How do I find out more about becoming a professional organizer?

If you believe you have the skills, background and education to become a professional organizer, the best place to start is with the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Here you will find a wealth of information related to the field of professional organizing including membership in the organization.  You will also want to:

·         Research the field of professional organizing

·         Explore aspects of starting a small business  

·         Attend an Austin Chapter meeting to discover what local organizers are doing (www.napoaustin.com)

What kind of education and experience do professional organizers have?

Many professional organizers have a college degree and prior work experience in various fields. Look at past jobs you’ve held and determine what organizing skills you used in order to perform the required job duties. These are the same skills needed when organizing professionally.

NAPO provides an excellent breakdown of skills/abilities typically exhibited in Professional Organizers: www.napo.net/our_profession. 

Continuing education is provided through the annual conference, regional seminars and chapter programs. Some veteran professional organizers offer customized training programs.  NAPO also provides a certification for professional organizers.  Visit www.certifiedprofessionalorganizers.com for more information. 

How do I start a Professional Organizing Business?

When starting any small business it’s always a good idea to contact your local Small Business Administration.  The City of Austin also has a great resource in its Small Business Development Program -  www.ci.austin.tx.us/sbdp.

Attend a NAPO-Austin chapter meeting and speak to seasoned organizers.   Take classes, read books and search the websites of existing NAPO members to see what they have to say.

What are the initial set-up costs to start my organizing business?

Some of the initial set up costs include: educational materials and workshops, professional membership fees, NAPO annual conference, city, state and federal licensing & registration fees, design and printing of your business cards, letterhead, and marketing materials.  You may also need to invest in basic office equipment and furniture.

Are there classes I can take to learn how to be a Professional Organizer?

Yes.  NAPO regularly offers teleclasses for new organizers on how to start your own organizing business.   Visit www.napo.net for more information.  Additionally, educational teleconferences are frequently sponsored by NAPO and the NSGCD (National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization).  

The NAPO Annual Conference is also an excellent learning opportunity with offerings of preconference and workshop sessions.

Don’t clients want an experienced organizer?  How do I get hands-on experience?

Start organizing for your neighbors, friends and family.  Try a variety of different projects (e.g. office, garage, paper management, children’s rooms, closets, etc.) to see what you enjoy most and determine what your organizing niche might be. In exchange for your services, ask your friends and family to give you feedback about what they liked about the experience and what you might do differently. You might even want to ask them to write you a letter of recommendation.

How much do I charge for my services?

The best way to determine a fee for your clients is to understand what professional organizers in the Austin area are charging for similar services. Please note that NAPO members are prohibited from discussion of actual fees in order to avoid the suggestion of “price fixing” within the industry.

Most organizers charge by the hour. When deciding what to charge, use this simple formula:

·         Determine an annual salary figure (such as $50,000).

·         Add the cost of benefits such as vacation, sick days, health/disability insurance, and retirement plans.

·         Add in expenses such as utilities, supplies, equipment, and office rent.

·         Divide this total by the number of hours you can logically expect to work in a year.

The typical full-time professional bills about 15 out of 20 working days a month, or 1,440 hours a year (15 days x 12 months x 8 hours a day). (It is important to note that you will put in many non-billable hours doing your own administrative and marketing work.) The result will be the amount you should charge per hour. Eventually, you’ll probably be able to raise your rates as you gain more experience. Think carefully about what your time is worth and be careful not to "under charge" clients.

Why join NAPO/NAPO-Austin?

By joining the NAPO and your local chapter, it allows you to network and exchange ideas with other organizers.  Membership also adds to your credibility as a professional in this field.

Getting involved in a volunteer position with NAPO/NAPO-Austin is also a great way to invest in your profession and contribute your skills and abilities to the programs/initiatives of the organization.

What happens at NAPO-Austin meetings?

Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Brick Oven Restaurant located at 10710 Research Blvd. (In the HEB shopping center).  We meet in the party room and the entrance is on the Jollyville Road side.  

Guests are welcome to attend three meetings at a fee of $15.00 per meeting to be paid at the door.  Individual food and beverage order is optional and at individual attendee expense.

Our chapter meetings provide networking and educational opportunities for our members in addition to conducting chapter business. You are welcome to ask questions about NAPO to the Membership Director or any Chapter Officer especially during the networking periods at the beginning and end of the meeting.

Chapter members are friendly and generally willing to answer general questions as well. Please feel free to participate in the question/answer period of our program if you wish.

We currently offer two types of membership: 

·         Regular (for Professional Organizers) Please note that in order to become a member of NAPO-Austin, you must first be a member of the national organization, NAPO.

·         Associate (businesses supportive of the professional organizing field). Associate Members are not required to be members of NAPO National.  

NAPO-Austin Meeting Format: 

6:15pm to 6:30pm -- Sign in and networking (order food at 6:45)
6:30pm to 7:00pm -- Business Meeting
7:00pm to 8:00pm -- Program / Q&A w/Speaker
8:15pm to 8:30pm -- Wrap-Up