Jeremy Kaplan
Have you ever gone to the grocery store only to come home with everything except what you meant to buy? When shopping for a business, there’s even more to remember. New business owners often find themselves overwhelmed. In those beginning months, the last thing you want is to go to print an invoice and realize your printer’s out of ink. Luckily, we live in the time of the internet. Nowadays the trial-and-error is done for you so you can spend your time growing your business.
Furniture
Your office will be pretty sad and empty without furniture. Here are some items to start with: desks, chairs, a filing cabinet (here are some tips on how to organize your files), tables, shelves, a safe box, a recycling bin, and a trashcan.
Stationery
You will need printer paper to print out documents, hole punched paper for binders (blank, lined, or grid paper), envelopes, postage stamps, spiral-bound notebooks, business cards (and appointment cards if applicable), a legal pad, Post-It notes, binders, divider tabs, a calendar, and manila or hanging file folders. Add letterhead to your shopping list if you want that extra touch of professionalism that makes a great first impression. You’ll find a wide selection of stationery as well as all your other office supply needs online at Office National.
Safety and Emergency
Don’t wait for disaster to strike! Safety should always be a top concern for businesses and it’s easier to prevent than to rebuild. Make sure your office has a first aid kit. You’ll also need a fire extinguisher, a fire blanket, a flashlight and batteries.
Cleaning Supplies
Safety is only a part of the working conditions equation. It is also important to maintain a clean, hygienic workplace. Stock your office with soap, garbage bags, a broom and dustpan, cleaning cloths, a duster, and window cleaner.
Writing supplies
Scores of notebooks aren’t of much use if you don’t have anything to write with. Pencils and pens are the bare minimum, but you’ll find additions such as permanent markers, highlighters, and erasers useful for labeling and other such tasks. Be sure to keep lead refills (if you use mechanical pencils) or a pencil sharpener on hand as well.
Other
These items may not fall cleanly into the categories of stationery or furniture, but they are staples (pun intended) of the office workplace nonetheless. Every office nowadays needs a computer. You should also have a printer and ink cartridges, a stapler and staples, scissors, thumbtacks, paper clips, and tape.
Not every business will need every item on this list, but this is a solid springboard to get you off to the races. Now you can begin the task of running a new business. If you want some advice on where to go from here check out the other posts on the blog where you’ll find articles on everything from business to travel. Good luck!
