Full-Service party and celebration planner

Families, couples and individuals hosting milestone birthdays, baby showers, graduations and anniversary parties, plus small local businesses with staff celebrations.

Planning fees or a percentage of the event budget, day-of coordination fees, and sometimes markups or commissions on supplier services (disclosed to clients).

• Project management and budgeting
• Building supplier relationships
• Sales and marketing yourself
• Design and styling sense

• Commercial general liability insurance, and check whether venues need to be named as additional insured
• WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire staff (rules differ by province)
• Income is uneven and seasonal, with busy periods around holidays and spring or summer; plan cash flow for slow months
• Quebec has its own rules and French-language requirements, check them if you work there
• Holding client deposits: use clear contracts and keep deposits tracked separately

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on insurance, styling supplies and marketing. Check whether venues need to be named as additional insured on your liability policy.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on the number and size of events you take on. Income can be uneven and seasonal, so plan cash flow for slow months.

Check liability insurance and whether venues need to be named as additional insured, plus WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire staff. Use clear contracts, keep client deposits tracked separately, and check Quebec's own rules and French-language requirements if you work there.