Do I need to meet a wedding planner’s regular venues before buying?
Yes, if venues send the planner regular work, meet the main ones before closing. Ask the seller to arrange it, and listen for whether the venues rely on the planner, how they would feel about a new owner and whether any arrangements, such as exclusive or preferred terms, are written down or only spoken.
Venues are often a wedding planner’s most important source of work, and their loyalty may belong to the person rather than the company. Meeting them lets you hear that for yourself instead of from the seller. If you cannot meet the venues before closing, ask for a written introduction from the seller and agree on a first-month plan to visit each one, so no important contact goes quiet during the change.
Ask the seller which venues bring the most bookings and which have a standing arrangement. Then request introductions to the main ones, ideally before you finalize the purchase. Many sellers will prefer to wait until you are far along, so agree a time that works for both.
In the meeting, keep it light. Say you are interested in continuing the relationship, ask about how things have worked, and listen for hesitation. If a venue says the existing planner is the only reason they refer clients, that is useful to know. Find out whether any understanding involves payment or exclusivity, and get it in writing if it matters to the price. Your lawyer can say whether it carries over. If the venue relationships turn out to be thin, think about how you would build them in your first season.
Key takeaways
- Ask which venues supply the most work and meet those first.
- Listen for whether loyalty is to the planner or the company.
- Get any referral or exclusive terms confirmed in writing.
Related reading
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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