Welcome to a new feature I’m going to be doing on here, called “Work at home Wednesday.” Each week, I’m going to feature a different Smart Spending Spot reader and what their job or career is, something that is either work at home or starting your own business. This will hopefully give all of our readers an insight into what these different jobs are like, if you are thinking of switching career paths.

If you want to be featured on Work At Home Wednesday, click that link and fill out the form.

This week, we meet Darla and Tina, both are professional organizers. Darla’s business is called Heart Work Organizing  (serves the 5-county Philly area, South Jersey, and nationwide through virtual services) and Tina’s is Your World Ordered (serves Chester and Lancaster counties in PA). Tina considers her job description to be “help people gain control of their lives by getting rid of clutter and organizing their homes and offices” and Darla says that through her services, people find peace in their lives. (I think I need to call them!) Both businesses are considered start your own business, and both women work out of their homes, but only about 20-25% of their work hours occurs in their homes. Both work more than 40 hours a week during their “busy seasons” but Tina cuts back over the summers to spend more time with her kids. The bulk of their time is spent in their clients’ spaces.

Darla has also written a book, called The Pregnant Entrepreneur which helps women navigate owning your own business and being pregnant/having a baby at the same time. It’s a fantastic read and a great idea, a topic not many people talk about!

When I asked how they got their start:

Tina: I kind of fell into it by helping a friend clean out her attic and realizing how much fun I had doing it, but I had helped other friends in the past, as well as keep on top of my own home, which included triplets and another one only 19 month younger. I put out feelers to a mom’s club I belonged to, got a lot of positive feedback, and even got a few clients. I really love organizing and helping people get control of their homes.

Darla: I left a corporate job 6 years ago, before I started my family. The business came first, then two kids. Now I am learning how to work for the most demanding boss ever…myself.

What they like best:

Tina: Helping people…seeing them find things they had thought they lost, helping them declutter, helping them make sense of disorder.

Darla: Flexibility. Flexibility. Did I mention flexibility? And unlimited growth potential and creative direction.

Unexpected hurdles or obstacles in this business:

Tina: Organizing doesn’t have a regular paycheck. I struggle with marketing my business. With the economy, someone who might have hired me before the recession won’t. It’s not a “necessity” to most people.

Darla: I outline every mistake, hurdle, and self-doubt- and how to overcome them- in my book. Being taken seriously was hard early on, less so now. I now proudly admit that running a deliberately small business is good for me, my business, and my family. I can write the business plan for a much larger business, but I am not willing to make those particular sacrifices needed just now, and that’s perfectly OK.

When asked how long they think they’ll do this, Darla thinks she will do this forever while changing the look and landscape of the business over time. Tina will continue until her children are in college and re-evaluate then.

How do you challenge yourself, expand your business or have plans to grow?

Tina: I’d love to expand, both geographically and the type of client I have. Right now many of my clients are part of the Chester County Mothers of Multiples Club, of which I am a former member. I’d like to get clients in both Delaware and Lancaster counties and branch out to non-multiple families.

Darla: I keep adding services my clients need and I love to my business.  I offer one-day decorating, home staging, even photo organizing.  This keeps me engaged with my clients and personally challenged.  I’d like to write another book within 5 years. Adding more employees over time. I have financial goals that contribute to my family’s financial health. 

If someone is thinking of doing this, what do you want us to know?

Tina: 

1. In terms of start up costs, there aren’t a whole lot, which is a great benefit.

2. If you want to become certified, that’s an option.

3. There is an organization, The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).

4. No, I’m not a house cleaner, although sometimes that’s part of my job.

5. People are very apologetic about letting you see their homes, but I promise, I’ve seen worse!

Darla: Professional organizing is demanding, physical work that also requires fantastic people skills.  It takes more than being able to organize yourself to make this- or any business- work. I’m thrilled to be encouraging other women to learn and grow and be financially successful for themselves and their families, whatever business they want to run. But being successful means not doing it alone. Professional organizations, mentors, encouraging girlfriends, trusted vendors, even competitors are all out there and ready to help you be successful.