Professional organizing is an industry that has been developed in order to help individuals and businesses design systems and processes using organizing principles and through transferring skills. Professional organizers aim to help individuals and businesses take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper, and their systems for life.
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There are several categories and specializations of professional organizing that the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) has identified:
| Ergonomics | Feng Shui | Office-Commercial |
| Office-Home | Storage/Warehouse | Closet |
| Design and Installation | Closet Organizing | Garages/Attics/Basements |
| Kitchens | Office (Non-Business) | Other Rooms |
| Information | Electronic Only | Financial/Bookkeeping |
| Inventory/Assets Control | Paper & Electronic | Paper Only |
| Electronic Only | Photographs/Memorabilia/Collections | Time Management |
| Events | Meetings | Moving/Relocation |
| Estate Organizing | Garages/Estate Sales | Special Clients |
| Legal Offices | Manufacturing | Medical Offices |
| People w/ Physical Disabilities | Children | Seniors |
| Students Downsizing | Home Staging | Clutter Control |
| Retirement Organizing | Paper and Document Organizing | Attention Deficit Disorder |
| Organizing Workflow | Lifestyle Changes | |
| Chronically Disorganized | Space Planning |
Organizing is a multi-step process by which a person decides on a way to store items so they can be easily placed, found, retrieved, and maintained. The first step, requires sorting through items to determine which are most needed, which can be thrown away (or recycled), and which can be given away.
The second step is deciding how the freed space can best be used, what storage items and sizes will be needed and how to label those containers. Decisions made are based upon personal priorities.
The third step involves putting in place any additional needed storage systems for items, such as shelving.
The fourth step involves placing items in the space, giving priority to items that are most often used by making them the most accessible. Items that are used most often should be on the bottom shelves and items used seasonally are stored on the higher shelves.
The fifth step involves disposing of items that were previously selected for the trash or for giving away. Junk should be eliminated right away and thrown in the refuse containers. Items donated should be added to a container depicting the donation place; Goodwill, Salvation Army etc. You may also have a container that you will want to donate to your church or that you will save for a rummage sale.
Professional organizing often involves the development or introduction of customized or off-the-shelf organizing systems so the client can find needed items in a minimal amount of time. The organizer's primary skill is in helping the client decide what should be done with their items, educating the client on organizational techniques, developing strategies and installing systems so the client can maintain the organized space for the long-term. According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, a professional organizer "enhances the lives of clients by designing systems and processes using organizing principles and through transferring organizing skills. A professional organizer also educates the public on organizing solutions and the resulting benefits. Professional organizers help individuals and businesses take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper, and their systems for life.
There are approximately 4,200 professional organizers in the U.S. and 8 foreign countries who are members of the trade association NAPO[1]. There have been a number of several popular television programs, starting with Life Laundry in 2002, and followed by others such as Clean Sweep, Neat, Mission: Organization, Clean House, and NeatTV as well as magazines like Real Simple, and many articles that appear on a regular basis in a wide range of media.