Organizing Supplies & Equipment for Your Home Business

When starting or building a home business, there are basic things that you need to do if you are going to pave the way to success. I discussed some of these thing in the last three or four post. Now, I'd like to talk about obtaining and organizing neccessary supplies and equipment for your home business. After you have done the most important things such as set a budget for yourself, legalize your business, and published a website, don't forget the seemingly small things which sometimes get overlooked.

Are you a multi-level marketer? Are you creating your own products by hand? Whatever your home business is, you must keep a stock of basic supplies in addition to any equipment you will require. Here's a top 25 basic supply list in no particular order (you can add to it based on the type of home business you are operating):

1. Business Cards (keep a supply on hand and in your wallet)
2. Pens, Pencils
3. Printer/Copier Paper
4. Post It Notes
5. Stationery (Envelopes and Letterhead with your logo keenly displayed)
6. Writing Pad for jotting down notes and ideas
7. Laptop or Desktop Computer
8. Multifunctional Printer/Copier/Fax/Scanner
9. A supply of toner (nothing like running out of toner when you need to print an important document - Once you put in the last toner, buy a new one right away. Don't procrastinate or you may find yourself in a bind at the last moment)
10. File Folders & Labels
11. 3 Ring Binders
12. Shipping Boxes & Labels
13. Bubble Wrap
14. Scissors
15. Markers & Highlighters
16. Stamp Pads
17. Packing Tape
18. A Pre-designed Invoice that you keep stored on your computer and/or CD for easy access to editing (don't forget to sport your logo on it and include all pertinent contact information, including your website address)
19. Product containers such as bottles and tops
20. Waterproof Labels for your product containers (Elements Bath Body and Home has an extensive supply for very fair prices. You can even purchase them by the sheet)
21. To Do List Sheets
22. Daily Planner and Calendar (Electronic preferred to minimize paper use)
23. Marketing tools such as brochures or pamphlets. Keep a supply stocked up so you don't even fall short when you need to distribute one. It's a good idea to keep a few of these on hand when you travel as well
24. Label maker
25. Desk lamp

If you prefer a pre-printed office supply list, http://www.clutterdiet.com/ has one you can purchase for $7.50. They also offer a bunch of other neat supplies for your home business such as an internet password organizer. Boy I think I'm going to pick up one of these!