Do you always keep your clothes neatly stacked in your wardrobe? Are you someone whose room is always clean and clutter-free? Are you sometimes so particular about things that your friends actually ask you to loosen up? If the answers to all these questions are in the affirmative, then a career as a professional organizer is made for you. What Does a Professional Organizer Do? A professional organizer is a person who helps his clients, both business and individual home owners, to lead a clutter-free, stress-free, organized life. In other words, if it's residential clients, a professional organizer makes suggestions and changes in the way a household looks and functions. He may assist his client in wardrobe organization, furniture organization, basement organization, family budget planning, filing various documents, etc. This ensures that the client can live an organized life and is able to be more productive in his work. Likewise, professional organizers help businesses to function smoothly. Sometimes, event planning, conducting garage sales and time management may be a part of the job profile too. Becoming a Professional Organizer Tip # 1 If you can afford, undertake training at the National Association for Professional Organizers (NAPO). After the training, you will be awarded a certificate. NAPO may initially provide you support and assistance in establishing your business. Tip # 2 Get in touch with the small business association in your state. Check whether there are some regulations or licenses to be obtained for starting such a business. If there are, fulfill these requirements to get started. The small business association will guide you on various financial matters related to your business, including taxes, as well. Tip # 3 Give your business an appropriate name. Have a business and marketing plan in place. In case, you are unable to do this on your own, get in touch with Small Business Development Center (SBDC), who will then assist you in how to go about the whole process. You may be charged by them for their assistance. Also, incorporate your business. Decide whether you want it to be a corporation or a partnership or a LLC. Tip # 4 Advertise your business well. Design a smart business card and some creative pamphlets to distribute amongst your possible clients. If you have taken a course with NAPO, you will already be listed in their directory. This is a great way to come in the notice of future clients. Advertising on the Internet, placing print advertisement in local newspapers are some of the other means of advertising your small business. Tip # 5 Initially start with a small project, like a closet organization. Search for the first assignment amongst your friends and family. Take before and after pictures of the closet. Similarly, from now on whatever project you take up, keep a record of that. You can show these pictures as a proof of your past work, while hunting for new clients. Tip # 6 While you are working, try to find your niche. See the kind of projects you like to take up. Whether it is office projects that excite you or residential projects? Whether you are comfortable taking up small projects or like to work on big projects? This way you can make a name for yourself, in one specific field, in the market. Also, if there are some jobs that you feel someone else will be able to handle well, subcontract them. The best part about becoming a professional organizer is that you can operate this business from your home itself. You also have the flexibility to choose the kind of projects you want. Currently, a professional organizer's salary can be anywhere between $32000 to $72000 per year, depending upon his years of experience, the assignments undertaken as well as his job location. This makes it a lucrative career. So, if you find the work profile interesting, getting into this field, at the moment, will be a good career move.