Starting a home business is not a walk in the park, to say the least. Like a popular Coldplay song goes, “Nobody said it was easy.” Besides all the challenges you’ll encounter, starting up a home business can cost a lot of money. One of the biggest expenses you’ll have will be setting up your physical office. But it doesn’t have to put you up to your eyeballs in debt. The key is to buy only exactly what you’ll need, and to make smart shopping choices that will save you money. Here are five home business essentials.
Basic Office Equipment
Depending on the nature of your business, you may need a printer, copier, scanner, shredder and mailing equipment. You can save money on these machines if you buy used or refurbished ones from a trustworthy and reputable supplier. JJBender.com is one such supplier. They have been in business for over 38 years, and guarantee that their used office equipment looks and functions just as well as brand new machines.
Again, your needs may vary depending on the nature of your business, but you can shop a wide variety of used printing equipment at JJ Bender.
Information Technology
This should honestly be a no-brainer. You’ll need a good computer and the right software to do everything from keeping track of your clients and customers, to accounting, bookkeeping and marketing. Compare brands and models and choose a computer that will best suit your needs. Do your research and purchase software that will allow you to run your business effectively and efficiently.
A Reliable Internal and External Connection
Computers and an internet connection go hand in hand. An internet connection will connect you to the outside world and allow you to communicate with customers and vendors. If you are starting up a bigger office, you’ll also need a strong computer network that will connect you and all your employees to each other. Things you’ll need for this include a router, switches and Ethernet cabling.
Information and Accessibility on the Go
Almost everyone has a smartphone these days, and these powerful gadgets are incredibly useful for any business owner. You’ll to stay connected to your customers, vendors, and partners or employees even when you’re away from the office, and the right phone will make it easy for you to check and send emails and work on the go.
Of course, you’ll also need a reliable phone plan. Be sure to shop around and compare plans from different carriers to select which one will suit you best. If you’re not diligent, you may end up spending for services you don’t really need.
Office Furniture
This is probably one of the more fun things to go shopping for. What kind of furniture you buy will depend a lot on your taste, your business branding and the image you want to project, but be sure to still spend wisely and be a savvy shopper. You can make the trip to furniture stores such as Office National to find the right products to furnish your home office space with elegance and flair. The goal is to inspire creativity in the day-to-day managing of your business.
You can also often get great deals when you shop for furniture online, and consider buying pre-owned and refurbished furniture for those areas in your office that won’t get a lot of customer traffic.
No one said putting up a home business was easy, but it isn’t impossible, either. If you are careful, organized and disciplined, you can definitely get your office up and running without breaking the bank or going well over budget.
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