Step 6 to opening your home based business is organizing your office. While it might look nifty, don’t tie up a fortune in purchasing stylish designer desk organizing items…unless you really have the cash to spare for that! Budgeting is key. Start by looking around your home to see what you already may have, then head off to the local discount retailer. Here are a few things to get you started organizing. Obviously this list may need to be tweaked a little bit to suit your particular type of business.
1. Paper trays
These can be used to sort order forms, incoming and outgoing mail, and so on. They have a myriad of uses, and are quite inexpensive. They usually cost just two or three dollars for a set of four. It’s worth it to buy two or three sets!
2. Small bookshelf
This will give you a place to keep books, binders, bins of small supplies, catalogs, and so on.
3. Filing cabinet and folders
If you cannot afford, or don’t have room for a large filing cabinet, at least get a small portable file box. This will get you set up to keep accurate records, and it’s easier to find things when they are properly filed!
4. Desktop or drawer organizer for pens, pencils, rubber bands, paper clips, etc
5. A whiteboard, corkboard, or even a piece of sheetrock! Have a place to jot quick notes, ideas, or things you really need to remember!
6. A calendar. I personally like a small notebook style calendar, but whatever works for you is fine. You need to have a place to write down dates to remember.
7. A small notepad, to keep near your phone, with a pen. There are even “phone stations” that have built in places for these things. This way, you aren’t scrambling for scrap paper when someone calls!
8. Post-its. Let’s face it, it would be hard to get by in the modern world without these fun doodads! Actually, I personally love the whole line of post-it products! These days, it’s not just yellow sticky notes. There are flags, bookmarks, and even highlighters with a built in post-it flag dispenser! They have begun making nifty index cards that are sticky as well, but they don’t stick to eachother! Their website is really quite helpful.