In Blogging Organizers, we usually talk about tools and strategies to help you get better results from your blog, but for a change of pace, I asked members the following question:

What do you wish you’d known before you became a professional organizer?

The answers I received covered everything from client interactions to setting a schedule to frustrations. Read about the experiences of six  experienced organizers, and you’ll know more about what to expect in your new organizing business.

Julie Stobbe, Mind over Clutter

When I was considering becoming a Professional Organizer, I thought I would have to work evenings and weekends. I thought most of my clients would be working during the day. I wish I had known that you set your hours of operation to suit your own schedule. Clients will take vacation time and rearrange their schedules to work with me during the day. I work limited evenings and weekends. I think I would have started my business sooner knowing that it was possible to set a schedule where I could balance my work with my children’s schedules.

I would tell anyone thinking of becoming a Professional Organizer: you have complete control over your time. You can have a different schedule each day of week or month. Organize your time wisely.

Florena Davies, Organize by Flo

One of the key lessons I’ve learned is the tremendous value of networking. Investing time in networking has proven to be incredibly worthwhile for me as I have learned so much through the various people I have met and it has expanded my client base and job opportunities significantly.

Lastly, I wish I had realized earlier the importance of not doing everything yourself. Outsourcing tasks like building your website and SEO can greatly improve your site’s performance and impact.

Seana Turner, The Seana Method

My top frustration has always been technology, so knowing that was going to be a “thing” in advance. But that might have just been my age and when I got started.

Also, what a delight it is to meet and learn from so many different clients.

Finally, this job is less about stuff and more about people.

Sabrina Quairoli, Sabrina’s Admin Services

I wish I knew more about marketing. Creating a well thought out marketing plan (who to reach out to inform about my business, will I do free work with friends for testimonials, who do I want to work with and is there a market for that, what client needs my help, what will I do to get exposure for my business, etc.). It will help the start of the business and inspire me when I need to pivot to include other types of clientele if my initial client prospects do not work out.

Karen Caccavo, Personal Money Manager

I have met such a wide variety of people and families. Each look at the world differently. While my focus is daily money management, this is a people business and I’ve had the honor of becoming “second daughter” to so many over the last 17 years. I become an important part of their lives which I enjoy as much as the puzzle solving this work requires!

Claudia Winkler, WOW! Organized! LLC

The “Therapist” component…whether it’s just listening to whatever’s going on with them or being a mediator between different parties for a job It’s not a “one size fits all” “here’s how I’m gonna do this”. Each job is personalized for each unique client.

How much actual non-organizing there is and how much stuff like social media, SEO, blogging, blogging, gaining followers and that kind of stuff there is to do too.

Your Turn!

If you’re a new organizer, or thinking of becoming one, which of these answers surprised you the most?

If you’re already an organizer, please share your answer to the question in the Comments.

Photo by Pressmaster / Depositphotos