5 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started My Organizing Business

Are you wondering how to become a professional organizer or what it really takes to run a successful organizing business? We’ve been there. We’re Jen, owner of Reset Your Nest in Utah, and Stephanie, owner of Sikora Solutions in Colorado. We each built thriving home organizing businesses from the ground up—and now, as consultants for professional organizers, we’re here to share what we’ve learned. Our first year in business was full of trial and error, and there are so many things we wish we had known before starting a professional organizing business. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top 5 things we wish we have known when we started our organizing businesses—so you can avoid common pitfalls, feel confident as you launch, and set your business up for long-term success.

What I Wish I'd Known When I Started My Organizing Business

1. JEN | The importance of building a brand – clients (especially organizing clients) want a brand they trust, know, and can connect with.

Create a brand not just a business: colors, fonts, logo, NAME, niche, feel… it all matters and will help make every other decision so much easier. What kind of client do you want to attract? What kind of projects do you want to take on? The more you think about it from the beginning, the more direction you will have.

• Quick tip: if you put your location or your personal name in your business name it can be limiting.

• Investing in an initial photo shoot is worth it. Get pictures of YOUR work and YOU on your website and your social media.

• Create a strong online presence through your website and Instagram.

• Only post your BEST work: only post pictures depicting the types of projects we wanted.

2. STEPHANIE | This is a long game – plant seeds, don’t get overwhelmed, you never know when a contact will turn into a referral/client

Don’t get overwhelmed. Take it one step at a time. Professional organizers are by their very nature overachievers. And building a business. A service based business. A service based business in a relatively new industry. A high ticket service based business in a relatively new industry is HARD. It takes constant hustle and can be very draining. It can also be discouraging when things don’t move as quickly as you want them to. Keep your priorities in line and know that it WILL happen with consistent and smart work. Play the long game. It can get discouraging when you meet vendors and nothing seems to happen, but think of it as planting seeds that take time to grow. You just never know when they will sprout and how tall they will grow.

3. JEN & STEPHANIE | There is no one right way to find clients.

Leave no stone unturned in finding your initial clients. It takes a lot of testing

• Tell anyone and everyone what you are doing and find those who want you to come in at a discounted price

• Offer special pricing to friends and family so you can practice your service, estimating jobs, selecting products, and working with clients. Ask them to post before and after to Facebook groups/Instagram. Let this build your portfolio and get testimonials.

• Join local Facebook groups, chamber of commerce, women in business networking groups

• Vendor outreach

• Try thumbtack (because you only pay for real leads, the investment feels more worth it)

• Reach out to local publications and tv shows and tell them you would love to share great organizing content. The awesome thing about home organizing is it is always a hot topic and local outlets are always looking for content creators

• Create relationships with other professional organizers locally and everywhere. You never know when they will refer. Remember, community over competition. There is room for everyone at the table. And the more you niche down, the more you will attract your ideal client

• It’s such an experiment to find which tactics will work for you, don’t be afraid to try them all.

4. STEPHANIE | Track Your Numbers – seeing your numbers helps you to recognize your value and what it takes to be truly profitable.

Know your value. As you are starting out you may be inclined to offer services at a lower rate or even free services for pictures or a testimonial, but don’t accept this as your worth. Track your income and expenses so you can see what it is that you are really making and what you NEED to make to end up with money in your pocket. Own your value and expect others to see it.

Knowing your numbers will help you to know when it's time to invest in a bookkeeper, social media manager, marketing specialist, SEO specialist, business coach, or consultant.

5. JEN | The value of community.

• The home organizing community is an incredible one. Show up as a supporter and not a competitor. Stay in your lane. We can inspire each other, but don’t copy.

• Create a feeling of community on your Instagram page.

• Create community locally: get involved, meet people, connect with other small business owners, etc.

• Being an entrepreneur can feel lonely and connecting with others who get it can help you to stay in the game.

We hope you're able to gain something from our learnings (aka mistakes) and we look forward to joining you on your journey in building your successful organizing business.

Jen Martin

From a young age, Jen Martin, always loved organizing. As she grew older and had a family of her own, her love and value of an organized home just continued to grow. With four kids of her own, she knows how important organizational systems are to the foundation and well-being of a family's day-to-day life.​ Jen started Reset Your Nest in 2020 to bring her organizational skills to the rest of Utah. Her team of trained organizers has carefully and lovingly transformed the homes of over 500 homes. Jen has been featured on numerous television shows, podcasts, blogs, and books including Organized Living by Shira Gill, KSL Studio 5, AG Clever, and more.