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The guide to organizing your business for long-term success

business communication

Does this sound familiar?

You’re gearing up for another work day, coffee at the ready. You’re hit with a familiar pang of anxiety as you click through your inbox and trove of apps and tools. Your mind starts to whir as you see notifications, meetings, and emails start to pile up.

That’s workplace disorganization anxiety at work. 

Today, there are so many different tools and software available, each one promising to streamline your life and your business in just a few clicks. 

The thing is, more tools doesn’t necessarily mean increased productivity and organization. In fact, it often results in the opposite. 

Organizing your business is critical not only for success, but also for the sanity of you and your team. By taking just a few simple steps, you could streamline your daily business operations—and save time, lower costs, and make your employees happier too. 

In this article, we’re sharing a few tried and true ways to keep your business organized. 

We’ll cover: 

The impacts of organizing your business

How to organize your business for success.

  • How to organize your paperwork and files

How to organize your office

  • How to organize your processes
  • 3 essential tools for organizing a business

There’s no question that organized small businesses tend to perform better than unorganized ones. 

From unproductive meetings and miscommunication between team members to unresolved customer service issues and missed deadlines, unorganized businesses are typically stressed ones—or ones that fail.

With 20% of small businesses failing within the first year 1 , it’s crucial to keep your business assets, workflows, files, and more in tip-top shape. 

That said, what are the main benefits of organizing your business?

Improves efficiency across the company

Chances are, your team wastes more time than you think while on the clock. 

According to a study from Atlassian, employees spend an average of 31 hours per month in unproductive meetings. 2 What’s more, employees spend about two hours each day recovering from distractions. That’s a quarter of every workday . 

One of the awesome byproducts of organizing your business is that it eliminates unnecessary tasks and actions. This gives your team a clear picture of what they should focus on and frees up time for actually valuable tasks.

Slashes unnecessary costs

Did you know that companies lose an average of $1,800 per employee annually on unnecessary emails? What’s more, poorly written communications cost companies an average of $4,000+ a year. 3

In other words, workplace miscommunication = wasted money. 

If you can find a way to communicate more efficiently with teammates, clients, and prospects, you’ll save both time and money.

That’s not the only way it saves you money either. By using your communication channels more strategically, you’ll be able to more easily see where you can streamline the number of tools you’re using. Fewer unnecessary apps, fewer tools to pay for every month.

Not to mention you won’t have to spend as much time managing all those apps.

Simplifies communication and team meetings

Organizing your business has other far-reaching effects too. If you find that your whole day is being eaten up by meetings, take a look at what kinds of meetings are running wild.

Are you having too many “catch-up” meetings that could be replaced by a quick message or email?

Can you group your client meetings in batches so that you don’t have to constantly switch back and forth mentally between deep task work and these conversations?

Some companies prefer email and video conferencing while others like to communicate through instant messaging , but generally, you should have the option of choosing between different communication channels. Sometimes you just need to talk face to face—and other times, you only have time to respond with a message!

Before you begin organizing your business, it’s best to have a plan of attack.

Map out your daily tasks and action items

What actions or tasks do you do on a frequent basis? What does your workflow look like?

A few examples might be:

  • How do you schedule meetings?
  • How do you send documents to different team members?
  • How do you organize your files?

Mapping out your most common tasks helps identify what’s working and what’s not. For example, you might see that there’s an issue with communication between teams, or files are constantly getting lost in the shuffle. 

This provides clarity around what you should reorganize. 

You might find that you need a task management tool or something to keep track of your to-do list every day. Or, if you want to be smart about the number of tools you’re using, you might try to find a versatile app that can handle task management and also, say, your communications.

For example, the RingCentral app lets you create and assign tasks right in your team chats so that everyone can see what’s being done (and when it’s due):

insurance task in ringcentral app

Build systems that let employees work from anywhere

Due to the impact of COVID-19, employees need the flexibility to work from anywhere and on any device. 

With a whopping 42% of the US labor force now working from home full-time 4 , it’s more important than ever to build a business that can accommodate this flexibility. 

Case in point: FlexJobs has seen a 50% boost in hiring for remote positions in categories such as computers/IT, customer service, and accounting and finance since March 1, 2020. 5

A remote-friendly business is a resilient business. Plus, you’ll not only be able to attract top talent, you’ll also save money on office space or in-person onboarding. 

But what does a remote-friendly workforce look like?

To start, adopting communication tools and a file organizing system that makes collaborating easy will help. The RingCentral app for desktop makes it easy to bridge the gap between messaging, video, and phone all from one dashboard.

Automate repetitive tasks where possible

Being a small business owner means juggling multiple tasks, which can get overwhelming quickly.

The solution? Automation .

Automation is an excellent way to get more done in less time . For example, you can schedule your social media posts or blog posts to publish ahead of time. Or, you can set up an integration that automatically saves recordings of your video meetings and sends you the link after.

No matter what tool you choose, always look at their integrations to see if they sync up with tools you’re already using! Their website should have a page talking about what other apps and tools they have built-in integrations with.

How to organize your business paperwork and files

Paperwork and digital files are the lifeblood of any small business. Therefore, it’s essential to have an organized filing system for important documents and files. 

But where do you start?

Digital files

First, take a look at the files on your computer and delete the ones you know you no longer need. Move the ones you plan to organize into a new folder. Once you’re left with the files you want to keep, begin organizing those. 

Make sure you develop an organizing system that works best for your team.

Each team may have their own filing system depending on the nature of their work. For example, the marketing team’s file system will probably look different from the accounting team’s file system. 

When thinking about your digital files, consider secure file storage and sharing software , like Box, Google Drive , or Dropbox (which can integrate with RingCentral ):

Having a tool like RingCentral’s desktop and mobile app helps you organize your files into designated channels for each department. That way, your files are saved in that group chat—and easily accessible by the right team members. 

Not only that, you can add in-app annotations to a file in the RingCentral app too. Got a question about a version of a document? Leave a comment for your team members to address later:

For paper files, repeat the same process by throwing out or recycling the files you don’t need and keeping the ones you do.

Physical files

While we recommend digitizing any files you have, we understand that sometimes you just need a hard copy.

Also, consider investing in a filing cabinet or binder with labels and folders. Color-coding your files is a simple way to sort your organization system and help you easily locate specific documents.

Consider filing them by category:

  • Receipts and invoices
  • Marketing assets
  • Sales materials 

However you choose to organize your files, just make sure you stick to your system. 

“Out of clutter, find simplicity.” – Albert Einstein

Stacks of paper. Coffee mug graveyards. Overflowing file cabinets. None of it is conducive for productivity—or a successful business.

Whether you’re working from home or socially distancing at the office , organizing your work is one of the easiest ways to improve your productivity. 

In fact, there’s been quite a bit of research confirming that, at the very least, there’s a correlation between stress and workplace clutter. 6 This type of stress can impact how you or your team makes decisions. 

The good news is that there are several ways to approach an office cleanup. Similar to organizing your computer and file system, first determine what should stay and what should go—from office decor to stacks of paper. 

Invest in functional office decor

Purge your desk of anything that’s not essential. Your desk should have your computer and a few other items like a notebook, pens, a lamp, and some decor. Minimizing the number of items on your desk is the first step to keeping clutter at bay. 

If your desk has drawers, invest in containers or baskets to keep drawer items organized as well.

Got a second monitor? Try adding a monitor stand to your desk to add more space.  

Leverage wall space

Who knew that wall space could be one of the best ways to organize your office? Use wall space to hang a bulletin board or whiteboard, shelves, or other storage space. 

The key is to try to keep as much off your desk as possible. The less that’s on your desk, the less cluttered your space will feel.  

How to organize your business processes

Internal processes are often regarded as a key success factor for businesses. 

And a lack of processes typically results in important items slipping through the cracks, miscommunication… you get the idea. 

Processes are important because they make a range of tasks repeatable for the whole team—from onboarding new hires to writing new blog posts. Here are a few processes to put in place if you haven’t already.

Create document templates and a “blank” folder system

Are there documents you find yourself recreating time after time? What about the file system you spent time building?

Templatizing the documents and folders you use frequently is a great way to save time and make sure everyone’s following the correct process. For example, you could create templates for marketing materials like webinars or email newsletters , quarterly reports, or editorial content.

Another way to save time and maintain organization is by creating a “blank” folder system. When you need to create a new folder, simply duplicate the blank set of folders!

Develop a clear process for onboarding new hires

When it comes to hiring new employees, an onboarding process is pretty much vital for success. After all, you want to make new hires feel welcome and get them up to speed as quickly as possible—two things that are hard to do from scratch every single time.

If your team is distributed, it’s all the more important to develop a process that welcomes new hires no matter where they’re working from.

Processes let you breeze through onboarding while minimizing the risk of leaving out any crucial information. Your new hire process should include everything from HR matters like health benefits and a 401(k) to a detailed look at daily tasks and long-term responsibilities. 

Check out this new hire checklist for a more detailed look at what to include.

Improve your meeting scheduling system

“Is that meeting at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m.?”

“Was our meeting moved to Tuesday?”

Scheduling conflicts and misunderstandings are never fun. They often lead to stress and tension, which aren’t conducive for a great work environment.

Fortunately, tools like RingCentral take the guesswork out of scheduling meetings and make it easy to sync calendars and time zones in just a few clicks. 

RingCentral’s integrated cloud communications system combines screen sharing, video conferencing, and messaging—all in one place. 

Best of all, RingCentral works with software like Google and Outlook so you’ll never double book yourself in a meeting again. You might just realize that you’ve been spending too much time in meetings .

Wrangle your inbox and notifications

Did you know that billions of emails are sent each day? 7 What’s more, US workers receive an average of 126 emails per day. 8 Email isn’t only time-consuming, it also robs you of your productivity.  

Simplifying your inbox and notifications starts with all-in-one software. Managing, replying to, and prioritizing your messages all from one dashboard eliminates the need to switch between tabs and keeps you focused. 

With a platform like RingCentral, you can communicate with your team through instant messaging, host video meetings, and keep track of tasks in one dashboard. That way, nothing gets lost in your inbox or bottlenecked in old email threads:

Collaboration and communication happen all in one place with RingCentral. 

3 essential business organization tools

There are countless tools that promise to turn your small business into a well-oiled, connected machine. 

But which ones are actually worth looking into? 

Here’s a look at some of the best small business tools to keep your business organized. 

An all-in-one communication platform

Connected teams are happy teams, which is why it’s important to choose software that gives your team different options to stay connected. Here’s the thing. Video conferencing is super important and quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to shift in-person meetings online—but most businesses will still need a phone. 

And then of course, there’s team messaging, which is useful if you want to be able to communicate with folks asynchronously .

But here’s the thing. Teams spend an hour or more each day switching from app to app. 9 Would you rather pay for and manage three different platforms to do these three things… Or would it be more time- and cost-efficient to look for one tool that could handle them all?

For most businesses, the second option would be better—which is why we’d recommend an all-in-one platform.

For example, the RingCentral app gives you several communication methods at once—whether you need to jump on the phone or send an approved promotional asset to your marketing team. 

Here are a few neat features that the RingCentral app comes with:

  • Task manager – RingCentral is not only your go-to way to communicate with your team, you can also keep your to-dos organized. Create and tag your team in a shared to-do list, so nothing gets lost or forgotten
  • Call flipping – Taking a call from your computer but need to head out to pick your kids up? You can flip the call from your computer to your phone in just one tap:

switch call from video to phone

  • Voice-to-video call (or vice versa!) – The RingCentral app also lets you switch from a phone call to a video call in just a tap—for those times when you’re on the phone with someone but realize you want to share your screen:
  • One-click-to-join video conferencing – Some conversations are just better face-to-face. You can start a video meeting with multiple teammates directly from a message thread. You can also create a team from the attendees in a meeting for follow-ups:

🕹️ Get a hands-on look at how RingCentral works by booking a product tour:

Choose a time

💰 You can also use this calculator to see roughly how much your business could save by using RingCentral to support your team’s communication with each other—and clients.

A file management software

Rapidly growing small businesses need a file system that will scale with them and keep them organized.

To set your business up for success in the long run, you’ll need a method that is user friendly and accessible on any device.

Google Workspace (formerly known as Google Workspace) is an affordable, cloud-based solution that is easy to set up and keep updated.

Some of the features of Google Workspace include:

  • Google Drive –  Manage and share your files all from one cloud-based platform. With Google Drive , you can share specific documents and folders with your team and make sure everything is where it needs to be:

google drive interface

  • Google Docs –  Say goodbye to document version control. Google Docs (along with the rest of the Google Workspace suite) automatically updates in real time, so you never have to worry about which spreadsheet is the final version. 
  • Google Calendar –  Create and add teammates to calendar invites with just a few clicks. To take your calendar to the next level, Google Calendar even lets you schedule out of office hours, reminders, and tasks. 

google calendar

As an added bonus, Google Workspace integrates with RingCentral ! Which means that your Google Calendar invites are automatically populated with RingCentral Video meeting links and dial-in info if you’d like:

google calendar's integration with ringcentral

An automation tool

As we mentioned earlier, automating tasks where it makes sense is a great way to slash busywork . 

The great thing about automation is that it’s completely customizable. You can automate an entire workflow or a single task.

Zapier is a leading tool for all things automation. You can connect tools in your tech stack and create automations in minutes. 

Some noteworthy features of Zapier include:


  • Connect your tech stack: Zapier works with 2,000+ apps so you can leverage your software like never before.

zapier ringcentral

  • Customize automations specifically for how you like to work: Zapier is easy to use and offers literally thousands of automation combinations for all of the most commonly apps. You probably have five or 10 ways to automate the tools you’re already using, even if you don’t know it yet.

How are you organizing your small business?

Getting—and staying—organized as a small business will pave the way for success. 

It can be overwhelming to figure out where to begin, but the business organization tips in this guide are here to help you along every step of the way. 

1 fundera.com/blog/what-percentage-of-small-businesses-fail#sources

2, 3 atlassian.com/time-wasting-at-work-infographic

4 news.stanford.edu/2020/06/29/snapshot-new-working-home-economy

5 flexjobs.com/blog/post/remote-friendly-companies-hiring-for-remote-jobs-pandemic

6 hbr.org/2019/03/the-case-for-finally-cleaning-your-desk

7 oberlo.com/blog/email-marketing-statistics

8 radicati.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Email-Statistics-Report-2015-2019-Executive-Summary.pdf

9 go.mavenlink.com/state-of-the-services-economy-2019

Originally published Nov 09, 2020, updated Jan 30, 2023

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From Chaos to Order: How to Organize Your Business Effectively

Starting a business? Organization is your secret weapon. It’s a lot to handle, from keeping records to managing inventory and more. Success hinges on being well-organized. Things can spiral into chaos quickly, and getting back on course isn’t always a breeze, especially if you fall behind. Business owners face a multitude of tasks, and staying…

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From Chaos to Order: How to Organize Your Business Effectively

Starting a business? Organization is your secret weapon. It’s a lot to handle, from keeping records to managing inventory and more. Success hinges on being well-organized. Things can spiral into chaos quickly, and getting back on course isn’t always a breeze, especially if you fall behind. Business owners face a multitude of tasks, and staying on top of them is key. Check out this guide to learn how to organize your business.

20 Tips for Organizing Your Business

By implementing these strategies, you’ll lay a solid foundation for organizing your small business effectively. 

1. Develop a Clear Vision and Mission Statement 

To keep everyone on the same page, start by clearly defining the purpose and goals of your small business. Your vision and mission statement serve as guiding stars, ensuring that every team member understands and aligns with your business’s core objectives. This clarity creates a sense of purpose and direction.

2. Set SMART Goals

It’s not enough to have broad goals; you need specifics. Implement the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These criteria make your goals actionable and provide a clear roadmap for your business to follow.

3. Create an Organizational Chart

Promote efficiency and accountability by establishing a clear structure and hierarchy within your small business. An organizational chart outlines reporting relationships and responsibilities, reducing confusion and enabling better decision-making.

