Reunion Organizer

Start-up cost: $2,000–$3,000

Potential earnings: $15,000–$50,000

Typical fees: $5–$10 for each classmate who attends

Advertising: Word of mouth and prospect calling on schools for their referrals to alumni organizations, banner ads on Web sites like Classmates.com

Qualifications: A big network of friends and acquaintances in your community, patience, determination, organizational ability

Equipment needed: Cell phone, computer with Internet access, database and suite software, fax, copier, office furniture, business cards, letterhead, envelopes

Staff required: No

Hidden costs: Phone calls

What You Do

Reunions have always been popular, since virtually everyone wants to find out how former classmates have fared over the years since graduation. High school reunions are a major focus of this business and finding the “lost” members is an important part of the process. Your persistence and sheer determination need to be applied to the search process, which usually starts one year before the event.

Former employees of some organizations also occasionally hold reunions, and there is a niche market in putting together reunions for today’s far-flung families. Once you discover everybody’s whereabouts, you may turn your attention to the event itself, arranging the catering, photos, band, decorations, and mementos.

What You Need

Basic office equipment ($2,000–$3,000) should get you started, but you will need to get the database program ($175–$300) as soon as possible. Set your charges differently for the time involved and the number of people you’re expected to locate. Many charge between $5–$10 per attendee, but others charge a fl at rate commensurate with an hourly fee of $10–$15 per hour.

Keys to Success

Most communities are excellent markets for this service, but many people don’t know that it exists. Consider the organizations and groups in your locale that have reunions, such as schools and colleges. Do one excellent job to get a foothold, and you will find that the referrals will begin to roll in. Your success will depend to some extent on the material and information you have to work with, but once you refine your people-searching skills, you should have a service to offer that can’t be matched by amateurs. One tip: Online phone books or the new telephone directories on disk or CD-ROM can help you locate nearly anyone in the country.