate meetings, off-sites, training days and small conferences: finding venues, booking catering, arranging AV equipment and managing the schedule and attendee details. Most of the planning is done by phone and email from home, with some time on site on the day.
Your first three steps
- Pick a niche, such as corporate training days or association meetings, and set your fee structure after checking what local planners charge
- Register your business name with your province, set up a simple contract and quote template, and ask a few local venues about planner rates
- Offer to plan one small meeting or workshop at a reduced rate for a local business and collect a testimonial and photos
Who pays
Small and mid-sized businesses, non-profits, professional associations and company admin or HR teams that have no in-house event staff.
How it makes money
A flat project fee, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the event budget. Some planners also earn venue or supplier commissions, which should be disclosed to clients.
Skills that help
- Organized, with attention to detail
- Negotiating with venues and suppliers
- Calm under pressure on the day
- Clear written communication
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability insurance, and check whether clients or venues require proof of cover
- Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
- Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and check provincial rules
- Clear contracts on deposits, cancellations and who is liable if a venue or supplier lets you down
- Income can be uneven, with busy periods around spring and fall and quiet stretches in summer and December
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: freelance meeting and conference planner
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a meeting planning business?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on the equipment and set-up you need. Because most planning is done by phone and email from a home office, you do not need premises.
Do I need a licence or insurance to plan meetings in Canada?
Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether clients or venues want proof of commercial general liability insurance. Also check GST/HST registration once past the small supplier threshold, and use clear contracts covering deposits, cancellations and liability.
How much can a freelance meeting planner earn?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $800 to $5,000, depending on how many events you take on. Income can be uneven, with busy periods around spring and fall and quiet stretches in summer and December.
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Photo: crystal710 on Pixabay