Kenelle
Light entrepreneurship for event organizers
As an event organizer working as a light entrepreneur, here's how it works: you sell your expertise—planning, coordination and production—to the client, do the work, and invoice it through the Truster app without a Business ID (Y-tunnus) of your own. Truster handles the invoicing, withholding tax and tax reports, and your pay is deposited straight into your account. As a light entrepreneur you invoice for your own work: it's best to have the event's major purchases billed directly to the client.
Event industry assignments and pricing
Typical assignments include corporate events and Christmas parties, seminars and trade fair stands, coordinating weddings and celebrations, production work at festivals and markets, and individual producer or event coordinator roles within larger productions. Many people in this field work seasonally—corporate events in winter, festivals and weddings in summer.
For pricing, either a project fee for the whole event or an hourly rate when your role is part of a larger production works well. With project-based pricing, it's worth breaking down planning, event-day work and follow-up tasks separately. Also agree on how changes and extra work will be billed, since events tend to keep evolving right up to the last minute.
Invoice in installments: a deposit when the agreement is made, a possible interim installment after the planning phase, and a final invoice after the event. Split billing protects you against cancellations and evens out cash flow on longer projects. In the Truster app, each installment is its own invoice, ready in minutes.
Costs and responsibilities in event production
Your own costs typically include travel to event venues and meetings, phone and computer, project management tools, and small purchases made on the event day itself. Log your expenses and mileage in the Truster app, and they'll be factored into your pay automatically according to tax authority guidelines. It's best to arrange major event costs, such as venue rental, technical equipment and catering, directly between the client and suppliers—this way they don't pass through you, and your own risk stays low.
Permits and official notifications for events generally belong to the event owner—your client. Agree on the division of responsibility in writing: you coordinate, the client is responsible. Truster's monthly package includes Truster Turva, which brings extra security to your work at events.
How much do you actually take home?
Truster's service fee is 3.99% of your invoicing or a flat €55/month. After the service fee, withholding tax is deducted from your pay according to your tax card, and the rest is paid into your account as salary. VAT—currently 25.5% at the general rate—is usually added to the invoice on top, and the client pays it. Calculate your take-home share of a project fee with our calculators at truster.com/laskurit.
After the event, the work is done—but the client's payment term can be long. HetiPalkka pays your salary before the invoice's due date, so you can move on to your next production without worrying about money.
Your project finances stay under control when invoices, pay and expenses are all visible in the same app from one production to the next. For late payments, Maksuvahti sends reminders on your behalf for €1.99/invoice, so you can focus on building the next event instead of chasing payments for the last one.
Keeping event work under control: practical tips
The events industry runs on networks: a well-run production leads to the next one. Keep your invoicing ready with a free account so you can take on a producer role even at short notice. Log your work hours and expenses as the project progresses, not just after the event—details are quickly forgotten on take-down day.
It's worth factoring seasonality into your choice of service fee: a percentage-based model suits quieter periods, while a flat monthly fee suits the busy season when you're invoicing a lot. You can switch models depending on your situation.
As a light entrepreneur, you don't need a company, a bookkeeper or invoicing software: everything is handled in one app. That frees up your time for actually producing events—which is exactly what your clients are paying for. If you start producing your own events on your own account, that's when it's worth considering setting up your own company.
Frequently asked questions
Does an event organizer need a Business ID (Y-tunnus)?
You don't need a Business ID (Y-tunnus) to invoice for your own work: as a light entrepreneur you invoice for planning, coordination and production through Truster. If you start owning and producing your own events on your own account—including ticket sales—setting up your own company may be necessary.
Who is responsible for an event's permits and notifications?
Permits and official notifications generally belong to the event owner—your client. As a coordinator you can handle applications on the client's behalf, but always agree on the division of responsibility in writing. Check the requirements for your specific type of event with the authorities well in advance.
How do I invoice an event project in installments?
Agree on payment installments in the contract: for example, a deposit when the agreement is signed, an interim installment once planning is complete, and a final invoice after the event. You create a separate invoice for each installment in the Truster app. A deposit protects you in case of cancellation, so record cancellation terms in the contract too.
Do venue rental and catering costs need to go through my invoice?
No, it's better not to. Route major purchases directly into agreements between the client and suppliers, so you only invoice for your own work. This keeps your financial risk low and your invoicing clear. Record your own small expenses in the Truster app.
Start invoicing today
The account is free and comes with no obligations. You only pay when you invoice.