Training
Become a Professional Organizer
Organization is often the key to better productivity, reduced stress and increased happiness. It helps you stay sane, keep your home clean and live a richer and rewarding life. However, many people don’t know how to organize – they don’t know how to get organized and how to stay organized. Their homes have gotten so out of control, they just don’t know where to start. They need help. If you have a knack for organizing and creating effective systems, consider starting your own home organizing business.
What Is a Home Organizing Business?
A Professional Organizer is someone who is paid to help people organize various aspects of their home. You can organize garages, basements, closets, kitchens, bedrooms, home offices and so on. As more and more people learn the value of an organized home, they’re realizing they need help to achieve it. As a home organizer you would make money by charging for hands on help with individuals or groups and charge based on an hourly rate or per project, by selling organising products, offering workshops and training, coaching, and providing information, to list just a few.
The Benefit of Having A Niche or Specializing
You may want to consider specializing in a certain area (called a niche) as this would help you differentiate your business and allow you to focus your marketing in this area. For example, you could specialize in organizing garages or home offices. When you work in a specific niche or niches, you are able to focus your marketing on the specific needs of your clients in these niches. For example, if you would like to work with new mothers at home, then you are going to use words and phrases that have meaning to mothers. There would be little sense in trying to attract mothers by giving them a brochure that deals with downsizing for over 55s.
Rather than trying to attract everybody and anybody, when you first start your business concentrate on 1 to 3 areas and discover as much as you can about what the people in these areas want more of and what they want less of. You will then craft your marketing and advertising around these wants, needs and fear.
What Do You Need to Get Started?
Starting a home organizing business is actually quite economical. You can get started with a website, business cards, flyers/postcards, computer, a reliable car to get to clients’ homes and a phone.
You’ll also likely want to have some organizing supplies such as a labeller, containers and notepads which might be required when working with your clients.
Education
No formal education is required to become a home Professional Organizer. However, you will want to have good organization skills yourself as well as excellent people skills. You will need to keep up to date on various organizing methods, philosophies and products. Good communication skills and a desire to work closely with your clients will also help you succeed. Invest in yourself and your business by taking classes in organising and business and marketing. Consider hiring a coach to guide you in business as there is power in having someone on your side who will hold you accountable to your goals.
Associations & Professional Groups
Join your country’s Association for Professional Organisers and keep up to date with events and learning opportunities. For example:
Australia and New Zealand – AAPO (Australasian Association of Professional Organisers)
U.S. – NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers)
Britain – APDO-UK (Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers, UK)
South Africa – POAA (Professional Organiser Association Africa)
Marketing Your Home Organization Business
Marketing your business will likely be accomplished in a number of ways. Initially, you’ll probably want to create a business website. You’ll also want to consider local advertising and marketing tactics. The majority of your clients will be in and around your community. Consider the yellow pages, classified advertising and brochures and flyers. Also consider partnering with home designers, cleaning services and other home-related businesses. You can cross-promote each other.
Want to Make a Change in The World?
If you have a knack for organizing, consider offering your services to others. A professional home organizer offers tremendous value. You’ll help people get and stay organized. They’ll love the life they live and you’ll make a good living doing something you love.
Here at Organizers toolkit, we specialise in creatively helping people start and grow a strong and resilient organising and productivity business that you love and your clients will love you for. Click here for our Kickstart for Professional Organisers and our Members Club.
Become a Professional Organiser
Are you organised? Able to clear piles of clutter in a single bound? Great with time? Do you have dinner on the table without raising a sweat? Perhaps you have operated a small business and know what systems work to give owners time away from the business? Do you want to share your knowledge and skills with others and help them enjoy the peace and calm you feel? If this is you, then chances are you have considered a career as a Professional Organiser.
Professional Organisers help others find order and peace in their lives, in their homes and in their businesses. Perhaps you are a domestic goddess? Or you know who to whip a small business into shape with the right systems and time management techniques? Professional Organisers offer a range of organisation and time management solutions through sharing strategies and tools and tips that show people how to simplify their lives and reduce their clutter whether it is at home or work.
Recent research into Australian lifestyle has found that businesses that offer home services are expected to surge in popularity. Faced with reduced leisure time due to working longer hours and being forced back into the workforce because of debt or poor investments, Australians are experiencing a decrease in leisure time. Wanting to maximise their leisure time, Australians are embracing the outsourcing of their household activities. Everyday things that we do for ourselves will increasingly be done by other people, so there are fantastic opportunities all the way through (IBISWorld).
My “Business Kickstart for Professional Organisers” starts on 15 February. This innovative 8 week webinar course will help you discover your organising niche, start your business, determine your fees and attract clients. And I would love to have you join me and fulfill your business dream.
Click here for more details and to book your spot…
As a little child, I remember singing a song about ‘This Little Light of Mine” and there’s one phrase that I still sing to myself from that song which is “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine”…..”Hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine”. This song is great reminder for me to continue to shine my unique skills and talents with the world and to go for my dreams. Are you shining your light with the neighbours? City? State? World?