Successful Professional Organizer Tips for Beginners

Over the years, people have contacted me and asked how I became a Professional Organizer and how they can become one too. Well, I am here to tell you how I started and give you some tips and resources to use. Because of the amount of information in this post, I wrote this post in the form of a Q and A. I hope it helps.

How did you become a Professional Organizer?

In 1993, I was helping a friend of the family organize her book. She was a writer with Multiple Sclerosis, and she was writing her first book. After helping her organize resource papers, she asked if I would help her detangle her necklaces. And, then I help her change out her closet and purge her unwanted clothes. And it snowballed into going through other home areas, like the kitchen and attic. While doing this, she and my parents started spreading the word about my unique ability to organize spaces. I started working with different clients.  Because I didn't know what I was doing and had no guidance or resources to turn to, there were many failures and successes until I figured out what I wanted my business model and policies to be.

In 1996, I read a Philadelphia Inquirer article about a Professional Organizers association called the National Association of Professional Organizers, and it hit me. "That's it! That is what I am - A Professional Organizer." And, yes, this is part of the actual article.  I kept it because it had some meaning to me and had great facts in it.  As you can see, I even wrote the phone number of NAPO at the time on it so I could call right away.

I joined immediately and started spreading the word about my new part-time home-organizing business. It was a slow start because when I would say "Professional Organizer," no one knew what that meant. To help explain it to people, I created a 30-word pitch that I memorized, and when anyone said, "what is a professional organizer? or What is that?" I would say it.  It worked pretty well.

How did you get experience doing home organizing?

I charged very little to family and friends to start. However, I realized early that clients would not truly appreciate the transformation unless they paid something for it.  In return, they agreed to write a testimonial of their experience and allowed me to take anonymous before and after pictures, and they would refer me to others.

How did you protect yourself and your business?

Before starting the consultation, I had a lawyer friend modify a contract I had created.  The fee was smaller since I had created it already.  It included a client confidentiality statement, a liability release statement, before and after photo releases, my rates, and a cancellation fee. My client and I would sign and date it before beginning.  Back then, there wasn't business and liability insurance you could buy for this type of business, but there is now.  Shop around; the prices vary greatly. Check out Managing Modern Life Organizing(R) Blog post; they talk more about it.

How did you find your best clients?

Back then, Professional Organizer was starting, so the resources (even on the NAPO site) were limited. I tried working with a variety of people. Some had ADHD before it was called that, and others couldn't deal with the weekly work it took to take on this task they created.  And others would stop right after they started the organizing process. Others would seem interested but didn't take the extra step to make an appointment and move forward.

To deal with this frustration, I had to determine what I wanted in a client.  So, I created an "Ideal Client" list.  This is where I listed all the characteristics of my ideal client. This helped me focus on what I wanted to specialize in as well.  My Solutions Consultation was born from this process. It worked out since I focus more of my energy on small business help and less on physical home organizing over the last several years.

Do you have any tips for me to get my professional organizer business off and running?

YES, here are some tips I learned that would help you:

• Not everyone will want all your services. So, be flexible in your services until you have enough clients to determine what you want to do and what most people want from you. Then, offer the clients what they want, not what you want to give them.
• Spread the word and help your friends and family first!  They will help you build a referral system and create content that you can use for your website.
• Have an effective way to manage your schedule. Then, make sure you can take it with you, whether it is digital or paper.
• Write up your business process.  Answer these questions: What do you do when people call?  What do you do when you go to the client? What do you do after the process is finished?  Do you send a closing survey?  You will need some of this information for your website as well.  This will help you, especially if you don't have clients all the time.  You may forget what your business process is altogether.
• Track your hours for each project.  This will help you determine how long it takes to complete the home areas. This will give you more accurate information to give clients an estimate of the cost. You can also use this information if you wish to bill by the project.
• Be OK with being hidden.  I have lots of clients that do not want their spouses to know that I was there, so they may not spread the word as much as others.
• Stay calm when visiting a person's house. Show them you are there to help and give no judgments! They will likely say to you, "I am so sorry you have to see it this way. I'm so embarrassed." Don't add to their embarrassment.

Here are some wonderful sites and Professional Organizers / Coaches that will help you start your own successful home-organizing business. They also offer tips to help you get closer to your own organizing business. 

N.A.P.O. offers classes and other discounts after you become a member. (Note: Must be a member of N.A.P.O. to take part in these classes.)

Geralin Thomas from Metropolitan Organizing ®, LLC - offers new Professional Organizers classes through N.A.P.O. and her website. She also provides coaching services.

"Invest in your business! Although the overhead required for starting an organizing business is modest, you’ll still need to invest in your business. Budget for: insurance, education (books and webinars), coaching (a well-respected person who’s active in the organizing industry),  conferences (travel, registration fees), associations, and memberships.  Hire professionals. Your dream team may include a photographer who specializes in headshots, an editor, a bookkeeper, and a virtual assistant." ~ Geralin Thomas 

Janet Barclay from Organized Assistant® - offers website services through her website to help you get your website up and running.

"Don't be afraid to network. It's a fabulous way to combine getting your name out there with gaining access to the ideas and experience of others, both in your community and within your industry." ~ Janet Barclay

Sabrina Quairoli from Sabrina's Admin Services offers virtual or on-site recurring bookkeeping help to aid you with your bookkeeping tasks and online marketing and office administrative organizing services.

"Setting up your books the right way when you start your business is essential. If you do not feel comfortable with bookkeeping, ask your accountant for referrals.  They usually know many bookkeepers. And, always ask for at least three referrals." ~ Sabrina M. Quairoli

I hope this post shows you how to become a successful Professional Organizer.  Remember, it is OK to ask for help, especially when you are new to the industry. However, you do not need to do it all on your own. Please share your questions or tips below to continue the conversation. I would love to hear from you.