How to Start a Workshop Organizing Business

Start a workshop organizing business by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Workshop Organizing Business
2. Form your Workshop Organizing Business into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Workshop Organizing Business for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Workshop Organizing Business
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Workshop Organizing Business
7. Get Workshop Organizing Business Insurance
8. Define your Workshop Organizing Business Brand
9. Create your Workshop Organizing Business Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your workshop organizing business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

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.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your workshop organizing business is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a workshop organizing business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting the SBA's reference to state licenses and permits.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

Individuals who start workshop organizing businesses tend to enjoy socializing, planning, and organizing. They’re naturals at making interpersonal connections with others and have a knack for taking a concept from idea to full-fledged workshop experience. If you’re the kind of person who loves putting together events, you might be ideal for this business.

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.