5 Steps to Become a Professional Organizer | Checklist for New Organizers

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Do you want to organize for a living?

[@preciouslove9498]

Katherine Lawrence I would love to become a professional organizer.

[@MsBlessed26]

Yes I am

[@sharlaamysamuel]

Thank you so much!

[@trinitysellers3319]

Yes more than anything

[@plaguedoctor8294]

Yes I have an urge to organize because it reliefs stress and money making if I don’t I get stress for about 1 hour!

[@saintinlower48]

I am 55 and have always loved organizing, even if with helping my husband with his practice and raising 6 kids made it difficult. I love everything relating to organization when it comes to the home. I'm glad I found your channel. I am old, but may educate myself, get trained and eventually start a business. At least I will like what will challenge me and hopefully bring contentment and calm to others. Glad to have found you even if this video is 4 years old now!

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

You're not too much older than me! I've changed my business over the years to do more virtual work and I love organizing papers and information that is less strenuous than unpacking a house lol... But other than the physical work I'll probably be able to run my org business for another 20 years!

[@crml1978]

Exactly where I am . I am 45 used to be a stay at home mom. Trying to figure out me and what to do for me. To stand on my own. Excited but nervous what the future holds.

[@KatieG986]

You are not old to start a new business! Never too old to do something! 🎉

[@HaroldCarey-kz8ms]

Im sixty-one and thinking about starting my own business in organization. So you are not alone.

[@gotlynda2013]

I have just started my journey to become a minimalist. I feel like being a personal organizer would be perfect for me and that lifestyle. I haven't taken any steps at all. Thanks for sharing this info!

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

That's wonderful! I think working as an organizer makes you think a lot about the things in your own space. Good luck!

[@spirituallysafe]

Did you do this job?! If so, how is it?

[@nicolewells5196]

I would love to become a professional organizer! I love helping others.

[@maggiesigala2980]

I have always enjoyed organizing and cleaning my own things and whenever I would go to a friend or family’s home and see so much clutter I wanted to clean it up so bad. It would be awesome to make this a living to where I can make my own income.. glad I came across your video. I want to learn it all

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@aplacetorambleon]

i DO want to organize for a living... that woudl be a dream job... but i dont know where to even begin.... thank you for helping to inspire me

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Grab the eBook, check out Napo.net, my next course opens in July..good luck!

[@bw6138]

clean food, dirty sneakers I do too. I love organizing.

[@progypsy2343]

Debra I would love to see if you have pursued this? Any Progress

[@laraclarke6742]

I got a business proposal for you, Hit Me Up and see if you'd like to give it a shot 💸 🇺🇲🇨🇦

[@classicashley3925]

You are wonderful for sharing this information!

[@Summerof-dh4re]

Great Job! When you wake up on a Saturday morning and the first thing you think of is how to organize something, that's when you know what you want to do with your life. At age 44 I didn't give myself permission to pursue what I always wanted, but I have a 5-year plan and that includes becoming a professional organizer - 5 years is when my hubby retires so we can do more at that time. OH, and Step number 6 - Get a youtube channel and have 2.44K subscribers... HAHA♥ Good for you.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Sounds like a great plan! You can start taking a few classes now and start thinking about your brand. Lots of POs start this as a second career, pulling from past experiences ❤

[@pattimeister7114]

This is totally me! Well said! I wake up on a Sat morning, love cleaning and organizing things!

[@nicolekyrychok5747]

Thank you for saying that! I am a morning person who lives in a duplex and when someone is sleeping on my couch I end up at 6 am trying to find a closet or a basement I can organize quietly lol. I am 40 been a mom for 23 years now and been a general cleaning service for 22 years. I'm finally ready to put my efforts into my career plan and transition my cleaning business to an (also bc I do love cleaning too) organizing business.

