If you’ve been thinking of opening a wedding invitation business, let me just say, “Do It!” It’s very easy to do and, depending on which way you decide to go with your business, the start up cost can be as little as a few hundred dollars.
There are three types of wedding invitation businesses. The first type, where you work as a manufacturer’s representative, is probably the least expensive in terms of start up costs, and also probably the easiest way to get into the business, especially if you’ve never had your own business before.
In this business model, you simply sell the manufacturer’s ready made cards, you act as their representative in your area. They provide you with samples and order forms, and there’s usually some type of training or support system in place to help you when you have questions. Although there may be some small investment required to get sample books from the manufacturers, you don’t have to invest in any stock or supplies with this method.
If you’ve never sold wedding invitations before, this is a good way to start. All the work is done for you. The invitations are already printed and packaged, the order forms are already created and the pricing is already set by the manufacturer. All you have to do is sell the invitations and you earn a commission for each sale from the manufacturer. This way, you can concentrate on learning how to run a business, and the ins and outs of selling wedding invitations, without investing any of your own money.
Another option you have is to sell Bespoke. These are invitations that you create yourself from card stock, pretty papers and embellishments like ribbons and pearls and flowers. This type of invitation business requires the largest investment of time and money, usually $1000 to $3000, but also has the largest profits because you can set your own prices. And if you’re the artistic type, you’re creations can command a very pretty penny. This business model, though, requires that you have more than a basic understanding of business because, since you’ll be making the invitations yourself, you’ll have to know how to control your costs and how much mark up to include in order to make your business run profitably.
The third type of wedding invitation business, which is the best method in my opinion, is the combined business. In this case, you sell sell pre-made blank wedding invitations and stationery, that you get from a supplier, and you finish it off on your home computer. With this method, you’re not working for a manufacturer, you’re purchasing the blank invitations from a supplier. The cards are already decorated on the outside, all you have to do is print inserts for the invitations and other assorted cards, and then put the inserts inside the invitations.
Opening a wedding invitation business that concentrates on selling the combined invitations is really the best way to go because you have very little initial investment, only the few blank cards that you want to start off carrying, and you get to set your own prices. While not quite as profitable as selling Bespoke, this method is more profitable than if you were a manufacturer’s agent.
