Become a Top Wedding Planner - Don't Become a Victim of These 5 Deceitful Business Practices

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Wedding planners and other wedding vendors are often targets for unscrupulous business practices.

Here are 5 situations you need to be aware of and avoid:

1) A bride and groom from another country emails you asking you to be their wedding planner

The email tells you they found you on the Internet, were very impressed and want to hire to you to plan their wedding when they move into your area to start a job or go to school. They offer to send you a cashier's check for more than the amount of your fee and ask you to pay another vendor with the extra money. Most people assume that all cashier's checks are good but that is not true. Also, these checks actually could take weeks to clear, beyond the time in which you would need to pay their "vendor." Do not accept cashier's checks and never accept checks with large amounts of extra money that you need to pay to someone else.

2) You get an email or phone call saying you have been voted "The Best Wedding Planner in Your City"

I once received an email telling me I won an award and offering to sell me a $200 plaque to for my office. The company was selling plaques! Another time someone offered to sell me an advertising opportunity in a magazine so I could tell people about the award they gave to me. Do not be tricked by these fake awards.

3) An official-sounding business bureau calls to say people are asking about your business

A representative from a company who says they investigate consumer complaints says someone has inquired about your business, wanting to know if there had been any complaints against you. They, of course, are not able to share the details. But if you want their support against complaints in the future, you can purchase an annual membership for a few hundred dollars.

4) Wedding and event planning schools tell you that you are the perfect candidate

You fill out an online questionnaire to see if you would make a good wedding planner and the school that posts the form tells you that you would be perfect, just sign up for their certification course. You do not need a certification to become a wedding planner. If you decide you want to take an online course, make sure you know what you are getting for your money. Many schools are very expensive and don't offer personal contact, have few training materials, don't have trained instructors and are not available for questions. Ask for references and check the Internet for comments about any schools you are considering before you enroll.

5) An online event referral directory emails you and says people are looking for more information about your business

They say you could be getting referrals but they don't have full information about your business so they are turning people away. In order to get a referrals and a full listing, you need to become a paying member of their site.

If you get requests from potential clients that sound unusual or are offered business opportunities that ask you for money, do some research before you proceed. Check the Internet to see if others have encountered similar situations. Also, always trust your gut. If you feel the offer could be dishonest, it probably is.

And now I would like to invite you to learn more about becoming a top wedding planner by claiming your Free Instant Access to my Special Report "7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner" when you visit http://www.HowToBecomeaTopWeddingPlanner.com.