Bee Organized: Bringing Calm and Community from Kansas City to the Country

In a world of overflowing closets, jam-packed calendars, and constant life changes, Kristen Christian and her co-founder Lisa Foley saw a need to help people reclaim order and peace. What began in a Kansas City living room has since blossomed into Bee Organized, a nationwide professional organizing and life-transition company. Bee Organized’s mission is simple but profound: to help people “simplify their hives,” calm their chaos, and make room for what matters most. Kristen explains that the business was born from a personal passion. She and Lisa had both stepped away from corporate jobs to raise young children and knew they

wanted to return to work with flexibility and purpose. “Bee Organized was born out of just this total passion… and belief in the power of organization,” Kristen says[1]. For her, organization wasn’t just about neat spaces – it made her “a better person, a better mom, a better wife” by giving her “productivity and a sense of peace and ability to be present”[1].

A local service launched in 2015, Bee Organized soon found that their compassionate approach resonated beyond just friends and neighbors. As Kansas City Thrive first introduced Bee Organized, it’s “a Kansas City-based professional organizing and life transition company that helps people basically simplify their hives – their homes, schedules, and lives – so they can move from chaos to calm”[2]. That emphasis on sustainable, realistic organizing and personal empowerment set the tone for rapid growth. Within a few years, Bee Organized evolved into a multimillion-dollar business and began franchising. Today, the brand boasts dozens of “Beehive” franchises across the country – 46 markets and counting[3][4]. As Country Club Bank notes, Bee Organized “has blossomed into a multimillion-dollar organizing company with more than 45 franchise locations across 22 states, built on the principles of compassion, confidentiality and judgement-free”[3]. All this success, Kristen says, grew out of a hometown vision with big ambition.

A Kansas City Start with a National Vision

From the very beginning, Kristen and Lisa approached Bee Organized intentionally. They treated it like a real business, not a hobby – even running focus groups and defining their brand message before launch[5]. “We were very intentional about that,” Kristen says. Unlike many one-woman organizing shops, Bee Organized started as a team. Kristen and Lisa realized early on that their mission was bigger than any single gig. “It was not just something we do for a friend at happy hour – this is a real business,” Kristen recalls[5]. Within months of opening their doors in Johnson County, word spread. Their tagline – “Simplify Your Hive” – and friendly tone resonated with Kansas City families juggling busy lives.

And customers came in droves. “The success was right out of the gate,” Kristen laughs[6]. She and Lisa quickly realized they needed systems and processes in place to scale, so they could “get on the business, not in the business”[6]. They hired more organizers (whom they endearingly call “Bees”) and built training manuals. “When you talk scaling, that’s the only way you can scale… so in hiring BEs (our organizers) we had to create those systems and processes so that our service, our reputation, [was] consistent over and over”[6]. These early moves allowed Bee Organized to transition from a local shop into a national franchise without sacrificing quality. It also gave Kristen the freedom to pursue even bigger goals – like uplifting the entire organizing industry.

Today Bee Organized isn’t just a one-off service; it’s a community of professionals. A Country Club Bank feature reminds us: Kristen and Lisa helped shape the organizing industry “from ‘hobby’ to a real business that changes lives”[7]. Kristen is proud of how far Bee Organized has come: “This has been the hardest thing we’ve ever done… but there’s nothing else we’d rather be doing,” she says[8]. With a thriving base in Kansas City,

Bee Organized now supports clients from Portand to Dallas, Seattle to Miami – all while keeping Kansas City roots. As Kristen notes, they chose a locally-based bank partner because “as a locally-based business, it was important for us to work together”[9]. Even as the company spreads nationwide, that hometown commitment shows in every project.

Organizing with Empathy and Intention

If you’ve ever hired a professional organizer, you know the job can feel intimate. These experts walk into a person’s home, dig through personal belongings, and redesign private spaces. Kristen says Bee Organized treats this privilege with deep respect. “We have a saying around Bee Organized, and we even wear buttons that say, It’s an honor,” she explains[10]. “People open the door to their homes, their pasts, their hurts, their embarrassment… it’s an amazing honor what we get to do.” Because clients often come at the end of a long rope – maybe overwhelmed by clutter or grief – every Bee reminds themself to lead with kindness. “We treat everyone with compassion, confidentiality, and judgment-free [respect], and that is so important,” Kristen emphasizes[11]. In practice, that means listening patiently, asking lots of questions, and meeting clients exactly where they are. Bee Organized’s goal is progress, not perfection – exactly the opposite of making clients feel inadequate.

These values are woven into everything Bee Organized does. For example, the company’s organizing profiles framework helps clients feel understood rather than blamed. Kristen and her team noticed common patterns in how people relate to “stuff,” so they crafted seven organizing profiles. Anyone can take a fun online quiz on Bee Organized’s website to see whether they’re, say, a Memory Keeper (someone who saves sentimental items) or a Just-in-Caser (who saves things just in case). There’s no “good” or “bad” profile – as Kristen notes, “sometimes people are like, ‘oh, I’m all seven,’ and I’m like, ‘so am I.’ It just matters where you are in your home or what season of life”[12]. By identifying a client’s profile, Bee Organized can tailor the approach and use language that resonates. It’s a simple way to help someone feel seen: each client’s organizing style is honored, not judged.

