How to Start a Workshop Organizing Business

Part 1 - How to start a Workshop Organizing business - Background

Workshops provide an important way for people to get together, learn, and grow. Workshops can cover just about any subject — from basket weaving to computer programming. What they all have in common is that they must be organized by someone, which is where workshop organizing businesses come in.

Workshop organizing businesses help clients achieve their desired outcomes through well-managed workshops. These businesses provide expertise and resources to help clients plan and execute workshops on the subject of their choosing.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Workshop Organizing business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a workshop organizing business?

Initially, you can expect relatively low costs for opening this type of business. You only need a smartphone and a laptop to meet with clients, keep track of information, and communicate with various service providers. You can charge all of the services needed to host an event to the client. That means you could start your business for as little as $500 to $1,000.

What are the ongoing expenses for a workshop organizing business?

Your ongoing expenses will include maintaining your technology (e.g., your smartphone and laptop), travel costs, utilities, and any employee wages. The goal in this type of business is to be able to pay for everything to host an event upfront and then charge your clients for those costs afterward with a markup. That means you’ll eventually have high ongoing expenses, but they’ll be covered by the fees you charge your clients after each workshop.

Who is the target market?

The business world is probably the most lucrative market for workshop organizers. Businesses have the money to host workshops and pay you for your services. But, if you prefer, you could focus on a particular niche market like art workshops and target that specific market instead.

How does a workshop organizing business make money?

A workshop organizing business makes money by charging clients to organize workshops. If a corporate client wants to host a cultural diversity workshop, for example, it might pay a workshop organizing business to develop and oversee that event.

How much can you charge customers?

The amount a workshop organizing business can charge its clients can vary greatly, depending on the type of event (e.g., corporate or social). It also can vary based on the experience level of the planner and the client’s needs. Many workshop organizing businesses charge a flat fee while others may charge an hourly rate. Social workshop planning can cost $12 to $75 per hour while corporate workshop planning can cost $16 to $150 per hour.

How much profit can a workshop organizing business make?

Most workshop organizing businesses charge clients a commission based on the cost of the workshop. If a workshop costs $10,000 to host, for example, you might earn a $2,000 commission. You’ll likely only have a few clients to start with so your profits won’t be high at first. But, given time and a larger client base, you could eventually earn a significant profit from your business.

How can you make your business more profitable?

There are a few ways to make your business more profitable. First, you could try to attract more clients and/or better-paying clients. As your reputation grows, you should be able to expand your client base and possibly get higher-paying clients to boost your profits. Another way to increase profitability involves finding additional sources of income, such as offering workshop kits online. Some companies offer kits that instruct users on how to plan and host their own workshops. These kits can cost $50 to $200 or more, depending on the topic.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a workshop organizing business?

A typical day at a workshop organizing business involves contacting various service providers, planning events, and marketing services to future clients. It can take time to contact and schedule things like catering, information technology (IT) services, and rental spaces — and that just covers the services that provide support and a framework for the workshop. You also must identify your client’s goals and plan an event that will achieve those goals.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful workshop organizing business?

Event planning experience is ideal for a workshop organizing business. If you have experience planning events, you can apply that to workshops. But, you may still have valuable experience for this type of business even if you haven’t worked as a professional event planner. Good communication and teaching skills as well as strong interpersonal and organizational skills all can prove beneficial in workshop organizing.

What is the growth potential for a workshop organizing business?

According to a survey of businesses, 85% of leaders and executives believe in-person events are critical for their company’s success. Workshops represent an essential part of how businesses instruct employees, which means a capable workshop organizing business has the potential to grow considerably. But that only accounts for the corporate world. People also participate in numerous other types of workshops. These also offer business opportunities.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a workshop organizing business?

If you’re struggling to break into the industry, you may find it helpful to get your feet wet with pro bono work. For example, you could offer your services to a local charity and organize a workshop for them. You could then use the charity as a reference and your work for the organization as part of your portfolio. Then, when you approach a potential client and they ask what experience you have, you can use your charity work as an example.

How and when to build a team

There’s a limit to what you can accomplish on your own. When you want to expand your workshop organizing services to more clients, you may find it helpful to hire a few employees. Always conduct a cost/benefit analysis when hiring because you don’t want to spend more than you earn. But, it’s probably time to hire some people if you do the math and think you can serve more clients and generate more revenue with additional help.

Part 2 - Is a Workshop Organizing business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Workshop Organizing business in 90 days