4. Establish Workflows and Processes

Consistency and efficiency are key to organizing your business. Document and streamline your business processes to ensure that tasks are performed consistently and with minimal waste. This not only improves productivity but also enhances the quality of your products or services.

5. Delegate Tasks

Assign responsibilities to team members based on their strengths and expertise to optimize productivity. Effective delegation not only lightens your workload but also empowers your team, allowing them to take ownership of specific tasks and contribute their unique skills to the business.

6. Implement Effective Communication Channels

Establish channels for open and regular communication among team members to foster collaboration and transparency. Effective communication ensures that everyone is on the same page, reduces misunderstandings, and promotes a sense of unity within your organization.

7. Use Project Management Tools

Utilize digital tools like project management software (e.g. Asana) to track progress, assign tasks, and ensure projects are completed on time. These tools provide a centralized platform for collaboration, making it easier to manage complex projects and meet deadlines.

8. Develop a Schedule

Implement a schedule that outlines key tasks, meetings, and deadlines to maintain organization and productivity. A well-structured schedule helps you and your team stay organized, prioritize tasks, and allocate time efficiently.

9. Invest in Technology

Leverage technology solutions that automate tasks, improve productivity, and enhance customer experiences. Embracing technology can streamline various aspects of your business, from automating repetitive administrative tasks to enhancing online customer interactions.

10. Maintain a Clutter-Free Workspace

Keep your physical workspace organized and clutter-free to reduce distractions and increase focus. A tidy workspace can significantly impact your efficiency and mental clarity, allowing you to concentrate on essential tasks.

11. Implement Effective File Management Systems

Develop a logical and structured system for storing and organizing digital files and documents. Efficient file management ensures that information is readily accessible when needed, reducing time wasted searching for documents.

12. Schedule Regular Team Meetings

Schedule regular team meetings to discuss progress, address challenges, and foster collaboration and teamwork. These meetings provide a forum for team members to share updates, exchange ideas, and align their efforts toward common goals.

13. Encourage Employee Feedback

Create a culture that encourages and values employee feedback, ideas, and suggestions for continuous improvement. Employees often have valuable insights that can lead to innovative solutions and improvements in processes and products.

14. Streamline Decision-Making Processes

Develop clear decision-making processes to avoid delays and ensure efficient operations. Having established procedures for making decisions helps eliminate bottlenecks and keeps your business moving forward smoothly.

15. Implement a Customer Management System

Utilize a customer management system (CRM) to track customer interactions, manage leads, and improve customer relationships. A robust CRM system (e.g. Hubspot) can help you provide better customer service, identify opportunities for upselling or cross-selling, and enhance customer retention.

16. Regularly Review Financials

Monitor and review financial statements regularly to track performance, identify areas for improvement, and make informed financial decisions. A keen understanding of your financial health is essential for making strategic business decisions and ensuring long-term sustainability.

17. Build a Network of Reliable Vendors and Suppliers

Establishing relationships with reliable vendors and suppliers is crucial to ensure a smooth supply chain. When you have dependable partners, you can count on a steady flow of goods and services, reducing the risk of disruptions that could affect your business operations.

18. Create an Employee Handbook

Developing an employee handbook is a foundational step in maintaining consistency and clarity within your organization. This handbook should comprehensively outline company policies, procedures, and expectations, serving as a valuable reference for employees and promoting a cohesive work environment.

19. Invest in Employee Training and Development

Investing in ongoing training and development opportunities for employees is an investment in the growth and success of your business. It enhances their skills and knowledge, making them valuable assets to your organization. Continuous learning also fosters employee engagement and job satisfaction.

20. Regularly Assess and Adjust Strategies

Stay competitive by continuously assessing your business strategies and making adjustments as needed. This flexibility allows you to adapt to changing market conditions, customer preferences, and industry trends, ensuring your business remains relevant and resilient.

Achieve Organizational Excellence with doola

In the midst of the constant hustle and change that defines the business world, organization emerges as a fundamental pillar of stability and success. Throughout this journey, we’ve explored numerous strategies, from building strong vendor relationships to nurturing your employees’ growth, all of which are essential for effective business organization.

If you’re wondering how to put these strategies into action seamlessly, consider using doola’s bookkeeping services. With expertise in financial management and organizational strategies, doola can provide customized solutions to align your business with the principles we’ve discussed. 

Whether it’s streamlining your finances, optimizing your supply chain, or enhancing your employee development programs, doola can guide your business toward peak efficiency and organization.

Why is organization important for a business?

Organization is crucial for a business as it enhances efficiency, reduces errors, and helps in meeting goals, ultimately leading to improved productivity and profitability.

How can I start organizing my business if it’s currently a mess?

Begin by assessing your current processes, identifying pain points, and prioritizing areas that need improvement. Create a plan, delegate tasks, and gradually implement organizational strategies to bring order to your business.

How important is it to have a well-organized digital presence?

A well-organized digital presence is vital in today’s digital age. It enhances brand visibility, user experience, and customer trust, leading to increased online engagement and potential business growth.

How can I improve communication and collaboration within my business?

To improve communication and collaboration, establish clear communication channels, encourage open dialogue, use collaboration tools, and foster a culture of teamwork and shared goals among your employees.

Is it beneficial to create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for my business?

Yes, creating SOPs is highly beneficial. They provide consistency, streamline processes, aid in employee training, and ensure that tasks are performed efficiently and according to your business’s standards.

Jeannine Mancini

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  • Office Management

How to Organize Your Office

Last Updated: November 25, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Keith Bartolomei and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising . Keith Bartolomei is a Professional Organizer who runs his own consulting business called Zen Habitat based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Keith is a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO), and is a Certified KonMari Consultant. He has over six years of organizational experience and has been trained in the art of tidying, including being trained by author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo, and her team. He has been voted as one of the Best Home Organizers in San Francisco by Expertise in 2018 and 2019. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 88,842 times.

A well-organized office can help improve your focus and efficiency while you’re working since you won’t have so much clutter. Once you put everything in a specific place, you’ll save more time trying to find it later. Try changing the layout of your office furniture to help you feel less stressed throughout the day. Once the layout of your office is set, organizing your office supplies and papers will make your office clean and uncluttered.

Adjusting the Layout

Step 1 Position your desk so you can look out a window if you can.

  • If you’re working in an open-plan office or a cubicle, talk to your office administrator or boss to see if it’s okay to change the position of your desk.

Step 2 Keep the things you use most frequently closest to you.

  • For example, if you don’t use a printer often, keep it on the other side of the room so it’s not taking up space on your desk.
  • If there are things that you use multiple times per day, keep them on your desk, a nearby shelf, or in the top drawer of your desk.

Step 3 Get rolling furniture so you can move things out of the way easily.

  • Be sure to change the garbage bag frequently so your office stays fresh and clean.
  • Shred any documents with personal info on them before you throw them away.

Tip: If you go through a lot of paper, keep a separate bin in your office to use for recycling as well.

Step 5 Add a few personal touches to your office so you feel comfortable.

  • Limit yourself to 1-2 items on your desk or else they might take up too much space.

Storing Your Supplies

Step 1 Get rid of any supplies you don’t use.

  • If you’re in an office building, put any unused supplies back in a supply closet so other people can take them if they need to. [5] X Research source

Tip: If you have a lot of pens or supplies that you don’t use, see if you can donate them to a school so teachers can use them in classrooms without having to buy new ones.

Step 2 Store pens and small office supplies in cups so you can access them easily.

  • You can also buy desktop organizers that have various compartments if you don’t want to use multiple cups.
  • Use glass mason jars if you want your desk to look more decorative.

Step 3 Use silverware trays to sort small office supplies.

  • You can also buy small plastic bins and lay them out inside your drawers however you want.

Step 4 Label containers or bins so you know what’s in them.

  • You can buy plastic storage bins from any department store or online.

Step 5 Get cord holders to remove visual clutter underneath your desk.

  • You can buy cord holders from office supply stores or online.
  • You can also secure cables together or to the side of your desk with Velcro strips or zip ties.

Removing Paper Clutter

Step 1 Shred any documents you don’t need that have personal information.

  • If you have important documents that you can’t get rid of, such as birth certificates, social security cards, or living wills, store them in a fireproof safe to protect them from any damage.

Step 2 Sort papers into a paper tray if you need to keep them on your desk.

  • You can buy paper trays from office supply stores.
  • Paper trays also work great for holding folders or notebooks.
  • Designate a section of your desk to stay clean so you have room to spread out if you need to. [11] X Research source

Step 3 Hang a wall pocket if you want to keep papers off your desk.

  • Wall pockets can also be hung on the back of your door.

Step 4 Hang a bulletin board so you can easily glance at papers and memos.

  • Many cubicles already have walls that you can put thumbtacks in.
  • Use differently colored thumbtacks for each type of document you hang. For example, you may hang memos with blue pins and receipts with red ones.
  • You can also pin personal photos if you don’t have space for them on your desk.

Tip: If you don’t have room for a full-sized bulletin board, you can also buy corkboard strips that have a small area where you can hang papers from.

Step 5 Color-code folders so they’re easy to recognize.

  • You can also attach colored labels to the tabs of file folders if you don’t want to buy multiple colors.

Step 6 Try storing memos and schedules digitally to avoid using paper.

  • Backup any important documents on a cloud storage site or external hard drive so you don’t lose them if your computer ever crashes.
  • If you have a scanner, you can upload physical documents onto your computer so you can get rid of the paper documents.

Expert Q&A

Keith Bartolomei

  • Clean and organize your desk each day so it stays decluttered. [16] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

how to organize a small business office

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Do a Handover in an Office

  • ↑ https://youtu.be/kU5U4AZZ3pg?t=85
  • ↑ http://www.oprah.com/home/peter-walshs-ten-steps-to-home-office-organization/all
  • ↑ https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/salaries-and-skills/how-to-organize-your-desk-for-maximum-efficiency
  • ↑ Keith Bartolomei. Professional Organizer & Certified KonMari Consultant. Expert Interview. 2 January 2020.
  • ↑ https://www.homedit.com/diy-cubicle-organization/
  • ↑ https://www.cio.com/article/2404456/how-to-organize-your-office-and-boost-your-productivity.html
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/o5_GlULF06U?t=57
  • ↑ https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Common-Elements/Common-Elements/Guidelines-for-Shredding-and-Saving-Personal-Documents

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Ideas for the Home

How to Organize A Small Office: 12 Tips & Tricks

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE S EE OUR  FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY  FOR DETAILS .

Increase your productivity when you work from home. Discover how easy it is to organize a small office and create the workplace of your dreams.

Working from home can be such a mixed blessing. There’s no commute (yay!). But if you don’t have a dedicated space from which to work, it can be really distracting. Hi, this is Annie from Venture1105 and I’m here with another fantastic list of ideas that I hope inspire you.

12 Tips and Tricks to Organize a Small Office | Ideas for the Home by Kenarry

I know the struggles and the joys of working from home. I adore the flexible hours and the fact that I can work right in my own house. But without a place where I can focus, I get ridiculously distracted.

Do you know what I mean?

I was browsing Pinterest and our own Ideas for the Home and created this dreamy little list. It helped me create some actionable steps. Soon I’ll have a super-organized home office too. I hope these help you as much as they helped me.

How to Organize a small office with trendy ideas

Whether you have a nice office-decorating budget or not much of one at all, these ideas will be perfect for you. I found tips and tricks that will fit any sized office and they are all pretty cost-effective too.

#1 Make your own receipt holder

A DIY Receipt Holder for a home office

Isn’t this the cutest thing ever? Lisa at Fabulous Habits created it to hold receipts, but it can hold so many other things too. I imagine I’d use it to organize my unpaid bills or a few notebooks that are taking up space on my desk.

Find the tutorial here on Ideas for the Home by Kenarry .

#2 Organize tax paperwork

How to Organize Tax Paperwork

If there is one thing that gets out of hand super quickly in a home office, it’s all the paperwork. Thankfully, Organized 31 found a way to keep everything tidy and where it belongs. And it even looks cute too!

Find the complete instructions on Organized 31 .

#3 organize your desk drawers

Organized desk drawers

It’s way too easy to just let drawers get out of control. Personally, I tend to just stuff things in there and shut them. Out of sight, out of mind. But then when it’s time to find what I need, I’m in trouble.

Thankfully Amanda has some ideas that help you organize them and keep them organized.

Find the tutorial on Domestically Creative .

#4 Make hanging shelves

DIY hanging shelves in a home office

The next thing that will help you have an even more organized home office is more space to store things like notebooks and happy decor.

These aren’t just super cute. They are affordable and easy to install too.

Find out how on Lemon Thistle .

#5 Make a DIY Idea Journal

how to organize a small business office

Clean up all those sticky notes and random pieces of paper and put all your thoughts into one place. I just love Kelly’s idea of redecorating a simple notebook and creating a place to capture thoughts.

Follow the tutorial on Live Laugh Rowe .

#6 Turn a desk organizer into a charging station

DIY Charging station

If you have a small home office as I do, every inch of space is precious. So putting all your electronics in one spot where they can all charge at the same time is genius. I didn’t realize how easy it was, but it really is.

Find the tutorial on Pretty Handy Girl.

#7 Hide that cord clutter

10 Creative Ways to Hide Cord Clutter

Speaking of which, you can hide all the cords in your home office with these amazing hacks. Learn how to create a space that encourages creativity and peace of mind.

Read all the different ways on Clutter Keeper .

#8 Make DIY Office organizers

DIY desk organizers

How many loose paperclips and thumbtacks are scattered on the bottom of your desk drawers? Give them their own little homes with this tutorial. These are so adorable that you can display them on your bookshelf.

Find out how by reading By Dawn Nicole .

#9 Pick a neutral theme

A neutral themed home office

If you have a small space from which to work, pay close attention to the colors in your decor. A neutral theme will make your workspace feel bigger than it actually is.

Take a tour of the entire office for more ideas from A Night Owl Blog .

#10 Establish a place for papers

Low-cost solution for storing loose papers in a home office

This is another low-cost solution for storing papers in a small home office. Hang up a wire basket to collect the mail and bills as they arrive.

I have to warn you, this is a really easy way to just drop loose mail and forget about them. Go through this pile once a week to keep it looking neat.

See how Worthing Court Blog did it.

#11 Redo current furniture

Redoing an office chair

This simple refresh can make all the difference in the world! Just adding some different fabric to a simple office chair can make it look completely different.

Follow the tutorial from Our Southern Home .

#12 Don’t forget a pop of color

A pop of blue in a neutral home office

Finally, if you are going to choose a neutral color palette for a small office, add in a few pops of color. It will brighten the room and give it a focal point. This blue rug is perfect amongst all the whites and creams.

See the entire home office makeover on Duke Manor Farm .

Bonus Tip: Hang up Buckets

Kids (non) desk Organizer DIY

This is a really cute DIY paper and pens organizer that you can make out of scrap wood and some hooks. I can see this in a homework corner, at a craft station or on the wall of a home office.

Find the tutorial on Anika’s DIY Life .

To Organize a Small Office, think clever

It might seem frustrating to try and organize a small home office. But you just have to think of clever ways in which to do it. Reuse items from around the house and only keep what you need.

Soon, you’ll have an office space any boss would be proud to work in!

SHOP THE TOOLS:

Here are a few of our favorite home office tools to help get your workspace off on the right foot.

Want more ideas like this? Subscribe today to get our weekly  Ideas in Your Inbox  newsletter plus other exclusive gifts and offers — all for FREE!

  • Color Printer
  • Wall File Organizer
  • Desktop Organizer
  • Decorative Paper Tray
  • Desktop Charging Station

Love the ideas you see here on Ideas for the Home by Kenarry®? Subscribe today to get our weekly  Ideas in Your Inbox  newsletter plus other exclusive gifts and offers — all for FREE!

What’s Next? 

