You caught the bug, and now you can't quit thinking about owning a venue.
Well, it happened.
Maybe it's a piece of rolling, rural property ...
… that sweeping century-old home you pass every time you head to the coast ...
… or a ground-up design you've sketched on napkins thumbing through Veranda magazine
It's the stuff of kitchen table budget meeting dreams: "Babe, what if we could save up enough to establish a venue property in ____?" ← that’s your new reality.
But no amount of watching Fixer Upper and Cash Pad re-runs or pinning styled shoot pics can sugarcoat the tough-love question you *don’t* have answered:
You've heard scared money don't make money ...
but it's not like you're a trust fund baby.
And how does one go about getting a loan of this size from the bank? Should you just rent, and try to recoup costs on top of that? Do you buy something and sink cash into it?
How do you actually pay for this?
You're determined to do this thing as debt-free as possible, but what about getting it off the ground?
(Franck’s gonna start singing “every party has a pooper” any second now all over your venue dreams)
You want so badly to swing open doors with a heaping dose of hospitality, giving families and friends a setting for lifetime memories—and investing in your OWN family’s future while you’re at it.
But you can’t, because you’re 150% stuck on crunching the numbers for all this. Um, what’s the rule of thumb for pricing anyway? Besides renovations, what do you plan to put in the annual (er, monthly??) budget?
And zoning and permits and city hall, oh my—this is why George Banks in Father of the Bride goes nuts being the host of his own daughter’s wedding venue, isn't it??
Because this venue dream now has more questions than a cut-glass chandelier has angles—but you’ve been to enough venues. And you KNOW you could do better than what’s out there.
Welcome to the Venue Dreamers Club, where an old brick building and a string of twinkle lights is enough to have you starry-eyed for 2 weeks straight.
Until—record-scratch—you realize that’s a pricey thing to get off the ground. And Warren Buffet isn’t exactly your rich uncle.
Have no fear, friend. This is exactly what I help with. Hammering out the numbers doesn't have to be a struggle.
Let’s face it: you know it’s the stuff most venue owners don't ever see coming that comes back to bite ‘em in the tush.
And for the sake of your mental sketches, you can’t afford to do something dumb like price out a dreamy circa 1910 windmill or Instagrammable wall you want to install, just to have it become more money suck than ROI win.
How do you break out of the cycle of combing real estate ads, watching prices, and taking notes during Shark Tank?
^^ If that sounds familiar, keep reading.
Did you know that when applying for funding, most venues are turned down an average of 7 times before they get approval?
If you’re ready to maneuver this phase without looking like you're a total newbie …
… if you’re ready to nail down money for this pipe dream without feeling like you're jonesing for a handout …
… and if you’re ready to cost out your future venue’s drool-worthy elements that let you raise the price a thousand (or more) per event …
Then know I’ve been in the trenches with people just like you. And I’ve worked hand-in-hand with the financial advisors they’re working with, too. And after helping numerous clients secure more than $28,000,000 in combined funding, my method’s been featured on outlets like if i made, international magazines, and popular podcasts, and my clients’ venues have been published from Martha Stewart Weddings to Style Me Pretty.
Wedding venue consultant, and founder of The Venue Academy®—and I can’t tell you how many tear-filled SOS inquiries I’ve had from people just like you.
Hey there! I'm Lindsay
And over the last decade, I’ve helped dozens of dreamers like you demystify what it takes to be a venue owner and run a profitable, sustainable venue.
So whether you've got a piece of property and Georgian mansion inherited from Great Aunt Joy …
... or nothing but a Pinterest board and starry-eyed 2 a.m. ideas about starting a venue from scratch …
You’re about to discover a strategy to scoop up that plot of land with a next-steps action list ready (down to knowing where the best sunset view will be for cocktail hour).
There’s still work to do after you get funding.
Owning a venue isn’t straight-up passive income you can simply snooze through.
But before we talk dream location, there’s one thing you need to understand.
(Yes, even if it’s not a new construction.)
Unicorn properties that have no overhead, magical pipes that never rattle, tents that pitch themselves, and historic buildings that stay in pristine condition? They don’t actually exist. (I know, shocking right?)
But venues that churn in a steady stream of thousands of dollars a week do exist. Venues with a clear, profitable business plan, simplified staff, and year after year delighted guests spreading the word (and booking you out, despite your rate increase)? Those are TOTALLY a thing.
And I know you’ve (likely) been shaming yourself for not listening closer in your college business classes. What exactly was the difference between an angel investor and a venture capitalist? Does the bank just like, have a list of names they can give you?
