Over my 20 years as an organiser, I’ve been asked many questions. As a mentor and trainer of organisers, these are the top 3 FAQs.
FAQ #1: Do I have the skills?
One thing people often wonder about is whether they have the skills to be a successful organiser. Perhaps you have super organising skills but you’re not confident to go out and get clients you can help. Or you’ve overcome some organising challenges of your own and have a strong desire to help others who have that same challenge, but you’re not sure whether that’s enough. Or perhaps you feel confident about helping people get organised but apprehensive about running a business. It all boils down to that question – do I have the skills?
To answer that FAQ, let’s start with some inspiration. Almost every successful person begins with 2 beliefs: the future can be better, and I have the power to make it so. In other words, it’s not where you start that’s important but a willingness to improve and create a better future. The most important skill is a positive mindset, where you can see that you have the power to create a better future, a better business, better skills and more confidence.
Every organiser brings their own unique life experiences to the table. Those life experiences include the type of work you’ve done, challenges you’ve faced and overcome or family circumstances. There’s no such thing as a “one size fits all” organiser, which is true for organising systems as well. Never underestimate the value you can bring with your own style, your own systems, your own way of doing things. Maybe you’ve faced challenges that forced you to become more organised. There will be people out there with similar challenges that need your unique perspective and encouragement.
FAQ #2: Can organising fit into my lifestyle?
The answer is yes. Here’s the good news. An organising business can be very flexible. You can do it full time or part time. You can do it on the weekends and evenings, or school hours, or all day long. Over the years I’ve met many people who have a burning desire to help people get organised, but they are forever waiting for the perfect time to start, and that got in the way of their dream. Mahatma Gandhi said, “The future depends on what you do today.” Don’t wait for the perfect time. If the only time you have available to start your organising business is when the kids are in bed, do that. If you have to squeeze it in between other part time jobs, do that. If you can only take one client a month because of your other commitments, do that.
I know plenty of full-time organisers who started out part-time. I’m one of them. And I know plenty of organisers who don’t want to go full-time and happily work part-time in their organising business. Again, there’s no “one size fits all” kind of organising career.
Good things come to those who wait, but better things come to those who go out and get them. Don’t wait for the perfect time. There is no perfect time.
FAQ #3: Can I make money from it?
If you’re going to invest your hard-earned savings, or quit a day job, you naturally want to know if there’s money to be made. Again, the answer is yes, you can make money from it.
Each year I conduct a survey of the organiser industry in Australia. The latest results from December 2024 make for interesting reading. 35% of respondents charge between $75 and $99 an hour. And around 46% charge over $100 an hour. 21% of respondents earned over $100k last year. The interesting thing about the survey was the trend it showed compared to previous surveys. Overall, organisers have been in their business for longer now than in previous years, are earning more, charging more, and working more hours on average. It’s a very encouraging trend.
Of course it’s not quite as simple as that. You will have some expenses but you’ll also have lots of tax deductions in your favour. The good news is that an organising business is relatively inexpensive to run. Right now, you may look at the resources you currently have and think “I can’t afford to build a website” or “the insurance is too expensive”. But as Michael Hyatt says, “Never limit your vision based on your current resources.” You’ll see that just a couple of organising jobs will pay you back for your insurance. You can use free marketing options until you save up enough for your website. Before you know it, you’ll be building your business, and your vision will be achieved. I encourage you to think big, keep your eyes on the ultimate goal and move forward from where you are with what you have.
If you are ready to take the first crucial steps on the path to the organising career of your dreams, I invite you to join me in my program – Intro to Your Professional Organiser Career.
The course is built on the many FAQs I’ve been asked over the years. You can read all the details here. In summary, there are 6 online modules where I guide you through the first steps to get you started in your organising career, with 24 easy to navigate lessons with videos and exercises. There are worksheets, cheat sheets, checklists and lots more resources to help you take action. There’s also 8 weeks of live group Q&A. You get to ask any questions along the way, to clarify the lessons, to brainstorm ideas, or to get inspiration from your fellow “classmates”. To learn more about the other bonuses and benefits, check out the course here.
I’d love you to join me. Module 1 drops on Monday, October 13th.
