9 Essentials Of Office Equipment Every Business Needs

Essentials Of Office Equipment Every Business Needs

Setting up an office for your small business? Make sure you have…

everything you need! Read on to learn about the essentials of office equipment.
Starting a small business is no small feat. It requires a significant amount of planning and funding, and every detail needs to be carefully thought out. Whether you’re opening an independent medical practice, a photography business, or a roofing company, you need to make sure everything is ready before opening day.

This means filing paperwork, getting your team together, and preparing your office space. It means you have to have a clear brand and a strong marketing strategy, as well as all the necessary office equipment for your business to function properly.

Not sure which office supplies are an absolute must?

Here are the top 9 pieces of office equipment every single small business needs.

1. Standard Office Furniture

Desks and chairs are the most fundamental of all office furniture. But, they come in all kinds of styles! Take a moment to consider whether you’d like to have standing desks, traditional desks, or ones that can interchange between the two. Think about how big the desks need to be and decide if you want a cubicle-like setting or more of an open office space.

Then, add details to the image in your head.

Picture what you want the front-of-house area to look like when people walk in. Consider the support materials that your team will need – like a break room, bathrooms, and meeting rooms. Make sure you get the appropriate furniture for all these spaces.

2. IT Equipment

Up next on the list is IT equipment. This includes everything from network servers and computer monitors to phone lines and IT security systems. Anything you plan to have running on your network needs to be properly connected with the right safeguards in place.

Note, not all your IT equipment will necessarily be in-house office equipment. You may choose to outsource some of your IT needs or run certain things on a cloud-based system.

3. Computer Software

The computer software you need depends on the business you’re running, but you absolutely need some sort of smart technology. A few of the programs you might purchase include:

• point of sale software
• inventory software
• staff scheduling software
• document filing and protection software
• internal communication software
• project management software

You may also be in need of industry-specific software. For example, most marketing agencies need Adobe Suite products for their visual design work. Architects need specific software to render building designs and medical practices need systems that can store and send sensitive patient information.

4. A Printer and Copier

Although computer programs may vary, the need to print and copy documents is standard across most small businesses. But, the printing/copying needs of a restaurant is much different than that of a medical practice or marketing agency.

Make sure the printing and copy machine you purchase is able to handle the capacity you need it to operate at. Otherwise, you may find yourself purchasing another one not too long after you open for business. Get it right the first time to save yourself an unnecessary extra cost.

5. A Fax Machine

You may or may not need a fax machine. Again, this goes back to the kind of business you’re running. Most businesses can get by just fine with email and other tech-savvy methods of sharing information.

But, if you foresee yourself sending a high rate of faxes to clients/customers, set up your fax machine before you open for business. This will save you a lot of time, money, and stress. It ensures you have everything you need to operate efficiently, which will keep your team and your audience happy.

6. Storage and Stationery Tools

Just as you need to be able to print, copy, and fax important files, you need a place to store all the paperwork your business will handle. You will likely have multiple filing cabinets for the business and a few personal filing tools to keep your working space organized.

You should also have plenty of stationery materials. This includes pens, pencils, highlighters, sticky notes, and notepads. You should have all of these on-hand for your team to use, too. Such tools keep everyone focused, organized, and on track to meet the goals you’ve set. They’re a simple piece of office equipment that far too many business owners overlook, but they a difference!

7. Waste Management Solutions

Keep in mind that with regular printing, copying, and jotting down of notes, waste will pile up. Have a plan in place to help you manage all the paper waste your business will produce, as well as any other kinds. For paper waste, one of the best pieces of office equipment to invest in is a paper shredder.
Shredding ensures that sensitive information is protected. Whether it be internal plans or private customer details, having a shredder available to all employees keeps the entire company in good standing in terms of privacy.

8. Cleaning Supplies

Believe it or not, cleaning supplies are another essential piece of office equipment. They’re also another item on this list that some business owners tend to forget. Make sure you have everything you need to maintain a healthy working condition and to provide the best possible service to the customers in your market.

9. Office Security

Last but not least, office security.

This may be as simple as installing a few cameras, but it could be much more complex. You might want to get an alarm system installed throughout your office or in specific areas. You may wish to have protected entry points at which employees will need access codes/badges in order to pass.

Additional security measures include hiring security staff and more in-depth surveillance than just a few cameras. Either way, you definitely need some form of office security.

Start Crossing Office Equipment Essentials Off Your List

You can read about the essentials of office equipment all you want, but it’s only when you start to cross a few things off your list that you’ll make progress toward having everything ready for opening day. It’s never to early to start planning for your new office – or too late to upgrade the office you already have.
To learn how we can help you enhance your workspace, click here.