Industry & Business

Who this category is for

Industry and Business is written for people who plan events for a living or are thinking about it: independent planners, in-house event coordinators, venue sales teams, caterers, performers and anyone building a small events business in Ontario. Articles here deal with the working side of the industry rather than individual events, such as training and certification, pricing, client contracts, getting found online, and the realities of the GTA market.

What the articles cover

Expect practical guidance on starting out, from choosing between education routes to finding first clients and setting fees. Business topics include registering a sole proprietorship or corporation in Ontario, when HST registration becomes necessary, the difference between hiring contractors and employees, and the insurance a planner should carry. Where a topic touches on law or tax, articles explain the general position and point you to the authority, such as the Canada Revenue Agency or the Ontario government, rather than giving advice for your situation.

Going deeper

The blog articles pair with the Event Planner Academy. The business module covers starting a planning business in Ontario, pricing models, contracts, websites and choosing a niche, and the professional learning path sets out the order in which to take the core modules if you are building a career. The encyclopedia entry on contractor versus employee is a useful starting point for anyone hiring day-of staff.

Join the conversation

The community section includes a jobs board, a mentorship programme and an industry calendar for events in the region. If you have run a planning business, a venue or a vendor company and want to share what you have learned, the write for us page explains how to pitch. We look for specific, experience-based articles that would help someone a few years behind you, and we do not publish promotional content as editorial.