Studio vs. No Studio

Written by Amanda B. Young, Associate for MasterPiece Weddings:

One of the first issues that many wedding planners face when they are new to the biz is whether they should have a studio. You know, brick-and-mortar. A place to call home. Or something like that. The fact of the matter is that this is not something to take lightly; whether you have a studio or not can drastically affect the nature (not to mention the finances) of your business. 

Source.

What many people do not think about is that having a wedding planning studio is kind of like having a "home base." It is where your clients can meet with you and where clients may drop by unannounced. It has a fair share of perks: 

1. Provides a professional and comfortable environment to meet with your clients with everything at your fingertips
2. Allows you to demonstrate your creativity and convey your taste and general sense of style to your clients
3. Keeps all of your work things together potentially eliminating the need for a home office
   
4. Gives you a good professional mailing address - as a side note, you should never ever give clients your home address
5. Gives you a place to focus on work - minimizing the distractions of pets, children, and home needs that you might find when working from home

But, with great perks comes great responsibility. Having a studio is anything but cheap. Not only do you have to pay the cost of rent and upkeep, you also face the cost of decorating and furnishing as well as monthly phone, electric, and internet bills. Opening a studio is anything but to be taken lightly.

The good news? Many planners operate efficiently (and successfully, I might add) without them. In today's day and age it is anything but unusual to meet with a wedding planner at a coffee shop or some place similar. Plus, it gives you a neutral ground where you can also indulge in your favorite beverage.