5 Party Planning Business Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 1st, 2023
Start A Party Planning Business

Party planning involves budgeting, establishing party timelines, selecting and reserving ideal party sites, acquiring permits, theme décor, and coordinating party catering and transportation.

Are you organized, creative, and client-focused? You can put those skills into starting a successful party planning business. To become a party planner, you must desire to help other people enjoy themselves. Besides, you need diplomacy, salesmanship, and multitasking skills.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a party planning business:

1. 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 they make: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 2

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How I Started A $35K/Month Event Decor Business

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.

Revenue
Akshay grew the business to $35K/month
Costs
It cost Akshay $500 to start the business
Read by 16,843 founders

2. The Party People ($4.8M/year)

Dean Salakas, Chief Party Dude at The Party People, initially got involved in the party business at a young age, working with his mother and grandfather in their small party store. He later launched Australia's first online party store in 1999 and has since grown the business into Australia's largest party store with a multimillion-dollar turnover and a market-leading online presence. Dean's expertise in technology and his passion for parties have been key factors in the success and growth of The Party People.

How much they make: $4.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 40

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Starting A Party Store And Growing Into A Chain

The Party People, Australia's largest party store with a multimillion-dollar turnover, shares insights on how they've grown from a small clown hire business to an online and brick-and-mortar party supply retailer by focusing on customer service and innovating in marketing and technology.

About
Dean started The Party People about 38 years ago
Revenue
Dean grew the business to $400K/month
Costs
It cost Dean $500 to start the business
Read by 9,002 founders

Learn more about starting a party planning business:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a party planning business?
-> Pros and cons of a party planning business

Need inspiration?

-> Examples of established party planning business
-> Marketing ideas for a party planning business
-> Party planning business Instagram bios

Other resources

-> Blog post ideas for a party planning business
-> Party planning business quotes

3. Barry & Jason Games and Entertainment ($300K/year)

Barry McLaughlin, along with his friend Jason, came up with the idea for their business, Barry and Jason Games & Entertainment, after hosting live game nights that offered a unique and creative experience. Inspired by their love of games and comedy, they created Game Night in a Can and successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign, raising over $20,000 to bring their idea to life. They have since expanded their product line and partnered with other companies, and their games are now sold in Barnes & Noble and other stores across the country.

How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size: 1

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How Two Best Friends Are Making A Killing With Party Game Products

Barry and Jason Games & Entertainment created Game Night in a Can, a party game made up of 30 different creative challenges and games of skill, which raised over $20,000 on Kickstarter, and is now sold in Barnes & Noble and independent stores across the US.

About
Barry started Barry & Jason Games and Entertainment almost 9 years ago
Revenue
Barry grew the business to $25K/month
Read by 5,821 founders