You may also enjoy these Home Office ideas on Ideas for the Home by Kenarry® –

  • DIY Bulletin Board Makeover
  • Low Maintenance Family Command Center
  • How to Make a Command Center With Shiplap
  • 16 Inspiring & Efficient Home Office Ideas
  • DIY Cord Organizer for Under Your Desk

If you liked these tips to organize a small office, please share it with your friends or pin it for later:

12 Easy Ways to Organize Your Small Office | Ideas for the Home by Kenarry

Annie is an SEO content writer who focuses on SEO strategy, editing and writing blog posts for Kenarry. She’s also instrumental in helping us create content and strategy for our Clutter Keeper brand and website. Annie grew up in a small town in Kansas with a passion for writing and a hunger to experience the world “beyond the rainbow.” Today, she lives in West Virginia with her husband and their blended family of 7 children. Together, they have a West Virginia food and travel blog called Venture1105.

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Tips and Tricks to Organize a Small Office | Ideas for the Home by Kenarry

how to organize a small business office

Small Business Trends

10 tips for organizing your small business this year.

organize your small business

If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more .

An organized business is a productive business. You may not consider yourself blessed with natural organizational skills, but now is the perfect time to get your business and work space organized.

Below are 10 tips to help you do that and get on track in the new year.

How to Organize Your Small Business

Purge your office.

Even if you don’t mind a little mess and dust, too much clutter can add to daily stress and chaos. Clutter exists because we think that everything is important. With the new year, toss out whatever is outdated, no longer relevant or a duplicate.

For example:

  • Recycle the broken electronics you may have stashed in a closet.
  • Delete all those old voice messages.
  • Donate anything you don’t need or use.
  • Keep the basics and anything you’ve used in the past year; all else can go.

When your workspace is clean and uncluttered, you’ll enjoy spending time at your desk and won’t waste time searching through junk or moving piles around.

Organize Your Paper Files

One study found that the average person wastes over 4 hours per week searching for papers. Go through your filing cabinets and shred anything that’s out of date or no longer relevant to your business.

Small Business Deals

If you’re worried you might one day need four-year old notes from a client project, then scan the originals and throw out the paper files to make more room.

Ditch Paper Receipts

Considering the IRS accepts electronic copies of receipts, there’s really no reason for you to continue hanging on to all those tiny paper slips from restaurants, taxis, office supply stores, etc.

Find a receipt management scanner or app for your smartphone (such as Neat Receipts) and make sure your solution lets you export data to whatever expense reporting/accounting app you use.

Use the Cloud for Storage and Sharing

If you haven’t done so already, start using cloud-based tools to share and save documents. For example, Google Drive lets you store up to 15GB for free, while giving clients or colleagues access to collaborate. Other tools include Dropbox and Box .

By housing files in the cloud, you can help clean up your personal storage, as well as save valuable time spent emailing documents back and forth when collaborating with others.

Tame Your Inbox

If your email inbox has become a catchall for every email you’ve received over the past years, it’s time to clean house. It is possible to manage your email inbox so you only see the messages you still need to deal with and everything else is neatly archived for safe keeping. Start with a clean slate by filing away everything you no longer need to respond to.

Next, tame the level of new emails you get each day by unsubscribing to newsletters or other subscriptions you no longer read. Create specific folders where non-essential emails go automatically, so they don’t interrupt your daily flow.

Get the Right Note-Taking Tool

One key to staying organized and effective as a small business owner is having the right solution for jotting down any tasks or inspirations when they strike.

Whether you prefer to use pen and paper, voice recording on your smartphone or an app like Evernote , the most important thing is that the solution fits into your lifestyle so you’ll use it consistently.

Tidy Up Your Social Media Profiles

It’s not just your email inbox and desktop that fall prey to clutter. Your social media profiles can also become clogged and out of date.

First, take stock of where your business has a social presence and drop any accounts that are no longer in use. There’s no point in having multiple Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr and Instagram profiles if you’re not actively posting and monitoring each account.

You can also use a tool like JustUnfollow to weed out any followers who are inactive or aren’t following you back.

Meet with a Tax Advisor

Don’t wait until it’s time to file your returns to start thinking about taxes. Make an appointment with a CPA or tax advisor early in the year.

If your business is still structured as a sole proprietor, now’s the time to think about protecting your personal assets and gaining other benefits through a formal business structure like an LLC or corporation .

Take Charge of Your Books

If you run a small business, you already have some kind of process in place for invoicing, processing payments, recording expenses and tracking projects. But if you haven’t updated your process lately, chances are there’s an app out there to help make these administrative tasks easier and more efficient.

Take a look at your tablet/smartphone app store for a new tool that could help you get organized and take charge of your books in the new year.  For example, there’s FreshBooks , Mint , Kashoo , and InDinero to name a few.

Tie Up Any Legal Loose Ends

This is a perfect opportunity to tie up any loose ends you’ve been putting off in prior years. For example, did you file a DBA (Doing Business As) for your business name? Did you get a Tax ID number? Are all your licenses and local permits in order? Did you make any changes to your corporation and LLC and still need to file an Articles of Amendment to record those changes with the state?

What other tips can you offer to get your business organized this year?

Organization Concept Photo via Shutterstock

CorpNet offers business formations, filings, state tax registrations, and corporate compliance services in all 50 states. Express and 24 hour rush filing services available upon request. Click here to learn more .

bringing traffic to your small business website

I agree with the utilization of cloud. It is important to keep everything minimalistic by purging everything that you don’t need. Of course, this will still depend on how you work. From here, you can determine the things that you need and don’t need.

Thanks so much for reading and commenting Aira!

Your email inbox and desktop may fall prey to clutter. Your social media profiles can also become clogged and out of date. It is time to organize and de-clutter things for any small businesses.

As a rule, I declutter my inbox everyday. I don’t put off dealing with emails until later. I decide if I need it for later use. If not, I delete it. This way, the number of emails don’t accumulate over time.

Diana – so true! Great added tip!

Can’t stress the importance of cloud enough. There was another study conducted recently that showed that the average cost of printing and couriering official documents in the US was $30 – just imagine the amount of money that could be saved if all these documents were on the cloud.

Yes – so true! Thank you for reading and commenting Anand!

Excellent reminder to what is available for small business…With using cloud storage the key. Thanks for your tips.

Thank you so much Helene! Glad you enjoyed the post!

Great tips for small businesses. Organizing your desk important especially is great to get rid of papers that just take up space and you don’t need anymore.

Thanks so much, Tamar! Appreciate the kind words.

I joined Dropbox couple of days ago and I AM IN LOVE! Why I didn’t join sooner is beyond me.

My next task is email spring cleaning. I make it a rule not to have more than 500 emails, but lately it’s been creeping up. It’s now approaching 600. Need to nip it in the bud. Want to get it back down to 500, and eventually down to half of that. Pray for me :).

Love it!!!! You can do it! 🙂

Got it down to 548! 500, here I come!

Made me realise how much ‘just in case’ emails I’m holding onto. I don’t need them – haven’t read some in months.

Now I’ve started spring cleaning, I can’t wait to continue. 🙂

Dropbox is like an answer to my prayers. I just love it. I can sync everything on it and I can access my dropbox account on my laptop, smartphone, etc. Very straightforward and easy to use. It can really help in keeping your files organized.

Been hearing about Dropbox for a while, Eds, before I finally downloaded it. What prompted that was my computer dying on me temporarily. I hadn’t backed things up either. Once it was fixed, Dropbox became my best’est friend :).

Opting for a cloud-hosted Bookkeeping solution can do multiple things to help organize your business. For example QuicBooks cloud-hosted has a document management system that can help you streamline your back office and go paperless, inherent paperless billing solutions, as well as the ability to access your books from anywhere, including a tablet or phone.

Great article! I also believe it’s best to meet with your tax adviser more than just a couple of times in the year. It can really help a business stay on track and know where they need to improve before it’s to late. Thanks for sharing!

What about privacy issues using dropbox …

“organizing projects”

i have been doing some testing now for about 10 years (actively) to find out if my business is viable and ways forward. i was looking for ways to manage projects cause i need some ideas about that. i have an idea of what i want, i’m not into the virtual storage thing either, no way!

i’ve just heard to many horror stories of people getting locked out of their accounts, or no disclaimer talking about privacy and protection against plagerism. i’m ready to get my structure up and going and i liked the colorful picture of the office trays at the beginning of this article.

when it comes to corporate-projects management, am looking for more data about that.

thanks for sharing. best,

I need help on organizing myself to keep a couple business organized. I need recommendations on what applications to use to purge calendars, schedules, information… this information was useful but very basic. Do you have any recommendations for something more in depth?

Thank you, Nellie. Fantastic list. As a small business owner I used to spend countless hours organizing my invoices and bills, but in the end I had bits of paper and receipts all over my desk. Few months ago I started to use Getmyinvices.com. This is a cloud-based document collection, storage and organization software that can save me valuable time and help to increase efficiency. All you need to do is enter account details to online portal that you use (like Google, Amazon, etc) and invoices will be collect automatically. It also sync with leading accounting software.

Thank you for your information and I will check out your site. Because of years of hard physical work and arthritis from the age of 21, I am changing directions. My sister and her husband who live on the same property as me, bought a well and pump business. There is nobody else in the entire region to call except him. He’s already grossing over 30,000 a month. My sister hates the office and would rather be out in the field. She shaves absolutely everything and QuickBooks is not yet set up. She doesn’t even know where to begin because she could barely keep up with what’s coming in. Organizing the office so that it was comfortable and very need to something I can do. Voc Rehab will even pay for QuickBook classes and some personal consultation if I need it. So right now any tip to help me get going and get started is a blessing.

—You talked about Get the Right Note-Taking Tool

Whether you prefer to use pen and paper, voice recording on your smartphone or an app like Evernote, the most important thing is that the solution fits into your lifestyle so you’ll use it consistently.

I still have not found a method that works for me! i go out and buy all this stuff thinking this is how am going to do it— Do you have sites for Get the Right Note-Taking Tool?

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Office organization ideas to improve efficiency & productivity

  • Category: Small Business Energy Savings
  • Published: November 12, 2021
  • Updated: February 2, 2022

Office Organization Ideas to Improve Efficiency & Productivity

These office organization ideas will tame clutter and create a more efficient work space. Office organization brings tangible benefits to your bottom line and to staff morale. When your work spaces are organized, you increase productivity and create flexible and resilient spaces that help during rushed times. Organizing a small office space also reduces stress and anxiety, contributing to a better at-work culture.

10 tips on how to organize your office

You don’t have to be a professional organizer to know how to organize your office. We consider these to be the best office organization tips because they are easy to put in place and it is easy to stay on track with them. Once you get organized, you stay organized.

1. Use less paper in the workplace.

Stacks of paper and towers of files can cover desks and tables, creating a chaotic-looking office space. If you want to keep your office organized, someone has to sort and file these materials away. When you go paperless at work , you eliminate both the clutter and the effort needed to deal with it, thus freeing employees for more productive tasks.

Many similar office organization ideas come from the digital transformation process, which helps you better collect, control and use information for improved communication and cost savings.

2. Take advantage of smart office technology.

Using smart assistants at work , especially in combination with smart office technologies, can help work flow through your operation better, eliminate extra steps, and provide metrics to help you measure productivity and find the bottlenecks to eliminate. Using a voice assistant can keep you from cluttering your office with reminder notes–and better yet, automate repetitive tasks that might otherwise clutter your mind.

3. Create a filing system.

Tips for how to organize your office include organizing both your physical and digital space. You’ll know where to access things and how to find what you need fast. When all employees understand the filing system, you can streamline processes and keep disorder at bay.

Create files by client, by project, or by work stream. Try color coding. Make sure to keep pace with the creation of documents by doing the necessary filing daily or weekly. And don’t keep things for the sake of keeping them. Discarding old files is as important as categorizing new ones.

4. Get rid of old or unused office equipment.

Do you need all those filing cabinets after you’ve gone paperless? You can recycle old office equipment and outdated furniture to open up space. Charities and start-ups are often eager for your cast-offs.

How to organize your office

5. Make the most of your wall space.

Don’t just look to your floor space for storage. Go vertical and up the walls with shelving to store things. Install whiteboards and cork boards for organizing processes. You can store more things per square foot when you go up.

6. Help employees organize their workstations.

You can’t do it all yourself. Employees should play a major role in work office organization. Provide them with tools and equipment they can use to organize their own spaces and work processes. Do the same with common areas. Provide office organization ideas and encourage employees to share their own office organization tips. Share advice on how to organize their offices and post notes and office etiquette signs that remind people about office organization routines.

7. Use labels to improve office organization.

Labels help you find materials and equipment when you need them–and know where to put them when you have finished using them. Don’t just label things; label their locations, as well. Labels also help people understand functions and processes at a glance. It all adds up to better work office organization.

8. Reimagine your office’s layout.

Office layout is too often done without thinking about work flow and traffic flow. Tradition, habit, or random choices too frequently dictate where things are placed in a small office. If you are wondering how to organize your office better, think about how work steps in projects flow through your space.

Think about people, your staff, contractors and service providers, as well as clients and visitors. How do they move about your facility? Organizing your office layout around these flows can increase productivity and make the best use of your space. You may discover you need new machines as you go through this process. A small business equipment loan can help finance these upgrades and additions.

9. Tidy up loose wires and chargers.

Even in our wireless world, wired devices and networks continue to multiply. They clump and tangle endlessly, creating visual chaos, and a potential fire hazard. And you might find yourself dealing with knots should you want to unplug a single device. Using cord management devices and cord labels can tame this chaos, keeping wiring both safe and simple.

10. Take steps to automate your office space.

You can reduce both clutter in spaces and clutter in processes when you automate your office . Eliminating repetitive tasks can help you improve organization, remove clutter, increase efficiency and even reduce your small business’s energy consumption .

Enjoying the benefits of work office organization

A calm, efficient, and attractive workspace takes thought and effort. Yet effective work office organization benefits your bottom line and work culture. Being more productive, flexible, and motivated is worth the ongoing effort to get and stay organized.

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William - 3/31/2022

In general, this post gives good advice. I would recommend trying to convert the office into coworking. In my opinion, this can increase productivity several times. The tips on using the walls are great, they really help to remind you of important events during the day. Nowadays, everything on the table can be transferred to a computer. This will free up more desk space.

Small business trends in 2024.

Emerging small business trends are reshaping how businesses will operate this year and beyond. Technology that was recently only available to larger corporations with big budgets is now within reach of small businesses.

Direct vs indirect cost.

Understanding the difference between a direct vs. indirect cost, and how to use this information in pricing and profit planning, is vital to your small business.

How to fix drafty windows.

Drafty windows bring a chill into your home during the winter. In the summer, they let air conditioned air escape.

Best way to heat an office.

Keeping employees warm and comfortable supports quality work, productivity and well-being. Yet, that simple goal isn’t always easy to achieve.

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5 ways to organize your business for success as an entrepreneur

By Team Asana Apr 07, 2021

how to organize a small business office

Read this article in French , German , Portuguese , Spanish , or Japanese .

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Monique Elise, a self-published author and lifestyle influencer .

When it comes to starting a business, many entrepreneurs are drawn to the freedom of earning money on their terms. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t come without its challenges. 

One of the most common struggles we face is finding an adequate work-life balance. Anyone who is an entrepreneur knows and understands the many hats you have to wear and the tasks you have to juggle each day, especially when you’re starting out. And during a time where hustle culture and working nonstop are glamorized, how can you build the business of your dreams without burning yourself out? In recognition of Stress Awareness Month, I’m excited to share the foundational pieces I’ve put in place that will hopefully help you find more balance. And it starts with getting organized. 

Organization is key

Before we dive into this topic, I have to ask… are you running your projects, or are your projects running you? I’ll admit when I first got my start back in 2017, my life was definitely the latter. So, here’s a little about me: I’m currently balancing a full-time career along with two businesses as a self-published author and lifestyle influencer . It sounds like a lot, I know. One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is, “How are you able to balance it all?” I have one word: organization. Being organized allows me to manage and balance my projects without feeling constantly overwhelmed or overworked. Being organized can also help you:

  • Save time 
  • Eliminate distractions 
  • Minimize stress and anxiety
  • Increase your productivity
  • Improve your focus

One of the best pieces of business advice I learned is to make it less about the hustle and more about the strategy. And guess what? When you’re strategizing, you’re organizing! 

