Build Budgets That Actually Work
Most event budgets fail because they're built on guesswork. We teach you how to create financial plans rooted in real data and practical experience. Our methods come from managing hundreds of events across Canada since 2019, where every lesson cost someone real money.
What Drives Our Teaching
We're not trying to turn you into accountants. But we've seen too many great events collapse because someone underestimated venue costs or forgot about tax implications.
The stuff we teach comes from actual mistakes and wins. Like that time in 2022 when a client saved ,000 by restructuring their vendor payments based on quarterly tax timing. Or when another lost ,300 because they didn't account for weekend delivery premiums.
Realistic Scenarios
Every exercise uses numbers from real events. We don't give you theoretical problems—you'll work with actual budgets that happened in Ontario, BC, and Alberta.
Context That Matters
Understanding why a 15% contingency fund makes sense for outdoor events but might be overkill for hotel conferences. We explain the reasoning behind every decision.
Honest About Limits
Some things you can't predict. Weather delays, last-minute cancellations, supply chain issues—we show you how to build flexibility without padding budgets unnecessarily.
What You'll Actually Learn
Our 12-week program focuses on skills you'll use immediately. Each module builds on the previous one, so by week eight you're working on complete event budgets from scratch.
Cost Estimation
Break down events into manageable budget categories. Learn which costs fluctuate and which ones stay stable across different event types and seasons.
Vendor Negotiation
Understand how vendors price their services and where flexibility exists. We'll show you actual contracts and explain what's negotiable versus what's fixed.
Risk Assessment
Identify potential budget problems before they happen. Learn to spot warning signs in vendor proposals and client requests that signal trouble ahead.
Budget Adjustments
Events change—sometimes daily. Practice making quick budget revisions when clients add requirements or unexpected costs appear mid-planning.
Client Communication
Present budget information clearly to people who aren't finance-focused. Turn spreadsheets into understandable summaries that help clients make decisions.
Quick Calculations
Develop mental shortcuts for common budget scenarios. Estimate costs accurately during client calls without needing detailed spreadsheets every time.
From People Who've Taken This
These folks went through our program between fall 2023 and spring 2024. Their feedback helps us improve each session, and honestly, they explain the value better than we can.
I'd been planning corporate events for three years but always handed off the budget work to our finance team. After taking this course in November 2024, I can build complete budgets myself. Saved our company about two weeks of back-and-forth on our last conference.
Stellan Bergqvist
Event Coordinator, CalgaryThe vendor negotiation section alone was worth it. I learned which cost items have wiggle room and which don't. Used that knowledge to reduce our spring gala budget by ,200 without cutting any actual features. Just better pricing conversations.
