Are you a small business owner that is just launching a start-up? Chances are, you have a limited budget, so you need to make smart purchases. Fortunately, the Internet is full of information and advice regarding start-up equipment. But with so many ideas to choose from, you can easily get confused.
So, let us focus on the crucial equipment pieces every small business needs to facilitate your decision. But before talking about the equipment pieces you need, let’s cover the finances.
How Can You Finance Your Equipment?
There are two main ways to get your equipment.
Equipment financing implies taking out a loan to buy the equipment. So, the good news is that you will own the equipment. However, the equipment can be quite pricy. Having that in mind, most businesses, especially small and new businesses, do not have the money to repay the loan. So, they often turn to equipment leasing.
Equipment leasing means you do not buy the equipment; you just rent it. This method is way cheaper. At the same time, it is incredibly beneficial if you plan on frequently changing your equipment.
Click here to learn more about equipment financing and equipment leasing and decide which one is the better choice for you.
Must-Have Items for Your Small Business
Now that we have covered the finances, let’s move on to the equipment. What’s a must for start-ups and small businesses? Which are the equipment pieces you cannot go without?
Furniture and Kitchen Supplies
When working in an office, you want to have a pleasant environment for your employees and yourself. A nicely furnished office makes it look more professional and gives you a better working setting. For example, you can try out ergonomic furniture; it is better for your physical and mental health.
The same goes for kitchen supplies. Make your office feel as “homey” as possible. Giving your employees free snacks and drinks keeps them fresh, motivated, and ready for work.
Internet Connection
Since many businesses use the Internet as their main way of communicating with their clients, having high-speed Internet is necessary. The physical equipment you need to get to have Internet in your office is a router.
Most of the office equipment can connect to the Internet. We are not only talking about computers or smartphones, but also gadgets like photocopiers, speakers, smart locks, and even coffee machines. An extremely popular system that enables transferring data without the help of a human is IoT.
Printer and Shredder
Even though we live in a day and age where almost everything is done online, sometimes you still need to have a physical document on paper. If you already have it printed, you might need to scan it or make a copy. A great purchase is a machine able to do all the above, so investing in an all-in-one printer is a must.
Since your company possesses a lot of information, including personal information about the employees, you might want to have a machine that can destroy documents with this kind of content when you no longer need them. A paper shredder does this before valuable confidential information becomes public by mistake.
Security System
Speaking of valuable information, you should set up a security system. It does not matter if your business is mainly online or not; having cybersecurity is crucial.
Moreover, install cameras and motion detectors in front of your store. These can help you reduce loss and theft.
Company Vehicle
This one depends on the type of business you have, but having a vehicle for transport can help you a lot. It also serves as a marketing tool if you have the company’s name printed on the car.
A company vehicle can be especially helpful if you have an online store. You would not have to rely on other delivery companies that might not be as professional as you are and can potentially ruin your reputation.
Conclusion
When starting a business, there are a lot of aspects you need to focus on. Hopefully, this article can help you with one of the many, which is what equipment to buy, and if you should buy or simply rent it.
We have mentioned the most basic equipment pieces. Of course, as your business begins to grow and expand, you will need to buy more professional equipment, but the things mentioned in this article are a great place to start when beginning a new chapter in your life.