How to get organized for success

1. declutter your space  .

First things first, get your workspace and tools in order. Go through your office, desk, emails, and any other space currently being used for your business. Sort, file, and store all the items and documents that you still deem necessary for your business. Take it a step further and digitize physical documents so that you can store them somewhere like Google Drive, a platform that integrates with Asana . 

how to organize a small business office

2. Document and store your workflows

If you want to be organized, things need to be clear and consistent. What are the steps necessary for your operations? List them out and create a workflow. That way when it comes time to onboard team members or delegate work, they will have something to review and look at as a reference.

3. Automate, automate, automate  

I think it is safe to say that a good number of daily tasks can be repetitive. Improve your efficiency by automating those tasks. In my opinion, this step is a game-changer, especially if you want to improve your work-life balance and get some of your time back. Asana makes this simple with their Rules feature, making it extremely easy to set these tasks up and forget about them. 

how to organize a small business office

4. Create templates 

Another great way to get organized is to create and design templates. I’d suggest doing this for just about every task you perform if you can. Start with things like your email responses, social media captions, or blogs. The ability to easily create task and project templates is another feature Asana has, which I love. Not only that, but they’ve also created standard templates that you can use and tailor to your needs.  

how to organize a small business office

5. Manage your workload with ease 

The final step in organizing your business is to invest in a work management tool . If you ask me, Asana is the best tool out there. It makes collaborating with your team and tracking your business’ performance so much easier. With over 100 integrations with platforms like Gmail , Zoom , and Adobe Creative Cloud , your business decisions are made with a lot less hassle.  

Time to get organized

With Asana, I’ve been able to organize my business with ease and you can too. In February, I documented how Asana helped me write my latest novel in 30 days. Watch here . Thanks to Asana, I always feel like I’m one step ahead instead of two steps behind.

Monique Elise is a writer (author & blogger) and working professional. She uses her platform to pen romance novels and empower women to live unapologetically while writing their own rules. Her motto is simple: women can have it all and be fabulous while doing so .

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How To Organize A Small Office

How To Organize A Small Office

Today, more and more people are learning to work from home and the immense freedom that can bring. It also means you’ll need to keep your home office organized and tidy so you can be productive and creative.

This can be a challenge if you live in a small studio apartment, tiny house, or townhouse without a ton of space. You may even not have a designated room you can use to work. Have no fear, there are many ways to organize a small office that supports productivity despite limited space.

ryans tiny house

Hi, I’m Ryan

I do most of my work from my small office in my own tiny house. Because I don’t have an office to go, I am extremely strategic about the way I organize my small office to best support my work flow and keep me from life’s distractions.

ryan mitchell simple living expert

Simple Steps To Start Organizing Your Small Office

Steps To Start Organizing Your Small Office

It is way too easy for a small office to become a cluttered disarray. From loose papers and bills to extra pencils to all of the non-office related junk that piles on your drawer and desk, things can get messy quickly.

As the stuff stacks up, it makes it difficult to keep your small office organized in a fashion that supports productivity and the creative flow. However, with a little bit of strategy, you can create the ideal workspace, even if you don’t have a lot of room to work with.

tiny house office

Step One: Sort What’s Visible In Your Small Office

Sort Whats Visible In Your Small Office

When you’re ready to start organizing your small office, begin with the items you can already see. Desks are a huge culprit for clutter in a small office.

organized small office space

Step Two: Sort What’s In Your Small Office Drawers And Cabinets

Sort Whats Hiding In Your Small Office Drawers And Cabinets

Pull out the tiny erasers, old gum packets, and other miscellaneous items hidden in your desk drawers, stuffed on shelves, or shoved inside overhead cabinets.

junk drawer clutter

Step Three: Declutter The Office Supplies You Don’t Need To Keep

Declutter The Office Supplies You Dont Need To Keep

Dive into the decluttering process once you have everything sorted. It’s important to declutter your belongings before you organize them as it makes the process way easier. You don’t need to keep all of the random supplies around that you never actually end up using.

Four Box Decluttering is my favorite decluttering method. The categories that the method has you sort things into are effective yet simple.

four box decluttering method

Step Four: Design Your Small Office To Fit Your Personal Work Style

Design Your Small Office To Fit Your Personal Work Style

No two small offices will look exactly the same. The way you organize yours depends on the type of work you do and the individual needs you have in a given day. It also depends on the type of environment you work best in.

erin mursch

“Take some time to think about how you work best and what environment allows you to function optimally.”

Maybe you are a creative writer who needs a solid writer’s desk plus a cozy writing nook in your home office. You might be an architect who needs to find a way to make room for a large drafting table in a small space. Maybe you are an at-home therapist and need a sitting area in your office where you can see clients. Your layout depends on your line of work and specific needs.

Considerations When Designing Your Small Office

  • Which furniture pieces are essential?
  • Do I need a large, flat surface to work on?
  • What furniture items will take up the most space?
  • What items can I do without?
  • Where does it make sense to place furniture?
  • What work activities are most essential?
  • How can my design accommodate essentials?
  • What aesthetics will inspire me to be productive?
  • How much natural light do I need?
  • How can my essential needs use less space?

natural light in a small office

Step Five: Categorize Items By Their Purpose in Your Work Day

Categorize Items By Their Purpose in Your Work Day

I’ve found that the best way to categorize items in any room is to sort your items by the specific purpose they serve . This is essential in a small home office where you are working hard to be as productive as possible.

In a small office, this might look like keeping all of your forms and files in an easily accessible spot, tech gear and cords together in a drawer, and your favorite pens and pencils in a cup on your desk’s surface.

You don’t want to waste time in the day searching for that assignment you’ve misplaced, the forms you need to reference for a project, or your favorite pair of scissors. Numerous studies have shown that intelligent organization supports better productivity and helps you to become a better worker.

Organization Guide For Each Room Of Your Home

home organization guide

Tips And Tricks For Organizing A Small Office

Tips And Tricks For Organizing A Small Office

When trying to organize your small office, it’s important to think about the little things you can do to be creative with the space you do have to make the most of your workday.

1 Make Use Of The Wall Space Above Your Desk

One of the best approaches to maximizing a small space is to make use of empty wall space as extra storage or another functional purpose. The wall does not just have to be used for décor.

Consider adding a shelf on the wall above your desk to house pen and pencil holders. I also love the look of floating bookshelves or hanging books directly on the wall. Some people like to use the space above their desk for hanging their calendar or extra notes, adding hooks to store extra supplies, or accentuating with inspirational sayings.

using your walls to save space

2 Create A Chalk Wall To Keep Your Day Organized

create a chalk wall to stay organized

3 Designate A Central Location For Daily Items

desk organizer

“To keep your desktop clear, you’re going to want to have a home for everything. That could mean drawers, a cart situation, and a designated place to put papers.”

4 Use A Desk Organizer As A Charging Station

To prevent this, try using a desk organizer as a central charging station. Line up all of your devices in the slats with their respective cords. This way, everything is charged and ready to go when you start your work day.

small desk charging station

5 Make A Mail Station

With junk mail, bills, letters, and ads constantly coming in, it’s easy to just let it pile up on top of your desk. Stay organized with all of your mail by creating a mail station in your small office.

Designate a separate folder or holding place for incoming mail and outgoing mail. As soon as your mail comes in or is ready to go out, file it away in your mail station. Set some time aside each week to leaf through this station to keep it from overflowing.

small office mail station

6 Labels Are Your Best Friend

Using labels effectively is one of the best ways you can stay on top of clutter in a small office. You can use labels on the visible areas in your small office, like the front of bins or drawers. However, you can also use labels for smaller containers or dividers inside of your drawers, cabinets, or shelves.

The more specific you are with your labeling system, the more likely you are to stay organized during your workday. It’s also a great way to keep everyone sharing supplies on the same page.

When you use labels, you make it clear to others where each items belongs. It’s more likely that the item will be returned to the appropriate location by friends or family members.

labeled drawers

7 Create A Life Binder

To stay organized and prevent a ton of loose forms from piling up on the desk in your small office, try creating a life binder. Your life binder will include all of your essential information in one central location: medical forms, pet records, manuals, bank information, house documents, birth certificate, and anything else you need to frequently access.

life binder to stay organized

8 Buy Office Furniture That Serves Two Purposes

A savvy way to maximize space in your small office is to invest in furniture that can serve two purposes in your work day. It’s the best way to reduce space and accomplish two tasks at once.

Maybe you invest in a desk with shelves on the side to store books and supplies. Or you could buy a desk that folds down and back up into the wall to add more space to your small office. You might also consider buying a bench or chair that includes storage underneath.

Office Furniture That Serves Two Purposes

Inspiration For Organizing A Small Office

Inspiration For Organizing A Small Office

When you don’t have a ton of space in your small office, you have to be creative with the ways you maximize space. These organization products can help you stay organized and on top of your productivity game in your small office.

“On my husband’s desk, he has a file sorter on the corner where he keeps his daily notebook and folders he is using for current projects. Underneath, there is a file drawer for our home files.”

pegboard combo kit

Stay Organized With This Pegboard

Desk Organizer

Try This Helpful Desk Organizer

interlocking desk organizer

Use These Desk Drawer Organizers

Cord Organizer

Keep Cords Straight With This Organizer

Metal Rolling Cart

Invest In This Metal Rolling Cart

Shelf Dividers

Try Out These Shelf Dividers

wall mounted file organizer

Use This Wall Mounted File Organizer

Minimalists checklist when organizing a small office.

Minimalists Checklist When Organizing A Small Office

SMALL OFFICE ORGANIZATION CHECKLIST

Sort items in your small office.

  • Make piles by purpose
  • Centralize what you use often
  • Sort important forms
  • Put away what you use least
  • Create a miscellaneous pile
  • Make a pile to declutter

Organization In A Small Office

  • Create a space for cords
  • Use your extra wall space
  • Designate a space for mail
  • Label office supply drawers
  • Give all supplies a home
  • Create a life binder

Design Your Small Office

  • Choose an office layout
  • Reorganize furniture
  • Maximize space
  • Remember desktops are not storage
  • Create your ideal work space
  • Remove non-essentials

Use Small Office Organizers

  • Use floating shelves
  • Try desk drawer dividers
  • Hang a pegboard
  • Buy a file cabinet
  • Try shelf dividers
  • Give furniture two purposes
  • What tips do you use to keep your small office organized?
  • What steps will you take today to begin maximizing your small office?

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Notice Where Things End Up

I’m assuming you’ve already had your office space for a while, that you’ve noticed that that clutter has become unmanageable, and that’s why you find yourself reading this post. Your first step before cleaning everything up and getting out from underneath the overwhelm is to notice where things ended up before you had systems in place. Notice if you happen to always put bills to your left in a messy stack before and after you pay them. Do you find that they always end up in the same heap that you have to search through?

how to organize an office notice where things end up

Why do this?

Sometimes our habits answer questions like this for us. That’s why I find it easier to organize a space after you’ve lived in it for a while, rather than getting all of the shiny tools that seem popular on organization boards on Pinterest or buying whatever it is that they have in stock at The Container Store. Pay attention to how you end up using a space before committing to how things should be placed.

Take notes–heck, even take a picture! Use your smartphone to take a shot of places in your work space that are cluttered. Your desk, your supply closet, etc.  That way you can remember what ended up where incidentally and you can create organized solutions in that space.

Make Sure Pathways aren’t Blocked

This can also be a result of having too many items. Bulkier items, like furniture, are often culprits for taking up much-needed space in your office. Ideally your office will only have the bare essentials, and a supply closet or area could have multiples of those necessities that you find yourself needing to replenish frequently. It’s sensible to have chairs for clients to sit opposite of your desk but any extra furniture may cause crowding.

Clear Your Desk

The whole thing. Go ahead. Even take your monitor down so that your desk can get a good wipe down. You’re starting fresh.

Conquer the Wire Jungle

It’s likely that you have a lot of wires around your desk, all crossed and jumbled. Especially if you have many different electronics being used in the space. Culprits would include a desktop computer with multiple monitors along with speakers, a paper shredder, a fax machine, printer, scanner, router, and a backup power source.  This is a good opportunity to take stock of the electronics you’re consistently using and to consider if there’s an updated, integrated version. It’d be ideal for your printer to have the capability to scan, fax, and copy documents in addition to traditional printing. Is it time for an upgrade?

As you return your most essential items to your desk space and plug things in, it’s in your best interest to not have a tangled wire mess on your hands. This is only partially an aesthetic choice if your desk doesn’t have a backing for the wires to hide behind. It also will make it easier for you to make adjustments to your hardware and replace or upgrade items as necessary in the future.

Here are some examples of cheap and simple computer wire management systems:

Using only binder clips, screws and washers

how to organize an office wires

Using pegboard and zip ties

how to organize an office wire management

Telephone cording to gather wires

how to organize an office

Go Through Sets of Items and Purge

Use technology to your advantage, save the paperwork for last.

how to organize an office paperwork

Should you go paperless?

Different Spaces Within Your Office

Having specific spaces designated for items and tasks can give you the ability to focus better than trying to do it all in one space. Try out some of the following specified areas for size.

Digital + Non-digital areas

Catch all area.

It’s best to have a space where you can place your incoming items so that the items won’t get strewn about. The catch all area is where you’d place your keys and wallet, incoming documents–whatever you walk in the room with. It should also be placed at the most accessible area, like right next to the door to the room if that applies. A catch-it space should have: 1) a credenza or tray for documents; 2) a shelf, hooks, or a box in which to place important items; and 3) a trashcan.

Organizers and Drawers

How to organize an office based on feng shui.

Look to the ancient Chinese Practice of feng shui if you really want to feel like your space is maximized for productivity and good vibes. The metaphysical and quasi-philosophical system seeks to harmonize people with their environment. It’s believed that the outer environment reflects that of the mind. The practice seeks to create a sense of calm in a space. Adding motivating art to your office space and plants to increase the air quality are both known to increase the feng shui of your office space.

Having your back to a window, door or overall office traffic can take away your energy according to feng shui. It’s called having a weak feng shui backing. If you’re not one to take Far East beliefs into consideration, think of this from a practical standpoint. If people are walking behind you frequently and you must turn around to see who it is, you’re spending more energy than you would glancing over the side of your computer. Tilt your office chair in such a way that you won’t have high traffic behind you to strengthen your feng shui backing. Another suggestion is to create a wall of big and lush plants behind you.

Having your office organized based on feng shui isn’t just for people who have large amounts of space and options. You can still apply feng shui to a small office with no windows or even a cubicle .

Make it Cozy

Once you have a space that’s organized and has the right energy, make it comfortable! Add personal items so that the space is inviting. But, very few! You don’t want clutter to accrue again.

Create Habits to Make these Changes Last

You shouldn’t let your effort go to waste if you’ve put the kind of work and effort that I’ve outlined above into organizing your office. But if you did, you wouldn’t be the first to backtrack all of the work you’ve done. Ensure that you won’t go back to your old, cluttered, disorganized ways by putting routines in place that will keep your space tidy and productive.

Separate Paperwork Daily

Going through paperwork isn’t a huge task when you do it frequently. You should sort through incoming mail immediately upon receiving it. If you do this, it should only take ten minutes or so. If not, it piles up quickly.

We know what the end of a workday generally looks like: a rush to get out of the door. So we understand why putting things back in their place would not be of the top priority for you. But, again, once you’ve gone through the work and learned how to organize an office, you really shouldn’t allow your old bad habits or your rush to get home get in the way of keeping up with a peaceful work life. So, each day before you leave your work space, take five or ten minutes to put everything back in its place.

Apply this to  your  small business

how to organize an office

Now, try this…

Create an office space that is warm, inviting and organized using the tips above. You’ll find it peaceful for everything to have a place and surely be motivated to find other places in your life that need a little sprucing up. If that’s the case, hop on over to our post about how to conquer your inbox  and you’ll learn the beauty of organizing your digital space as well as your physical space.