No, you don’t need a financial background to understand how to gather funding for this dream. And you definitely don’t need to figure it out on your own.
After all, you’re the visionary, the one with the foresight to know *just* how that riverbend view will spring tears in the mother-of-the-bride’s eyes when she comes for a site visit.
The one who sees exposed brick and invisions a florist’s install coming to life.
With this clear, 5-step method, you can see exactly how to prep to speak to banks and investors, secure funding, and map out a business plan that gets your venue dreams out of sketch mode—and into reality.
That’s why I put my entire venue funding framework in one place for you.
Lindsay, get me to the goods—how do I get the dollars and breathe life into this dream?
So sorry, but most banks don’t speak “venue owner.”
Instead, securing funding is all about knowing how to research, design a fresh business plan, and talk your way through interest rates while painting a picture of that beautiful event space.
^^ Which is totally teachable.
By ditching the vicious cycle MOST venue would-be owners go through: getting turned down by bank after bank.
Funding has NOTHING to do with your chummy relationship with the bank you already use for personal finances, or with your math abilities either. (Praise the LORD, am I right?)
one that ...
- Provides a safe space to ask questions from “what kind of fee schedule are you giving clients” to “should we raise prices at 3%? Higher?”
- Allows you to be a fly on the wall listening to a conversation with a mortgage broker.
- Hands over template after template after spreadsheet, so you get the venue funding process locked in with a gentle, easy-to-follow system
You need venue education customized to YOU.
you need a how-to funding system that puts you in the visionary seat, one that:
- Gives you immediate action steps so you can ditch any fear of the unknown
- Nixes that learning curve, so you can get approved ASAP
- Makes sure you never swing open a bank’s glass door feeling bleak ever again, and instead go home and pop open a bottle of Moët & Chandon
And that’s why I created a program so you can leave behind the time and frustration of going at venue funding alone and get those twinkle lights hung already.
I took the hand-holding process I’ve walked client after client through and put it in an easy-to-follow coaching program so you can get going without the pricey 1-on-1 consulting service that’s been used by dozens of venue owners to get their first property bought and paid for.
Ready to increase your odds when applying for funding?
Want to show up to investment meetings prepared & confident?
introducing:
The exact steps to find your dream land (or existing venue), understand your market, and secure funding.
Here’s what you’ll discover inside Funding 101™:
Module 1: Getting Started
This is short and sweet—I’ll give you my best tips and tricks for getting through Funding 101™. You don’t want this course collecting digital dust and this module will help you make a plan and put it into action.
Module 2: Land, Leasing, Acquisition—Oh my!
- Where to look for land and all the due diligence questions you’ll need to ask to make sure this is the right property for your dream
- How to find an operational wedding venue … because it’s not going to be listed on MLS
- What to look for in a leasing agreement to make sure you’re set for success
- A 20-minute guide to Zoning 101 so you can understand your property and know what questions to ask
- A handy Due Diligence Checklist to have in front of you while you’re talking to the city or county
You can go a few different routes, but all roads lead to venue ownership. Knowing the pros and cons of each will help you narrow your search for the perfect venue.
In this module, we’ll walk through what to look for in raw land, how to acquire an existing venue, and the pros and cons of leasing instead of buying. Pick what you want or watch them all—by the end of Module 2, you’ll be well-equipped to find your dream venue.
Module 3: How to Run a Market Analysis for Your Soon-to-Be Venue
Based on years of working in the wedding venue industry and luxury event market, I've identified the perfect path to paving the way for a new venue.
This training will help you structure your future money-making asks around proof-is-in-the-pudding research so you'll never get stumped with a question from a potential investor or client. Get ready to have a data-backed answer to everything!
- My 3 Tier Fact-Finding Deep Dive: You'll need to know what your beautiful venue will be up against on a national, regional, and local level, and I'll show you how to dig in and figure it out
- Exactly where to get research—I'm handing over the site I use to pull in fancy, good-lookin' stats to the reports that make investors nod
- The research-focused cure for price point paralysis
- My exact Market Research Spreadsheet Template to transform 20+ Chrome tabs into a handy, nice-and-neat file to give rocket fuel to your business plan
Module 4: Knowing Your Numbers
- The top 3 financing options and how to choose the best one for your venture
- What a pro forma is (—wait, wut? Listen, this is just a standard financial document, showing projected revenue, expenses, and more)
- The 7 main categories of startup costs and how to make sure the numbers don’t take you by surprise
- The silent killer of most businesses and how to stay on top of it
- How to project your revenue so you can balance out your expenses (this is the fun part!)
