When working from home, it is usual to find that you have your office in an area that is not very big, such as a box room or even in the corner of the kitchen. When your business really takes off, you will begin to discover that your work area starts to get swamped by paperwork and that you are running out of storage space.
An excellent solution to this is to aim towards having a paperless office. Obviously, certain documents must be kept for legal and tax purposes, but take a look around you and ask yourself, "Just how much of this paper do I need to keep?"
The first task is to go through your paperwork and decide what is for the bin. Base your decision on whether you are ever going to need that document again. This is slightly different to documents you know you will never READ again, because most businesses are required by law to retain certain paperwork for official purposes, for example, certain receipts and leasing agreements.
Secondly, decide what you want to be able to access in future but don't require the information to be on paper. This is the main group of documents that are heading towards your scanner. Items in this category would include letters between you and your customers, brochures, price lists, business cards, etc.
Your third task is to seperate all official, legal, tax, etc documents you must keep. Basically, you should consider if these documents are possibly going to be required by a lawyer, tax inspector, customs officer or the police. If you are not sure then it is better to err on the side of caution and keep it.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
On the assumption that you already own a computer, what other equipment are you going to need?
Proper filing boxes for the "keeps". Office supply stores stock a wide variety of storage options. Label your boxes and files properly so that you can access information held in them easily. You could also consider asking your lawyer, accountant or bank to store the more important items for you. This is a good option for the very important documents, but you may be charged for the service.
A scanner. Scanners are relatively cheap and are much cheaper and smaller than a filing cabinet. Systematically work your way through your files and scan the items in the second category. REMEMBER TO BACKUP ALL YOUR SCANS! Most recent computers will have a CD-Writer. They are a cheap and quick way to make a permanent, digital record of your files. As with your filing boxes, clearly mark your CD with a guide to the information it contains.
A paper shredder. AFTER YOU HAVE MADE BACKUP COPIES of the redundant paperwork, shred all your unwanted paperwork to keep it away from prying eyes. You can use the shreddings on a compost heap, if you have one. They are excellent to mix in with grass cuttings!
Allan Cowley is a Life Coach working with clients throughout the world. He provides online coaching in self improvement, goal setting, time management and small business development. For a free online life assessment with no obligations, you can contact Allan on his website at:- http://www.uk-success-coach.com/contact-online-life-coach.html
Rolling Meadows Cadillac Escalade rental .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWhether you are an Entrepreneur or Business Professional there are... Read More
I only have to point to the 555 plus failed... Read More
You've come up with the best idea since sliced bread,... Read More
While I was hard at work last week, an everyday... Read More
As small business managers, we juggle limited resources in a... Read More
How do you find the best business partners?Finding a good... Read More
Small business owners can relieve a lot of their own... Read More
Pressure washing companies must look for customers in the retail... Read More
$37.4 million funded from venture capital today. $86.4 million funded... Read More
Before you read any further in this article, I'd like... Read More
There is a Batting Cages Business for those people who... Read More
If you're like the rest of us, you've spent a... Read More
If you are a small business you know that you... Read More
What is the satisfaction & expectation review of the business... Read More
When working properly, computers enable small businesses to make big... Read More
Some of the greatest words of wisdom for any man... Read More
The current lack of industry leaders represents an exceptional opportunity... Read More
In the Truck Washing Business every single type of vehicle... Read More
You've probably heard the statistic that 95% of small businesses... Read More
Why? Because they have access to world class public relations... Read More
Every company has business pain, but the pain does not... Read More
Habit: A consistent behavior you perform so frequently that it... Read More
If you don't know what a Virtual Assistant (or VA)... Read More
In the 2003 Auto Laundry News Survey it was determined... Read More
As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following... Read More
Des Moines rental limo ..In today's marketplace the words 'job security' have become an... Read More
First you have to start with knowing your budget and... Read More
Sometimes when you run a business you feel as lonely... Read More
Habit: A consistent behavior you perform so frequently that it... Read More
So you want to get into the auto detailing business... Read More
Pressure washing companies must look for customers in the retail... Read More
Often smart entrepreneurs look for out of the way businesses,... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission is upgrading the franchise law and... Read More
Many ventures are faced with the challenging task of raising... Read More
Writing a business plan is a fundamental step to ensuring... Read More
Many pressure washing companies will be glad to take on... Read More
Why would you use an event pass?Event passes are often... Read More
Great question!Freeing your time is an indisputably key element in... Read More
Auto Detailing: Maintaining A Commercial Carpet ExtractorYou should drain your... Read More
In a quest for customers and to keep those customers,... Read More
Mobile carwashing is hard work, it is tough on the... Read More
Imagine that you have operated a successful franchise business for... Read More
The following tips have come from a wide variety of... Read More
Why give freebies?We have all seen freebies at trade shows... Read More
Thankfully, most of us will never find out. That is... Read More
A consultant must remember that the business belongs to the... Read More
When do you need to get more involved with the... Read More
It is imperative to have your business legally prepared. How... Read More
Cleaning concrete is tough and there is an easy way... Read More
Q: I will be retiring this year at age 60... Read More
Small Business |