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how to organize a small business office

How to Organize Your Small Business Office/Workspace

Organized Office Space

This article focus on how to organize your small business/workspace with a Work Space Logistics (WSL) plan that considers the proper placement of:

  • all staff (according to your Job Task Analysis ),
  • furniture (according to your Paper Records Management system ), and
  • equipment (according to your Electronic Records Management system ) to ensure seamless work/information flow.

This article does not cover the effects of lighting, noise, and cognitive or physical ergonomics in maximizing work productivity.

Value of an Organized Office/Workspace By carefully planning and organizing your workspace or office, you can:

  • create clutter-free and open offices /work stations that maximize floor space and encourage productivity
  • increase communication amongst staff with similar jobs
  • use intelligent workspace design to improve perceptions of your company’s image to clients as well as staff

What it Looks Like (for Illustrative Purposes Only) Workspace is segmented and organized according to the company’s departments (as previously identified in the Job Task Analysis . Each office is measured and drawn to scale on paper. Anything that takes up physical floor space is shown on the space plan and is conceptually re-arranged until the optimal location is discovered, taking into account the actual flow of information amongst current and anticipated future employees.

Work-Space-Logistics-After

In the example sketch above, I drew a single story office suite to scale (using MS Visio) for a small technology company. Each room is devoted to a particular department of this company based on the activity that takes place within each office and the respective space that is required for staff to efficiently perform their duties.

The Logic: as a new sale is made in the Sales & Marketing department, that information is relayed to the Technology Support department who then reports project completion to the Accounting department where final billing is sent to the customer. The Accounting department informs the Sales & Marketing department once the customer pays the invoice. From there, the Sales & Marketing department processes this information for account management purposes in the hopes of generating additional sales and so the cycle continues. This explains the triangular flow of information shown on the diagram.

Similarly, the Management , Legal and Human Resources departments are situated in a linear path to allow for easy face-to-face communications. Last, the conference room houses manuals, books and periodicals that can be accessed by any staff member. The conference room allows for a single place for all staff to converge and communicate with each other. When this space is not used for meetings, it also serves as a place to quietly sit and conduct research.

11 Steps to Organize Your Office or Workspace and Create a WSL Plan

  • Take an inventory of all personnel, equipment, furniture and fixtures that require or are expected to consume physical space for your company. Record this information in the left hand column on another sheet of paper.
  • Reference your company’s organization chart to assign current and future office occupants to certain workstations/offices. Write the name(s) of the occupant(s) onto the appropriate sheet of graph paper (from step 1).
  • Reference your company’s service delivery process to determine which offices or work stations should be situated in close proximity to maximize information flow.
  • Measure all furniture, equipment and fixtures listed in the inventory (from step 2) and record their respective measurements next to each item.
  • Assign each piece of furniture, equipment and fixture to the appropriate office or work station.
  • Draw (using to-scale measurements) and spatially arrange the furniture, equipment and fixtures anticipated for each office or workstation.
  • Determine whether or not you have enough space to accommodate the assigned furniture, equipment and fixtures in each office. If not, then determine if it is possible to eliminate some furniture (i.e., file cabinets) by scanning more documents and storing them electronically. Or you can possibly swap one office’s furniture, fixture and equipment with another office’s.
  • Share a draft of the new office layout plan with your staff. Solicit their feedback as they may think of things that could affect the plan’s logistics that you have not considered. Make any necessary adjustments.
  • Schedule a non-working day to rearrange furniture, equipment, fixtures and personnel according to the layout plan. It is important to do this on an off day or when work will be slow. Make sure all equipment works before going “online” again on a regular work day. It is important to minimize as much downtime as possible.
  • Allow employees to add personal touches to their respective workstations/offices within their assigned workspace. Communicate office setup policies such as clutter reduction, cleanliness and keeping within a certain color scheme that matches your company’s logo and culture.

Why This Matters If a picture is worth a thousand words, then your office’s layout, aesthetics and functionality are worth a thousand pictures. Because people are so visual, having the “right” setup that stimulates a positive, efficient and productive work environment is vital to communicating competency to ensure that you attract the right customers, staff, potential partners and investors. And a happy, motivated employee is a productive employee!

What have you done to your office’s layout to encourage productivity and efficiency? Please share with us in the comments section below.

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how to organize a small business office

20 Small Office Organization Ideas | Office Organizing Ideas

Small Office Organization Ideas

Do you need some help organizing your small office? Well, this article will give you many different and unique solutions to your plight. I have worked in small offices and cubicles for basically my entire working life and have used and continue to use all of the items listed below.

For those of us who work in tight quarters, which certainly includes me as an employee , it’s always nice to be able to furnish our small piece of real estate with cubicle accessories or workspace accessories that make our lives a bit more organized and a bit more comfortable.

I decided to put together a list of 20 nifty small office organization ideas of items all of which I have previously featured on this website.

Have you ever asked the question How do you organize a small office ? This article might just help answer that question.

I think having these 20 in one article will be a great resource if you are looking to organize your small office more efficiently and effectively. If office organization matters in your workspace then this list is for you! And if you are working remotely, these can be utilized to enhance your home office organization as well.

Some of these are specialized cubicle accessories since they are made to attach to a cubicle wall or over a cubicle wall but most of them can be utilized in any small office. These small office organizing ideas are in no particular order.

Table of Contents

Small Office Organization Ideas for your Workspace

1. post-it desktop organizer.

Post-It Desktop Organizer

I have owned my Post-it Desktop Organizer for years now and I pretty much use it every day. I wrote about it in more detail in this article and, since I cannot live without Post-it Notes, it is the perfect unit for my desktop.

It came with Post-it Notes and Post-it Flags and it allows storage for my scissors, pens, pencils, and paper clips in this unique desktop item. 

The kicker is that it comes with a built-in tape dispenser as well! I really like the fact that in a small footprint I can store small office items that I use on a regular basis and only a few inches from my keyboard.

There are many cool modern desk accessories out there and this is one that not only looks really cool but consolidates a lot of items in one location. If you don’t have a lot of room on your desktop this item will be a great addition!

2. 6amLifeStyle Headphone Hanger

Small Office Organization Ideas

In this article I wrote about a new product called the 6AMLifeStyle Headphone Holder that I purchased for my cubicle at work and for my home office.

At work I use my Panasonic Headset but at home I use my AYL BlueTooth Headphones to attend a meeting remotely. I hang both of these items on my new headphone hanger so they are always accessible. 

This innovative product identifies a need of the office worker and provides an organized way of storing an office item that you use on a regular basis.

It’s not only practical but it’s stylish as well! Under desk storage is becoming more and more popular today in any type of office.

3. Sparco Mesh Phone Stand

Sparco Mesh Phone Stand

One day I saw this Sparco Mesh Phone Stand in a coworker’s office and I thought it was a great idea. When it comes to unique small office organization ideas, this phone stand is very versatile.

It basically uses levels to maximize small office space and you can store items below the stand and a notepad in the side compartment.

And I really love the mesh because it’s not only sturdy, it’s stylish as well. 

Many of the products here in this list, especially the shelves allow you to store items on various levels. This article goes into the Sparco Mesh Phone Stand in more detail.

4. Fellowes Cubicle Shelf

Fellowes Cubicle Shelf

I love this cubicle shelf ! I must admit that this small, relatively inexpensive item is one of the most popular on this site . I’ve had mine for over 3 years and it has remained rock solid on my cubicle wall.

Maybe I started a trend because I’ve seen at least 4 or 5 of these in cubicles right in my physical area of the company. 

This article gives many images of the shelf and shows you how to easily hang it on your wall for extra storage.

Just be aware that the maximum weight that is suggested to keep on it is 5 lbs which is fine because this is a great shelf for pictures of your family, business cards, or vacation souvenirs.

5. Perch Monitor Stand with Drawers

Mind Reader Perch Monitor Stand and Desk Organizer

A Mind Reader Perch Monitor Stand with Drawers is an item I purchased to raise my computer monitor so that it is at the proper height for my eyes.

But probably the best thing about this unit is that it allows me to consolidate a lot of the small items that I use every day in my work office and home office.

This article will give you a lot more details on this rather unique organizer as it not only raised up my monitor but provides storage for my stapler, paper clips, scissors, pens, pencils, and the myriad of items I need in my office.

Organization ideas are plenty if you look for them and this one I absolutely love!

6. Officemate Cubicle Wall Business Card Holder

Officemate Verticalmate Cubicle Wall Business Card Holder

Even in this day and age we still use business cards from time to time. People ask me for mine if they are visitors or coworkers may want one just to have my contact information.

The article I wrote about this storage space saver includes a video of me hanging this business card holder on my office cubicle wall. 

If you’ve perused this site at all, you know that I emphasize using cubicle wall accessories simply because it allows you to expand the real estate of your office and allows you to remove items from your desk top.

This cubicle wall business card holder is just a great example of this solution.

7. 2 Way Corner Organizer for Versatile Office Organization

Safco 2 Way Corner Organizer

Versatility is the best word to describe this unique office storage accessory. The article I wrote shows just how unique and versatile this corner organizer truly is. Not only can you place it on its end, you can also place it on its side and it works either way.

This is one of the most unique office shelving ideas I’ve come across. If you want to use the corner of your office to store items, you should stand it on its end. If you want to just use it as a shelf and not necessarily in the corner, you can use it on its side. It is perfect for a small desk. Just so unique!

8. VerticalMate Hanging Corner Shelf Unit

Hanging Corner Shelf Unit

Corners in any office are usually wasted space. When it comes to small offices, you have to take advantage of all of the storage space that you have available to you.

And that also means the corners. The VerticalMate Hanging Corner Shelf Unit shown here and in this article , certainly makes good use of typically wasted corner space.

It hangs from a cubicle wall so you can put it up and out of the way. It’s certainly one of the best small office organizing ideas! You could use it for a small plant as seen on the left or for anything you like.

9. Aspect Monitor Accessory Frame

Aspect Monitor Accessory Frame

I just recently wrote an article on this Aspect Monitor Accessory Frame . It is one of my most recent purchases. This is also a way to utilize space not typically utilized in a small office.

You simply mix and match the configuration that you prefer and attach the unit to the side of your flat panel monitor.

You have spots for a small white board, picture frame, Post-it Note holder, monitor mirror , business card holder, and a hidden compartment to store staples, paper clips or other small items, as well as a spot for 3 different writing utensils. You can buy either a right or a left aspect monitor accessory frame .

10. Phone Stand by Lisen

Cubicle Cell Phone Holder

If you don’t have a smart phone you are probably in the minority. I love my Samsung S9 and love to have it in clear view. I’ll probably be upgrading it shortly. This article will show you many images of my cell phone holder and how I use it on my desktop. 

It is really nice to have it in clear view and will hold many different types of cell phones as you will see in the article.

As you can see in the image on the left, it is well-built and a great addition to your desk.

This particular model will even hold a tablet if you happen to have one.

11. Fellowes Wire Paper Tray for a Wall Organization Idea

Fellowes Wire Paper Tray

One of the best ways to increase the space in your small office is to use the walls. The image here is obviously of a cubicle wall and you can see how this particular paper tray will add a lot more functionality to your cubicle.

This particular Fellowes Wire Paper Tray allows you to have 3 trays for your project folders, trade magazines, or important papers easily at your disposal. It’s perfect for wall storage.

This article shows images of it in my office cubicle. There really is no assembly other than attaching the trays. You can then load them up with what was once cluttering up the surface of your desk!

12. Officemate Magnetic Dry Erase Board

Officemate Verticalmate Magnetic Dry Erase Board

I never really thought I’d be able to have a dry erase board office cubicle but this Officemate Magnetic Dry Erase Board allowed me to easily attach it to my cubicle wall and use it to write down my ToDo list or whatever else I want to be reminded of.

This article includes a YouTube video and the dry erase marker set that I purchased with the white board. I use it every day and it keeps all of the projects that I am working on right in my line of sight.

Who needs a large office to be able to hang a dry erase board? This fits perfectly in my small office space.

13. Safco Onyx Mesh Organizer – Great for a Small Office

Safco Onyx Mesh Desk Organizer

In small spaces you need to find desk organization ideas that work for that small space.

Organizing in a small space is such a challenge but I try to find items that make sense and help me stay organized.

This Safco Onyx Mesh Desk Organizer is a great storage solution for my desk. It has a vertical section to hold project file folders and a horizontal section for other important paperwork.

I love the open look of this product as everything is clearly visible.

It’s a small footprint but fills a big role in my small office. This article also includes a video.

14. Kensington Flat Panel Monitor Cubicle Hanger

Kensington Flat Panel Monitor Cubicle Hanger(Read the Article)

A cubicle’s configuration is usually pretty typical. In my cubicle, my head faces the corner which is where my monitor and keyboard are located.

I decided a while ago to buy a Kensington Flat Panel Monitor Cubicle Hanger . I previously had my monitor on a stand but it used a lot of my desk real estate.

You don’t have to find empty desk space for your monitor with this hanger.

It also was a little lower that I wanted. My monitor hanger which is detailed in this article has been an awesome addition to my cubicle and there are multiple heights at which you can set the monitor to suit your needs.

15. Officemate Verticalmate Cork Bar

Officemate Verticalmate Cork Bar

Have you ever heard of a cork bar ? I bet you haven’t unless you follow this site. I found this really cool office item online and I think it really fulfills a need.

It holds messages and important notes that you may want to have at your disposal.

This article gives more details and includes a video. This is truly a unique cubicle accessory that I would imagine that you readers probably have never heard of before.

This is the type of office accessory that I typically search for to give a little bit of a novel, yet practical addition to my working space.

It’s certainly not one of your typical office organizing ideas and that’s what I like so much about it.

16. Fellowes Partition Additions Note Rail

Fellowes Partition Additions Note Rail

Here’s another really cool office cubicle item that I picked up to hold my long-term goals at work. I can fit 2 – 8 1/2″ X 11″ sheets of paper side by side in this Fellowes Partition Additions Note Rail which works out perfectly for my needs.

This article goes into more details about this novel cubicle accessory. 

The paper magically sticks to the note rail when you insert it. You can insert material up to 1/8″ thick so, in essence, it can handle multiple pieces of paper or other material if that suits your needs.

I never even knew that this particular item existed until I found it on Amazon. It keeps my goals or anything you want to hang from the note rail close at hand.

This just gives you an idea of one of the really cool and interesting office items you can find if you just look closely.

17. Cubicle Utility Tray – a Unique Office Organizing Idea

Cubicle Utility Tray

Cubicle accessories are all over the office marketplace. This Officemate Cubicle Utility Tray is another in a long line of accessories that attach to the fabric of a cubicle wall.

I keep small items in this bowl like binder clips and cubicle wall clips. It is one of my favorite small office organization ideas!

If you want a unique office item in your cubicle for really short money, this would be a nice addition. 

I have a coworker who used to have one of these hanging from the wall of her cubicle and she filled it up with different types of candy all year long.

It was just a way for her to offer a little sweet treat to coworkers and it also fostered communication within our department and with other departments. People would just drop by for a treat and a conversation would commence!

18. Optix 55 Eyeglass Holder Desktop Phone Stand Organizer

Optix55 Multipurpose Holder Feature 250X250

I purchased this Optix 55 Elegant Eyeglasses Holder and Phone Stand a few years ago and use it on a regular basis in my office. It has a faux leather exterior which gives is a classy look.

I use it to hold a myriad of pens and pencils that I have as well as a set of cheater eyeglasses.

It is certainly a nice addition to my office as it classes it up a bit! 🙂 I think it could add some class to a beautiful home office as well, as it does to mine.

I love keeping my home office organized. This Optix 55 Eyeglass Holder is a classy addition to your desktop.

I not only have one of these in my cubicle at work but also have one on my computer desk in my home office since I like it so much. Leather desk accessories (even though this is faux leather) give a nice touch to any office desktop.

19. Cord Management Ideas to Enhance Organization

Cord Management Ideas

Managing the multitude of wires which are found in any office, let alone a small office, is a challenge. This article includes many different solutions to managing those wires including many specialized products specifically geared toward managing wires in the office.

