Scaling your wedding business to six figures is the topic of today’s I Said Yes! Wedding Pros Blog. As a result, we are excited to bring you a guest blogger who is sharing her 3 pillars of a 6-figure wedding business.
3 pillars of a 6-figure wedding business
Hey, hey wedding pros! My name is Brandee Gaar and I’m not only an educator for the wedding industry, but I’m a wedding planner right here in the Central Florida market.
Before we get into this topic, I want to be super clear…I don’t think you necessarily need six figures to be successful. That is to say, I think that success is defined by everyone in a different way.
However, I also know that there is a lot of people out there trying to figure out how to take their business from barely making an income (and paying themselves) to hitting that six-figure mark. Then the multiple six-figure marks.
So I sat down to really think about the steps that have helped me go from solopreneur – to 6-figures with a small team – to multiple 6-figures with a little bit of a larger team.
As a result, I have narrowed it down to 3! As you step into being the CEO of your business, and look to grow and scale in a new way, these steps will take you to the next level.
Strategic Delegation
So often as entrepreneurs, we hear delegate, delegate, delegate. I think delegation in of itself is challenging. Because we think we are the only ones who know how to do something? Coupled with no one can do it as good as me. Following this, you think “I don’t have time to train someone. I don’t know where to find someone.” Admittedly, all of these things are excuses.
But what I want you to really think about is not just delegating, but strategically delegating. As a result, once you decide to hire, you hire the right person for the right job. Strategic delegation means really looking for someone that has the qualities you are lacking. Further, they take over the duties in your company that don’t bring you joy. Consider these questions when hiring: First, what takes you the most time? Second, what do you put off until you have nothing left on your list? Last, what do you absolutely dread doing?
I hire people onto my team that have qualities that I may be lacking. For instance, I can teach people on my team how to be a great wedding planner. While on the other hand I lack in the skills to complete other duties within the wedding business. For example, I absolutely hate anything that has to do with SOP’s, CRM’s or writing a training manual. So when I’m looking for people to join my team, I want to look for people that love data and procedures. Correspondingly, I can say “Oh my gosh, we need a process for this. Or I need my CRM to do X, Y, and Z” and I have somebody on my team to do that.
In conclusion, strategically delegate and hire to ensure all duties within your wedding business are covered by team players who enjoy doing the task and are subsequently really good at it.
Your Network
In your wedding business, your network is everything. Indeed, the people that you surround yourself with are the people that are going to refer you. Further, they are going to sing your praises when you are not in the room.
You cannot be everywhere all the time. So it is very important to have a network of people surrounding you, that love you. Moreover, they know your brand and believe in you. Additionally, they believe your uniqueness. Most importantly, they tell everyone how amazing you are.
Brandee says, “This has been something so essential in growing Blush for me because from the very beginning, I created a strategic network around me. To be honest, I didn’t think about that right from the beginning.” Admittedly, I wasn’t like “I need to create this strategic network around me.” Of course, as it started to unfold, I realized how imperative it was to my growth.
For example, there are so many people that would refer me to their clients. Or refer me to a venue. Unquestionably, those relationships I started building 14 years ago, have catapulted me from a solopreneur into a business that does half a million dollars a year.
In addition, they believe in what I do. They make me better. And when something goes wrong in an event, or they see something we could do better, they bring it to me.
Be Amazing At One THing
Oh my gosh, I see this so often as I’m coaching new wedding professionals, and I get it. Believe me, I totally get it. You come into the wedding industry and you want so badly to quit your nine to five. To sum up, you want to make it a full-time income.
In this situation, you may come into the wedding industry as a wedding planner with two or three clients. For good reason, you are excited. But then the work dries up and you’re like, “Uh oh, I’ve got to bring in more income.” Due to this lack of business, you start offering floral. Next offering rentals. Then you start managing venues. Unfortunately, the problem with this is people won’t understand what you’re actually excellent at.
Ask yourself these questions: What are you known for? Or, what do you want to be known for? Most importantly, what are you amazing at?
It’s so important to be laser sharp excellent at the one thing you provide that makes you better than everyone else who is providing that same service. Consider this, if you end up providing 5, 6, 7 different services, you are going to stretch yourself too thin. Subsequently, you’re making a tiny bit of money in each service. Although you may end up making six figures. How much money did you put out buying new things and learning new trades? One other thing, your likely not even great at any of them. You’re mediocre at all of them. Similarly, you’re completely overwhelmed because you’re working six different things and you’re so fried you don’t even want to take any more clients.
I know how difficult it is to niche down. However, I promise when you niche down to one service, you will grow exponentially in that area. Assuredly because that is what you become known for.
It Takes Hard Work To Scale Your Wedding Business
Scaling your wedding business to six figures takes hard work – but it is worth it.
That’s all I have for you today! I love ,love, love getting to offer my advice to you through the I Said Yes! Wedding Pros Blog. Further I am excited to help you scale your business in any way I can. If you’re dedicated to following these three pillars – you’re bound to scale in no time.
Cover Photo by: Pavion Photography