If you're starting your own business there's plenty to think about, such as finding customers and making sure that all your tax and legal issues are under control.
You might think that you don't need much in the way of stationery or office supplies, especially if you are a small business, or working by yourself.
Here are 10 essentials that you can't afford to be without.
1.
Paper products including printer paper, sticky notes, and envelopes, as well as notepads and labels will be essential for the new business.
You may have had your business stationery printed, but you'll still want to be able to make notes, or stick up reminders.
2.
Pens might not be the most exciting of office equipment, but having plenty of pens for all circumstances, such as for writing on CDs and DVDs, and for highlighting text.
Also, by having a nice pen for signing contracts, you'll impress your new customers much more so than by signing with a tatty old biro.
3.
Depending on the nature of your business, you might be able to make do with your mobile phone, or you might need a full and comprehensive telephone system to meet your communication needs.
Do you need tor be able to transfer calls, and to set up voice mail accounts? 4.
Office machinery such as a fax and shredder shouldn't be forgotten either.
You might want to laminate your documents, take digital photos or photocopy documents.
A shredder will destroy confidential and personal documents that you don't want to fall into the wrong hands.
5.
Computers are another office essential these days, and whether you spend your working day in front of one, or just use it to keep your accounts up to date, you'll want to make sure that the one you use is up to the job.
Remember it's your reputation and business on the line if your computer crashes, or can't be used.
6.
Printers are available from many different manufacturers and at different prices.
You'll want to get the most appropriate printer for you, so that you get the quality and value for money you need.
Don't spend a fortune on a colour laser printer, if you only print out a couple of spreadsheets once a month, and don't expect a cheap inkjet printer to be able to cope with the printing demands of a busy office with lots of employees.
7.
Remember that most printers, especially inkjet printers only come with small ink cartridges that won't do many prints.
It's a good idea to get some cartridges at the time of purchase.
You might also need to get a couple of printer cables too, if you're going to be using different sorts of printers for printing images and text.
8.
You shouldn't neglect your office furniture.
You and all your employees will need to have a good quality chair and desk so that you can sit comfortably and so work productively and efficiently all day long.
9.
Catering supplies are important too, and just as an army marches on its stomach, a good employer will make sure that there are plenty of beverages and snacks available for staff.
This will keep staff happy and more productive.
10.
It's important that you remember to factor in storage for your office.
You might have thought about a couple of filing cabinets, but don't forget drawers for under desks, or magazine racks and pen trays for on top of the desk itself.
You may want to have a central point of information if you all regularly need to access brochures, or manuals, or product samples.
Now you know more about the essential office equipment you need, isn't it time you made sure that your employees have got all they need?
You might think that you don't need much in the way of stationery or office supplies, especially if you are a small business, or working by yourself.
Here are 10 essentials that you can't afford to be without.
1.
Paper products including printer paper, sticky notes, and envelopes, as well as notepads and labels will be essential for the new business.
You may have had your business stationery printed, but you'll still want to be able to make notes, or stick up reminders.
2.
Pens might not be the most exciting of office equipment, but having plenty of pens for all circumstances, such as for writing on CDs and DVDs, and for highlighting text.
Also, by having a nice pen for signing contracts, you'll impress your new customers much more so than by signing with a tatty old biro.
3.
Depending on the nature of your business, you might be able to make do with your mobile phone, or you might need a full and comprehensive telephone system to meet your communication needs.
Do you need tor be able to transfer calls, and to set up voice mail accounts? 4.
Office machinery such as a fax and shredder shouldn't be forgotten either.
You might want to laminate your documents, take digital photos or photocopy documents.
A shredder will destroy confidential and personal documents that you don't want to fall into the wrong hands.
5.
Computers are another office essential these days, and whether you spend your working day in front of one, or just use it to keep your accounts up to date, you'll want to make sure that the one you use is up to the job.
Remember it's your reputation and business on the line if your computer crashes, or can't be used.
6.
Printers are available from many different manufacturers and at different prices.
You'll want to get the most appropriate printer for you, so that you get the quality and value for money you need.
Don't spend a fortune on a colour laser printer, if you only print out a couple of spreadsheets once a month, and don't expect a cheap inkjet printer to be able to cope with the printing demands of a busy office with lots of employees.
7.
Remember that most printers, especially inkjet printers only come with small ink cartridges that won't do many prints.
It's a good idea to get some cartridges at the time of purchase.
You might also need to get a couple of printer cables too, if you're going to be using different sorts of printers for printing images and text.
8.
You shouldn't neglect your office furniture.
You and all your employees will need to have a good quality chair and desk so that you can sit comfortably and so work productively and efficiently all day long.
9.
Catering supplies are important too, and just as an army marches on its stomach, a good employer will make sure that there are plenty of beverages and snacks available for staff.
This will keep staff happy and more productive.
10.
It's important that you remember to factor in storage for your office.
You might have thought about a couple of filing cabinets, but don't forget drawers for under desks, or magazine racks and pen trays for on top of the desk itself.
You may want to have a central point of information if you all regularly need to access brochures, or manuals, or product samples.
Now you know more about the essential office equipment you need, isn't it time you made sure that your employees have got all they need?
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