How to Put Together a Home Office, Frugally

Every successful business must have a certain amount of furniture and machines to make it run smoothly and get the job done. I have found these to be the essential items that every business needs to have:

Desk and Chair

Nothing is more miserable than trying to get your work done on a desk that is too small, or a chair that is not comfortable for you. Even if you desk is nothing more than a piece of wood on blocks, it is vitally important that you have enough space on it for your needs and so that you can find the tools you need to get your job done.

While even the most rudimentary desk will work, as long as it is big enough for your needs, an office chair really needs to be of a higher quality and something you can comfortably sit in for long stretches of time. If there is one single thing your business should purchase new and of good quality it is an office chair.

Phone and Fax

Just about every business today will need both a phone and fax. Purchase a good quality phone for your business. You need to sound professional to your clients and want them to be able to understand you.

Do you need a fax machine? This depends on if you will have a scanner on your PC where you can use a fax service or if you will need to send them on a stand alone device. Many fax machines are fairly inexpensive and it is a professional thing to have one available to you and your customers.

Technology Needs

Running a business these days without at least a basic computer would be very hard. Computers can be purchased for a few hundred dollars and completely suit your business needs. Buying a simple PC model with a decent sized monitor will set your technology needs off on the right foot.

If your business will be mobile, you may wish to purchase a laptop. However, don't get a laptop just because they are light and fun. Get one if you need one, but skip it if a traditional PC will fit the bill.

You will also need a printer. For most businesses, without a lot of need for color printing, I would highly suggest you invest in a small laser jet printer. While they are a bit more expensive than an ink jet, they will save you a lot of money on your printing needs over time. For the money laser jet printers will give you many more printed pages for the same cost as ink. And, as an added bonus, laser jet printed pages look better and you do not have to worry about smeared ink.

Scanners and Copiers

The line between PC peripherals and copy machines is quickly blurring. Where you used to need a separate machine for each task, now many basic copiers can also scan documents. Evaluate all of your business needs for scanning, printing, copying and then decide which will work best for you - a traditional copier or a multi-function. Talk to your local office supply store sales staff and see what the costs are to lease. Many times leases come with full service and even toner cartridges. Leasing a copier can be the best deal out there for your business.