Let’s Talk About CRMs

Students often ask me what CRM (client relationship management) application I recommend for a professional organizing business and do they need one.  Let’s talk about CRMs. When I started my organizing business in 2003, the CRMs available were geared for medium size businesses or larger ones.  If the CRMs available today that focus on single-owner…

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How Much Do Professional Organizers Charge?

The number one question I am asked by people who want to become a professional organizer is, “How much do I charge?”  Establishing your fee continues to be the one area where many professional organizers undervalue their services.  Let’s explore how much professional organizers charge by determining a reasonable market rate, earning the income you…

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11 Questions to Ask When Clients Won’t Let Go of Anything

When you met with your client for the needs assessment, she seemed very eager to let go of her clutter and get organized once and for all. Now you are ankle-deep in her clutter working with her at your first decluttering session, and every time you ask her, “keep, donate, trash?” She replies, “keep!” You’re…

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3 Key Questions to Ask Before Considering a Client’s Project

The first three questions to ask before considering a client’s project are: 1.  What is their location? Asking for their address may seem like a fundamental question, but when you ask this question is key.  Have you ever talked with a potential client at length, then they are ready to book an appointment, but when…

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How Virtual Organizing is Different from Onsite Organizing

photo Virtual Organizing

Virtual organizing is a process for getting organized through the use of technology. The primary difference between on-site and virtual organizing is the client doesn’t have the organizer’s hands to help move and sort items. During virtual organizing sessions the professional organizer (organizer) is often mostly body doubling. Meaning a body double is not an…

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Professional Organizing Business Procedures – Client Intake

Managing a professional organizing business involves many, many elements.  When you start your professional organizing business, you may think documenting how you do your business is not essential.  But, once you start working with multiple clients at once and managing their organizing projects, it will be much easier if you have your business policies and…

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Working with Clients – Students

Parents need help organizing their children and their homework (typically middle school students with ADHD). The challenges of transitioning from one teacher in elementary school to many teachers in middle school often take students, and parents, by surprise.  The virtual classroom can be challenging for students, teachers, and parents.  Now is an excellent opportunity for…

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Working With Clients – The Senior Population

“As the year 2011 began on Jan. 1, the oldest members of the Baby Boom generation celebrated their 65th birthday. In fact, on that day, today, and for every day for the next 19 years, 10,000 baby boomers will reach age 65.”[1] And that is just in the United States. In 2003, when I started…

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Working With Clients – Setting Boundaries

A variety of situations and scenarios will occur while working with clients that will test your boundaries with them.  It is important for you to understand the legal or liability issues and your region’s regulations for transportation in determining what you will and will not do for your clients. It is also important to communicate…

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