How to make money as an event organiser in Ghent

Where Ghent's event organising customers come from

In a city the size of Ghent, paying customers for event organising come from several places. Many are people planning private events - birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, family celebrations - who search online or ask friends and family for recommendations. Word of mouth is strong in a city this size: one satisfied customer often leads to another.

Local businesses and organisations in Ghent also hire event organisers. Companies need people to arrange team events, product launches, conferences and networking meetings. Schools and community organisations sometimes commission events. Some customers find event organisers through online search, while others still rely on personal recommendation or social networks.

A Websta profile puts you in front of people who are actively searching for event organisers in Ghent and willing to book online. The platform also hosts a marketplace where people nearby can post tasks and providers make offers.

Setting your first prices in Ghent

Price-setting is one of the hardest parts of starting out. You need to know what event organisers in your area actually charge, not what you think sounds reasonable. Talk to other event organisers - some will give you guidance. Look at what established organisers in Ghent advertise. Check what people in neighbouring cities charge. You are not inventing a price from nothing; you are finding your place in an existing market.

In a city of Ghent's size, there is usually room for organisers at different price points. You might charge less when starting out because you have fewer completed events to show, but do not charge nothing or near-nothing: that teaches customers the wrong expectation and makes it harder to raise prices later. Your prices should cover your time, any materials, travel in the city, and your overhead.

When talking money with potential customers, be clear and direct. Quote a total fee or an hourly rate, explain what is included, and be honest if you need to clarify scope. Most customers expect to discuss price before committing. On a Websta profile, you set the prices yourself and display them clearly: customers see what they will pay before they book.

What to sort out as an independent person in Belgium

Working as an event organiser in Belgium as an independent person means you need to handle taxes, social contributions and registration. The exact rules depend on whether you are a sole trader, registered as self-employed, or operate through another structure. Belgium has specific requirements, and they can change.

Your first steps should be to contact the Belgian tax authority (SPF Finances) or a local tax advisor to understand what you must register, what records you must keep, and what you owe in taxes and social contributions. The Ghent Chamber of Commerce and Industry can also point you toward local guidance. Do not guess: the cost of advice is far lower than the cost of getting it wrong later.

When customers pay you through Websta, the payments go to your own bank account via Stripe, the payment processor. You receive the money directly, but you still owe taxes and contributions on that income to Belgium.

Your first ten customers usually look like this

Your first customers are rarely ideal. They are often people you already know, friends of friends, or people who found you by accident. They may ask for a lower price because you are new. They might change the scope of the event halfway through or expect you to do things outside what you agreed. Some will pay late. Some will be difficult to work with.

This is normal. Your job in the first months is to complete the work, deliver what you promised (or better), get paid, and gather experience and reviews. Each completed event makes the next customer easier to find and easier to work with. As you build a track record, you can be more selective about which jobs you take and which customers you work with.

What usually goes wrong in the first months

New event organisers often underestimate how long tasks take. Planning an event involves many small jobs - calls, emails, site visits, coordination with vendors - that add up to far more time than you expected. You charge too low a price, do too much work, and end up earning very little per hour.

Scope creep is common: customers ask for 'just one more thing' and you add it without charging more. Payment delays happen: customers promise to pay after the event, and it takes weeks to get the money. You may also find that managing the event itself - keeping everything on track on the day - is far more demanding than the planning.

Another common mistake is taking on too much too fast. If you are doing this alongside a job, you have limited time. Taking five events in one month alongside full-time work leads to burnout and poor quality work. Start with events you can actually manage well.

How a Websta profile helps you earn

A Websta profile is a page that works like a small website. You list your services, set your prices, display photos of past events, and include a contact form and online booking. When someone in Ghent searches for event organisers on Websta, your profile can appear in the results. People can book you directly through the site.

This matters because it gives you a professional place to send to anyone who asks for more information. Instead of 'I will email you details', you can say 'Book me on my Websta profile' or send them a link. It looks professional and makes the booking process easier for the customer.

Payments through Websta are handled by Stripe and paid directly to your own bank account. You keep control of your pricing - Websta does not set it for you. The profile is also a place where customers can see your work, your prices and your availability all in one place, which can help you attract people who are ready to book.

Building your income over time

Making real money as an event organiser in Ghent takes months, not weeks. You need to complete events, build a portfolio, gather reviews or testimonials, and develop a reputation. In the first months, you might earn very little per hour of work. As you improve, charge better prices and take on bigger events, your hourly rate rises.

Whether this becomes a side income or a full-time income depends on how much time you put in, how good you are, and how much customers in Ghent will pay for your work. Some people run event organising as a side business for years and earn a few hundred euros a month. Others build it into a full-time income. There is no set path or timeline.

The work itself - problem-solving, coordinating people, delivering under pressure - is the thing you are selling. If you enjoy it and get better at it, customers will notice and pay more. If you hate it, no side income is worth the stress.