This fictional fee-only US agency earns planning fees from completed work; the client’s venue and other vendor budgets are outside its revenue. Inquiries and future bookings do not become current completed-event fees. The January 2027–December 2029 forecast uses expected completions to test a paid planning roster, subject to a real dated calendar.
Test the business with earned agency fees and accept work against a dated roster. Monthly spare hours cannot resolve simultaneous events.
Which part of the event budget is agency revenue?
Clients contract with and pay vendors directly. The agency sells a bounded planning or coordination scope without venue ownership, catering inventory or assumed vendor commissions. Full planning and coordination are separate categories rather than automatic charges stacked on one event.
The table shows expected completed-event equivalents. Fractional events are forecast averages, not partially completed contracts or evidence of a booked backlog. Track inquiries, accepted future dates and completed paid work separately.
| Service | Expected completions | Fee/completion | Agency revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full wedding | 0.8 | $5,000.00 | $4,000.00 |
| Partial wedding | 0.6 | $3,500.00 | $2,100.00 |
| Coordination | 1 | $2,000.00 | $2,000.00 |
| Corporate | 1 | $6,000.00 | $6,000.00 |
| Social | 0.6 | $2,500.00 | $1,500.00 |
How does the ceiling connect to planner time?
The selected mix averages 25.45 active planner hours per completed event. With the 1.5 total-work allowance, the 5.5-event monthly ceiling requires 5.5 × 25.45 × 1.5 = 209.9625 total planner hours, within the paid roster's 216 scheduled planner hours per month. The owner-planner and fractional planner supply delivery time; administration adds no event-day coverage.
That aggregate test does not establish date-level feasibility. Two events needing the lead planner at the same time may conflict even below the monthly ceiling. Long preparation windows and travel need a dated task plan; outside support must be suitable and paid before being treated as available.
| Measure | Scenario input or check | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Weighted task effort | 25.45 active planner hours/event | Selected exclusive service mix |
| Total-work allowance | 1.5 × active task effort | Preparation, travel and related work |
| Monthly completion ceiling | 5.5 event equivalents/month | One shared planner pool |
| Total effort at ceiling | 209.9625 planner hours/month | 5.5 × 25.45 × 1.5 |
| Paid scheduled pool | 216 planner hours/month | Administration excluded from delivery capacity |
Can the roster survive weaker months?
January revenue is $3,900.00 and EBITDA is -$7,023.68. October revenue rises to $18,720.00. This reflects the selected seasonal pattern and opening ramp rather than observed regional demand.
Operating-year 2027 revenue is $175,500.00 and EBITDA is $18,032.41. The owner salary allowance of $5,416.67 remains included with fractional planner/admin pay and employer allowances. Annual profit does not make every opening month self-funding.
When are fees available to spend?
The forecast assumes collection 6 days after earned completion, with no advances, milestone receipts or backlog. Minimum cash is $34,398.71, supported by proposed equity of $60,000.00. These are scenario terms, not mandatory contract rules.
Real long-lead assignments need a separate payment and cancellation decision. Model preparation costs and any vendor prepayments on their actual dates. A client’s vendor budget cannot fill an agency cash gap. Proposed equity is uncommitted and refundable premises deposits remain excluded.
What establishes that a date can be accepted?
Complete a paid limited assignment with preparation, attendance, travel and outside-support logs. Build a dated planner roster and responsibility map before accepting nearby event dates. Confirm fee, cancellation and payment terms with the client.
Replace the completion-aligned inquiry proxy with an actual lead-time and booking record. No secured event, achieved conversion rate or confirmed support roster is supplied. The decision is whether the accepted scope fits paid people and cash timing.
Make the next decision with your own evidence
Build a dated roster from paid assignment logs and agreed scope/payment terms before accepting overlapping dates.
Explore published business plan examples ↗Gatherline Planning is a fictional prelaunch scenario prepared with AI assistance. Inputs are illustrative; forecast results come from the matching saved financial model. Funding is proposed. The diagrams explain the case and do not depict actual premises, established demand or promised earnings. Replace the assumptions with evidence before committing.
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