Establish a business and begin taking clients immediately with this complete guide to starting a home-based professional organizing business.

Chapter 1: So You Think You Want to be a Professional Organizer?

What is a Professional Organizer?
What skills/qualifications/certifications do I need?
What type of organizing should I do?
How do I set up a business?
How do I know I can run a business?
What will this cost me?
How much money can I make?
How do I find clients?
Where do I go from here?
Chapter 2: Getting Set Up
The Office
Phone Line, Fax Line, Computer Hook-Up
Office space in Your Home
Your Business Filing System
Client Database Management
The Legal
Naming the Business
Creating a Business Entity: DBA, LLC…?
Local & Federal business requirements
Insurance Needs
Bonding
The Financial
Setting up Bank Accounts
Establishing Your Book Keeping
Tax Prep
The Look
Logo Design/Stationery
Business Cards
Brochure
30 Second Commercial
Web Site Development
The Client
Setting your Rates
Establishing your Policies
Your Working Agreement or Contract
Client Forms

Chapter 3: Finding the Clients
Creating a Plan to Generate Clients
Networking Opportunities – Ready, Set, Grow!
Business Networking Groups
Social Clubs and Groups
Speaking Locally
Marketing Ideas – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Direct Mail
Doorknob Hangers
E-mail Spam
Newletters
Advertising Avenues – This Will Cost How Much?
Phone Book
Newspapers & Magazines
Newsletters
Writing Articles
Having Articles Written About You
Press Releases
Speaking Events – Don’t Be Shy, Now’s Your Chance!
Answering the Call
Your first conversation with prospective clients

Chapter 4: Working With the Client
The Assessment Visit
Estimating the Job
Signing the Client on for Service
Setting the Work Schedule
Creating a Plan for Each Client
The Emotional Journey of Organizing

Chapter 5: Polishing Your Skills
4 Steps to Organizing Anything!
Paperwork Power
It is “Professional” Organizing – Keeping Credibility
The Human Component
Tips & Techniques of the Trade
Your Work Bag – Contents

Chapter 6: Product Selections/ Training & Certification
Finding the Best Products at the Best Price
Selling Product to Your Client
Creating Starter Kits
Resale Requirements
Resources of All Kinds

Chapter 7: Ready, Set, Grow!
Why Grow the Business?
Is It the Right Time?
Financial & Legal Requirements for Employees
Maintaining Credibility & Quality
Developing Policy & Procedure
Increased Demands on All Aspects of the Business

Dawn Noble, president and founder of Balance & Beyond, is a registered nurse and professional organizer who has coached many small-business owners about growing their businesses. She lives in Red Bank, New Jersey.

 

Are you passionate about organizing? Have you ever wanted to be your own boss and set your own schedule while pursuing something you enjoy? Now you can make your dreams a reality.
Using plain language and easy-to-follow worksheets, Dawn Noble takes you through every aspect of setting up and running a thriving home-based professional organizing business. She shares her professional experience and expert advice on everything from estimating start-up costs and finding clients to what to wear for different types of assignments and how to stay profitable. Whether you’re just starting to explore your options for a home-based business or are an organizing wizard looking to be your own boss, this guide can help you establish and build your own successful organizing business.

Includes:
Self-evaluation Quiz + Organizing Tip Sheets + Marketing Plan Worksheet + Client Worksheets + Sample Proposal + Appendix of Product Catalogs and Web Sites 

Imprint: Globe Pequot
Distributor: The Globe Pequot Press
Publication Date: 04-01-2007
Pages: 192
Measurements: 9.25in X 7.50in