All businesses / Wedding planning

Fingerprint: capital · hours · speed to income · margin · ceiling. The dashed line is mid-scale.

Start a wedding planning: the real numbers

Running the day for the couple. Below is what it actually costs, how long before money arrives, and the part most guides leave out.

Startup capital

€1,500–€9,000

Hours / week

20–50

First income

~16 wks

Net margin

75%

Saturation

high

Realistic ceiling

€900–€4,500

What nobody usually tells you

High fees, almost no capital, and couples book twelve months ahead so the year is visible. Every job lands on a Saturday, the emotional load is real, and the season is effectively six months long.

The route, in five steps

  1. Coordinate on the day for others before planning your own
  2. Charge a percentage or a flat €1500-4000, never hourly
  3. Venues refer more work than any advert
  4. Take a deposit that covers your time if they cancel
  5. Ten to fifteen weddings is a full year

What you'll need to buy

These are the categories every wedding planning pays for in the first month. We break down what each one actually costs at this size on the tools page.

portfolio shootinsuranceplanning softwarevenue networking

Does it hold up for you?

These numbers are the average case. Whether this business clears your target depends on your capital, your hours and how long you can wait — put them in and see.

Run my numbers → See the tool stack