Comments on: Can I Run My Organizing Business Part Time?

By: Part-Time Organizing | Organizer U by The Professional Organizer

Part-Time Organizing | Organizer U by The Professional Organizer — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:40:28 +0000

[...] would be considered less than 30 hours per week, including your desk time. Recently a discussion on a new blog about organizing posed the question about whether it is possible to be an organizer part-time and my answer is YES. [...]

By: Janet Barclay

Janet Barclay — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:50:43 +0000

I hear you, Moreen! Anyone who thinks self-employment is all fun and games is sadly mistaken, but loving what you do makes it all worthwhile.

By: Moreen Torpy

Moreen Torpy — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:49:41 +0000

40 hours a week doing hands-on organizing–impossible for all the reasons you mentioned Janet. I can mange only about 15 max. The rest of the time is when I do my office admin work, marketing, networking, writing, continuing learning, etc. (after a break to dump the mental baggage I may have carried from the residential client’s home). Corporate is much easier because the emotional component isn’t there, except for the staff who resist change that their manager wants, and that’s not my problem.

I probably put in 50+ hours weekly into my business, all told. I can only do this because there is no family requiring my time and attention.

Like life itself, a business is what one makes of it. Sometimes even with all the dedication in the world it’s a tough slog. But, I wouldn’t give it up for anything. Well, almost anything.

By: Janet Barclay

Janet Barclay — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:26:54 +0000

Samantha, you’re so right – I can’t imagine anyone spending 40 hours a week organizing! It is often very physically demanding, and with some clients, emotionally exhausting as well.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Thu, 07 May 2009 03:00:39 +0000

I define full-time as if organizing is your main income. I started my business part-time, but soon found that most the clients I wanted only wanted someone to work during the day. So when I was laid off some years ago I decided to dive in full-time. Meaning that Organizing is my main source of income. If you truly want a thriving business you will have to dive in full-time just to be able to network and market and service clients. Just my 2 cents. I would not want to work 40 hours organizing. You would be burnt out before a year would go by. You have to count the unbillable hours of admin work toward your business.

By: Janet Barclay

Janet Barclay — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:39:53 +0000

Wow, this topic seems to have sparked a lot of interest!

Jacki, you sum things up so nicely: “you don’t need to be earning a 6 figure income to be considered successful.”

Geralin, you’ve also raised an excellent point – you can be really good at helping people to get organized but if you don’t run your business efficiently, you’ll never be successful.

Allison, thanks so much for sharing your experience! It’s true that part-timers are sometimes looked upon as little more than hobbyists, so it’s really important to make sure you look and act professional in every way, as you and Jacki point out. Thanks also for sharing your website – it looks like you have tons of valuable information there to explore!

By: Jacki Hollywood Brown

Jacki Hollywood Brown — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:22:09 +0000

One issue that I hear in this industry is that many part-timers aren’t professional; they don’t properly invoice, they don’t do client follow-up, they under charge their services etc. etc.

I have a problem with those types of people. They are the ones who, as Allison mentioned, make the public think that professional organizing is a “cottage industry”.

So, if part-timing is for you, make sure you do it RIGHT because if you do it wrong, it reflects poorly on all of us part-timers.

By: allison carter

allison carter — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:36:32 +0000

I want to chime in and don’t even know where to begin.
The BIG idea is: let each of us define what success means to us.
If it means working 8 hours a week and doing very little marketing, that is ok if it fits your life. Really. Why not? Many of us found this profession because it is a Lifestyle career – we mold the job to fit our life rather than letting the job tell us how and when we can act.
I started this job with 2 kids under age 5. I hired a sitter 2 days a week so I could work outside for longer periods. I spent time marketing the other days. And I worked weekends because DH could be home with the kids.
Later people assaulted me with the term “cottage industry” and accused my type of bringing down the business. Well let me tell you I just needed to get started the way I needed to get started.. and for each of us it’s different.
There is room for all of us in this industry if you just open your mind to the possibilities.

Be your own boss by your own rules.
And be professional.
It can be done.

Also – There is another website for organizer success – Organizer U. (http://www.organizeru.com)
It’s got articles and info for PO’s.
I love your site Janet and plan to do a lot of linky love.

– Allison

By: Geralin Thomas (@Metrozing on Twitter)

Geralin Thomas (@Metrozing on Twitter) — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:14:31 +0000

OOPS, to clarify, in my previous post, by finances, I mean accounting.

By: Geralin Thomas (@Metrozing on Twitter)

Geralin Thomas (@Metrozing on Twitter) — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:12:53 +0000

I think what most new organizers don’t realize is that behind every “successful” organizing business are a lot of “hidden” costs.

Marketing
Finances
Administrative
Professional Development
Communications

Even if you work, hands-on, with clients you always have to go home and deal with (or pay someone else to deal with) the above business-related tasks.

Heaven help you if you aren’t good at them or can’t afford assistance. What usually results is that you work smarter, not harder, to earn more, to pay for the help you need.

I agree with Alex, success depends on your specific goals or definition.