[@phoenixwiseman4018]

this video is for serious people. thank you

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

You're welcome! I'm pretty serious about this business! :)

[@adorningspaces]

Katherine, where have you been all my life?! I cannot thank you enough for this video!!! I’m just getting started in this business and I honestly wasn’t sure the next step to take after starting my KZbin channel. This video has helped tremendously and I’m already your subscriber!

[@nandep2149]

Clear, concise and quick; a great video. (Which tells me you might be a good & experienced organizer - heehee!) Thank you. :)

[@simoneder8135]

Winner of a video, I have been researching "how much does a professional organizer charge?" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about - Xanmily Yonandon Finder - (do a google search ) ? Ive heard some awesome things about it and my m8 got excellent success with it.

[@Wilqowak]

FINALLY 🙌🙌 the most informative video I've seen about this profession. Organizing is my passion and i feel more confident and motivated to take first steps and start my own business finally. i will definitely follow your advices and learn from the best! Thank You !

[@DewiiAljoe]

Great tips and information

[@caitlinlouiseee]

Hi! A video I would love to see is things you can do to prepare for a professional declutter appointment! I would assume it would include lots of basics but would love to hear it from a professional! Eg make sure all the trash is taken out (maybe the week before so you have empty bins), do some loads of washing so your closet is as full as possible, clear a space to put things, etc. Just an idea! 😊

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Good idea! I have a checklist for myself (like getting supplies together) in my courses, but not for the client.

[@livelovelaugh473]

@Katherine Lawrence: This video was helpful. Thank you. I have a few questions. 1) Why would a professional organizer need to hire an attorney? 2) Why would contracts be involved between the client and professional organizer ?

[@dandeangeli9860]

Hi Katherine: I am looking to transition my existing home improvement business into a home organizing business. I feel many of my marketing and customer relationship skills may be transferable. This was a helpful video to give me a sense of what I should be thinking about.

[@prettysungoddess3625]

Thank you so much Katherine I truly appreciate this

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

You are so welcome

[@naturalcandigirl]

This is real valuable information! Thanks soooo much!

[@LovedbyYah]

I love this I'm thinking about today

[@seasonalliving2881]

I think I would love to help organize classrooms, offices, and elderly homes looking to downsize.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Seniors who are moving or downsizing (or families who inherit clutter) are major populations that need organizing help!

[@SwoonSpaces]

Thank you so much for sharing this information! I'm already an organizer but it was so nice to watch your content!

[@rowenatalie29]

Thanks a lot for this video. Very informative.❤🎉

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

My pleasure 😊

[@rarekindbeauty]

Thank you so much for great tips! I think that you are wonderful! Take a good care and many thanks for the inspiration! 🙏☺️🙌

[@blancagonzalez2833]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I would like to become a Professional Organizer. First all, I'll start watching your videos, in secondly, I think it would be nice to get a job as an assistant to a Professional Organizer.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

If there is a NAPO chapter in your area, sometimes people are looking for people to hire. Also in larger markets you may find a large organizing company that needs employees

[@burntcheesecake1710]

Thankyou for this! In my country as far i know we don’t have any professional organizers. And i would really love to start a small business for organizing thru instagram

[@irmaramirez1374]

Fantastic i formation and video. Thank you

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@christalf6638]

Loving your tips. I am currently working on that. The one obstacle I'm facing is paid hours towards getting a certification.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

I'll cover that in my upcoming program, are you on my e-mail list? Do you have a website yet? Share if you do...

[@rickyrice7376]

Excellent video. My friend and I are seriously wanting to start an organizational business. Looking to start with my brothers garage, and go from there.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Go for it!

[@debbyg7258]

Very good Information.Thankyou. Did happen to notice Recap Checklist had the word Business spelled incorrectly.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Doesn't surprise me ... I'm a terrible speller 😬 I'm much better at space planning and project management 😉

[@hikingaf6735]

Thank you for this very insightful video. You ROCK!!

[@Bheilla]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. You rock!

