Are you ready to get connected, equipped, and otherwise ready to be productive?
When it comes to your home office, you need reliable, comfortable, efficient tools—and it doesn’t hurt if they look nice, too. From label makers to filing cabinets to printers to paper, I’ve discovered the best gear to help you get the most out of your home office. My reviews of home-office and work-from-home supplies and accessories are the result of the many years of constant use and trial and error.
Laptop
Having the best business laptop that suits your needs is essential and to make things as easy as possible, I am going to give you two laptops that I currently use and love. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get a capable PC for running your dog walking business. If you are just starting out and looking for a dependable budget friendly laptop like I was then I highly recommend the Acer Aspire.
If you are ready to upgrade your current laptop then I highly recommend investing in the Windows Surface Pro– I am obsessed with mine!
Printer
Many dog walking professionals overlook the importance of a reliable printer as they scramble to get their operations running. Don’t fall into the trap of re-purposing your home printer or buying a second-hand one like I did. Half way into my first year of business I almost literally threw my printer through the window because it kept jamming and would take 30 minutes to print 4 pages. That is when I decided to invest in a Brother printer; a document feeder, fast printing, copious amounts of flyers, oh my!
Don’t forget your ink and paper! I buy in bulk its makes my life easier.
Desk
Having a desk is a no brainer but your desk is the centerpiece of your home office, so picking the correct one is essential. For a piece of furniture that you spend a lot of time with, it is important to find the right desk that meets your requirements. I wanted lots of work space, organization and to be a bit modern- I chose a corner desk because it fit my space perfectly!
Label Maker
Professionalism is key when it comes to landing clients in the dog walking world. In comes my label maker! Labels were key in my file management, key labeling, client folders and organization. I would be lost with out my Dymo label maker.
Key Management
One of the most important parts of your operations is key management. When you reach 100+ clients you better have a flawless system in place when it comes to keeping clients keys secure and organized. When I first started I bought this small key lock box and loved it. However, my business grew and this was just unrealistic. I upgraded to this awesome Barska box. Organization and labeling is key (See my obsession with label makers above) and Key Tabs aided in efficiency.
Lock Boxes
I eventually transitioned to lock boxes- HIGHLY recommend and wish I would have started my business utilizing these little balls of efficiency. I made the move after I hired my 3rd Independent Contractor and distributing keys was a joke and an unnecessary headache. I bought three different brands and tested them out and my favorite is the ShurLok brand– I typically buy 4 at a time.
Filing
Your home office will acquire piles of paperwork that needs to be saved, from important receipts, business documents and client contracts. If you’re currently keeping these papers in a drawer somewhere, it’s time you invested in a filing cabinet. It does not need to be expensive but make sure it locks! I use the Space Solutions Metal Cabinet– it fit perfectly under my desk.
Book Case
Over the years I have accumulated plenty of notebooks, binders, leashes, collars, advertising materials and books. I wanted a place for these things and I had the space in my home office. Although not necessary, I purchased a bookshelf and never looked back. Hello organization! You bet my label maker joined this party.
(Looking for books to help take your business to the next level? Check out these Must Read Books!)
Advertising Organization
In addition to my beloved bookshelf I purchased a 10 drawer rolling cart (a teachers dream!). Here I stored; branded pens, poo bags, branded poo bag holders, business cards, client forms, brochures, fliers, and office supplies. The best part? It has wheels!! Roll on..
Make your home office a place you want to be! Here a few other things I added to my office that I love.
