How to Start a Business as a Professional Organizer

While formal qualifications are not strictly required to become a professional organizer, having certain skills, certifications, and experience can significantly enhance your credibility and attract more clients.

Strong organizational skills, time-management abilities, and excellent communication are essential attributes. Due to the nature of the job, certain emotional skills are also critical to have as well. For instance, being compassionate and having empathy, patience, motivation and optimism, and honesty are all key components of a great professional organizer.

Additionally, many professional organizers also benefit from having a background in related fields like interior decorating, life coaching, and/or business management. Continuing education and staying updated on industry trends are also crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the field!

The key to answering this question is to first ask yourself: “How do I become a CERTIFIED professional organizer?” After all, this is the best way to start a successful career in this area of the design industry!

This is why we recommend enrolling in an online certification course that specializes in professional organizing. A trustworthy program will teach you everything you need to know to do your job right and launch a thriving company. Furthermore, completing an accredited online course will arm you with a reputable certification that you can add to your professional resume.

Starting a home organizing business requires careful planning and a well-thought-out approach. Begin by creating a business plan that outlines your goals, target market, pricing structure, and marketing strategies. Next, invest in the right tools and supplies, such as storage bins, labels, and shelving equipment, to provide top-notch service to your clients.

Building a strong online presence is also essential – consider creating a professional website and utilizing social media to showcase your work. Networking with real estate agents, home staging companies, and other professionals can also help attract clients, too. Finally, focus on delivering exceptional customer service and tailored solutions to ensure satisfied clients who are likely to recommend your services to others.

In the beginning of your business venture, you’ll need to invest in some basic start-up fees, such as:

• A computer and/or laptop
• A printer
• Telephone line and headset
• Business cards
• A professional business website

It’s typically recommended that you save up at least $15,000-$20,000 before starting operations. However, this number may be higher or lower, depending on how big you want your company to be, whether you want to run it out of your home vs. an office space, etc.

In this field, you can expect to be responsible for a variety of tasks and duties, such as:

• Meeting with clients in-person and/or virtually;
• Touring the client’s home and taking measurements/notes;
• Assessing what areas need decluttering/organizing the most;
• Recommending solutions and strategies for improvement;
• Helping to put these plans into action;
• Coordinating with other professionals, such as cleaners, movers, painters, etc.;
• Following up with clients post-organizing to ensure they’re staying on track, etc.

Is professional organizing a lucrative business? Will your start-up investments ultimately be worth it?

The answer is a resounding YES! In fact, the global professional organizer market value is expected to increase to a value of approx. USD 28.46 Billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approx. 11.61% between 2024-2031. This means that this field’s high demand will only continue to increase for the foreseeable future – making it a prime industry for YOU to break out into now!

Furthermore, here are some of the average incomes for professional organizers, based on country:

• United States: Between approx. USD $31,000-$85,000 per year.
• Canada: Between approx. CAD $41,000-$57,000 per year.
• United Kingdom: Between approx. GBP £23,000-£36,000 per year.
• Australia: Between approx. AUD $75,000-$107,678 per year.
• New Zealand: Between approx. NZD $95,000-$104,000 per year.
• United Arab Emirates: Approx. AED 52,196 per year.

It’s important to keep in mind that these are merely averages and estimates, based on what other people have earned over time. You may end up making less or more than them – depending how savvy of a marketer you are, whether you wish to offer additional design services, and whether or not there’s high demand for your services within your specific area.

The average professional organizer charges around USD $31 per hour. That said, there are a lot of factors that go into pricing your professional organizer services. Some of the questions we recommend asking yourself are:

• How long have you been in business?
• What are your qualifications as an organizer?
• How much real-world experience is already under your belt?
• How many clients do you have at the moment?
• Do you also want to offer clients other design services as well, such as interior decorating, home staging, color consulting, etc.?
• Are you planning to launch your business with a team, or on your own?
• If the former, how experienced are your staff/team members when it comes to professional organizing and other areas of home design?
• Do you want to specialize in a niche, such as working with hoarders, preparing clients to move (or helping them move in), etc.?
• How much time does each client take up per month, or per year?
• How profitable is the organizing industry within your specific area right now?

Once you’re done brainstorming these questions, you can better determine how much money it’d cost you to run your company over a set period of time (e.g. the first year, years 2-5, etc.).

When building a professional organizing business, it’s important to decide which services you want to offer your clients. For example, will you be specializing in assisting hoarding situations? Moves? Specific rooms of the home?

You don’t have to limit yourself to one area of the professional organizing spectrum! In fact, many organizers offer a variety of services. Either way, it’s important to choose the services that you’re most comfortable with – and that you know you can deliver on successfully.

Here are just some of the services you can offer your customers:

• Residential organizing
• Decluttering
• Organization for specific areas of the home (e.g. kitchens, closets, bedrooms, etc.)
• Business organizing
• Paper and filing management
• Time management
• Life coaching
• Photo/memorabilia organizing
• Move-in and move-out services
• Downsizing
• Organization for specific target demographics (i.e. hoarders, children, senior citizens, special needs clients, etc.)

Not to mention, if you’re trained and knowledgeable in other types of home design, too, you can also offer these services as part of your business as well:

• Interior decorating
• Home staging
• Feng Shui design
• Color consulting
• Aging in Place design
• Virtual design
• Floral arrangements
• Landscape design

• Digital Organization Services: Help clients declutter and manage their digital spaces, including organizing emails, files, photos, and cloud storage systems.
• Hoarding Specialist: Specialize in working with clients who struggle with hoarding tendencies and help them transform their living spaces.
• Virtual Organization Classes: Develop online courses or workshops on organization tips, techniques, and strategies for individuals looking to improve their organizational skills.
• Event Planning and Organizing: Combine your organizing skills with event planning expertise to offer an all-in-one service for clients
• Eco-Friendly Organizing: Focus on sustainable organization by promoting the use of recycled materials, minimal waste solutions, and repurposing items during the organizing process.
• Packing and Moving Assistance: Specialize in helping clients streamline their belongings, pack effectively, and establish organized spaces in their new homes.
• Downsizing for Seniors: Assist elderly individuals with decluttering and transitioning to smaller living spaces while respecting sentimental attachments.
• Home Staging for Sellers: Combine organization with aesthetic skills to stage homes for sale, creating visually appealing and functional spaces.
• Kid and Family Organization: Help families create systems to manage toys, homework, schedules, and shared family areas efficiently.
• Workspace Transformation Services: Improve productivity by optimizing home offices and corporate workplaces with bespoke organizational systems.
• Seasonal Organization Services: Assist with organizing holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, or preparing homes for specific times of the year.