How Maya Built a Six Figure Online Event Business

My name is Maya, and I’m the founder of an online event planning business that specializes in virtual and hybrid events for small businesses, influencers, and nonprofits. I started this venture in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, when everything moved online and people were scrambling to adapt. What began as helping a few friends organize Zoom-based fundraisers and digital networking nights quickly grew into a full-time operation. Today, we manage everything from corporate webinars to digital product launches and virtual conferences with attendees from all over the globe.

My background is in communications and marketing, so organizing and storytelling have always been in my wheelhouse. I saw a big gap between tech-heavy platforms and creative, user-focused planning. That’s where my business stands out—we blend logistics with aesthetics, making sure every online event is not just functional, but also memorable. Our team is fully remote, and we use a variety of tools like Airmeet, Hopin, and Miro to create engaging, interactive experiences.

The initial push came from seeing how lost people were when everything moved online. I was helping a nonprofit friend who had to cancel their gala and pivot to a digital event. Watching the stress and the tech hurdles they faced made me realize there was a real need for professionals who could translate the “magic” of in-person experiences into virtual formats. That event went surprisingly well and led to more referrals—and suddenly, I had a niche.

I’ve always loved planning and curating experiences. But the idea that I could do that while eliminating travel, overhead, and environmental costs was incredibly appealing. I was also drawn to the inclusivity of online events—people who couldn’t attend in person due to geography, finances, or accessibility suddenly had a seat at the table. That really sealed the deal for me in choosing this path.

Success, for me, is measured by client impact and engagement. When attendees leave a virtual event saying it felt just as personal and fun as being there in person, I know we’ve done our job right. Of course, hitting financial goals and growing our client list are important, but the core of our success lies in helping others feel connected, even through a screen.

We’ve also recently started tracking our “repeat rate”—how often clients come back to work with us again. That’s a major indicator of satisfaction and trust. When someone books us for their next product launch or recommends us to their network, it tells me that our work is resonating. Building long-term relationships in a digital-first world is a huge win in my eyes.

If I could go back, I’d invest earlier in automation and scalable systems. In the beginning, I did everything manually—from onboarding clients to sending out post-event surveys. It was manageable with a few clients, but once things grew, it became a real bottleneck. Now, we use tools like Dubsado and Zapier to streamline our workflows, but I wish I had implemented those sooner.

I also underestimated how much time would go into educating clients. Not everyone is familiar with how virtual platforms work, or what’s possible online. If I were to do it over, I’d build an onboarding guide or educational content from day one to set expectations and build confidence. It would’ve saved me countless hours of explaining things one-on-one.

Start small and get really good at a specific type of event before expanding. A lot of new planners want to do everything—corporate, weddings, fundraisers, workshops—but that can stretch your resources thin. Specializing not only helps you market yourself more effectively, it also allows you to refine your systems and become the go-to expert in that area.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of collaboration. Partner with tech experts, virtual assistants, or moderators when you can. You don’t need to do it all alone, and having a solid team—even if it’s part-time or freelance—can elevate the entire experience for your clients. And lastly, always have a backup plan for tech glitches. It’s the online world—things will go wrong, and your calm response is what people will remember.

Right now, we generate around $120,000 to $140,000 in annual revenue, with about a 60% profit margin. The bulk of our income comes from full-service event planning packages, which range from $2,000 to $8,000 depending on the complexity and scale of the event. We also offer a monthly retainer model for clients who host recurring events or workshops.

It took about a year and a half to reach that level consistently. At first, it was definitely slower—lots of learning and lower-priced gigs just to build my portfolio. But once we hit our stride and got clear on our ideal clients, the growth became much more steady. My goal for the next year is to scale with a small team so we can take on more projects without compromising quality.