What do I need to open an event venue?
What is the short answer?
Five things, in this order: a space that is legal for the crowd you plan to host, the permits to run it, insurance, a way to take bookings and payments, and a price list you can defend.
Start with the building. Zoning usually has to allow events, and the fire marshal's occupancy number sets how many guests you can hold, so ask your city or county planning office before you sign a lease or close on land. Then come permits (the next question covers them), liability insurance, and a contract every client signs.
The last two are easy to put off. You need somewhere that records every inquiry, tour and date hold, and a way to collect deposits on a schedule. A shared spreadsheet can work until the first double booking. Then price from your costs, not from the venue down the road.
Your first week in MyVenueHQ
Five steps, in this order.
- Create your account and name the venue on Today. The free plan needs no card.
- Draw each room under Layouts and press Save Layout. A saved layout is what you pick as an event's room.
- Open Calendar, then Public calendar, and press Copy link. Share it on your website and profiles. Visitors press Ask about a date.
- Watch Inquiries. Each request lands under Waiting for a reply, and your team gets a notification and an email. Reply opens your own mail app; MyVenueHQ does not send it.
- Convert the first inquiry to an event and choose Tentative, holding the date. A hold blocks the room like a booking.
Where MyVenueHQ fits
MyVenueHQ covers that last part: inquiries, a room calendar that refuses a clash, proposals and invoices. E-signed contracts are on the Venue plan. The free plan covers one venue and 10 events a month. Venue booking software.