- Best practices around operating costs and bookings so you can be confident when the bank asks how you’ll tackle these big challenges
- Plus, a step-by-step guide to filling out your pro forma—this is key when presenting to banks!
Not a numbers person? No worries. I’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
In this module, I’ll walk you through your financing options, how to project costs and revenue, how to prepare financially for bookings, and how to get all the numbers ready to present to a bank.
Module 5: How to Write a Venue Business Plan
Nothing gives you an edge like peering over the shoulder of someone who's churned out and consulted on dozens of venue business plans—some in the most competitive markets.
In this lesson, I'll tell you EXACTLY how I write business plans and why they get wallets to open up.
- The market research triggers to pump up your business plan with the "she knows her stuff" factor that you're dying for those lenders to have as they click open your biz plan
- The 9 Parts of Your Solid Venue Business Plan guaranteed to position your new venue in a succinct, well-organized manner (and how to write out each section)
- The only 12-page Venue Business Plan template you'll ever need, so you can skip the search/mash-up you're doing with random templates across the internet—save your search, there's not a good template out there that impresses investors. I looked for years. So, I made one, and I'm including it for you here so you've got a winner on hand. (PDF, Doc, and Pages)
- The Master Business Plan Prep To-do List to boil down this module into the actionable steps you need to make your venue the clear winner in the eyes of your investors (and future clients!)
Module 6: How to Get Funding for a Venue
- A painful mistake some venue owners make when working with city investments and grants—one that guarantees some hiccups—and how you can steer clear of it
- Why working with private investors *likely* has a higher interest rate, but could be the pitch-perfect fit for your venue
- The Option B Funding Routes that you may not have thought of (they can be tough to navigate, BUT may be critical to your success—learn common mistakes venue owners make that leave relationships broken and muddled)
- The Simple Expense Calculator Spreadsheet Template to dominate the dance of feeling that you've been flung onto an HGTV set as the project coordinator—you can crunch the numbers like a champ with this tool
- The quickest, easiest way to calculate building costs with my Construction Estimator Spreadsheet Template (prep to crown yourself Joanna Gaines, the venue expert version)
Let's get this dream funded, baby!
Whether you're $20,000 or $200,000 shy of getting your dream venue up and running, you're going to learn a full breakdown on how to walk into a loan meeting with poise and confidence (and I promise it will feel NOTHING like standing in front of Mr. Wonderful on Shark Tank).
What are your dreams worth, sweet friend?
Tell me, what would it feel like to:
End nomadic life as a wedding planner, photographer, or other industry vendor, and set down some roots in a property that brings in a steady income
Combine your keen client experience eye with new-found expertise about protecting an investment (so yeah, the bride and groom can’t sit on the 200-year-old banister [#legalwoes] BUT they’ll still have magazine-worthy images from their photographer)
Finally be able to add an investment property to your financial portfolio, one that secures a retirement or long-term money plan for you and your family
Know you have a financial roadmap to make sure your venue is STILL pulling its weight with other events and booking, even outside of wedding season
Oh, my friend. Your dreams definitely deserve to get out of your head …
and onto a piece of property.
And that’s why I’ve made Funding 101™ available to you for less than what that new front door will cost you.
Get instant access for Funding 101™ for four monthly payments of $290 (total: $1,160)
290
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4 PAYMENTS OF
Get instant access for Funding 101™ for two monthly payments of $575 (total: $1,150)
575
$
2 Payments of
Go all in with a one-time payment of $1,097 and save!
1097
$
1 payment of
Now, I can’t pull a Shark Tank and cut you a check for $100k so you can start researching floor stains and subway tile, but I can put a roadmap in your hands that shows you exactly how to secure that (and more) in funding for your dream venue.
I’ve managed 2 properties with record-breaking sales, guided clients to $28 million in funding, and helped 34 clients surpass their annual net profit goals. Working with me 1-on-1? It starts at about $36,000 …
But I know that you’re already trying to figure out the most cost-effective way to go about all this.
Buy Secure with the 60-day Fund-Seeker’s Promise
I’m so confident that my system works that I’m willing to put myself on the line—that’s why I encourage you to purchase the program and decide if it’s right for you.
If you follow my 5 steps, do the research, build the business plan, and still don’t see the value in Funding 101™ within 60 days, I’ll buy the program back from you. You have my word.
Yes, you have to do the work—there’s no way you can just buy this and instantly get a loan from a bank. But I’m so confident that if you follow my templates, spreadsheets, and walk-through, you’ll be on your way to securing that property.
You’ve got nothing to lose, friend.
Because tooting our own horn is awkward . . .