I use many of the products featured in this article and they can really help you stay organized and safe in a small office. I guess all I can take credit for is find them in the marketplace.

Just scroll down in the article and you’ll see many different really cool cable tidy ideas featured.

Another really cool cord management option is called a cable management sleeve which allows you to zip up your extraneous cords into a sleeve.

There are so many different options for cord management today due to these specialty products. There is always a great option out there to implement cord management!

20. Fellowes Partition Addition Letter Tray

Fellowes Letter Tray

This Fellowes Partition Addition Letter Tray is another specialized cubicle wall accessory that attaches to the fabric of the cubicle wall with stainless steel needles.

This article goes into detail with many images of it in my cubicle. It is great for storing important letters but lately I’ve been using it to hold my antiseptic wipes and compressed air.

This letter tray looks so much like the floating shelves that consumers shop for these days. It does really look like it’s floating on your cubicle wall.

Home Office Organization Upgrades will Enhance your Small Space

The above ideas are meant not only for a work office or cubicle, but can also be incorporated into a home office since more and more people are working remotely these days. Home office ideas can be limitless and an organized home office and work office may be just what you need to increase your efficiency.

Enhancing any workspace with organizational accessories and desk accessories should certainly boost not only your productivity but your morale while you are inhabiting those work spaces.

Small Office Organization Ideas can Reinvent your Workspace

Trying to set the proper tone in an office setting is important if you want to be productive and actually enjoy the space in which you work. The ideas presented above hopefully stirs something within you to take control of your working area and start to make some transformative changes for the better!

I hope that you enjoyed this compendium of 20 small office organization ideas. Click on any link in the article for more information.

The above office organizing ideas will also work well in an open office setting. If you have any questions or comments you can leave them in the comments below or use my Contact Me form. Feel free to suggest any other products that would recommend for a small office.

Bob Bessette

Bob has been blogging for over 20 years and has been an office and cubicle dweller for more than 35 years. He has been featured in numerous online publications such as US News and World Report, Bustle, and  Work Awesome ( you can read his articles here ). He created the popular office website CubicleBliss in January 2011 and rebranded it as WorkspaceBliss in April 2020.

In the office he’s been an IT Manager, Applications Engineer, Systems Analyst, Software Project leader, and Programmer Analyst in his long career. He’s a Certified Microsoft Professional and possesses a Masters of Science degree and two Bachelor of Science degrees, one of those in Informational Technology.

During his career he has worked in the office full-time, as a hybrid remote worker, and has worked from home permanently.

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How to Start a Profitable Organizing Business [11 Steps]

Nick

By Nick Cotter Updated Feb 02, 2024

organizing business image

Business Steps:

1. perform market analysis., 2. draft a organizing business plan., 3. develop a organizing brand., 4. formalize your business registration., 5. acquire necessary licenses and permits for organizing., 6. open a business bank account and secure funding as needed., 7. set pricing for organizing services., 8. acquire organizing equipment and supplies., 9. obtain business insurance for organizing, if required., 10. begin marketing your organizing services., 11. expand your organizing business..

Before launching an organizing business, it's crucial to understand the market you're entering. A thorough market analysis will help you identify potential customers, understand the competition, and carve out a niche for your services. Here's how to get started:

  • Research the demand for organizing services in your target area by looking into demographic data, such as income levels and household sizes, which can influence the need for such services.
  • Analyze competitors by examining their services, pricing, and marketing strategies. Identify any gaps in the market that you can fill with your unique selling points.
  • Understand the trends in the organizing industry, such as the growing interest in minimalism or eco-friendly organizing solutions, to align your services with what potential clients are seeking.
  • Survey potential clients to gather firsthand information on what people are looking for in an organizing service, how much they are willing to pay, and what their main challenges are.
  • Evaluate the indirect competition, such as do-it-yourself organizing resources and technology apps, to anticipate how they might affect your business model.

organizing business image

Are Organizing businesses profitable?

Yes, organizing businesses can be highly profitable depending on the services and products offered, the target market, and the pricing structure. Successful organizing businesses can generate a good return on investment and can provide a good income for the business owners.

Creating a business plan is a critical step in launching your organizing business. It will serve as a roadmap to guide you through setting up, managing, and growing your venture effectively. Here's a concise guide to help you draft an essential business plan for your organizing business:

  • Define your organizing services, target market, and unique value proposition to differentiate your business from competitors.
  • Establish your business goals and objectives, including short-term and long-term milestones.
  • Conduct market research to understand industry trends and identify potential clients' needs and preferences.
  • Outline your marketing and sales strategies, including branding, pricing, advertising, and customer acquisition tactics.
  • Develop a financial plan that includes startup costs, pricing structure, revenue streams, and projections.
  • Identify required resources, such as organizing supplies, transportation, and technology tools needed to operate efficiently.
  • Create an operational plan detailing your service delivery process, client onboarding, and quality assurance measures.
  • Assess potential risks and challenges, and devise contingency plans to address them.
  • Include an appendix with supporting documents like resumes, references, legal documents, and any other relevant materials.

How does a Organizing business make money?

Organizing businesses make money by charging clients an hourly rate or a flat fee for services. They may also offer additional services such as decluttering, home staging, or interior design for an additional fee.

Creating a strong brand for your organizing business is crucial as it communicates your identity, values, and professionalism to potential clients. A well-defined brand helps you stand out in the market, creates a memorable impression, and fosters trust. Here are some key points to consider when developing your organizing brand:

  • Define Your Brand Personality: Choose attributes that represent your business ethos – whether it's friendly, sophisticated, or eco-conscious, your brand should reflect your unique approach to organizing.
  • Select a Memorable Name and Logo: Your business name and logo are often the first things people will notice. Make sure they are catchy, easy to remember, and visually represent your brand's personality.
  • Establish Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Identify what sets you apart from competitors, such as specialized services or unique methods, and highlight this in your branding.
  • Choose a Color Scheme and Typography: Consistent use of colors and fonts can enhance brand recognition. Select a palette and typography that align with your brand's mood and message.
  • Create a Professional Website and Social Media Presence: In today's digital age, a sleek website and active social media profiles are key to reaching your audience and showcasing your brand.

How to come up with a name for your Organizing business?

When it comes to naming your organizing business, the best way to come up with an original and catchy name is to brainstorm ideas. Think about what values you want to represent and incorporate them into the name. Think about words that evoke the qualities and services you offer, and then use a thesaurus to find alternative versions of those words. Finally, check to make sure the name is available and not taken by another business.

image of ZenBusiness logo

Embarking on your journey to establish a professional organizing business involves several crucial steps, with formalizing your business registration being a pivotal milestone. This process lays the legal foundation for your company and varies depending on your location and business structure. Below are the essential steps to ensure your business is properly registered and compliant with local regulations:

  • Choose a Business Structure: Decide whether your organizing business will be a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), or Corporation. Each has different implications for taxes, liability, and ongoing compliance requirements.
  • Register Your Business Name: If you're using a name other than your own, you'll need to register a Doing Business As (DBA). Ensure the name is unique by checking with your state's business registry.
  • Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN): If your business structure requires it, apply for an EIN via the IRS website. This number is necessary for tax purposes and to open a business bank account.
  • Register with State and Local Agencies: Depending on your location, you may need to register your business with state and local agencies, securing necessary permits and licenses to operate legally.
  • Understand Tax Obligations: Familiarize yourself with the tax obligations associated with your chosen business structure, including sales tax, self-employment tax, and any other applicable state and federal taxes.

Resources to help get you started:

Explore crucial resources designed for home organizing entrepreneurs aiming for insights into market trends, operational excellence, and strategic business expansion:

  • NAPO's Annual Conference: National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals offers an annual event for networking, education, and exposure to the latest industry trends. https://www.napo.net/page/annual_conference
  • Organize 365 Podcast: A weekly podcast offering strategies for home organization, time management, and business productivity for professional organizers. https://organize365.com/podcast/
  • The Home Edit Blog: Provides innovative organizing tips and visual inspiration for making the most of any space, crucial for both DIY enthusiasts and professional organizers. https://www.thehomeedit.com/blog/
  • The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD): Offers resources and courses for understanding chronic disorganization, a valuable niche for home organizing professionals. https://www.challengingdisorganization.org/
  • Minimalism Life: A website and newsletter offering insights into minimalist living and organizing, which can provide fresh approaches for home organization services. https://minimalism.life/

Starting an organizing business requires compliance with various legal regulations to operate smoothly and legally. Here's a rundown of the essential licenses and permits you might need to acquire:

  • Business License: Obtain a general business license from your city or county clerk's office to legally conduct business in your area.
  • DBA Filing: If you're operating under a name different from your legal name, file a 'Doing Business As' (DBA) with your local government.
  • Professional Organizer License: Some regions require a specific license for professional organizers, so check with your local licensing board.
  • Home Occupation Permit: If you're running your business from home, you may need this permit to comply with zoning laws.
  • Insurance: Not a permit or license, but it's essential to have liability insurance to protect your business from potential claims.

Remember to renew these documents as required to ensure your organizing business remains in compliance with local, state, and federal laws.

What licenses and permits are needed to run a organizing business?

Licenses and permits required to run an organizing business may vary depending on the location, but in general they may include a business license, a tax ID number and any permits required by local or state regulations. Depending on the services offered, additional specific licenses and permits may be required.

Securing your financial base is essential when starting your organizing business. A dedicated business bank account will help you manage your finances effectively, while securing funding can provide the necessary capital to grow your venture. Follow these steps to ensure your business is financially prepared:

  • Research banks and credit unions to find the best business banking options. Look for low fees, good customer service, and any benefits tailored to small businesses.
  • Gather required documents to open your business bank account, such as your business license, EIN, and any incorporation paperwork.
  • Consider the need for a business credit card to help manage expenses and build your business credit profile.
  • Assess your funding requirements and explore options like business loans, lines of credit, investors, or crowdfunding platforms.
  • Prepare a solid business plan to present to potential lenders or investors, demonstrating the viability and profitability of your organizing business.
  • Keep personal and business finances separate to simplify accounting, tax preparation, and to protect your personal assets.

Setting the right price for your organizing services is crucial as it affects your marketability and profitability. It's important to consider your costs, the value you provide, and your target market's willingness to pay. Below are some key points to consider when setting your prices:

  • Research Competitor Pricing: Look at what other organizers in your area are charging to get an idea of the market rate.
  • Cost-Plus Pricing: Calculate your costs (travel, supplies, labor) and add a markup for profit. This ensures you cover expenses and earn a living.
  • Value-Based Pricing: Set prices based on the value you bring to clients, such as time saved, stress reduction, and the quality of your service.
  • Package Deals: Offer bundled services at a discount to encourage larger commitments from clients.
  • Hourly vs. Project Rates: Decide whether to charge by the hour or by the project. Hourly rates are straightforward, while project rates align with completing a task regardless of time spent.
  • Adjust for Experience: As you gain experience and a portfolio of successful projects, increase your rates to reflect your expertise.
  • Clear Communication: Be transparent about your pricing structure to avoid misunderstandings and build trust with clients.

What does it cost to start a Organizing business?

Initiating a organizing business can involve substantial financial commitment, the scale of which is significantly influenced by factors such as geographical location, market dynamics, and operational expenses, among others. Nonetheless, our extensive research and hands-on experience have revealed an estimated starting cost of approximately $3350 for launching such an business. Please note, not all of these costs may be necessary to start up your organizing business.

To ensure your organizing business operates smoothly, it’s vital to acquire the right equipment and supplies. These tools will not only help you stay organized yourself but will also enable you to offer professional services to your clients. Consider the following essentials for your organizing toolkit:

  • Label Maker: A label maker for clear, consistent labeling of files, bins, and other organizational systems.
  • Quality Storage Solutions: Invest in a variety of storage containers, shelving units, and drawer organizers to suit different clients' needs.
  • Measuring Tape: Essential for planning spaces and fitting organizing systems correctly.
  • Inventory Management Software: Helps in tracking your supplies and managing clients' inventories.
  • Office Supplies: Stock up on pens, notebooks, clipboards, and other office supplies for planning and note-taking.
  • Protective Gear: Gloves and masks for handling dusty or dirty items during decluttering sessions.
  • Cleaning Supplies: Basic cleaning products to tidy spaces as you organize.
  • Transportation: A reliable vehicle large enough to transport your supplies to and from clients' homes or offices.

List of Software, Tools and Supplies Needed to Start a Organizing Business:

  • Organizing software (e.g., time tracking, project management, task management, etc.)
  • Financial software (e.g., accounting software, invoicing software, etc.)
  • Advertising and marketing materials (e.g., business cards, flyers, postcards, etc.)
  • Business forms (e.g., contracts, order forms, etc.)
  • Office equipment (e.g., fax machine, printer, scanner, etc.)
  • Website and email hosting services
  • Office supplies (e.g., pens, paper, folders, etc.)
  • Organizing tools (e.g., labels, storage containers, shelving, etc.)

Securing the right business insurance is a critical step in safeguarding your organizing business from various risks and liabilities. It not only protects your financial stability in the event of unexpected circumstances but also adds credibility to your enterprise. Here’s how to go about obtaining business insurance:

  • Identify the types of insurance relevant to your industry, such as general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and property insurance.
  • Consult with an insurance broker or agent who specializes in small businesses to get advice tailored to your specific needs.
  • Compare quotes from multiple insurance providers to find the best coverage options at the most reasonable rates.
  • Consider the scope of your services and any potential risks to determine the appropriate level of coverage for your business.
  • Review the insurance policies periodically to ensure they remain aligned with the growth and changes in your business operations.
  • Keep all insurance documents organized and accessible, and familiarize yourself with the process for filing a claim should the need arise.

Launching your organizing business into the public eye is crucial for attracting clients and establishing your brand. A strategic marketing plan can help you reach potential customers where they are and highlight the unique benefits of your services. Here are some ways to effectively market your organizing services:

  • Develop a Strong Online Presence: Create a professional website and engage with potential clients on social media platforms. Use before-and-after photos of your work to showcase your skills.
  • Networking: Join local business groups, attend community events, and connect with related businesses such as real estate agents or home stores to build referrals.
  • Content Marketing: Write blog posts or create videos with organizing tips and tricks to demonstrate your expertise and provide value to your audience.
  • Offer Workshops or Seminars: Host local events to share your organizing knowledge and attract potential clients interested in learning more about your services.
  • User Testimonials: Collect and share testimonials from satisfied clients to build trust and credibility with prospects.
  • Paid Advertising: Consider using targeted ads on social media and search engines to reach a broader audience specifically interested in organizing services.

Taking your organizing business to the next level requires strategic planning and a clear vision for growth. Whether it's by diversifying your services, reaching new markets, or leveraging partnerships, expanding your business can create new opportunities for success. Here are some key strategies to consider:

  • Explore Niche Markets: Identify and cater to specific niches within the organizing industry, such as corporate offices, downsizing seniors, or clients with special needs.
  • Offer Additional Services: Add related services like virtual organizing, productivity coaching, or workshops to provide more value to your clients.
  • Develop a Product Line: Create and sell organizing products or starter kits that complement your services.
  • Franchise Your Concept: If your business model is successful, consider franchising to allow others to carry your brand to new locations.
  • Collaborate with Related Businesses: Partner with moving companies, interior designers, or home stagers to cross-promote services.
  • Invest in Marketing: Boost your online presence with a professional website, SEO, and social media advertising to reach a broader audience.
  • Train and Hire Staff: As demand grows, hire and train additional organizers to maintain service quality and expand your reach.

SnackNation

19 Office Organization Ideas To Reach New Productivity Heights In 2024

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What if I told you that there was something you could do today that would boost your effectiveness, reduce your daily stress, and maybe even set you up for a nice little promotion?

Our Favorite Office Organization Ideas For Increased Productivity:

Automate recurring tasks, create a diy mail station using old books, clean up your closet with diy pallet shelves, store receipts in a mason jar, do a sticky note “detox”.

