Events Business

1. 1Concept and formatWho it is for, what they pay for, and what brings them back.

   • Audience and format

     Matching the format, the price and the date to the people you can sell to.

   • One-off or series

     Why a repeat event is usually easier to make profitable.

2. 2Venue and capacityThe size of the room against the audience you can realistically sell to.

   • Sizing the room

     Required occupancy, and why a smaller full room beats a larger empty one.

   • Venue contracts

     Deposits, cancellation terms and who carries the risk.

3. 3Ticket pricing and forecastPrice tiers, early-bird sales and the occupancy you need.

   • Ticket break-even

     Fixed costs, per-head costs, ticketing fees and the tickets you must sell.

   • Tiers and early-bird pricing

     Using early sales to test demand before the big costs are committed.

4. 4SponsorshipSizing the gap before you pitch.

   • The sponsorship gap

     The amount a full room still leaves uncovered — the number to ask for.

   • What sponsors get

     Building a package worth what you are asking.

5. 5Suppliers and contractsSound, light, catering and security.

   • The supplier schedule

     Who delivers what, when, and what happens if they do not.

   • Deposits and cancellation

     Your exposure if the event is postponed or cancelled.

6. 6Permits and safetyVenue, municipality and the licences your activity triggers.

   • Event permits

     What to confirm with the municipality and the venue for each event.

   • Temporary events and entertainment tax

     The Ministry of Finance forms for temporary parties and entertainment tax, and when they apply.

7. 7ReconciliationWhat the event actually made, against the plan.

   • After the event

     Actual income and costs, the variance to plan, and profit per attendee.

   • Lessons for next time

     Turning one event’s numbers into a better plan for the next.

Setup questions this course will cover

• Commercial RegisterMinistry of Justice — Commercial Register · The filing and document checklist depend on the form — individual trader, S.A.R.L. or S.A.L. — and are made with the register for your place of business.Commercial RegisterOfficially verified
• VAT positionMinistry of Finance · Standard rate 11%. Registration is mandatory above LBP 5 billion of taxable turnover across one to four consecutive prior quarters, and voluntary above LBP 1 billion. Returns and payment are quarterly, due within 20 days of quarter-end.Law 64/2017; Law 324/2024Officially verified
• Event permitsYour municipality and the venue · No universal permit covers every concert, pop-up or workshop. Confirm venue, public-space use, traffic, Civil Defence, noise and hours, alcohol, food service and music rights for each event with the municipality and the venue.Municipality dependent
• Temporary events and entertainment taxMinistry of Finance · The Ministry of Finance forms page lists G17 for temporary parties and G18 for entertainment-tax returns. Which applies, and when, depends on the event.MOF formsActivity dependent
• ExhibitionsMinistry of Economy and Trade · Organising an exhibition in Lebanon has its own permit through the Ministry of Economy and Trade, separate from a concert or a private event.MOET exhibitions portalVerified with qualification

Questions