The Definitive Office Supplies Checklist for Small Businesses

Whether you are setting up your business’s office space for the first time, or you are looking to update the space and give it an overhaul, there are specific items that are absolute must-haves. Offices are busy places and for them to be productive, they need the right supplies and tools to get the job done. To help you outfit the space, here’s a definitive office supplies checklist for small businesses to use.

Computers Are a Non-Negotiable

A great place to start is with the non-negotiables. These are items that the office and the business can’t function without. Computers or laptops should be at the top of the non-negotiables list. Each employee needs a workstation outfitted with their computer or laptop – whichever works best for the business and the budget.

How About the Office Printer?

If you’ve got computers and laptops, you’re going to need a printer for the office. While you can certainly pick up a budget model, keep in mind that these tend to be more suited to personal at-home use. The printers that are meant for office use have more features and tools on them, can handle larger print loads at once, have bigger ink cartridges so you can go longer between refills, faster printing speeds, and more.

Many small business owners tend to prefer the all-in-one printers as these save on space since they are multi-functional. These printers are capable of printing, copying, scanning and faxing. This may or may not be of importance for your business.

Storage Space Is Always a Consideration

Storage will be another item to add to the office supplies checklist. While some companies are starting to move away from paper, others still use it, at least in moderation. This means you need some sort of storage space and filing system in place. You’ll find a wide array of options in this category allowing you to choose the configuration you want.

The big question will be whether you plan to use a communal storage area where everything is stored, individual storage solutions at each employee’s workstation, or a combination of the two.

Office Furniture That Fits All Your Needs

Another must-have on the office supply checklist is office furniture. Long gone are the days where businesses would just purchase mass-produced items that had no personality and didn’t offer much in terms of comfort. Today, you can find functional office furniture that makes a statement, looks stylish and modern, is extremely comfortable yet still provides you with the kind of space, storage and utility needed.

Instead of seeing office furniture as an afterthought, include it in the design plan and find pieces that will add something to the space. This will create a professional tone for customers/clients that visit the office, as well as be something your employees look forward to using each day.

Give Employees Some Privacy with Room Dividers

Depending on the set-up of the office space, employees may not have much in terms of privacy. Unless everyone has their own separate office with a door, it can feel like one big open space. This can make it hard to focus and concentrate. A good solution is to use room dividers to create a sense of separate office spaces for each employee.

Choose something that is modern and stylish looking so that employees don’t feel like they are trapped in a standard cubicle.

You Need Adequate Lighting

Here’s another office supply that unfortunately gets overlooked all too often. Overhead lighting is important and great, but that doesn’t mean it will be enough for the space. Instead, you may also want to include task lighting for each workstation. This will help to prevent eyestrain, which means employees can be more productive.

Create a Comfortable and Welcoming Breakroom

Because employees will take breaks throughout the day, you need to give them a spot where they can sit down, have a bite to eat and relax. A breakroom is essential to any office space, even if it’s just a small room. You’ll need to include seating in the breakroom, a refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, cupboards with the basic dishes and utensils, a sink for washing dishes and cleaning supplies.

What About All the Basics?

Then there is the list of office supply basics. These aren’t exciting and glamourous but they are extremely important to have on hand. Here are some of the supplies you may need:

• Pens and pencils
• Highlighters
• Notepads and notebooks
• Sticky notes
• Printer paper
• Stamps
• Mailing labels
• Envelopes
• Whiteboard
• Staplers and staples
• Paper punch
• Extra toner and ink cartridges
• Tape dispenser and tape refills
• Binders
• Business cards

There may be more you can add to the list of basic supplies, which will be dependent on the kind of work your business does. It’s also wise to appoint someone in charge of supplies, so they can be re-ordered before anything runs out.

As you can see, when it comes to office supplies, there is a lot that you’ll need to purchase and organise for your small business. It’s all about giving your employees the essentials they need to be comfortable and productive, and ensure that your business runs smoothly.