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Home
Based Business Idea
P
R O F E S S I O N A L O R G A N I Z E R:
Business
Description:
You
are a clean-up commando. You will utilize your keen sense of
order, ability to clearly identify distractions, and ability to classify
and organize a home or office to clarify your clients lives. You
provide the tools, details and outline a plan for your clients to stay
on track while "cleaning up" their lives.
Your
services will include actually organizing homes, offices and entire
organizations while providing the direction for the client to maintain
and develop efficient habits in the future. You are saving them
time and empowering your clients to take control of the clutter - which
at this point may be controlling them. A professional organizer
can be called on to assist in a task as simple as organizing a home
closet or kitchen to establishing the filing system for a small
business.
You
can offer complimentary services such as training for employee
efficiencies, writing a newsletter or publishing articles based on your
knowledge and the inspiration you can provide.
Your
Unique Skills
A
neat freak at heart, you have a natural ability to know what is and is
not important and can classify, prioritize and effectively manage the
information and "stuff" in your life.
You
are a master at both organizational and time-management skills. If
you want to focus on executive/professional training you should be able
to present information effectively. Develop expertise in at least
one time-management application that you can recommend to your
clients. Research organizing products available in stores,
catalogues and on the Internet. Don't leave any rock
unturned. If you are focusing on home organizing - remember the
garage, basement, home computer. If you find a great product then
investigate reselling for the manufacturer. You may even be able
to get territorial rights for a unique product.
Tools
of the Trade
Your
own office will showcase your skills. Organized filing system on a
small business computer, well designed Fax system, business card that
gets to the point, clean lines and style - it speaks volumes about
you. If you decide to recommend products to your clients, have
them available for demonstration, sale or to use. Virtual small
business clients will be interested in which software, personal digital
assistants etc that you recommend. Make sure that you exude
professionalism in your dress with clean, simple and professional
ensembles.
Business
start-up costs for a professional organizer are low. You can
expect to invest $2,000 - $3,000 for a computer and software; and $1,000
for marketing materials just to get started.
To effectively promote your business you will want to invest in a
professional business card, brochure of services and an effective
business logo/name.
Getting
Your Foot in the Door
You can create this business by word of mouth, a wonderful business name
and some great friends that allow you to "clean up" their
lives. Can you speak in public or write an effective article?
In this time-pressed day in age anything that helps us gain quality time
we are all about. A great idea is to teach classes. Go to a
library, parks department, community center or adult-education program
director and present them the outline to a specialty presentation that
you can do for free (or a nominal fee). Hold a "let's get
organized" seminar/roundtable chat at a local coffee shop.
Develop a web site and write a monthly column. Send free monthly
advice to opt-in newsletter subscribers. Publish your articles in
a newsletter and send it out to local businesses. To be successful in
this business you must establish to others that you are the expert.
Gain testimonials along with photos and tell the world about it.
Don't forget to accumulate a list of satisfied customers.
Show
Me the Money
So
can you actually make a living as an organizer? Well that depends
on two things? One is location. If you have three neighbors
and you live in the middle of Montana I would have to say
"no". But if you are well located and you plan on
putting in the time and effort it will take to establish a name for
yourself - then the answer is "yes". Consultants can
make as much as $1,000 an hour, though more realistic rates are in the
range of $25 to $200, depending on your clientele, the services you
offer and of course location.
For
More Information:
Books
Organizing Your Home Office For Success...
Organizing From the Inside Out
Home-Based Business For Dummies®
Online
Resources
Debbie Williams is a personal organizing coach and founder of the
online organizing site, OrganizedTimes.com.
She is the author of Home Management 101: A Guide for Busy Parents.
National
Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) - http://www.napo.net.
Georgia Chapter of NAPO - http://www.ganapo.com/home.htm
Professional
Organizers Web Ring - http://www.organizerswebring.com/
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