[@laraclarke6742]

I got a business proposal for you, Hit Me Up and see if you'd like to give it a shot 💸 🇺🇲🇨🇦

[@korinlebov6357]

This was super useful! Thank you for your time and generosity with your resources 😊.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Oh great! Thanks!

[@HelloCollo]

Katherine, This post was very inspiring for someone like myself who has just started taking on clients. My quick question to you: When a client wishes to focus on a specific room (office) to organize --- though this room actually serves multiple purposes (clothing closet, art supplies, company supplies, library) and you see the potential for de-cluttering and rearrangement of items -- how do you focus on just the specified room, knowing there is more potential (and also more of similar items) in various spaces of the house?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Hi Caroline! You always want to focus on categories, and you can still do that in a multi-purpose room or a house with categories really spread out. Just take it one category at a time. So maybe in the office, you gather all the office supplies from other rooms with the intention of all office supplies living in the office together. If a category will not live in the office, gather it up and stage it somewhere else until you are ready to sort and decide on that category. It's a bit of a shifting game until everything finds the right home. You are still focusing on that room because ultimately there will be a collection of things that only live in that space. But if you "organize" all the office supplies or clothes just to move to the next room to find duplicates of the same supplies, you'll be spinning your wheels for a long time 🤣 Think about the overall function of that room, but keep the whole house plan in mind. I like to do a quick house tour before we organize a specific room.

[@HelloCollo]

@@KatherineLawrenceCPO Thank you! I was starting to doubt my vision, but you helped me feel confident about the process. I find it is sometimes a challenge to keep the client focused on consolidating all items in categories THEN organize vs. "Just the things in this room". This was super helpful. I met with this client this morning and reassured her that we were still headed in the right direction, it just might take a little bit of time- longer than she anticipated. She agreed that the amount of items she owns is overwhelming and trusts my judgement. So THANK YOU for also encouraging me to stick to my plan.

[@cheriecollins3848]

Enjoyed that and Went through it very well, You would do well becoming an Organiser coach, would be a natural next step..

[@ByEdi1]

Hi Katherine, the course you offer will allow me to start working and taking clients? Is there a place I can contact you with specific questions about your course? Thank you!

[@aparnaldo]

Thank you for this! Very inspiring

[@whatukeep-lioraseltzer6404]

Thank you for this video! I'm looking into insurance and found that many companies don't offer a policy for pro-organizers! Any insight?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Find a small business agent who insures home cleaning companies and/or interior designers and explain how your services are similar - the first agent I went to never heard of organizing as a business! You can also check with other POs in your area and use the same company...

[@whatukeep-lioraseltzer6404]

@@KatherineLawrenceCPO Thank you! I'm working on it. You are very kind to reply :-)

[@christinasmith2596]

Yes!

[@rhoadestraveled]

Thank you for being so helpful!

[@gwendalynrogers7417]

Great information! Can you do a video about how th charge for your services?? Do you charge hourly; or is it a flat rate? Heres an example: Say you have one project that would be an entire kitchen and a dif. project that is just organizing the pantry... How would you charge for those?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

great question and great video idea! Stay tuned...

[@gwendalynrogers7417]

@@KatherineLawrenceCPO awesome!!! :D I will! ❤

[@carolinehuxtable7268]

Thank you for giving back ❤

[@christinasmith2596]

Do you have a video on how to write a proposal for organizers?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

I do not write proposals for home organizing clients (I have on occasion for corporate jobs, but it is very rare). I create an action plan during a paid consultation and the fees depend on how much the client does on their own versus with me during a session. Does that make sense?

[@christinasmith2596]

Makes total sense and thank you for the insight!

[@angelabraun4055]

I’m curious how you advertise and how do you figure out how much to charge?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

My "advertising" is really networking and strategic partnerships, though as a new organizer you may want to use lead generation services (find my organizer, thumbtack, etc.) for an initial boost. And make sure your business appears in google searches. I typically charge by the session (not hourly or project). Charge based on your market and experience. You can always increase your prices as your calendar gets full, you have more training, and more experience!