Service by service, Bee Organized lives out its values. The company offers three main lines of support: traditional home and business organizing, life-transition support, and a kind of on-call concierge service. Traditional organizing covers everything from pantries and closets to entire rooms – always done compassionately and practically. Life-transition support is for clients in moments of upheaval, like divorces, moves, downsizing, or the loss of a loved one. Kristen explains that people often call in the middle of a “big life moment” – maybe right when their parent is moving to assisted living, or a spouse has just passed away[13]. In those cases, Bee Organized truly “wraps our arms around them,” as Kristen says, guiding them through one small step at a time: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,” she jokes[14]. By breaking a daunting task into manageable chunks, the team helps clients move from chaos toward calm.

For ultimate ease, Bee Organized’s concierge service ties everything together. The company has a vetted network of vendor partners – movers, estate-sale experts, senior-living coordinators, you name it – so a client doesn’t have to scramble. “If we don’t do it and we need it, we have a partner… we are very intentional on building our vendor partners,” Kristen explains[15]. That means if a client needs to donate bulky items, an estate sale for vintage furniture, a piano haul, or even storage solutions, Bee Organized can handle it or connect the right person. In one move-out project, for example, Bees arranged the complete sale and removal of an entire garage of items while simultaneously packing the rest of the house. It was a one-stop-shop solution. As Kristen says, “we really come in and are the one-stop shop solutions”[16], pulling all the levers so clients can breathe easier. And yes – they even keep it light. Kristen laughs, “P.S., by the way, we have a lot of fun doing it, too. We kind of lighten the mood”[17]. After all, if stress has built up, a friendly joke or two can make a world of difference.

Profiles, Partnerships, and Peace of Mind

One of Bee Organized’s secret sauces is helping people understand themselves as they organize. The Organizing Profiles we mentioned give structure to that process. There’s a Memory Keeper, who cherishes every photo and souvenir; a Just-in-Caser, who saves things because “maybe someday”; a Crammer-Jammer-Stacker and more. Knowing your profile helps the team suggest strategies and even language you’ll respond to. “We actually have crafted what we call seven organizing profiles. We have a quiz on our website… Who are we, right?” Kristen says. “There’s no right or wrong… it just matters… where you are in your home or… what season of life.” [12]. By acknowledging these different styles openly, Bee Organized removes shame. A “Memory Keeper” doesn’t have to apologize for keeping grandma’s teacups; a “Just-in-Caser” learns how to honor the future rather than hoard it. It’s a kind of gentle psychological shorthand.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Bee Organized’s partnerships give clients peace of mind. The team knows their limits. Kristen admits she’s “leery of businesses that always try to be everything to everybody”[18]. So Bee Organized focuses on organizing, project management, and emotional support – and outsources the rest. Electricians, cleaners, movers, donation pickup services… the company has built all those into the “hive”. If a homeowner needs a list of trusted installers or a detailed moving plan, Bee Organized delivers. “We’re kind of pulling all the levers and helping,” Kristen says[19]. This vendor network is especially valued by stressed clients. One Kansas City retiree raved that Bee Organized not only sorted her belongings, but even coordinated the entire senior-living move. She felt “listened to and never judged,” a common theme in testimonials.

All these pieces – values, profiles, and partners – help clients feel understood and supported. Whether someone is a busy professional, a retiree, or a harried parent, Bee Organized’s emphasis on empathy shines through. Kristen points out that organization is really a mental-health service. “Our environments are a direct reflection of what’s going on in our head and heart,” she says[20]. By the end of a project, clients often report that they’re calmer and more in control, not just that their linen closet looks great. As one man told a Bee, after weeks of decluttering his late wife’s belongings: “You changed my life.” That’s the kind of impact Bee Organized strives for every time they knock on a door.

A Franchise That Feels Like Family

Bee Organized’s growth from a Kansas City startup to a national franchise has been whirlwind, but Kristen insists the company culture hasn’t wavered. Founders Kristen, Lisa, and now partner Scott Sjoberg approached franchising with care. They launched franchises early – 2017 – and have been deliberate about each new market. “It was a crazy ride,” Kristen admits[21]. “We struck a nerve – there was such a need for this service,” she adds[22]. From the first franchise in Dallas to the newest in St. Louis, each Bee Organized “hive” is connected to Kansas City HQ. Kristen says they call all their organizers “Bees” and send teams out together for synergy. “Multiple Bees go in… a lot of positive comes from that, efficiency and productivity,” she explains[23]. That teamwork model, born in the living room with two friends, is now a trademark of the franchise.

Systems and training are key to keeping Bee Organized in all markets running smoothly. Kristen and Lisa know they can’t be the ones doing every job – they had to “get on the business, not in the business,” as Kristen puts it[6]. Early on they mapped out every checklist and process, so that a Bee in Miami knows what a Bee in Kansas City expects. Today they train franchise owners and staff with those same core beliefs. That consistency pays off: a client in Miami can expect the same confidentiality and kindness she would get in Overland Park. As Kristen says, their mission is twofold: help homeowners and businesses live a better life through organization, and help franchisees “build the business of their dreams”[24]. In other words, Bee Organized’s purpose extends to everyone in their orbit.

