For most employees there is almost nothing more annoying than not having the tools they need to get their work done. Someone having to scramble around through closets and push assignments off until later because the printer ran out of paper is the last complaint you want to hear as an employer.
You can eliminate easily fixable issues like this in your business by maintaining an office supplies checklist. This is a list of all the items that must be stocked at your office for operations to run smoothly.
Having a checklist helps with never running low or out of important resources around the office. Check out these tips on how you can keep a well-stocked office that your employees will be delighted to work in.
How The Office Supplies Checklist Should Work
Making an office supplies checklist is the first step. You should also have it reviewed on a regular basis to check the supply levels so you are always well-stocked. The checklist also needs to be updated as your business needs start to change.
Assign one of your employees the responsibility of making sure that the office never runs out of anything on the list. For a small business, this could be the receptionist, office manager or even the owner.
Choose a certain number for each item that you don’t want to go below. This will help you gauge when supply is actually almost out. On a regular basis, such as weekly or bi-weekly, the person responsible should go through the checklist and check the supplies available against it. Any items that are below the preferred amount should be ordered in a good time to prevent anything from running out.
With time, the employee will get a feel for the levels of each item based on use so that ordering becomes efficient. Following this system should help your office will never stay on top of supplies stock.
You can also establish a good relationship with a supplier that can deliver the items you need on a regular basis. Once you have a general idea of the consumption of each item you can even have a weekly standing order of the items used regularly such as printing paper, envelopes, water containers, etc.
The Definitive List Of Office Supplies For A Small Business
This is an exhaustive office supplies checklist of all the items needed to run a business. Check through to find all of the options that you and your employees use regularly, as well as occasionally.
Stationery and General Supplies
These are some basic supplies that most businesses use:
- Pens
- Pencils
- Folders
- Notebooks
- Binders
- Calculators
- Staplers
- Staples
- Calendars
- Thumbtacks
- Paperclips
- Markers (permanent and whiteboard)
- Custom post it notes
- Tape (scotch and masking tape)
- Scissors
- Highlighters
- Binder clips
- Sharpeners
- Erasers
- Envelopes
- Stamps
- Cardboard boxes
- Mailing labels
- Bubble wrap
- Rubberbands
- Glue
Technology Equipment
Modern-day offices need computers and other supporting technology to survive in today’s business world. This can be a bit more expensive but necessary. Take a look at the items on this office supplies list for technology and figure out which ones are must-haves for your company.
Keep in mind that you don’t need all of them to start. Buy the items you can afford then continue building from there.
- Laptops
- Printers
- Copiers
- Scanners
- Computer screens
- Laptop docking stations
- Shredders
- Fax machines
- External hard drives
- Surge protectors
- Office Phones
- Presentation screens and projectors
- Wireless routers
- Printing paper
- Printer ink and toner
- Smartphones
- Chargers for electronics
Furniture
This is another unavoidable category of office checklist items that you should invest in. It is important to have comfortable furniture for your employees to support good health in the workplace.
- Desks (seated and adjustable if possible)
- Standing desks
- Rolling chairs (best for work)
- Boardroom table and chairs
- Filing cabinets
- Shelves
- Lamps
- Trashcans
- Whiteboards
Kitchen Equipment And Supplies
Your employees will spend a good amount of their day at the office so they will need to eat several meals while at work. Keeping a fully stocked kitchen helps give the office more of a cozy, at-home feeling.
Below are the main kitchen supplies and equipment you should have.
- Coffee maker
- Electric kettle
- Microwave
- Fridge
- Water dispenser
- Mugs
- Cutlery (knives, forks, spoons, etc.)
- Plates
- Paper towels
- Coffee beans
- Assorted tea bags
- Hot chocolate / Cocoa
- Milk
- Sugar
- Salt
- Pepper
- Ketchup
- Sweets and other light snacks
Safety Equipment
Keeping up with safety regulations is an important part of keeping up with the security of your employees. Check to make sure your state doesn’t have specific requirements for safety tools other than what is on the following office supplies checklist.
- First Aid Kit
- Fire extinguishers
- Smoke detectors
- Flashlights
- Carbon monoxide detectors
Cleaning Supplies
Whether or not you have contracted out your cleaning you still need some basic cleaning supplies in your office so that any spills and other incidents can be taken care of immediately. Here are the cleaning supplies all small offices need.
- Vacuum cleaner
- Mop bucket
- Broom
- Toilet brushes
- All-Purpose cleaning fluid
- Hand soap
- Toilet paper
- Trash bags
- Air fresheners
Décor
Your office is a home away from home for your employees so making sure it’s an appealing and welcoming environment is essential. Here are some things that will make your office feel like a home away from home.
- Pictures and wall art
- Desk organizers
- Sculptures
- Office plants
- Blinds
Miscellaneous
There are some items that you only need once in a while. However, when the need arises you will be glad to have them in your stock.
- Batteries (AA and AAA)
- Tool Kit
Keep Up with Your Office Supplies Checklist
Running a business comes with a lot of daily responsibilities. The best thing you can do is find a way to streamline necessities such as keeping up with your office supplies checklist so that’s one less thing you have to worry about.
Help your employees stay productive and happy by always having fully stocked office at their disposal. For more tips and advice, check out the business section of our blog.
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