I know, you’re probably thinking, “That’s absolutely crazy, Jeff. Get out of here with that bag of hot nonsense. Who gave you the keys to the SnackNation blog anyway??”

A valid question. But it turns out, there is something that checks all those boxes, and happens to be entirely within your control.

It’s organizing your work environment. And we gather the best work office organization ideas out there!

Hear me out.

An organized work environment has a lot more than just visual appeal. For starters, DIY office organization has been shown to reduce stress.

The appearance of clutter signals to your brain that there’s extra work to do. When your brain feels overwhelmed by all this (actual and perceived) work, it triggers a stress response. Organizing your workspace reduces the frequency of that stress response, and gives you a feeling of control.

Plus being organized will help you become more efficient . Searching for files in a disorganized workstation just wastes time and renders you less effective.

If your goal is to move up the ranks, there’s evidence to suggest that clutter decreases your chances of getting that next promotion, both by boosting your effectiveness and by creating a positive impression of your work habits with higher-ups.

There’s a cultural argument to be made for office organization too. How you organize your office affects how your team behaves in that space, so strategically organizing your office will help you create the company culture your team needs to hit their goals. I hope you are starting to see the power of simple office organizer ideas.

If the thought of re-working your messy desk or moving around office furniture gives you heart palpitations, fret not my messy amigo.

We’ve put together the best office organization ideas – these are tricks, tips, and hacks that we either use here at SnackNation, or that other companies are doing that we really love.

And because both types are important, we’ve included personal organization hacks and more general office organization tips.

Once you’re done reading through our list, you can get additional organization ideas from The Assist — a free weekly email for professionals full of actionable workplace culture, productivity, and leadership inspo.

The Assist has been very useful to me to get new ideas, tools, organization tips and better ways of working. On top of that, I still have fun with it 🙂 I keep it in a separate folder to read when things get too overwhelming. It’s a solace to know that there are people out there who understand me and feel the same. -Denise Q., Office Manager at Daltix

I’m guessing there are a ton of tasks that you do on a regular basis that take up a disproportionate amount of your time.

If you’re an office manager, you might be in charge of restocking office supplies , scheduling meetings, or checking in visitors. Automating these tasks essentially takes them off your plate.

Heck, it’s a big part of the reason why we designed the SnackNation membership model the way we did – to save you the time and hassle of finding and ordering great-tasting snacks every month.

Bonus: Leveraging a software like monday.com allows you to easily set up automated tasks and other recurring functions. This task management tool is a productivity kingmaker and the best introduction to automation you can get out there. They also have a great 14-day free trial that you can check out to get started.

Implement a Digital Sign-In Process

Asking visitors to sign in using a paper visitor book is a task most visitors don’t take seriously especially when the use of a communal pen is involved (eww). Not to mention the manual process of locating and notifying staff that their visitor has arrived.

A contactless sign-in system helps create the best first impression imaginable; it automates the entire process, enabling visitors to sign in using the iPad or their own smartphone and notifying staff via an instant notification of their visitor’s arrival.

SwipedOn2

The professional administrator can focus on human connection; eye contact and a warm smile complement an ultra modern contactless sign in system to create the best first impression imaginable in the office.

Companies like SwipedOn help to alleviate the pressures felt by front desk staff when a queue of visitors arrive, empowering them to welcome them verbally, while continuing with high priority tasks and letting technology take care of the sign-in process. SwipedOn even has a 14-day free trial plan to try out the ease of contactless sign in.

Hide the Wires

Out of all the work desk organization ideas this one has to be our favorite. With all of the monitors, computer towers, mice, laptops, phones, and chargers that adorn the typical office desk, the number of wires in front of us can quickly get out of hand.

Because reducing visual clutter helps reduce stress, hiding all these messy wires is essential. If your desk doesn’t have a slot to hide them, trying using binder clips to group them together and get them out of sight.

diy-home-office-organization-ideas-declutter-cables-binder-clips-desk

(Via Lifehack )

On a side note, you’ll also save yourself the trouble of always fishing for that one cable that always seems to fall behind your desk into the land of no return.

We use the Simple Cord Cable Concealer On-Wall Cord Cover Raceway Kit at SnackNation! 

Since your desk is going to be the place that you need to maximize productivity, it can be a lifesaver to implement useful tools that have the power to keep every single desk in the office organized, on-brand, and looking polished as well as orderly.

At SnackNation, we love the organization tools at Swag.com that make hiding wires and reducing clutter a breeze with branded desk trays and desk organizers .

Once your desk is perfected and those messy wires are safely stowed away, you’ll be itching to get to work and seize the day!

Label Everything

If you want to stay organized, your label maker should be your best friend.

Simple things like labeling cabinets will not only save you time and frustration but will limit the number of interruptions you get during the day.

People will stop asking you where the printer paper is five million times a day if you slap a “PRINTER PAPER” label on the right cabinet or drawer. (Ok, a few co-workers probably still will.)

Don’t stop at your desk, dive deep into your computer files to take your productivity to the next level.  Sort your files by project and archive “final” versus “draft” versions of deliverables.

For an extra adventure, get folder happy with your inbox.  Take control with one of these 9 ways to sort your emails .

We use the  Fellowes Partition Additions, Clip, Bulk Pack of 20 at SnackNation! 

DIY Cord Labels

Have you ever been working on an important project when all of a sudden your monitor goes black?

At first, you panic, you think that you might have broken your computer and lost your work forever.  Then you remember when Jim down the aisle called IT because his computer was “broken,” and as it turned out, it was just unplugged.

With a glimmer of hope for that loose plug, you crawl under your desk to discover what could be described best as a cable jungle.

Avoid this time suck by making DIY labels for the important cords in your life.

One simple hack, use colored tape to distinguish your monitor from your neighbor’s space heater.

(Via Simply Spaced)

(Via Simply Spaced )

Another option, buy your own colorful power strip . With your own real estate, there will be no confusion when your computer charger mysteriously goes missing because someone mistook it for their own.

We use the  Dotz Cord ID Pro Cord and Cable Identification System at SnackNation! 

Go Paperless

Here’s an easy way to get rid of all the random scraps of paper, messy notebooks, or errant post-it notes that litter so many of our desks – go paperless!

Apps like Evernote, Google Keep, Bear, and a ton of others make cloud-based note-taking super easy.

Evernote

I personally switched to Evernote about two years ago, and I can’t believe I was using a pen and paper for so long. Evernote enables me to take notes faster, sync my notes across devices, access them from home , and (the best part IMO) search my notes to find the exact info I need.

Tools like Dropbox and Box are essential when it comes to reducing paper clutter and file cabinet disasters.  Saving and sharing files in the cloud will help your office reduce paper waste and, fortunately for you, those persistent printer jams.

Use A “Daily Docket” Style Notepad

If paperless-ness makes you uncomfortable, try switching from a boring old to-do list to a “daily docket” style pad.

The super-simple, intuitive layout of the daily docket notepad helps you visualize your entire day in one fell swoop, while also separating your errands, tasks, meetings, and notes.

We recommend InkWell Press’ docket style pad .

inkwell-docket-style-pad

If you are more of a DIYer, you can make your own docket-style notebook with just 4 supplies. Find free printable covers here .

For a fun and creative office gift , you can even make custom pages for your coworkers.  Be sure to include the things they always manage to forget, like the WiFi password.

Use Wall Space to Your Advantage

If you sit near a wall or tall cubicle, don’t let that space go to waste. Use it to free up precious real estate on your desk by storing mail, office supplies, or electronics on the wall.

This pegboard solution looks cool and keeps your office supplies right at your fingertips.

peg-board

Honeycomb shelves are fashionable and functional, and pretty easy to make yourself. Here’s a tutorial from Boxy Colonial – or these handmade Honeycomb shelves from Farmhouse .

We also loved this hanging storage solution that uses upcycled disinfected wipes containers. Here’s a set of instructions. (Via Make It Love It .)

If you don’t have space to create your own hanging office supply board, get together with your team and put together a shared collection.  Not only will making the board help you get to know each other better, but you can also bond over your favorite office supplies.

This super sweet idea comes from Beyond the Picket Fence. A few old hardcover books, some paint, and decorative fabric are all it takes to create a mail solution that looks amazing and keeps you sane.

diy-mail-station-2

(Via Beyond the Picket Fence )

Without the mail cluttering your desk, you will take your productivity to the next level.  Inspire your team members to take charge of their mail with your new folders and impress your boss with this simple organization hack. And it’s one of those fun desk organizer ideas you can do right away.

The best way to free up closet space is to go vertical. Shelving enables you to efficiently store snacks, office supplies, or unused technology. But don’t pay top dollar. You can make your own rustic-yet-functional shelving units using used packing pallets.

diy pallet shelf

(Via Ana White .)

Or fashion killer shelves out of old pipes and wood for an industrial look. Here’s a tutorial from Cherished Bliss .

Use an Old Box as a Monitor Stand

If your office is anything like ours, you receive a constant stream of packages.  The leftover boxes can take up a lot of space and be hard to get rid of.

The next time you find a cool looking box, one that isn’t too beat up, you can use it as a quick and easy monitor stand.  Not only will it take the strain off of your neck, it will also serve as a cool shelf for your favorite desk supplies.

how to organize a small business office

Use On-Demand Self Storage

Sometimes you have a ton of stuff that you aren’t using just taking up space, but hauling out all those old desks and that office hammock (seemed like a cool idea at the time) just isn’t feasible. Plus you have no place to put them!

Uber-convenient on-demand self-storage solutions like Clutter take care of all that for you. They pick up your stuff, store it for you offsite, and then bring it back whenever you need it.

Create a designated work area

One of the best ways to organize your office is by creating a designated work area. This will help you stay focused on work and avoid distractions.

Organize Your Inbox

how to organize a small business office

Complicated labeling systems really aren’t the way to go – they usually just create more work for you. If you use Gmail, switch your inbox to Priority mode , unsubscribe instead of deleting newsletter emails that aren’t providing any value anymore, and create filters for certain types of emails (like ones with tons of recipients).

A Mailchimp employee also shared a fantastic email processing system that limits time spent in your inbox. Instead of spending tons of time labeling everything, this person marks any email requiring action unread – everything else gets archived.

Check out the full system here .

And of course, you can also reduce email traffic by using Slack for internal communications.

SN_SwagBox_banner

Use a Ticketing System to Manage Inbound Requests

This is a great tip for Office Managers, IT pros, Administrative Assistants, or anyone else whose job requires them to field a ton of inbound requests.

ZenDesk is a great IT help desk ticketing solution that not only helps you track all these incoming requests, but also helps you respond to them in a way that doesn’t interrupt your workflow or completely hijack your daily schedule .

If a paid system like ZenDesk isn’t an option, here’s a DIY solution from Office Manager Megan.

“I have [an Excel spreadsheet] that I keep on a network that I update. Whenever somebody sends me an email asking me for something to be done, I’ll put it on that list. I have it set up as the tasks I have. At the top I have tasks that are on hold. I have recurring tasks, what the status of them are, what the task is, what the status of them are, when the due dates are, who’s responsible, who it needs to be submitted to, and then I have tasks that are in process. Everything is all dated. Every week I make a new sheet so I can go back through old ones. It’s just a matter of being diligent and updating it. What I also do is I’ll print out the email request with an email and I’ll keep that pile of paper of things to do. Then I’ll compare it to my list to make sure it’s on there and it’s done.”

Download Megan’s template here (thanks, Megan!).

Make Drawer Dividers with Cereal Boxes

Create the perfect place for scissors and tape by shortening cereal boxes and covering them in felt or contact paper. This easy-to-make project looks great and will keep the clutter away from your desk.

Tame Desk Clutter with an Undershelf Basket

Feel like you are always running out of desk space? Free up some of that valuable square footage with a simple and inexpensive under shelf basket .

Tuck your desk necessities away, warm up your typing fingers, and stretch out those elbows.  With this quick solution, you can get down to work without worrying about the embarrassment of knocking something on the floor.

It doesn’t get easier than this!

Build an Office Library

how to organize a small business office

Organize them in a centrally located office library to encourage people to actually crack them open.

All it takes is a few shelves, your trusty label maker (aka best friend), and you’re in business. Organize by topic, then alphabetical by author.

Put Your Desks on Wheels

Here’s a cool trick from the startup world. Install casters on the bottom of your desks to make it easy to reorg your office in minutes .

What’s the advantage? The ability to reconfigure gives your team (or company) a degree of flexibility that encourages collaboration and inspires creativity.

How many times have you had to return something, process an expense, or register for a warranty – if only you could find the receipt!

Paper receipts are still a reality for a lot of businesses. Keep them safe and secure but putting them in a mason jar.

If that’s a little too analog, go digital. Use expense tracking apps like Concur and never worry about losing a receipt again. Or you can start to cut down on receipts using a virtual credit card  to document online spending.

Use This Magnetic to Avoid Dishes in the Sink

How frustrating is it when dishes pile up in the office sink … despite the presence of an office dishwasher! Unsightly dishes in the sink gives visitors the impression that your business just IS NOT SERIOUS.

Luckily there’s an easy fix. Most often, the dish pileup happens because people don’t realize that the dishwasher is either dirty and hasn’t been run yet, or clean and needs to be emptied. This magnetic sign from Dish Nanny tells your office what action to take.

On a side note, WHERE DO ALL THE FORKS GO??? Seriously, are people taking them home? Are they throwing them away by accident? Is there a black market for silverware that I don’t know about? Are there cutlery gnomes that steal forks from unsuspecting offices?

WHERE. ARE. THE. FORKS. PEOPLE.

office-organization-declutter

Organizing stuff takes time. Start any organizing initiative by first decluttering everything you plan to organize. This keeps you from wasting time on organizing things you’re not going to use. It also makes sure your final organization scheme will be as useful as possible since you will only organize the things you really do need.

You might be thinking, “Of course I need everything I plan to organize!” Even if this is true, it still doesn’t hurt to examine everything just to be safe. We all have the impulse to keep things, sometimes everything. After all, we never know when we might use them again. Take a second to make sure you are happy with your office design and then take the necessary steps to organize. 

Pay particular attention to duplicate items and items with duplicate functions. For example, do you have 3 pens, 2 traditional pencils, 2 mechanical pencils, and maybe a colorful gel pen? Select just 1 or 2 writing implements and donate the rest. 

Throwing away useful items is wasteful. Be sure to donate or swap functional items that you no longer need in your workspace. Consider setting up an “office swap” in the corner of the kitchen or the break room. Everyone can display discards they want to put up for grabs. People who truly need them can snatch them up.

You might also work with your co-workers to organize a monthly GoodWill donation run. Specify a location for the “dump” pile and have one volunteer deliver the donation box at the end of every month.

If you truly can’t part with some of your items, then consider putting them in a box and storing that box in a totally out of the way location. This will keep the items from cluttering your work space, and it will stop you from feeling the squirminess of parting with things you don’t want to let go of. 

Create a “landing pad”

Designate a section of your desk as your “landing pad.” Mark the area using a decorative mat, cutting board, or tray. You could even create a border using some decorative washi or duck tape.

Take a look at your “landing pad.” From now on, this is the one and only place on your whole desk that you’re allowed to put things on. Everything else stays in a drawer or a cabinet. The rest of your desk stays pristine, unmarred by even a pencil or your cell phone.

When the landing pad is full, it’s time to put things back where they belong before you put out any more items.

This might seem extreme, but often clutter goes from unnoticeable to out of hand when we get out of the habit of putting things away. Keeping something on your desk you only use once a week or even once a day will not “speed up your workflow.” It will clutter your desk.

office-organization-ideas-sticky-notes

We love sticky notes as much as everyone else, but sometimes, we find ourselves abusing them. The feeling of grabbing a sticky note and jotting something down feels so natural that it’s easy to understand why we fall victim to “sticky note clutter,” the chaos you feel when you have 12 sticky notes stuck to a monitor instead of one simple full-page list.

Take a break from sticky notes to end the cycle of clutter. Return to stickies when you’re ready to commit to using only a few every day. Your workspace will feel way less cluttered, and you’ll appreciate sticky notes more than ever.

