Do you have a company guidebook? What is a guidebook you ask? It is a place where you keep all of your company processes. It should basically take you step by step through what someone would do if they had to walk in and run your business. It should be a guide for everyone who works for your company. So what do you include? Here are some ideas:
1. Business Information
2. Team Members
3. Inquiries
4. Consultations
5. Proposals and Agreements
6. After Becoming a Client
7. Client Files (Online and Physical)
8. Emailing and Canned Responses
9. Online Business Systems (for example, Basecamp, Curdbee, Echosign, Paypal)
10. Blogging
11. Phone System
12. Presentations to Clients
13. Wedding Blog or Magazine Submissions
14. Social Media Guidelines
15. Bookkeeping
And these are just to name a few. Will it happen overnight? NO. Will it ever be done? NO. Your processes should continue to improve and therefore you will need to update your guidebook. The main goal is to help streamline your business operations. (Warning though: it does not mean that you are a robot and you put no personality or character into what you do!) It should also be branded and formatted to represent your company’s style. (We need a little pick-me-up sometimes so we include inspirational quotes in the right hand corner of ours. We like to find things easily so we include links in the table of contents so at the click of a button you arrive at the page you are looking for. Our logo is included on every page. We keep it in our “Main Office” in Basecamp.)
So, if you don’t have a guidebook yet, we encourage you to begin yours today! If you have a guidebook and want to brag about how amazing yours is or other things to include, comment below :)
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
We do have one! But you gave me some new ideas. We also include common practices – like how to make a hotel room block, how to do engagement announcements, a script for guest RSVP tracking etc. These need not overwhelm the business owner. Have the employees/interns who perform the functions write them and just edit. Love your blog. More!
Yay Isha! So glad to hear you have one. We hear about so many companies that don’t. Love your additions!
This is a great list Heather! You are so right… they take forever to do and they are never done… but SOOOOOO worth it! It’s so great for training employees and keeping consistency in your business. Consistency is key in creating a strong company culture. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks Michelle! We talk to so many wedding planners that don’t have them and they are reinventing the wheel every day. Hopefully more will set out some time begin one for their company :)
This is so fantastic and while we do have one, it does need to be updated often {usually quarterly} as we change and grow. What a perfect reminder and a key to organization and unity within a business!