The Ultimate Office Supplies List for Small Businesses
Published January 7, 2022
When embarking on a new business venture, there is a great deal to consider — like office items and decorations. While the big-picture stuff might be somewhat time-consuming, it is the minute day-to-day details that truly matter. Therefore, you have a business strategy, funding, and an empty office. The next step is to stock the office with essential office supplies you and your team will need to complete the job.
To assist you during this extremely busy time, we’ve made the ultimate office supplies list for small businesses. Consider this list of office supplies to ensure that you have everything you need to keep your office stocked, your staff happy and productive, and to set the tone for success.
1. Furniture
If you’re starting from scratch, you have a tremendous opportunity to invest in high-quality furnishings from the outset. Too many offices are outfitted with a jumbled assortment of secondhand items and leftovers.
While budgeting is always a concern, prudent expenditure in this area will truly benefit you. Consider investing in the following essential office supplies:
Chairs
If you spend most of your day sitting, an ergonomic seat can help you stay comfortable — and far more productive — than you would otherwise be if you were attempting to work out the kinks in your back and shoulders. A comfortable workplace chair is a need.
Desks
While a desk is the most basic piece in the office supply list, an enormous variety is available. For example, are you interested in treadmill desks?
Room Dividers
Privacy has a high correlation with productivity. While providing everyone with their own office may not be financially feasible at this stage, you may establish peaceful locations for individual work with a bit of creativity.
Storage
If your workplace space lacks large closets, you’ll need structured and visually appealing solutions to keep things tidy. Storage modules and organizers are an excellent investment that will ensure your office staff has quick access to supplies and more. This is also the time to choose a sensible file system, so select one or two high-quality filing cabinets.
Supplies for Meetings and Collaboration
This may vary depending on your work style, but you may wish to purchase products to assist your teammates in brainstorming and more. Consider purchasing a conference system, whiteboards, and visual aids.
Decoration
You spend the majority of your waking hours at work, so why not make it a pleasant place to be? The decor should not be overlooked. This might be as simple as adding a splash of color to the walls, attractive and truly decorative modern area rugs, and a range of gorgeous, high-quality wall decor and other accessories to help the workplace feel more like a home than a lifeless work environment.
Management of Waste
This one is easy to overlook. To reduce clutter and properly dispose of garbage, you’ll need desk wastepaper baskets, recycling containers, and a shredder.
2. Stationery
While everyone is excited about the prospect of a paperless office, the reality is that digital does not yet cover everything. There are countless circumstances where nothing but a pencil, paper, and an old-fashioned stapler will suffice. These are the fundamentals of a well-stocked supply cabinet. When filling up on office supplies, refer to the following checklist:
Paper Products
- Assorted post-it notes
- Calendars
- Binders
- Notebooks
- Planners
- Letterhead
- 8.5″ x 11″ (letter size) photocopy/computer paper
- 8.5″ x 14″ (legal size) photocopy/computer paper
- Business cards
- Legal pads
- Colored paper
- Color-code labels
- Files
Mailing Supplies
- Mailers (bubble/padded)
- Mailing labels
- Postage stamps/meter
- Envelopes
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Boxes
Pencils/Pens/Markers
- No. 2 pencils
- Mechanical pencils (with refills)
- Highlighters
- Correction tape/fluid
- Ballpoint/roller tip/gel pens (black, red, blue)
- Whiteboard markers (with whiteboard cleaner)
- Permanent markers
Other Stuff
- Paperclips
- Binder clips
- Thumbtacks
- Clipboards
- Staples
- Staplers
- Staple remover
- Rubber bands
- Paper punch
- Printer ink/toner cartridges
- Rulers
- Tape refills
- Tape dispenser
3. Working Life
Regardless of the size of your employees, keeping them satisfied, healthy, and feeling wonderful is essential to the efficient operation of your company. Perhaps you have the budget for an excellent breakroom, or maybe you’re bootstrapping it and will need to be creative in creating a pleasant environment. In either case, it is possible to give a few great features and a few necessities: you do not have to spend a fortune to ensure that everyone is taken care of. The following things are essential and should not be left out in your office supplies list:
First Aid Kit
Depending on the size of your business and the type of industry, the amount and contents of your first aid kit may be regulated. So make sure to do your research.
Fire Safety
Depending on the local regulations, you may need more than one fire extinguisher and a fire blanket.
Kitchen Supplies
The following items are essential, regardless of whether you have a full kitchen or a small cart in the corner. Some of these can be substituted with disposables:
- Towels/Napkins
- Drinking glasses
- Spoons/forks/knives
- Plates
- Microwave
- Coffee mugs
- Coffeemaker
Food/Drink
It is up to you what types of food and beverages you provide to employees. Even though snacks are always a hit, we highly recommend keeping these on hand as a minimum (for everyone’s sake):
- Water (bottled or cooler)
- Sugar
- Creamer/milk
- Coffee
- Tea
Restroom Supplies
Bathrooms in the office should be well-stocked. You need the following for hygiene and sanitation:
- Hand soap
- Toilet tissue
- Air freshener
- Paper towels
Cleaning Supplies
Even if you have a cleaning service that comes in each night to tidy up, it’s still a good idea to have these things handy for daily messes and quick cleanups:
- Hand soap
- Dish soap
- Dish rack
- Sponge/dishcloth
- Small broom/dustpan
- Trash bags
That’s it for our essential office supplies list. When your small business supplies are all in place on day one, you’ll be ready for success. All the best with your new business!
(Related: 8 Office Notice Board Ideas That Will Surely Get Read)
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About The Author
Krizzia Paolyn is an SEO Specialist and holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She started her professional career as a writer for various digital magazines and renowned publications. It has always been her passion to share her voice, and at the same time, to encourage other people to speak up.