woman with back to camera writing at desk frequently asked questions by new professional organizers

The new professional organizers I coach often feel overwhelmed by the number of questions they have and the number of decisions they have to make. If you’re starting a professional organizing business, you most likely have a few FAQs (frequently asked questions) about how to find new clients and what services you should offer.

But running an organizing business requires you to do much more than organize your clients’ homes. You also need to focus on your company’s business administration aspects, such as marketing and finance. Below, I’ve listed the questions most new organizers frequently ask me. Use it as a guide to focus your energy and make decisions. You may find some questions you haven’t even thought of yet.

Business Administration for New Professional Organizers

  • Billing and Payments: Should I accept credit cards? Can clients tip me (or my team) if we go above and beyond their expectations?
  • Referrals: Should I offer to pay referral fees? If I refer a client to someone else, should I ask for a referral fee?
  • Business Management: How should I structure my filing system? What is the best software for CRM?
  • Branding: Should I trademark the name of my business? If the company name I want is already taken, can I avoid a trademark infringement by adding my state or city to the end of the name?

Marketing Made Simple for Professional Organizers

  • Before + After Photos: Should I take photos of finished projects to share with potential clients? Is client permission required?
  • Social Media + Blog: How can I make time to update my blog and all my social media accounts like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest? Should I do one thing each day? One platform a day? Should each platform have different content?
  • LinkedIn: Should I use the basic account on LinkedIn or upgrade to a paid subscription?

New Professional Organizers and Client Assessments

  • Phone Intakes: What questions should I ask when I speak to a potential client for the first time? Is Zoom or FaceTime the best way to do this?
  • In-home Assessments: Should I do in-home consultations for free or charge a fee? Do I charge a travel fee if the client isn’t located close to where I live?

Organizing Strategies for Home Organizing Consultants

  • Tactics + Tools: How am I supposed to keep all the documents, certificates, branding bits, photos, client info, and the rest of it all organized? I know it’s on my computer, but I can’t find what I need when it’s needed.
  • Specializing: How do I know what to specialize in? Where can I learn more about specific organizing niches, such as closet organizing? Moving and relocation? Estate organizing? Working with seniors/students/families?
  • Products: What are the best organizing products? Do I need to pre-purchase products and keep them on hand? Should I purchase products for my clients? If so, when should I charge them, and should I charge a commission? If clients want to buy products themselves, how do I communicate what they should purchase?
  • Certification + Professional Organizations: Is certification mandatory or necessary? What’s the difference between certification and certificates?

How Professional Organizers Work With Clients

  • Meals + Breaks: Is it okay to take breaks while at a client’s home? Should I leave to eat lunch or eat with the client? Is it better to bring something or have lunch delivered? Are breaks billable?
  • Organizing Toolkits: What should I bring with me? Should I bring my toolkit into the client’s home or leave it in my car until it’s needed?
  • Discounts: If a friend wants to hire me, should I offer a discount?

If you’d like some answers to these frequently asked questions, check out the Ask Me Anything video playlist on my YouTube channel, where I cover the answer to many of these questions.

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions by aspiring professional organizers just like you!


Read more about: Administrative tasks associated with being a professional organizer. Becoming a professional organizer + owning an organizing business. Financial, legal, and insurance matters related to professional organizers. Marketing + branding for professional organizers. Growing + specializing in the organizing industry. Purchase 1+1 career coaching call or essential business forms.