Would you be suited to a career as a professional organizer? For some, it’s a dream career, but you must have the right personality to excel in this unique occupation.
Before we discuss how to become a professional organizer, let’s define what a professional organizer is.
A professional organizer earns a living by sorting out and organizing environments. The work can be very varied, and it can be highly lucrative if you explore a variety of pathways and are open to different types of work.
You may be hired to sort out closets, rearrange kitchen cupboards, deal with floor-to-ceiling clutter in a hoarder’s house, or, if you have the skills, you might be asked to organize digital files and data.
From homes to offices, organizing can feel overwhelming to many, but it’s hugely satisfying when a space is well organized.
So it’s perhaps no surprise that many people choose to hire someone to do the job for them!
Could that person be you? Let’s dive into how to become a professional organizer.
What skills does a professional organizer need?
The work of a professional organizer requires a wider skillset than you may at first imagine.
You’ll already know if you have some of the essential skills needed, you just have to look around your own home.
Open a closet. Is it a jumbled mess or is it neatly ordered? Do you love nothing better than emptying out a cupboard, neatly sorting everything, and replacing it in an orderly fashion? Do you put off your own organizing jobs or do you leap in with gusto excited by the challenge?
If you can’t face sorting out your own clutter, do you really want to earn your living by dealing with other people’s disorder and mess?
But it’s not just about being an organizing whizz or a neat freak, there’s a deeper aspect to this too.
For the most part, you’ll be dealing with people, and when you’re working with people you have to take into account their unique personalities.
Add to this the fact that you’re stepping into their private world, and organizing their possessions, and things can get tricky if you don’t have the skills to cope with these challenges.
Would you know how to gently convince a hoarder to let go of items they perceive as having value?
Can you help them to visualize a future free from the disarray?
Are you a good problem solver?
If you answered yes to these questions, then this could be the career for you!
Do I need qualifications to work as a professional organizer?
While there are no specific qualifications needed to work as an organizer, taking professional organizing courses can help your business stand out from the crowd and will also give you some extra skills you can put into play in your new career.
There’s a lot involved in the work of a professional organizer, so if you’re setting up in business, taking a course is an excellent first step.
Your exciting new career will use your intuitive organizational skills, but it will also call on your capabilities in home staging, social interaction, business management, psychology, and more.
In addition, if you opt for a course that offers a professional organizing certification, you have an excellent way to prove your credentials to potential clients. Our certification courses start from just $247 and are available online with instant lifetime access.
How to get started as a professional organizer
So you think you’ve got what it takes? Then it’s time to get started in a fantastic new career!
It’s tempting to leap right in, but don’t rush. You need to get this right, so every single client is happy, right from the get-go. Don’t risk negative feedback by not being prepared!
The first steps
As we’ve already mentioned, taking a relevant professional organizing course can be very useful, both in teaching you the skills you need and in helping you set up your small business.
You’ll also need to register your business with the authorities, to ensure everything is above board and you’re all set to pay your taxes.
Now is also a great time to check out the competition. You can get a lot of inspiration and ideas by searching for other professional organizers and taking a close look at their websites.
How do they sell their services? What images do they use in their marketing to attract their clients?
Make notes as you go, you might pick up some excellent ideas that you can implement in the future.
Think about pricing
Knowing how to charge for organizing services can be tricky at first, but read our guide to get a better understanding on this topic.
In summary, when it comes to pricing, things you need to know are:
- Charging per hour provides predictable earnings and removes financial risk if a project takes longer than expected. However, clients may be discouraged by uncertain final costs, and accurate time estimation is essential.
- Charging a flat rate makes pricing more transparent and appealing to clients who prefer upfront costs. However, misjudging the scope of work can lead to financial loss, so careful quoting is crucial.
- Location influences pricing, with wealthier areas allowing for higher rates, while lower-income regions may require more competitive pricing.
- Researching industry rates helps determine fair pricing. Charging too high without experience can drive clients away, while pricing too low may undermine perceived value.
- Experience impacts pricing, with higher rates justified as reputation and demand grow.
- Certifications and qualifications enhance credibility and allow for premium pricing.
Get some practice
Organizing your own belongings in your own home is totally different from organizing someone else’s possessions professionally.
You may be surprised at the issues that come up when you’re a professional organizer, and it can be hard to fully understand a client’s needs and expectations.
The more practice you get the better, so why not ask around friends and family and offer your services for free? Surely everyone has something in their home or their office that could do with some organization? Listen to what they need, then ask for honest feedback when you’re done.
Did you achieve everything they wanted? Are they left feeling disappointed in any way?
Find out where you’re falling short now, so you can make sure when you’re taking on paying clients, they get the very best service possible.
Alternatively, practice in your own home. Take lots of before and after photos so you can use these on your website and in marketing material! If you are signed up for either our Professional or Advanced Organizing courses, you’ll also be able to use your hands-on assignment work to build your online portfolio.
Set up your professional online presence
You won’t get far nowadays without being online. The internet is the first stop for the majority of people looking for services, so you need to have an eye-catching website with a stylish logo.
Your website should include all the information anyone may be looking for, and of course, testimonials and high-quality images of your work will speak for themselves.
When you’re starting out, you may not have any images of work you’ve done for clients, but as mentioned earlier there’s no reason why you can’t photograph perfectly organized areas of your own home, or work you’ve done for friends and family.
The next step is to set up accounts on all the major social media channels. This is a great way to advertise your business and keep clients up to date with any special offers or discounts. Keep your content relevant, professional, and well-timed. Don’t share a dozen posts in one day, and then nothing in the following month!
Focus on marketing
Finally, you need to get the word out there. Look for any and all ways to advertise your business.
Eventually, you will benefit from word-of-mouth recommendations, but for now, you may have to be more inventive and explore several avenues to find new clients.
Look for unique advertising opportunities such as listings in local magazines, business directories, or sponsorship of local teams or events.
Join networking groups and meet with other entrepreneurs in your area, consider paid ads on Google or Facebook.
Give things a try and see what works for you. Marketing should be an ongoing mission, and something you should dedicate a lot of time to, particularly when your business is in its infancy.