[@suboceanic]

How long were you working as an organizer before receiving professional certification?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Great question! I started my organizing business in 2002, but certification was not available until 2007. So I received my CPO designation during the inaugural exam at that time. To sit for the exam you need 1250 to 1500 hours of work in the professional organizing business within the last 5 years (it used to be 3). since I was working 20 to 30 hours per week with clients, I would have qualified after 2 years had the certification existed back in 2004.

[@suboceanic]

Katherine Lawrence thank you so much!

[@marinat2039]

Thank you. Very helpful!

[@maryh3907]

Great video! Where is link to video you mentioned about plan for organizing someone else’s home?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

I think I was referring to the Professional Organizer's start up guide - myspacematters.com/guide/ or my Digital Action planning course - katherine-lawrence.teachable.com/p/creating-digital-action-plans-in-trello/?product_id=1952614&coupon_code=WFH5FF

[@sequoyafinch4318]

Very informative video. Many, many thanks!

[@courtneyking8223]

You are incredible for sharing this information! Thank you so much - wow, so helpful I can't even begin to explain!

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Oh you are so welcome! The world needs more (awesome) professional organizers!!

[@jeniferbarnesbrown2279]

Real interesting I enjoyed

[@Mirandanaadj]

This was awesome-newbie organizer here:)

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

thanks! I'll post a few more PO related business videos soon and I have an intro class coming out in the spring

[@manalalhumaid812]

Thank so much for sharing info. I am considering to be a professional organizer but I am working full time & outside USA. any tips ?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Where would you be starting your business? How many POs are established there? Also look into local requirements to starting a service business.

[@gordonboyce6495]

great job!)

[@Munchthesquirrel]

This is so helpful! I am a cosmetologist full time but I organize for friends/family as a hobby and am thinking about having an instagram page advertising free residential organization to build a "portfolio", because I would like to do it part-time. What do you think?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

That is how I got started. I helped a couple of friends and family members and took before and after pictures, then you can build on that with classes and certification

[@1913Lioness]

Valuable video. Thank you for sharing.

[@jessicab3986]

Your guide is fabulous!

[@bellaelizabeth4132]

This is helpful - thank you!

[@ivywang3575]

Thank you for sharing this information :)

[@hmcomps8670]

There are a few components to how to de-clutter . One place I found that succeeds in merging these is the Nilah declutter tips (google it if you're interested) definately the most incredible resource that I have ever seen.Check out the super information .

[@harleighstringer]

say that you buy organizing bins or something, do you have the customer pay for that or would that be considered in the hourly rate?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

oh definitely have the client reimburse 😁 I don't charge for the supplies I keep in my bag like label tape or ziploc bags, but if we are buying containers I have the client order them from their computer during our session or I charge a shopping fee and add the cost to the next session.

[@azariathompson3380]

My biggest question would be about pricing. I have no idea what people are willing to pay and what is fair.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Do you know what other organizers in your market are charging? do you live in a big city or a small town?

[@52Kalil]

Hi Good Day! I hope yoyr doing well.. Can I ask if theres a way to reach yoy :) would like to ask something. thank you

[@aseantijj]

How do you charge and work with the clients budget?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

I charge by the hour, usually in 2 to 3-hour time blocks. You can see my pricing at myspacematters.com/schedule/ If someone is on a tight budget I do the action plan and then follow up consultations or lessons instead of multiple 6-hour projects, so basically I teach them to do organize which is cheaper for them than my team doing all the sorting and organizing for them.

