America’s Best Franchises (ABF) Brand Insight —
Most organizing businesses sell a tidy closet. DDH sells something closer to relief. The work shows up at the hardest moments — a move, a downsizing, a parent’s estate — when a family is making a hundred decisions they have never made before. That framing changes who the client is and what they will pay. It also explains the referral engine: realtors, attorneys, and past clients send people who need this handled by someone they trust.
At a Glance
- Liquid Capital Required: $50,000 (readily available cash or cash-equivalent assets — not from borrowing, selling a primary residence, or relying on future income)
- Ownership Model: Owner-operator
- Location Type: Home-based — owner works from a home office plus a small storage area
- Time Commitment: Full-time
- Experience Required: None; business development and client-facing ability matter most
About DDH Home Organizing & Move Management
DDH began in 2012 in New York as Done & Done Home, founded by mother and daughter Ann Lightfoot and Kate Pawlowski. The pair built a premium organizing practice, co-authored Love Your Home Again, and opened franchising in 2025 under the DDH name.
The brand covers four connected services: home organizing, move management, estate clearouts, and preparing a home for sale. Owners work from a home office plus a small storage area, running projects on-site with teams of two or three people.
Why Own a DDH Home Organizing & Move Management Franchise?
- Four service lines mean one client relationship can produce organizing, a move, and an estate project.
- Premium positioning attracts clients who value discretion and results far more than the lowest hourly rate.
- Home-based with a small storage area, so there is no lease, no build-out, and no site selection.
- Corporate provides bookkeeping, administrative support, and dedicated sales coaching to help you vet and close clients.
- Realtors, attorneys, and senior-move professionals send referrals repeatedly once they have seen the work.
Why This Opportunity, Why Now
ABF Market Analysis —
Home organizing has moved from a discretionary luxury to something households actively budget for, driven by aging in place, adult children managing parents’ transitions, and a housing market where preparing a home properly changes what it sells for. The field is almost entirely made up of solo operators without teams, systems, or the capacity to handle a full estate. That leaves the higher end of the market — the projects that are emotionally complex and time-sensitive — served by very few professional operators in most metros.
ABF Timing Insight —
DDH operated for thirteen years before franchising, so the systems entering the market were built on real projects rather than a concept. Franchising launched in 2025 through Franchise FastLane, which means development moves quickly and desirable territories are claimed early. The founders remain hands-on, with Ann Lightfoot leading training and business development for new owners — access that inevitably narrows as a system scales past its earliest owners.
Training & Support
- Hands-on initial training covers organizing methodology, move management logistics, estate clearouts, and client care, with no prior industry experience assumed.
- Dedicated sales support helps vet inquiries and close engagements, so owners are not learning consultative selling on their own clients.
- Bookkeeping and administrative support runs behind the scenes, keeping owners focused on projects and business development rather than back office work.
- Marketing, branding, and social media assistance is provided at the corporate level, including lead generation support built around local referral networks.
- Established vendor and supplier relationships cover movers, junk removal, donation partners, cleaners, and repair services from the first project forward.
Our Ideal Franchisee Candidate
- Comfortable building referral relationships with realtors and attorneys.
- Steady and discreet during emotionally difficult client situations.
- Able to recruit and lead small project teams.
- Organized by instinct, but focused on growing a business.
- Connected locally and willing to be visible in the community.
Who Is Not A Good Fit
- Candidates seeking a passive or fully absentee investment — owners stay actively involved.
- Anyone uncomfortable with sales, networking, and asking for referrals.
- Those who want organizing work without the business development that fills the calendar.
- Candidates who struggle with grief, family conflict, or difficult conversations in client homes.
- Owners unwilling to hire, train, and manage part-time project staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need experience in professional organizing?
A: No. Training covers organizing methods, move management, and estate work from the beginning. What matters more is business sense, comfort with clients, and willingness to build local referral relationships.
Q: What space do I need?
A: A home office and roughly 100 square feet of storage. Nearly all work happens in the client’s home, so there is no retail location or commercial lease involved.
Q: How many people work on a project?
A: Teams are typically two to three. Many owners hire part-time staff and a project lead, which allows scheduling flexibility while the owner focuses on growth.
Q: How quickly can I open?
A: Generally 30 to 90 days from agreement, since there is no build-out or site selection to complete.
Q: Can I own more than one territory?
A: Yes. DDH expects some owners to become multi-unit franchisees and offers reduced initial fees for candidates who commit to more than one territory up front.
Next Steps
If you are drawn to premium clients, four connected revenue streams, a home-based model with no build-out, and work that genuinely matters to the families you serve, DDH Home Organizing & Move Management is worth a direct conversation. Complete the form below to request a qualification review and discuss territory availability for DDH Home Organizing & Move Management.
This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.