... here's what our students have to say about the Venue Business Plan Template that's included in Funding 101™:
“We couldn’t find a bank that believed in us; we couldn’t find a bank that understood the wedding industry. With the help of the Business Plan alone, it was worth every dollar. Once we changed our Business Plan to fit the structure, we got the bank’s approval within 2 months.”
Emily
“Love this document! Four years ago when we went for funding, I wrote my own with help from the SBA after not being able to afford the pros who offered to write it for $5k. Took me forever and was not nearly as helpful as this one. Great resource!”
Matthew
PLUS, get instant access to the Funding 101™ BONUS Suite
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You'll get access to the massive (and detailed) pro forma in module 4, and this workbook will help you fill out the spreadsheet without getting overwhelmed.
Value: $299
Pro Forma Workbook
Bonus No. 4
In this recorded Q&A session, I sit down with an expert in helping those who are self-employed get funding. We chat about getting funding (including how much you should have saved for your nest egg) from her perspective.
Value: $97
Q&A recording with a Mortgage Broker
Bonus No. 3
Get the exact template I use personally when I find property to purchase that isn't listed on the MLS.
Value: $49
Template: Letter of Intent to Purchase
Bonus No. 2
Congrats! You got through the funding process. This checklist walks through the next steps after funding so you don't have to skip a beat.
Value: $149
Bonus Checklist: You're Funded, Now What?
Bonus No. 1
All that on top of the funding curriculum inside the core modules of Funding 101™.
At this point, it comes down to this:
What are those venue dreams worth to you?
Grab my Funding 101™ course and start learning TODAY.
this dream really is possible!
- Combine your past life/profession with venue ownership (in my experience, it’s those with a pulse on client relationships, hospitality, and service that turn this into a super-profitable venture)
- Break down the verbiage of interest rates and investor lingo, so you can focus on making your dream a reality—and leave the actual financing to the ones with the deeper pockets
- Get your hustled-out, nomadic life with some roots planted in a piece of land that will invest in your family’s future
- Kick your shoes off after your first event, crash into bed, and scroll through your hashtag over coffee in the morning on your venue’s back porch, sleepy smiling—you DID it, you really did it.
You’ve rolled your eyes at too many wedding receptions, fundraising dinners, corporate events, and cocktail parties:
Join Funding 101™, and let me help you:
And with a roadmap to securing money in hand, you could get started.
You KNOW there’s a hospitality bug tugging at your heart, itching to settle a life-giving space that doubles as a steady stream of income.
Save yourself the time and frustration of going at it alone.
frequently asked questions
Funding 101™ was created specifically for soon-to-be wedding and event venue owners who are seeking traditional funding (i.e. a loan from the bank). While we do touch on other types of investors (i.e. angel investing, etc.) and many of the same concepts apply, the meat-and-potatoes of the course is around traditional funding.
Funding 101™ is also applicable for existing venue owners who want to expand their revenue streams with on-site accommodations or other ventures that require getting funding.
That’s ok! You have lifetime access and can revisit the modules anytime.
As long as I'm selling the course, you'll have access to it, plus any future updates free of charge. If we ever take the course portal down, you'll have plenty of notice to download your resources!
Hi friend, I see you and I was you not too long ago so I completely understand. However, I quickly turned that lifestyle around once I made it my goal to simply put forth enough effort to make back my investment. I reached my goal every time and you know what the best part about that goal was? The pride I felt in achieving it felt amazing and motivated me to set a higher goal and keep moving forward.
I've created Funding 101™ to build on itself—like a domino effect. Every module adds to the one before it, but you can pick-and-choose what you need based on where you are in your funding journey.
Here’s the thing; you’re smart and you know that owning a venue is going to cost a lot more than what this course does, so if the payment plan is still a bit of a stretch for you then I’m going to do the unpopular thing and tell you to sit this round out. We'll launch again soon.
I want you to realize that you’ve got what it takes - you’ve got the brains and the attitude to knock this out of the park so taking a couple of months to save up for Funding 101™ is going to be easy for you. I'm cheering you on!
After you’re officially in the club, you'll be prompted to create your account if you don't already have one. After that? Shimmy on over to your inbox where your login email will be waiting for you with next steps.
Keep in mind that you can either block off time to dive into the modules each week or start when it best fits into your schedule. I wanted to make this as convenient for you as possible which is why you have lifetime access!
You get a little more flexibility with the payment plan. The only difference between the full payment versus the payment plan is the full payment saves you money overall.
Everything else within the course is the same! Interested in a 6-payment plan option? Right this way ⇢
questions?
Wondering if this is the right fit? Have a few more questions for me? I'm happy help!