A business center doesn't have to be elaborate. But, to be adequate it should...
- be located in a convenient, comfortable area of the home;
- provide necessary equipment, supplies, papers, records and references; and
- have good light.
Where Can It Be Located?
You may be able to find space for a home business center in just about any room of your house. Ideally you would have a special room--an "office." But few' homes today are large enough for such luxury. Instead, consider a spare corner in the living room, dining room, a bedroom, kitchen or family room. You'll also need storage space for inactive records. That space might be in the attic, garage, basement, under a bed, on those hard-to-reach top closet shelves, under stairs or in the back of a deep closet.
What Do You Need in a Business Center?
Essential Large Equipment
- Ample, sturdy writing surface
- Sturdy, comfortable chair
- Storage space for current records and papers, equipment, supplies
This does not automatically mean you need a desk and file cabinet. You can use the dining room table as your writing surface and a nearby cabinet or chest for storage space. A desk and storage unit can be built into an unused closet. A plywood or hollow core door mounted on two two-drawer file cabinets provides both storage and writing surface. Or, you could use a new or remodeled standard office desk and file, or a combination desk and metal file unit.
Necessary Storage Space For:
- Small equipment and supplies (pencils, pens, paper clips, scissors, stationery, etc.), such as in a divided shallow drawer, divided tray or box, etc.
- Reference materials (telephone directory, address book, desk calendar, dictionary, catalogs, etc.).
- Important papers, records and documents.
- Temporary storage for incoming or unfinished transactions (bills to be paid, unanswered letters, etc.), such as a small box, basket, spindle or other device.
- An active file for current receipts, correspondence, bank statements, account books, etc. A small check file, a cardboard box that will hold manila folders, expanding manila envelopes, small portable metal files, a drawer in a desk, or a one-to-four drawer filing cabinet can all be used.
- An inactive file for storing certain important records and papers kept at home for future references or for permanent records other than those best kept in a safe deposit box. Make the inactive file the same size as the active file to help in transferring materials from one to the other.
Essential Small Tools and Supplies
Pencils, pens | Eraser |
Paper clips, rubber bands | Pencil sharpener |
Transparent tape | Stationery (personal and business) |
Scissors | Account books |
Ruler | Stamps |
Deposit slips | Dictionary |
Desk Calendar | Wastepaper basket |
Optional Small Tools and Supplies
You decide if these will earn their keep in valuable storage space!
Glue or rubber cement | Sponge for moistening envelopes and stamps |
Stapler | Letter opener |
Spindle | Book ends |
Paper weights | Hole punch |
Address book | Parcel post scale |
Typewriter | Bulletin board |
Adding machine | Parcel post labels |
sadfasf, 08/04:
Very nice!
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