Do you think you have what it takes to become a professional organizer? Do you love to organize your home and office? Do people always marvel at how well organized you are? Do you love to help other people get organized? Being organized yourself is a great beginning. But there is much more to consider when starting out on your own as an organizer. Here are some tips to help you decide and resources to make sure you succeed!

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

First of all, as with starting any business, it is financially risky. If you have a job, and it is your primary source of income, I highly recommend NOT leaving your job until you have done several projects and are sure this is right for you.

Start up Costs

Make sure you have a realistic estimate of your startup costs. Your startup costs may include joining professional associations, education, books, getting a website established, marketing, printing business cards, computer, etc. Note that print advertising is very expensive and not recommended. Your best marketing tools are where you can get face to face with people.

Your start up expenses could well add up to be in the thousands, so the first 6 months will probably not bring a profit. If you are lucky you will just break-even. Therefore, if your organizing business will be your primary source of income, have at LEAST 12 months worth of living and business expenses in the bank before you quit your job.

Ongoing Costs

Other ongoing business expenses to factor in your budget include a business phone line, credit card merchant account fees, advertising & marketing expenses, website development and hosting fees, annual dues to organizations and more. Be sure you have a business plan and a monthly budget that includes these expenses in addition to your startup and living expenses.

What to Charge

Once you have a budget you need to decide how much money you need to make and what to charge per hour. Industry standard ranges start at $50 - $75 per hour depending on region of the country. Experienced organizers can make much more if they work in the corporate world, or as workshop facilitators.

Be realistic about the amount of billable hours you can have in one week. The truth is that organizers can usually only spend maybe half the time (20 - 30 hours per week) actually organizing with clients. The rest of the time is often spent marketing, performing administrative & financial tasks, writing, planning, attending meetings, etc.

ASSESS & DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS

Be honest with yourself about your skills, strengths, weaknesses, and ability to deal with not having a steady income. Running an organizing business means you not only have to be a good organizer, you need to be skilled at marketing, sales, financial / budgeting, technology, writing, and the consulting process. Working with different people's styles and educating them about organizing is just as important as your ability to organize things.

If you have all the skills, or are willing to learn them and continuously improve, and if you are truly passionate about organizing, it can a wonderfully challenging and rewarding career.

RESOURCES

To help you explore the world of professional organizing and prepare to succeed, I recommend the following resources.

1. Visit NAPO.net and Join the National Association for Professional Organizers. NAPO's purpose is to help you succeed. They provide online training and support to help you decide if the business is right for you. They also have an online referral network as well as many other professional development resources.

2. Join your Local Chapter of NAPO. Organizers are some of the warmest and kindest people you'll ever meet. Don't expect business consulting, but they will help you learn to be your best with clients. I found some great business mentors at the National Conference. The reality is that organizers in other states and countries are far more likely to share actual business tips like how to get new customers.

3. Visit NSGCD.org. If you join, they provide 3 free hours of teleclasses per month that are very helpful in learning how to help the more challenging chronically disorganized clients you will encounter. They also have a national conference which is worth it's weight in gold as well as a monthly newsletter.

4. Maria Gracia, from the Get Organized Now! website has a forum for Professional Organizers to chat and exchange ideas. This is a great way to see what daily challenges organizers face and get tips to help you with your business. She also provides a manual for organizers which is helpful.

5. Cyndi Seidler's Manual for Professional Organizers. This is one of the better books on starting your business, however, the online training provided by NAPO is the best.

6. To educate yourself and ensure you are prepared to help people get organized in a way that works for their style (not yours), you should read at least 10 of the best books on organizing and clearing clutter to ensure you have a foundation. See my website for a reading list.

Good Luck!

2006 Ariane Benefit