When starting up a business, one of the very first necessary steps is setting up an office from where you’ll be operating. But then again, you’ll need to create a comfortable, productive environment, and this is often determined by the supplies, furniture, and equipment you bring in. Some elements of functionality and décor such as lighting and indoor plants can also go a long way in improving the esthetics of your new office and making it as productive as it can get. There is so much to think about and unless you’re working with an experienced interior designer or planner, the entire experience can be a bit taxing. Nonetheless, it becomes easier if you know where to start, especially when it comes to the essentials.
To help you out, here are some things your new NY office needs to be equipped with, whether you’ve rented space in the city, you’re working from the basement, or one of the rooms in your home.
1. Ergonomic Office Desk and Chair
The workstation is basically what makes an office an office. If you’re starting out solo, you’ll want to go for at least one office desk, one chair for you and some chairs or seating space for your clients. The alternative would be to purchase a complete workstation, but these are often pricier than purchasing furniture units separately. Whatever you go for, you’ll want to pick something that is designed to offer the utmost comfort. This means choosing an ergonomic desk and chair. The chair should also be height-adjustable and well-padded with quality material to prevent neck and back injuries from long hours of sitting. Height-adjustable office desks that also allow you to work while standing are also available, and these are more ergonomic than traditional versions since they let you work from the position you feel most comfortable in.
2. Coffee Making Machine
Nothing is more important than snacking a few times a day to fuel up and keep your energy levels optimal throughout the day. As you can tell from the header, one of the best ways you can enable this is to have a coffee maker in the office. With a coffee machine in the office, you and your employees will be able to fight mental block, sluggishness, and fatigue by getting a caffeine hit whenever needed throughout the day, thus improving productivity. The guys at CorpCofe.com say that with a reliable corporate coffee system in your office, your break room experience will simply never be the same again. Getting a quality coffee machine is a great way to ensure your team stays happy, energized, and productive. Break rooms or coffee breaks also encourage your team’s socialization and networking, which is a key ingredient in promoting teamwork and unison at the workplace.
3. General Supplies and Stationery
For your office to stay productive from the point of setting up, you’ll also need to purchase the nifty gritty copier supplies in abundance. From staples to pins, printing papers, paper punchers, clippers, pens and much more, there are many essential office supplies and pieces of stationery that your office cannot function well without. It’s important to plan carefully and come up with a list of important supplies and stationery needed in your office in good timing depending on the kind of work you do. Better yet, do not forget
4. Multifunctional Printer
Unlike some years back, people do not rely so much on information printed on paper. Nowadays, the most important data and sensitive pieces of information are stored electronically in computer hard drives and internet cloud accounts. However, printed material is still of essence from time to time, even with most economies encouraging people to go paperless. With a multifunctional printer, you’ll not only be able to print crucial information on paper and make copies of it, but you will also be able to scan and manipulate printed information and even share it with others via fax or email.
5. Internet Connectivity
In this age and day, businesses can hardly survive without technology and the internet is at the heart of it. Depending on the size of your new office, you’ll need to install an Ethernet or a strong Wi-Fi network that will support the various parts of your office downtimes and inconveniences.
6. Business Telephone
Communication is among the most important things in a business. Without good communication systems and channels, businesses can have challenges interacting with their prospects, clients, and staff. When choosing a business telephone solution, you may want to do some research and choose a good provider based on factors such as pricing, customer support, reputation, and service reliability.
7. Mailing Equipment
From time to time, there’s a possibility that you’ll need to ship bills, statements, product samples, and certain documents to your customers or prospects. While you can rely on post office services for this, it’s often more convenient and cheaper to have mailing equipment in your office, like a franking machine, mail scales, and postage software.
8. Computer Hardware and Software
Last but not least, this one is a no brainer. To keep your office productive and ensure a smooth flow of operations, you’ll need to have a computer/s and the right business software for your operations. These may include billing software, accounting software, and communication software.
Especially when setting one up in a city as competitive as New York, you undoubtedly need to get it right the first time when it comes to office supplies, equipment, and essentials. Thankfully, you have the above list to act as your guide when getting started. All the best in your new office!