[@heartquaked]

THANK YOU! :)

[@hwyjourney7774]

Great advice

[@tylervaldez9956]

I am very interested in becoming a professional organizer and I tried accessing your book and was unable too? How else can I access it?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Could you try again? The page should be working now. Otherwise, you can request it directly by e-mailing [e-mail]

[@aspiremythic5162]

nice

[@agatha1812]

Im from Europe and there ar no professional organizers yet in my country, how can i get training? Online?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

What country? You can train online with me if you want to follow the same methods we use in the US for clients, then get local training on business development.

[@agatha1812]

@@KatherineLawrenceCPO Austria, Vienna :)

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

What kind of business do you think would do well there? Like decluttering, KonMari, closet and kitchen design, productivity, etc... ?

[@aksalinfant8491]

Hi Katherine, Does the NAPO Course apply to Indian locale as well or it applies only to US LOCALE.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

All the courses are online, so you train from anywhere, but I'm not sure if India has other requirements for working as a PO... Is there a trade association for POs in India?

[@tanyawoo8339]

This is great information!

[@MrIrken121]

As for getting a college degree, what major would be best to pursue to be successful as a professional organizer?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Great question! I have met organizers with a variety of degrees like education, communication, and psychology. If I was starting school now I would get a degree in marketing and business (not political science which is the degree I got in the 1990's). There is also a home economics or family and consumer sciences degree that some schools offer...and there is always an interior design degree, that would help you with space planning. What type of PO do you see yourself being?

[@asiaj4102]

Thanks so much

[@SB-lq5mn]

Thank you for this video Katherine! I’m thinking of becoming an organizer so this video was helpful! I have a question for you related to pantry organization...I found affordable pantry storage containers on Aliexpress but I don’t know if the quality is decent or not...it got good reviews though. Should I avoid buying storage products/containers from Aliexpress when I start my business? I’m assuming I should purchase pricier/better quality storage containers elsewhere.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

I have not used their products. It's really up to the client regarding the style and quality of the product since it's their budget and living space. And the more you downsize, the fewer products you need. Remember to declutter before buying containers!

[@SB-lq5mn]

@@KatherineLawrenceCPO Ok got it, thank you!

[@Its_ReneeNicole]

Hi, thanks for the video! When I try to get the ebook I keep getting an error. Thx!

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Sorry about that, my website has been giving me problems. You can e-mail me at [e-mail] and I'll send it to you directly 😁

[@Its_ReneeNicole]

Katherine Lawrence will do. Thanks!

[@1966dayla]

do you clean also when organizing?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

I never organize things back into a dirty space, so I do wipe down the inside of closets, cabinets, and drawers.

[@1966dayla]

Yes I was able to go back in some of your older videos and saw that you said that thank you for the reply

[@christinasmith2596]

I have a degree in Interior Design, therefore I have space planning training, does that count as training/credentials???

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

You should be able to use some of the same skills depending on your niche. Some organizers do staging, which I imagine would come easily to you. Organizers work a lot in areas of the home that others do not see, like kitchen cabinets, drawers, and file cabinets, so that would be very different than design. But the concept of working one - on -one in someone's home environment would be similar. Good luck!!

[@christinasmith2596]

Thanks again!

[@mariafraga6451]

Hello! I have a question, does becoming a personal organizer require any age restriction?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

I don't know of any ... I guess it depends on labor laws in your locality if you are running a business/collecting fees and so on ... NAPO has a student membership for college students www.napo.net/page/student

[@denaj6711]

Is there a certification process?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Yes, go to Napo.net and look up certification. You can do self study, but I find that people who go through a formal certification program stay in the business longer

[@IAmHisBeloved5]

+Dena Jacobson were you able to find it on the website? I'm trying to find...

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

@@IAmHisBeloved5 are you still looking for the NAPO certification?

[@IAmHisBeloved5]

@@KatherineLawrenceCPO yes ma'am, I am.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

@@IAmHisBeloved5 here is the link www.napo.net/page/_certificatio

[@lovebird14300]

Is there an organization which is international ? And can acquire certification online?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Did you see my video on certification? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZuTZ4NreLuSrLs You can take the exam online.

