Although setting up a home office can be a lot more affordable than renting out office space (in the long-run), there are still some major, short-term costs. Unless you plan on shuttling furniture from one end of the house to the other every day, you’ll have to buy new equipment for this home office.
You’ll need new seating, a desk, and technology such as computers, fax machines, and landline phones. This Home Stratosphere guide says that technology is one of the biggest contributors to home office set-up costs, potentially coming to $8,000.
However, although you need high-quality tech in your home office to ensure that your business runs smoothly, you don’t have to pay that much for it. There are several affordable ways to get your home office tech, you just have to know how.
Buy Refurbished Tech
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when buying technology is not buying refurbished. Refurbished phones and refurbished laptops work as you’d expect and have been tested and certified. Many also have warranties, so you can be confident that they are reliable and that you won’t lose money.
Refurbished tech is ideal for those trying to set up a home office on a budget as something like an Apple MacBook may be hundreds of dollars cheaper if you buy it refurbished when compared to brand new. To make sure you’re getting the best price, you could shop around, and compare prices. When you buy through RefurbMe, a price comparison platform for refurbished Apple goods, you can see a list of prices, retailers, warranty offers, shipping costs, and cosmetic quality. So you know that you’re getting the best price on that refurbished MacBook or iPhone and that you are saving a good amount of money.
Get Second-Hand Goods from Friends
If your friends are big on technology or got into the home office game before you, then it is well worth contacting them and asking for a helping hand. Your friend may have been considering upgrading their laptop or phone and was looking for a way to get rid of their tech – potentially to a good friend like you.
Most close friends will be happy to give their unused tech away for free, but others may want a little something in return if they are strapped for cash and can’t yet afford the upgrade. The Master Negotiator’s Tips for bartering with friends are to be prepared to call a time out of the negotiation gets heated, always strive to help your friends out, and to work things out between you and not let anyone else get involved.
Know When the Best Sales Are
If you’re looking at the price of a laptop or a desktop computer and you think it looks very expensive, then you may be better off looking at prices at a different time. Retailers offer discounts on their stock throughout the year with seasonal sales.
For offline retailers, Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, is the day when they will offer lots of deals and discounts on their products. For online retailers, Cyber Monday is one of the biggest shopping days. Investopedia’s definition of Cyber Monday explains that it is the online equivalent of Black Friday and it is the “unofficial start” of the holiday shopping season. Depending on your location, retailers may also offer special discounts for holiday weekends such as Presidents’ Day and Labor Day in the United States.
Wait Until a New One Is Released
Along with waiting for special deals periods, you could also wait until a new version of that laptop/desktop computer/mobile phone is released. If you have no timeline for your home office set-up or if you can work without the full suite of office technology, then it can be worth it to be patient and wait for the upgrade.
You may not want the upgraded version of the tech – you may have read the specs and are more than satisfied with what’s on offer. However, when tech upgrades are released, the price of the older model comes down, which will make setting up your home office a lot more affordable.
Apps and Discounts
As a promising entrepreneur and business person, you likely don’t have the time to go rummaging through newspapers and hunting online for individual discount codes. To save you time and, potentially, quite a bit of money, you’ll want to download apps and sign-up to newsletters for your favorite retailers.
Many leading retailers, from Amazon to Best Buy, all have their own apps which they regularly update with information about how you can save money. Newsletters may also tell you about sales periods before they happen. This will save you time in hunting for those discounts and it will help you keep track of them far better than collecting in-store leaflets and newspaper clippings.
Buy Bundles
If you’re buying a desktop computer then you’ll need a computer mouse, a keyboard, and a monitor. If you’re buying a laptop then you may need a carry case. With fax machines, you’ll need ink. You probably don’t want to buy all of these things separately.
Many retailers, who really want your sales, will allow you to buy a selection of products in a bundle at a lower cost than buying them individually. These bundles may not be advertised with banners or posters but if you ask a manager or a sales representative, they may be able to help you out.
Ask for a Discount
Another way to get affordable tech is to just ask for a discount. Just ask a sales representative if you can get a discount and see if they can offer you a deal. Business owners like you have a lot of clients and friends who they could refer the store to and so they may offer you a lower price to make you loyal.
This also works if you know that the sales representatives work on commission. If they make some or all of their money based on the number of sales they make, then they will be more willing to give you a discount if it means that you will pay. Asking for a discount may not work every time, but if it does work, you’ll be glad that you inquired.
Setting up a home office and getting all of your tech can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. By saving money on that tech, you’ll be able to give your business better financial footing as you grow.
