The Ultimate Business Blog Citygirlbusinessclub.com
Setting up a business can be done on a budget, but it’s difficult to do with no money at all. When your startup moves into an office, whether that’s as soon as you begin or a few years down the line, equipping said office is one of your biggest expenses. Luckily, you can save money on your office furniture and equipment. Consider carefully what you need to equip your office, and then decide how you’re going to obtain all the items you need. You can buy new or secondhand, or lease your equipment instead. If your office has a good number of people, you can also take advantage of some great business deals.
Shopping Around
Some office equipment is preferably bought new, rather than used. In particular, technology is better new. You might be able to find a good used PC that’s cheaper than its new counterpart. But a new one won’t cost you much and will last you longer. For example, if you’re looking for a laptop to work from you don’t need one that you can play video games on. For relatively little money, you can buy one that will last you a couple of years at least, and longer if you take care of it. When you’re buying new equipment, it’s important that you shop around for the best deals. Compare prices and don’t be tempted to go for something you don’t really need.
Leasing Instead of Buying
You might decide not buy at all. Although there’s a possibility that leasing could cost you more in the long-run, it’s a good solution for more expensive equipment. For example, you might need to use a professional Ricoh London printer but don’t have the funds to buy one. Leasing will give you the use of the printer you need without the investment. You can choose to buy further down the road or continue leasing. It’s a more manageable way to equip your office when you’re just starting out and don’t have large sums of money. After all, productivity-boosting devices like printers cannot be avoided. If your office doesn’t utilize printers, see more on how these gadgets can help your business save time and money on a larger scale.
Buying Secondhand
If leasing isn’t for you, buying used equipment instead of new will save you money. You need to be careful about what and where you buy; you obviously don’t want to spend money on anything that’s going to fall apart within a few days. Going to a reputable seller of secondhand office furniture and equipment will ensure that you don’t fall foul of any charlatans. Ask other businesses for advice too as they may be able to recommend a seller.
Bulk Buys and Discounts
If you’re furnishing a larger office, or sometimes even if you only have a handful of people, looking out for business deals in a good idea. You may be able to get discounts on anything from desks to cell phones and software packages. As with most things, buying several of the same item will get you a better deal. Plus, many companies are banking on your repeat business. This is particularly true for things such as cell phone contracts and software subscriptions.
Set yourself a budget when you equip your office, to make sure you don’t go overboard with spending.