The Small Business Boom
With all the funding available these days for starting your own business, it is no wonder so many people are choosing to do so. And with so many new businesses around, it is important to ensure that you have the edge it takes to draw a profit in your market. For any business the bottom line is of paramount importance but for a business start-up even more so.
The smart way to surviving and prospering in the early years is by spending the necessary time planning and making smart investments.
Your principal, whether it consists of loans or your own saved cash, is the fuel that will get your business off the ground. The more you invest initially, the longer it will take for you to start turning out profits, but the more properly equipped for success you will be, assuming you plan well.
Your Office Set Up
Most home office set-up investments are used to purchase a few basic things:
A personal computer
An office desk
Peripherals (printers, scanners, extra speakers, fax machines, etc.)
Other job-specific necessities (computer programs, envelopes, etc.)
Of these, the most consistently needed are the first two: a computer and a desk. With the speed at which technology is constantly changing and developing, it is important to know what to look for in a computer, fortunately there is lots of information out there to help you with your PC purchase. Office desks, on the other hand, serve a more basic, less complex function, but there is surprisingly little to be found in the way of advice about this essential purchase, this is what I would like to spend some time on in this article.
When Shopping For an Office Desk
Keep in mind every aspect of your business throughout the process of shopping for your desk. Ideally you need to know how much business you expect to be doing, what the realistic requirements of that business would be, how much time you intend to spend at your desk each day and doing what tasks, and what your relationships with your customers and associates will be like.
A Desk That Speaks Success
Ultimately, the customer is the most important element in the success of any business. The more personable your business appears to your customers, the more likely they will be to choose your product or service.
So of course having an attractive office desk is important where you have a business that requires you to be meeting customers in person on a regular basis. An executive desk may well be your best bet, a Dmi executive desk for instance. Typically a traditional desk in Cherry Veneer, Mahogany or Walnut Veneer will do wonders for your credibility.
Some businesses, however, are run entirely online, and if this is the case then your top priority is that your desk be functional.
You can save a lot of money by buying a more plain-looking contemporary office desk, but which is also packed full of features, like; a hutch, under the desk storage space, grommets for cable management, lateral files, adjustable shelves, keyboard tray and computer tower storage.
The Right Desk for the Job
I reality your choice may not be as clear cut as I have suggested here. That’s to say you may never be receiving customers in your office but you may like to have something that still looks good. There are some nice metal and glass office desks which are inexpensive and offer great functionality.
There is an enormous range of available desks tailored to every imaginable function; in order to know what desk is right for you, you have to make a lot of decisions about what exactly your business is going to do. How extensive will your customer relations be? Will you correspond via email, telephone, fax, conventional mail, or all of these? Will you be shipping packages regularly? How much storage space will you be needing?
Each of these decisions has implications concerning what you will need in a desk, and under-planning by overlooking any of these details can be a costly mistake at worst and a pain in the rear end at best.
Used office desks are not easy to sell, and new ones are not cheap to buy. Make sure you know what equipment besides a personal computer your desk will have to accommodate.
You Know What Desk Is Best for You
While all of these factors are important, there is another overriding one, the way you feel about the desk you are thinking of purchasing. Starting your own businesses is one of the hardest things you can do. If you are serious about doing it without getting burnt out, you need to be satisfied with your work environment. Having the right office desk improves your attitude toward your business, increasing your chances for success.
Finally, because of the long hours required of entrepreneurs, it is important that you find a desk that fits your body type. Injuries related to computer use and other tasks that involve repetitive motions of the hands are no joke. The last thing you need is constant pain holding you back from accomplishing all you are capable of in your market. Take your time and find the right desk for you.
About the Author
Lloyd Burrell is an expert in office desk furniture and other office-related subjects and he is also publisher of the leading office desk review website. Lloyd is British, but currently lives on the West Coast of France with his wife and two children. His hobbies include traveling, enjoying French cuisine and culture, and keeping fit. Whether you are wanting to buy a DMI executive office desk or a ready to assemble office desk, Lloyd can help you find the right product for you.
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Loved the post about your office setup! I started my own small furniture company about 9 months ago and when we finally could afford to open our own location I made sure we had really nice desks and that the office reflected our personality! Thought I would share a few pictures of our office!
http://bit.ly/9AnqFT
http://bit.ly/bhKlvB
Kev
Hey, cool stuff Lloyd.
Given the amount of time a home based or freelance business spends at the desk, your points are like gold. Folks tend to ignore this important aspect of making it through the day.
George
George Angus´s last blog ..Random House, You’ve Crossed The Line
No one thinks about buying a desk until they need one, then they make a fast decision. I took a look at some of the desks that you mentioned above, there is something to be said for feeling good about your desk. The one thing that I complain about is the desk that I use today. Just don’t like it. My attitude would change greatly if I liked the desk I work on. Thanks for the advice, I will be using it.
Rob
Rob SBA Financing´s last blog ..Credit Card Funding For Business Startups And Entrepreneurs
Probably my biggest gripe about my desk is that it just doesn’t feel like there’s enough space for everything. I needed to get one that was more like two sides of a square; I think that would make me feel much better about everything.
Mitch´s last blog ..It’s Not Always About Money
Lloyd, this is often overlooked by new business owners but the office environment is huge! The right desk, chair and furniture can hinder or help your productivity. Thanks for the helpful tips!
Karen Swim´s last blog ..Brush Stokes of a Crisis Through the Artist’s Eyes
I remember years ago, while employed with a large local company, having a silly little metal plain-jane desk. Three little drawers, no extension, and it was ugly! Sitting behind that desk did nothing to improve my morale. And it appeared very unprofessional when dealing with clients (some of them actually told me so). Unfortunately, it took a lot of coaxing to get a better, much more usable desk – then I was laid off. Go figure.
do you have articles about small home office??
for my office desk furniture
I love the attention given to the desk. If the desk does not attract you to do work…the business will fail! As an 8 certified business development specialist, I would like to add what goes on the desk is important as well. How are you filing your business activity. I am gearing up for my second busiest time of the year for tax filing. I will admit it make good money sorting my clients’ shoeboxes, but it is unecessary expenses for them to pay me to do it. It is wasted time for them to do it at the end of the year (or mid-year if they file an extension). More importantly, they don’t know how much money they have spent on their business until it is too late (at the end of the year).
The last 20 years of tax filings with shoeboxes, caused me to create a great business tool to cut down the paperwork on your desk. For those that choose not to use a Quickbooks or Peachtree…try the Profit Tracker @ http://tiny.cc/profittracker that allows you to record your sales/expenses once and produce your SE tax and profit monthy.
I wish you good luck and God speed in your business.
The Business Plan Lady