| Focusing on service companies and small offices, | | | | works wonderfully. |
| below are some great tips to help reduce the cost of | | | | Telephone Systems |
| overhead for your company. Because I was able to | | | | I love what we did here. Now, understand that if you |
| drastically lower the cost of my overhead, my first | | | | cut in areas, there might be limitations, but if you can |
| office was opened without a huge bite to my | | | | live with them, they might be worth it. We went with a |
| pocketbook. Of course, there are still costs, but not | | | | VOIP that had the capability for several lines and an |
| nearly what so many complain about in business. | | | | answering service. Very inexpensive. We used |
| Most people in business explained to me that starting | | | | RingCentral. Then we went to MetroPCS or you can |
| up my own office would cost around $10 to $20K, at | | | | go to your local company that has unlimited texts, |
| least, if I wanted it to look half-way decent. Not the | | | | minutes, etc for very cheap. We have 5 lines for like |
| case at all. My steps included the following: | | | | $60 a month. Each person in need of a phone, |
| Furniture | | | | received a cell, others the VOIP is fine, then we just |
| Most of my furniture came from Wal-mart with the | | | | set up the phone extensions to go directly to their cells |
| exception of a few items from used office furniture | | | | rather than a phone system in the office. Works very |
| stores. This included desks, office chairs, conference | | | | nice and they never have to miss a call when they are |
| chairs, reception area chairs, and a few lighting fixtures. | | | | out. |
| When we began leasing the office, we inherited a | | | | Recycle |
| large OLD wooden L-shaped desk. We had no idea | | | | Be sure to recycle paper that had mistakes on them |
| what we were going to do with it, but soon found it to | | | | by using them for scratch paper rather than notepads. |
| be a great asset as our reception desk. We just took | | | | Also, try to use the fronts and backs of notepads |
| care of the eye sores and now it looks very nice. | | | | when using them. It doesn't seem like much, but over |
| Cubicles | | | | time the costs can add up. |
| Rather than using the very expensive cubicle desks | | | | Use what you have |
| and walls, we bought some room dividers from | | | | If you have spare furniture or items that others are |
| Wal-mart online. They are beautiful and serve the | | | | throwing away, see if they can be used. We had |
| exact same purpose. Plus these are easy to move | | | | furniture from our previous home and frustrating as it |
| around and keep the office looking very nice. Using the | | | | can possibly be, the couch would not fit through our |
| simple geometric patterns on the dividers, gave our | | | | front door. Well, we couldn't take it back to the store, it |
| office a modern look. | | | | had been too long, and in this economy we couldn't sell |
| Decor | | | | it. Believe me, we tried. So, we decided to put it in the |
| It seems cheap, but I love BigLots for this. I have | | | | office. The love seat is in the reception area and the |
| beautiful pieces in the office and most think they are | | | | couch is between my office and another's. I have |
| thousand dollar items simply the way they are | | | | heard more people say how nice it is in our office than |
| displayed. The other painting, I did myself. Even if you | | | | you can imagine. It makes people feel at home when |
| are not an artist, go to your local art supply store, like | | | | they come in and it puts them in a relaxed state. This |
| Michaels or Hobby Lobby, and pick up a few | | | | is a hard thing to come by in an accounting firm. It's |
| canvases, some acrylic paints, and a few paint | | | | very nice to hear. |
| brushes. Then go to town. Just throw paint on the | | | | Online Shopping |
| thing. Most art looks similar anyway. People will oooh | | | | Finally, research, research, research. You have to do |
| and aaaah over art that they think you paid a ton for. | | | | your homework or you will pay more than you should. |
| The remaining were simply pieces purchased from | | | | Utilize Google Shopping. I love it and it is a great way |
| Target on special. Shop for specials especially after | | | | to find the lowest price on everything. eBay is good |
| holidays. | | | | but Google is better because it encompasses many |
| Electronics | | | | different shopping sites. Remember, fake it ok. Most |
| Computers can be a little overwhelming, especially if | | | | don't know things are a fake unless you tell them. |
| you are a small office and have no clue what you | | | | Merchant Services |
| need. Simple. Start off with an Acer. You can move | | | | This one, you will just have to call me. The reason we |
| up from there later. Unless you are a graphic designer, | | | | began brokering merchant services is because we |
| an Acer should be fine to start with and are very | | | | found a company that offered the absolute lowest |
| inexpensive and fairly good little computers. For those | | | | costs possible. Now, different from others using this |
| like me who use Photoshop, Dreamweaver, | | | | company, we do not mark up the price. The reason |
| Quickbooks, and Office all at the same time, you might | | | | for this is because we want your accounting services. |
| need something a little stronger, but you can still shop | | | | You don't have to use us, but this is a great way to |
| around. | | | | get to know you and maybe after working with us for |
| Rather than getting an expensive server system, drive | | | | a time, you might decide to give us a try. Go to |
| an external hard drive. We set up our office with | | | | MerchantServicesOutlet to contact us about these. |
| wireless and access to the external hard drives and it | | | | |