9 Event Planning Business Success Stories [2024]
Event planners handle different tasks related to making the business a success. Some of the event planner’s responsibilities include:
- Conducting research
- Creating the event design
- Finding an ideal site
- Arranging for food, décor, and entertainment
- Planning logistics to and from the event
- Sending invitations
- Supervising at the site etc
To start this business on a budget, begin by honing your organizational and communication skills.
Next, create a detailed business plan outlining your services, target market, and pricing structure.
Utilize free or low-cost online tools for marketing, and consider starting small by offering services for smaller events before expanding your business as you gain experience and resources.
In this list, you'll find real-world event planning business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a event planning business that makes money.
1. Ticket Tailor ($6M/year)
Jonny, the founder and CEO of Ticket Tailor, came up with the idea for his ticketing platform while studying software engineering at Birmingham University in 2005. As a music fan, he wanted to create a website called "What's on in Brum?" to showcase local events. Through his experience building ticketing systems for clients and the frustration with high fees and data sharing from ticketing agencies, he saw an opportunity to create a scalable software product that would make ticketing more affordable and convenient for event creators.
How much money it makes: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 8
A successful ticketing platform that grew from a side project into a business that issues over 5 million tickets annually, using a combination of cold calling, word of mouth, and partnerships to attract and retain customers while navigating the challenges of COVID-19.
2. Interactive Entertainment Group ($4.8M/year)
Gregg Dukofsky, the founder of Interactive Entertainment Group, came up with the idea for his business after his friends visited his recording studio and had fun creating their own music video. This inspired him to launch his first product, Super F/X Music Videos, which was a hit at a local amusement park. Since then, Dukofsky has expanded his inventory to include hundreds of unique entertainment products, resulting in the growth of his business to include corporate events and prestigious clients.
How much money it makes: $4.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $27.4K
How many people on the team: 12
From a booth at a flea market to a 400k/month revenue generator, learn how this event production company pivoted to focus on corporate events, garnered top private companies recognition by Inc., and reinvented itself through virtual offerings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Mystery ($1.8M/year)
Shane Kovalsky, the Co-founder of Mystery, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing a perfect weekend in Austin and wondering how he could recreate that surprise and delight for others. He started by planning surprise nights out on the town for friends and family, and with the customer love and a compelling business model, Mystery was born. Now, they have successfully pivoted to B2B virtual events and corporate gifting, engaging with over 20,000 users in just over 2 years.
How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 16
Mystery is an experiences platform with over 20,000 engaged users in just over two years, offering a surprise element to virtual events and corporate gifting.
4. Entire Productions ($1.3M/year)
Natasha Miller came up with the idea for Entire Productions when she was double and triple booked for private parties as a performer. Instead of turning down the gigs, she offered to bring in other talented performers and manage the whole process, unknowingly creating a mini empire. With a focus on experience design, Entire Productions has now grown into a fast-growing event and entertainment production company, primarily serving corporate clients in tech and pharma.
How much money it makes: $1.3M/year
How many people on the team: 6
Entire Productions is a fast-growing event and entertainment production company with an emphasis on experience design, primarily working with corporate clients including many Fortune 500 companies in the tech and pharma industries, boasting a growth of 148% and a goal of reaching $20M annual mark.
5. FinCon ($1M/year)
Philip Taylor, a CPA and personal finance blogger, came up with the idea for FinCon after being inspired by personal finance bloggers who had achieved financial freedom. He saw a need for a conference tailored specifically for personal finance content creators and brands, and after receiving overwhelming interest from the community, he launched the first Financial Blogger Conference in Chicago in 2011.
How much money it makes: $1M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25
How many people on the team: 4
Discover how Philip Taylor built FinCon from scratch to a 3,000 attendee annual conference and achieved $1.6M in revenue in less than 10 years, by allowing customers to help build the event, fostering a sense of community, expanding offerings, pricing strategically, and surrounding himself with talented people.
6. EMS Events ($600K/year)
Amana Feline's "aha" moment came when she saw event organizers struggling with equipment rentals, prompting her to start EMS Events in 1997. Today, her company generates $50K monthly, serving 500-600 events annually in London.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 25
Case study about the growth of an event production company in London that started in 1997, now making $50K monthly and aiming to reach $90K by offering event equipment and services such as LED video walls, sound systems, and lighting hire, serving corporate events and focusing on exhibitions for revenue growth.
7. Spacehuntr ($600K/year)
Dietrich, a retired investment manager, came up with the idea for Spacehuntr after experiencing the dread of traditional corporate meetings. Initially focused on coworking spaces, a pivotal moment came when they helped a lost client find a unique venue in Brussels. They realized they could specialize in helping foreign clients find unique spaces for international events, leading to a spike in demand and steady growth.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 10
Spacehuntr achieved a +700% growth in 2019 with revenues, despite the global pandemic, on track to match that growth in 2020, by launching a 360° platform for businesses to book and manage unique Work, Play & Stay spaces, catering to international corporations such as Airbnb, Netflix, and Uber.
8. Simply Decor and Events ($420K/year)
Akshay Patel, founder of Simply Decor, Tents, and Events, came up with the idea for his event rental and decor business after throwing a big party with a limited budget. Unable to afford professional decor, Patel made his own decorations and caught the attention of a bride who ended up becoming his first client. Since then, the business has grown, generating upwards of $380,000 a year, and Patel has learned the importance of innovative advertising strategies and standing his ground.
How much money it makes: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 2
Akshay Patel's event rental and decor business, Simply Decor, Tents, and Events, saw an average ticket price of $2,000, as their advertising budget decreased from $20k to $5k, leading to 40% of their clients coming through social media advertising, 30% from expos, and 30% online in google, yahoo, and other platforms.
9. Elegante Catering ($240K/year)
Since the launch, Elegante Catering has focused on online marketing and SEO to attract and retain customers. The founder leveraged their previous experience in online marketing and utilized targeted blog posts and social media to drive traffic to their website. Additionally, they prioritized customer feedback and created menus based on customer preferences to ensure customer satisfaction and retention.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 10
Elegante Catering founder, Nestor Nidome, details his journey from failed DJ business to a $20k/month catering company, emphasizing the importance of online marketing and customer feedback as key contributors to his success.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