Through it all, Kristen says the founders have made values a guiding star. “It doesn’t feel like a typical business relationship,” she tells Kansas City Thrive of their expansion. Every potential new market or partner is evaluated on whether it fits the Bee Organized culture. Even Bankers noticed this: the Country Club Bank spotlight points out that Bee Organized’s mission remains the same – “to dignify clients with confidentiality and kindness, and transform spaces so people can live lighter”[25]. Those aren’t just marketing words; Kristen truly believes in them. She notes how meeting new people means hearing “their hurts, their embarrassment… it’s an amazing honor”[11]. That sense of honor is threaded through their hiring and franchising decisions. Many Bees say they joined because the company’s purpose resonated – they wanted more than a paycheck; they wanted to make a difference. Kristen sums it up: after all the hard work, they’re “honored to help clients, to create flexible work for our Bees, and to give franchisees the chance to build their dream business”[8].

Why Bee Organized Matters Now

In today’s fast-paced world, the burden of stuff and stress shows up everywhere – from cluttered homes to frazzled schedules. That makes Bee Organized’s mission feel more urgent than ever. As Kristen observes, even an ideal move or a new house can be stressful by itself. Then add a major life change – divorce, illness, a parent’s passing – and people can feel paralyzed. “Moving is stressful even in the best of times… then you add a death, a divorce, kids leaving for college… it gets downright paralyzing,” she says[26]. In those moments, Bee Organized becomes “a breath of fresh air,” the team who knows how to take charge calmly and compassionately[27]. Families dealing with grief have told Kristen how transformative it is just to have someone kind sorting through a lifetime of memories. One client tearfully thanked a Bee for “giving her permission to move on” after years of not touching her late husband’s clothes. That moment – a widow literally standing taller, excited again – is what Kristen calls “life-changing”[28].

For people overwhelmed by chaos, Bee Organized offers a reset. Kristen likes to say organization is like “mental health” – a person’s environment literally reflects their head and heart[29]. By helping clients clear out what no longer serves them and create systems that fit their life, Bee Organized helps people breathe easier and function better. Country Club Bank quotes Kristen: “Professional organizing isn’t a luxury, it’s a service that helps people breathe easier and function better”[30]. Whether it’s an entrepreneur who finally carves out a home office, or a busy parent who can find their child’s favorite shoes, the impact is real. One homeowner said she never realized how much time she wasted searching for things – and now she has hours back in each week. By simplifying homes, Bee Organized helps Kansas Citians (and their neighbors across the country) reclaim not just space, but time and peace of mind.

That community-first approach extends beyond individual clients. Bee Organized stays engaged in Kansas City through volunteer work and charitable drives. For example, their 10th anniversary campaign aimed to collect 10,000 pairs of shoes for local families in need[31]. This kind of giving-back speaks to their belief that organization should empower people, not judge them. It’s also a sign of the company’s heart – they’re not just building a business, but helping a community thrive. As a KC Thrive profile notes, Bee Organized’s founders embody the Kansas City spirit of “helping Kansas City live a lighter and more intentional life”[32]. From the beginning, Kristen envisioned Bee Organized’s work as very much tied to Kansas City values: supporting friends and neighbors, creating flexible work for families (the “Bees”), and keeping decisions local whenever possible[25][33].

In the end, Bee Organized matters because it tackles one of life’s biggest stressors with kindness and competence. Kristen often emphasizes the upside: at the “epicenter” of everything they do is a belief that organization helps all of us “live a better life and be better versions of ourselves”[34]. Bee Organized shows that even something as mundane as decluttering can have ripple effects: happier families, stronger communities, and workers who love what they do. “These weren’t just two friends playing organizer at happy hour – it’s two founders building something that changes lives,” Kristen reminds us. As KC Thrive listeners put it, from “two best friends organizing homes for fun” to a national franchise, Bee Organized is all about helping people “simplify their hives, calm their chaos, and make room for what matters”[35].

In today’s era of busy schedules and information overload, these values feel especially timely. Bee Organized isn’t just tidying pantries – they’re offering a path to more intentional living. They teach us that sometimes the greatest gifts are a clear floorplan and a clear mind. For Kansas City and beyond, Bee Organized is proof that local passion, coupled with compassion and smarts, can create a business that truly makes life a little lighter for its neighbors.

Sources: Quotes and details drawn from an interview with Kristen Christian (Kansas City Thrive audio transcript)[1][11][28][24][8], and a Country Club Bank spotlight on Bee Organized[3][25][31], among other public materials.

[1] [2] [4] [5] [6] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [26] [27] [28] [29] [32] [34] [35] KCT Audio Interview

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[3] [7] [8] [9] [25] [30] [31] [33]  Publications | Client Spotlight: Bee Organized | Country Club Bank 

https://www.ccbfinancial.com/publications/ccb/client-spotlight/client-spotlight-bee-organized-september-2025