It’s quite exciting starting up a home business.  It can also be quite confusing for the first couple of years until you settle into a routine.  Although you might think you can run your business with milk crates as filing cases and card tables for desks, think again.  You are going to be at your desk for long hours almost every day.  Your office furniture needs to be able to take that kind of wear and tear.  Milk crates and card tables just won’t cut the mustard.

The Bare Minimum

No matter what kind of business you are going in, there are a few universal requirements for your home office furniture.  You need at least one filing cabinet, a bookshelf, a desk, a chair, a paperweight and an office chair mat.  I’m not going to go into electronics that you would need in the course of this article, as they would differ from business to business.  Let’s just stick with the office equipment that does not require a plug.

How Much To Invest?

Really look over your finances before you purchase any office furniture for your home business.  The initial start up costs are going to be huge, and it may be a couple of years before your show any profit.   Office furniture is probably low on your shopping list of priorities.  As a general rule, get the highest quality piece of office equipment you can afford.

In the beginning, if you are really financially strapped, at least get a really comfortable, wheeled ergonomic office chair.  You will be spending long hours in that chair – you might as well be comfortable.  You should also get and office chair mat so the wheels of your comfy chair don’t damage your floors or get caught on carpet snags and suddenly tip over.

Check Out Flea Markets

Unfortunately in America, we are a very wasteful society and throw out a lot of perfectly good stuff.  Fortunately, this can work to your advantage.  Check out thrift stores and flea markets for used but still sturdy office furniture that can be used in your home office.  This writer found a perfectly good (yet slightly dog-chewed) small filing cabinet in the neighbor’s trash.

Let your friends and family know that you are on the look out for cheap used office furniture.  In this way, you have more than one pair of eyes and ears looking out for you.  Don’t assume that your friends and family are far too busy to remember to find office furniture for you.  Sometimes they will.

Tags: Office Furniture

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