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Did you see my video on certification? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZuTZ4NreLuSrLs You can take the exam online.

[@giftedsha]

Thank You!!

[@joshandandi4256]

Thank you for sharing. I would love to become a professional Organizer! It’s my dream. I live in Dubai. Is there any online courses I can take? Thank you!

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Hi, sorry I typed out a response to you a few days ago and now I don't see it?? I'm curious how the home organizing profession differs in Dubai vs the USA, so keep me updated on your research. My online course will show you how to provide home organizing services as well as tricks of the trade and being prepared to take jobs. This link provides a coupon code - www.udemy.com/organize-for-a-living-becoming-a-professional-organizer/?couponCode=FMC399 I have another course launching next month that will include live webinars, business forms, and marketing assistance. Are you on my email list? If not sign up for updates. myspacematters.com/30-day-professional-organizer-launch-ebook/ Best of luck!!

[@KhanZada-sv8do]

good information

[@lollawell1732]

How much costs an hour a professional organizer?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

It varies a lot depending where you live and the experience of the organizer. I would contact an organizer in your area using NAPO.net

[@dukedavies6617]

Can I own my own organization business with zero money in my bank?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

There are some start up cost, getting business cards, insurance, training, and a website, to name a few.

[@CammyHell]

How much did you have to pay for being licensed and bonded so people can’t say you stole something from their house?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

I do not toss or remove items without written or verbal permission. My clients are part of the process, so they see everything going into trash or donate bags. If the client is not there, I stage things in clear bags and leave them at the house for final review. I pay for a liability policy around 300/year for damage caused in the process (in 17 years I've never had a claim, knock on wood) ...some organizers have a more robust policy if they are installing shelving (drilling into walls), but I refer that work out to others in my network to reduce my liability. Are you working as an incorporated business or are people paying you directly? Is bonding a requirement for doing business in your market?

[@QuinnMiller]

Got halfway through this video before finding out she doesn't form unions at workplaces

[@jafallica]

Do you make much money doing this?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

I was able to replace my corporate income within 2 years. There is no real limit to what you can make if you grow a team or find additional revenue streams as an entrepreneur - look at Marie Kondo and the Home Edit Ladies!

[@jafallica]

@@KatherineLawrenceCPO thank you.

[@terrytulipane6916]

NAPO is extremely expensive and demanding.

[@ashockablack1670]

Can you make a living doing this..is the profit consistent?

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Many people do! You do need to put in a full time effort to consistently get clients and you'll want to grow a large referral base so jobs are coming in on a regular basis. It gets easier to market over time once you are well known in your area.

[@ashockablack1670]

@@KatherineLawrenceCPO Thanks for responding; what advice would you give if you start of with a some established private company and the want to branch off? Or if you want to get some work while working for someone else to have a steady income in the field?

[@joseRivas-cr8zd]

Many thanks, been searching for "how to start home organization business" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about - Xanmily Yonandon Finder - (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some great things about it and my co-worker got amazing success with it.

[@michaeljohnson9495]

This is glorious, I've been looking for "starting a closet organizing business" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Xanmily Yonandon Finder - (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some interesting things about it and my buddy got excellent results with it.

[@brianandrew7265]

Winner of a video, I have been researching "professional organizer definition" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Xanmily Yonandon Finder - (do a google search ) ? Ive heard some incredible things about it and my mate got excellent results with it.

[@isaacacheampong879]

Cheers for the Video clip! Forgive me for butting in, I would love your thoughts. Have you heard the talk about - Mahorrla Control Clutter Method (just google it)? It is a great one of a kind product for decluttering your home minus the hard work. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my work buddy got excellent success with it.

[@marcogarcia1962]

I would love to become a professional organizer! I love helping others.

[@lynnedavis4819]

thanks so much.

[@iedamendes3852]

Thanks!!!

[@KatherineLawrenceCPO]

Welcome!