Top 10 Things to do when Starting as a Professional Organizer

1. Check out your local Small Business Development Center (www.sba.gov) for free guidance on the nuts and bolts of running a business.

2. Read books by other organizers about different ways to organize in various situations and settings.

3. Get a mentor - you will learn much faster and saves you heartache having to learn the business from square one yourself. Ask a million questions. Pay for the opportunity to shadow on the job.

4. Get professional looking business cards - your first impression is often your only impression.

5. Join NAPO for credibility, education, and support. (www.napo.net)

6. Hold off on picking a business name until you have been in business for a few months. Your specialty area may become apparent as you work with clients and figure out what you like to do.

Check websites, your state records, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark office to be sure you have permission to use the name you would like.

7. Talk a lot. No need to sound like a salesman because everyone will ask you questions. Just talk about what you like to do as if it's your hobby and a passion and people will be drawn to you.

8. Appear confident. Gain confidence by practicing on friends and family.

9. Get help where you need it. If you're not skilled at marketing, writing, or accounting, hire someone to get you through it.

10. Join groups for networking. It doesn't have to be a traditional networking group. Join any club to expand the base of people you know.

But what if I don't want to run a business?

I just want to work for other people.

There are more than 4000 organizers in the U.S. and many hire independent contractors and some have employees. The best way to become an independent contractor for other organizing businesses is to:

1. Get a business license from your county and/or city.

2. Get business liability insurance (often required).

3. Network with organizers (at NAPO chapter meetings, at informal organizer group meetings in your area, at NAPO conferences).

4. Get a business card made that says you are an organizer for hire.
That means you agree to get paid by the organizer, not by the client.
You will get a lower fee than a professional organizer who has marketing expenses (advertising, phone book, website, etc.)

5. You may also want to get mentored and/or trained so that you can be the best organizer you can be. It’s a very different from organizing for yourself.

The Professional Organizer offers a mentoring program and there are additional resources for learning through NAPO.

Mentoring & Licensing information:

• Become an Affilate of The Professional Organizer

• FUNdamentals

Basic training text table of contents
• Rates
• Sign me up!

application and how-to

• Top 5 things to consider before starting as a Professional Organizer.

You color code your m&m's before eating them.

You catch yourself in straightening up candy at the grocery store check-out line.

You fold and line up your socks and underwear in your drawer.

You label all your shelves, drawers, and boxes.

You love Tupperware.

The staff at The Container Store know you by name.

You find yourself rearranging items on the coffee table at friends homes.