How to Organize As A Side Hustle
Whether you’ve always known you have a knack for getting a space organized, or you’ve only just discovered the magic of professional organizing, there’s only so many times you can organize your friends' places “just for fun.” Eventually, you’ll want to start profiting from this unique talent of yours and turn your organizing passion into a career.
Of course, that’s not to say you have the means to ditch your 9-to-5 and establish your own full-blown business yet. For now, you just want to focus on getting some more experience and learning all that you can...while still balancing a full-time job. So, how can you make this moonlighting dream a reality? Starting a side hustle is never an easy feat, but it’s possible with a lot of determination, a clear path, and the right tools.
Ever wondered how Jen managed organizing as a side hustle and eventually grew it into a thriving business? She dishes all that she learned in her first year organizing in LIJ Academy’s first course Designing Your Dream Organizing Business. Today, she’s sharing her top tips to help get you started organizing as a side hustle, and turn it into your full-blown dream career.
01 Determine what you want out of it
As you dive into this side hustle, set some goals. You need to carve out a path for where you want this to take you, and then work backwards and determine how you’ll get there. Do you want enough experience to work for a local organizing company or own a franchise? Do you want to learn enough to start your own business? Are you mainly looking to make supplemental income doing something you enjoy? Are you seeking more fulfillment in your daily life? Figure out why you want this, and then identify how you’re going to accomplish what you want. Set these goals to a realistic timeline, keeping in mind that a side hustle might move a lot slower solely due to time constraints. Remember, you’re not bound to this track you’ve set. Feel empowered to adjust your goals as you go if they no longer sound like the direction you want to go in. Of course, these can change over time—nothing is set in stone, and adjusting goals is completely okay!
02 Segment out your to-do list
With goals in mind, the next thing to get your side hustle off the ground is to segment out your goals and turn them into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Managing your time is key. Let a daily planner become your new best friend. Write everything down and set specific times to work on different things. Oftentimes, a person can get more out of a set hour than they would aimlessly working on it all evening. Every day will be different, but creating time blocks throughout allows you to be focused on one project at a time, giving you more energy to focus.
03 Get the word out about your gig
In order to build and grow, no matter your end goal, you have to make sure people know what you’re working on. Have the people in your life spread the word. Once you have clients, ask them kindly to refer your services to anyone they might know could use some organization. Network with local builders, real estate agents, and interior designers. Consider starting an Instagram (or another social media page) for your organizing work, even if you know it’s more of a passion project. At the least, let your page serve as a portfolio to help you gain recognition. This can be helpful whether you’re hoping to work for an organizing company or start your own. Especially if you’re hoping to propel yourself into a full fledged business owner, it’s important to make it clear to people your intention and maximize your exposure.
04 Figure out your finances
Because this isn’t the main source of your income, you need to identify early on what you’re trying to get out of it financially. If the financial aspect is one of your top priorities, you’ll need to determine your rates in relation to the market. If you’re less interested in making money on the side and more interested in growing your skill set, you might want to work for a low market rate or even for free, depending on your situation. Also consider money when it comes to organizing products. If you’re working for a lower rate or for free, you shouldn’t have to worry about covering any product costs for your client. You should always refrain from spending money you or your clients won’t see. Remember, you’re probably hyper-focused on the minute details (which is great!), so shelling out an extra $100 for additional products that your system can function without probably isn’t worth it.
05 Absorb as much as you can
Now’s the time to gain knowledge & experience, so you can eventually become a qualified expert. Think of it as an opportunity for you to dip your toes into the industry before diving in full force. Reach out to organizers online and ask them for advice, tips, techniques, and anything else you might want to learn. If you can, it might also be worth it to shadow a professional in your area solely to get hands-on experience from someone more advanced than you. As you take it all in, strive to improve upon what you learn. Think about how you can make a system even better and constantly be on the lookout for a simpler way to get something done. Here is where you develop your unique skill set—the one that will set you apart from the rest come time to commit to a full-time job as an organizer.
06 Find good support systems
No matter what it is you’re tackling in life, you won’t get far without understanding supporters around you. Taking on a side hustle in addition to a full-time job is a major commitment, and one that’s going to require hard work and sacrifice. You need people behind you who are going to motivate you to keep going when you think you can’t, hold you accountable to the goals you set for yourself, and understand when you have to miss out on an event to keep your side hustle going. You can get yourself far, and you are so capable. But, having the ability to lean on others when you need a little support makes all the difference.
There’s no way to sugarcoat it: starting a side hustle is never easy. Adding more to your workload is a commitment, but if you’re reading this, it’s likely one you’re willing to make. And it will be so worth it. No matter if you’re organizing on the side to fulfill a passion, make more money, or pave your dream career, the path starts with you. With determination, an ever-learning mindset, and proactive habits, a side hustle in professional organizing is within your reach! Want more of Jen’s advice from her experience moonlighting as a professional organizer? LIJ Academy’s newest course has Jen giving you all the tools needed to move forward on your journey to designing your dream organizing business! Enroll today!