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A professional organizer, sometimes called an organizing consultant, assists clients to organize various aspects of their lives.  The services offered by professional organizers are widely varied and include cleaning out closets, kitchens, storage areas, bedrooms, attics and garages, etc.; remodeling closets and storage areas; rearranging living space to be more aesthetically pleasing and functional; personal coaching and goal setting; planning, packing and unpacking for relocation; garage and estate sales; organizing children and teenagers (yes, you can actually PAY someone to do this!); errands and personal shopping; computer organizing and training; setting up filing systems and developing paperflow systems; information management systems; accounting and bookkeeping; filing; setting up recordkeeping systems; sorting through paper piles; paying bills; developing procedures manuals; preparing medical insurance forms; event planning; disaster preparedness; photo and memorabilia organization; time management training and seminars and public speaking.

The clients of professional organizers are as varied as their services and include individuals in their homes, small and large businesses, clients with disabilities, clients with attention deficit disorder or chronic disorganization problems.

All organizers don't do all of these things.  Most specialize in one or more areas. Also, most organizers do not do cleaning or clerical work.

Once a client contacts you,  you should conduct an initial consultation in person or over the phone to assess the client's needs and provide a time and money estimate for the project.  Some organizers do this consultation for free, others charge a fee. Depending upon the project size, you may need to provide the client with a verbal or written plan for the project, and develop a schedule for project completion.

An organizing project requires the participation and cooperation of both the professional organizer and the client.  As the professional organizer, you will provide solutions, suggestions, choices and methods; do the physical work; give the client encouragement and support; and tailor the solution to the client's needs, preferences and lifestyle.  The client's role is to make the time to participate in all steps of the organizing project; make decisions; be willing to make changes; be willing to do maintenance once the organizing project is complete.

If you are interested in becoming a professional organizer and have questions, contact your local chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers. If you need more extensive information about how to become an organizer, ask the nearest chapter if they know of any workshops in your area. They can also recommend the names of coaches who will work with you for a fee while you set up your business.

Source: http://www.wco.com/~dpmiller/

Recommended books:

You Can Find More Time For Yourself Everyday by Stephanie Culp
Simplify Your Life by Elaine St. James
Taming the Paper Tiger by Barbara Hemphill
Taming the Office Tiger by Barbara Hemphill
Getting Things Done by Edwin Bliss
Confessions of a Happily Organized Family by Deniece Schofield
Conquering the Paper Pile-up by Stephanie Culp
Get Your Act Together by Odette Pollar
How To Get Organized When You Don't Have The Time by Stephany Culp

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