Use transparent bins

Sometimes we subconsciously avoid putting things away because we’re afraid we might forget where we put them. (Remember that time you couldn’t find some important meeting notes because you put your blue notebook away and couldn’t find it?)

Organize items in transparent bins to reduce clutter while keeping things as visually accessible as they would be if they were neatly displayed atop your desk.

Are you a master of office organization tips and tricks? What’s missing from our list? Let us know in the comments! (But keep it organized.)

Want to hang on to these ideas? Download this list as a PDF . Easily save it on your computer for quick reference or print it and share it with your office.

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how to organize a small business office

SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome. We provide a monthly, curated selection of healthy snacks from the hottest, most innovative natural food brands in the industry, giving our members a hassle-free experience and delivering joy to their offices.

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25 Comments

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These are great ideas and I will be checking out the apps to help out co-workers.

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Lots of hints. Giggling over the cereal box one as it would be cute

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This is a treasure trove of ideas and solutions to organize and reduce or eliminate clutter. Super useful and comprehensive. Thanks.

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I love this! Thanks!

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Great tips loving 🙂

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Thanks! Glad you found this valuable.

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Thanks for the tips. I would add OneNote as an organizational resource! I love it.

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Great ideas for best office setup Thanks for sharing

' src=

VERY HELPFUL! THANKS SO MUCH!

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Happy to help, Lezaan!

' src=

WOW!! This is great. I think there are many things here that I love the most – especially DIY Cord Labels and Self Storage ideas. The Self storage unit is a great way to make the most of the space free. This post is definitely going to help for those who are facing storage space problem in their office.

So glad you found this post helpful, Jilli!

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I love your organization skills and tips .Your ideas are amazing and I love your article, so cute and functional.

Thanks, Daren!

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Great blog. It’s very informative topic. Thanks!

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Ah! I must say you have a knack for organising information. Most people do not understand these nuances of office organisation that eventually leaves them in a mess wasting much of their valuable time. Thank you for sharing all these images to give more clarity into content shared.

Thanks, Joseph!

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That’s a good idea to use cereal boxes to sort the file that you need to keep. That would definitely make things easier to find. I would want to have something a bit more professional looking, so I’ll have to take a look for something a bit nicer than cereal boxes.

Hi Tyler! A great DIY option is to apply a paper covering to your cereal boxes.

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Where can I find the daily docket that you have pictured? I love the layout and all the ones that I’ve seen on the link is not like the one pictured! Please help me out!

' src=

I find it much easier to work with a clean desk. There are fewer distractions and the office cleaners are able to wipe off my desk making it a sanitary space. Thanks For your share.

' src=

Wow…there are so many great tips here. I especially love the life hack with the binder clips for cables. Thanks so much!

' src=

Having proper organisation in the office is vitally important for workplace productivity. This blog offers a lot of great ideas to assist with organisation in the workplace.

' src=

I know where all the forks are. In the drain below the sink. How do I know this? I was at the dentist office when they had a plumber into check on the slow draining sink in the office. I watched the plumber pull a couple handfuls of dental instruments out of the pipe. (Office was kinda open concept with strategically placed walls) That was almost 20 years ago. Still go to that dentist, he is awesome,

' src=

Excellent ideas shared to make any office look clean, at the same time well organized. For these, proper ideas need to be in the place where weekly maintenance & clean up needs to be done randomly.

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10 Home Office Hacks to Get You Organized Now

Working from home can be super comfortable and productive — unless your home office is a disaster. Follow these 10 simple tips to help declutter your space.

Related To:

Purge paper.

how to organize a small business office

Pile of Papers

It's easy to let papers pile up in your home office. Get control of the clutter before it takes over your space. Go through every piece of paper in your office by using the System of Three: shred/toss it, file it or take action from it. File your important paperwork in a color-coded filing system.

COLOR-CODE YOUR FILING SYSTEM

Create a Mail Organizer

Create a Mail Organizer with File Folders

Everything needs a home, even stacks of mail — get things under control by creating a mail organizer. Make labeled folders for incoming and outgoing mail, mail to file, bills and for every family member. A folder organizer or a box can serve as a handy holding place for your newly created mail folders.

A well-organized filing system is a good indication of a functional office space. To organize, separate the filing system into five color-coded categories, and label each hanging folder according to your needs.

GREEN: Financial RED: Medical ORANGE: Personal YELLOW: Insurance BLUE: House

CREATE A MAIL STATION

Office bins are on a slat wall for organization.

Bins Used to Sort Mail

Simple office bins are attached to a slat wall that can be used to sort incoming and outgoing mail.

In order to maintain control of the paper coming into the home office, create a mail station. Make a folder for incoming and outgoing mail, mail to file, bills and a folder for every family member. As soon as the mail comes in, file it in the mail station. Then once a week, take a few minutes and go through each folder.

how to organize a small business office

10 Stylish Mail Organizers That'll Help You Avoid the Annoying Junk Mail Pileup

Create a printing station.

Hiding the Printer in Fauxdenza

DIY Fauxdenza

Build a fauxdenza for the home office to conceal the hefty printer, miscellaneous chargers and immense amount of paperwork. Get the step-by-step instructions here >>

Photo by: DIY Playbook

DIY Playbook

Designate a space in your office to house the printer and printer supplies. If you have a wireless printer, it doesn't need to go on your desk. By placing it in a cabinet or other area in your office, you will gain much more space on your desk for other items.

STORE IN CONTAINERS

Drawer Divider

Drawer Divider in Organized Home Office

Drawers can quickly become a disorganized mess. Separate small items like paper clips and pushpins with a drawer divider. When each item has its own place, keeping things organized is easy!

Photo by: Melissa George, Polished Habitat

Melissa George, Polished Habitat

Store all your office supplies in containers, drawers, baskets and bins. Putting all these supplies out of sight will give your office a decluttered look.

USE A LABEL MAKER

Blue and Orange Labeled Filing Folders

Organized Labeled File Folders

Depending on the amount of paper clutter, you could use a small and simple 12-tabbed file folder or an entire office-style filing cabinet. Start by clearing off the kitchen table and creating stacks of the same type of paper or mail: car insurance, health insurance, utilities, taxes, credit cards, bank statements, receipts, etc. It may be easier to combine certain areas and create broader subjects like bills, insurance and personal. The important thing is to have a go-to file for each subject for reference. Anything that requires a response in the near future should be placed in an "action stack" that will eventually be filed away once that particular bill is paid or form is filled out. For any papers you don't find file-worthy, create a "shred and recycle" stack.

Invest in a good label maker and label your files, drawers and boxes for an easy way to organize your office. Whenever someone needs something, you will know exactly where it is.

how to organize a small business office

10 Creative Ways to Use a Label Maker Around the House 10 Photos

Office Supplies in a Container.

Store in Containers

Organize your office into categories, placing like items together. By doing this, your office will become more functional. For example, look in your mail drawer next time you need stamps.

COMMON CATEGORIES:

Stickies (sticky notes, tabs, stickers, etc.) Tools (straight cutter, staple, staple remover, hole puncher) Budget (checkbook, calculator, bill calendar) Writing Tools (markers, pens, pencils) Mail (envelopes, stamps, address labels) Labeling (labeler and label tape)

ORGANIZE YOUR BOOKS

Books Color-Coded on a Shelf.

Color-Coded Books

You can organize books by genre, color or size depending on your preference. Organizing by color will add a stunning design element while giving your space a clutter-free, organized look.

CREATE LIFE BINDERS

Don’t forget to also include any accessories that will make your notebook that much more flexible and functional. Think folders for brochures and important docs, pouches for pencils and pads.

ADD FUNCTIONALITY WITH FOLDERS

Don’t forget to also include any accessories that will make your notebook that much more flexible and functional. Think folders for brochures and important docs, pouches for pencils and pads.

Photo by: Flynnside Out Productions

Flynnside Out Productions

Organize your most important papers in binders for easy grab-and-go in case of an emergency. For example, if there was a medical emergency, you could grab your medical binder and have all the information you need immediately. Here are some top binder categories:

Medical: This binder is where your family's medical records are kept. If you ever need to go to a new doctor or if you have a complex medical diagnosis, everything is organized in one spot.

Pet: This binder should contain your pets' medical records, shot records and medications.

Auto: This binder is designated for all car repairs, maintenance records and car insurance papers.

Manuals: Store your manuals in one place in this binder. You can even separate the binder by sub-categories, such as appliances, electronics, garden and house.

House: Store all house-related information here, such as maintenance, pest control, security system and contact numbers for handymen.

Personal: This binder can store anything else that doesn't fit in another category or file.

Don’t forget to also include any accessories that will make your notebook that much more flexible and functional. Think folders for brochures and important docs, pouches for pencils and pads.

How to Create an Organized Family Management Binder 13 Photos

Utilize wall space.

DIY Home Office Desk with Wall Organizer System

DIY Home Office Desk with Wall Organizer System and Vintage Style Books

The DIY dining table makeover now gives stylist and painter Jo Torrijos a functional and chic desk.

Photo by: Jo Torrijos

Jo Torrijos

This is often the one step people miss when organizing their office. Use your wall space to hang filing systems, calendars, whiteboards, shelving and more. There is so much more space available when you go vertical.

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How To Organize A Small Business Home Office

November 8, 2020 By Ben Leave a Comment

There aren’t many things worse than being stressed about the amount of work you have to do and then walking into a messy, disorganized office. 

It’s stressful and you just want to run away.

Time for you to be proactive in the organization of your office and your productivity will burst into action.

Make your work much more impressive and efficient with a clean office and especially a tidy cherry wood desk , although, there are a few species of wood that work great for home office desks .

If you make sure you organize your office a little bit everyday then it won’t feel like a massive task and it’s actually a better way to use your time over the long run.

Double level desk with monitor and laptop

How To Arrange An Office

Here are a few things you can do to keep any office in the optimum condition.

The size and orientation of the office don’t make any difference.

Work zones function especially well if you have large desks with lots of filing but, ultimately, anyone can do this.

It’s more simple than it sounds, however, you’re likely to apply different zones if you have a writing desk vs a computer desk , for example.

Create areas of your office that house and look after specific types of documents, stationary or other equipment like laptops or cables.

If you already know where they need to be kept, it reduces the amount of time your brain needs to think about it.

You get lazy when you have to make a decision, so, remove the need to make one.

Store The Important Things Close By

This ties in with the above point, make the storage location of anything that you use regularly as close to your desk as you can so you can quickly discard them when you’re finished.

Too far away and you make things harder for yourself.

It’s time to streamline.

How To Organize A Small Business Office

Those with small offices need to take extra care with their organization or it’s going to get on top of you quickly.

Here are some tips that you can use to excel.

Desk setup

Furniture Placement For Small Offices

You need to make getting to your desk as easy as possible.

Remove any furniture that’s getting in your way or acts as an obstacle, these could be armchairs that are supposed to be used for consulting clients but actually just there for you to show off with.

There are ways you can position your desk according to feng shui, this is especially important for large and unusually shaped desks.

Place your L-shape desk the correct way after reading about L-shape desk feng shui …

If you’re not using some of the drawers or cupboards in your office, is there anything that you can replace them with that would help the overall layout?

If you create a lot of waste, another bin may help.

Shelving For Your Small Office

When the space horizontally is limited, it’s time to go up.

Install some shelving in your small office to increase the storage surface area but match for the shelves match the rest of the office.

For example:

  • Oak wood desks will go well with walnut shelves
  • Walnut wood desks will go well with maple shelves

Shelving is relatively cheap. 

What can you put on your shelves?

You can store as many files as your heart desires and there’s always the possibility of in-trays for the work you need to start or have completed.

How To Organize Your Desk At Home

Onto the desk itself, the area that you’re going to be spending most of your time when in the office.

What can you do to ensure its cleanliness, arrangement and workspace organization?

  • Make sure you have the option to file all of you papers so they don’t just lay across the work surface
  • Limit the available stationary to only the items that you use everyday or are currently using
  • Always have an area the size of a piece of paper that’s free of clutter so you can always write on or sign documents
  • If you have a phone, keep it on the side that you find dominant for answering it
  • Keep the computer monitor or laptop at arms length from you to avoid straining

Mechanical keyboard

How To Organize Office Supplies Without A Desk

Not everyone has the space or the spare cash to buy a desk and, instead, use their lap on the sofa or the dining room table.

Is that you?

Don’t worry, there are still some tricks you can use to make the most of what’s available to you.

  • Similarly to small offices in general, get rid of all clutter. You simply don’t have the workspace to accommodate it
  • If you can buy filing cabinets then add all papers to them
  • Keep you stationary in repurposed jam jars
  • There are portable work caddies that can house what you need
  • Be strict with keeping the area tidy, not only for you but also your loved ones
  • We all have a shelf or cupboard throughout the house that’s barely got anything in it… time for the invoices to go in there!
  • Portable shelving that hangs on doors is also an option
  • Invest in a scanner and turn as much paperwork into a digital copy as you can. You’ll save some trees too, so, it’s a win-win

To Conclude

Keeping your office tidy is going to allow your work to excel as your productivity increases.

Arranging your office into work zones will keep related equipment and files together so that you don’t have to make decisions on where they should go at the end of the day.

The same goes for keeping the most important and frequently used stuff closest to where you do your handiwork. 

Thoughtful furniture placement is essential in a small office.

Create an efficient route to your desk and remove any furniture that’s there for show, be honest with yourself here!

Don’t forget, you can go up too.

Shelves are underutilized in offices but they’ll increase the surface area needed to store everything in a tidy manner.

There are items like jam jars you can use to store stationary if you don’t have a dedicated workspace or remember that we all have drawers and cupboards that barely have anything in them.

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How to Start an Organizing Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

Updated:   February 13, 2024

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The home organizing market is booming. After reaching $11.4 billion in 2021 , organizing is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4% from 2021 to 2025. It’s a good time for newcomers to join the professional organizing business.

how to organize a small business office

With the right business plan and organizational skills, aspiring entrepreneurs can capitalize on this demand and build a successful business. From decluttering homes to streamlining offices, professional organizers help clients take control of their spaces and lives.

This guide will walk you through how to start a organizing business. Topics include market research, registering an EIN, forming a business entity, competitive analysis, marketing, and more. Here’s everything you need to know about starting your own professional organizing business.

1. Conduct Organizing Market Research

To start a professional organizing career you need to know about the professional organizing industry. Market research offers insight into your target market, service trends, local market saturation, and more.

how to organize a small business office

Some details you’ll learn as you sort through research on organizing and storage solutions include:

  • The target market for professional organizers is vast and varied.
  • The most typical clients are middle-to-upper-income households overwhelmed by clutter and disorganization.
  • 80% of US households feel cluttered, indicating massive market potential.
  • Key demographics include parents with busy kids, young professionals in small city apartments, seniors downsizing, and small business owners.
  • With hectic modern lifestyles, people increasingly value time over organizing themselves.
  • Hiring a professional organizer saves clients time and stress.
  • As more baby boomers near retirement, demand for downsizing and estate organization will also rise.
  • Competitive advantage can come from specialization.
  • Some organizers focus on specific client groups like hoarders, seniors, or families with ADHD. Others specialize in spaces like garages, offices, closets, and kitchens.
  • Virtual organizing is a new trend that provides added convenience.
  • Pricing is an important consideration. The typical hourly rate is $50-150 , with higher prices in major metro areas.
  • Packages and memberships that offer ongoing maintenance are also popular. To build a client base, new organizers may consider discounted intro offers.
  • Specializing in an underserved niche can also enable higher rates.
  • A key driver of growth is increased consumer awareness of the benefits of an organized space and lifestyle.
  • Social media posts and home-organizing TV shows have made organizing cool and accessible. As more people use professional organizers, word-of-mouth also builds momentum.

Specialization allows organizers to dominate a niche. Low startup costs and the remote/virtual organizing models also minimize risk for new solo entrepreneurs. For organized, empathetic individuals, now is the prime time to capitalize on demand and launch a profitable organizing business.

2. Analyze the Competition

Thorough competitive analysis is crucial when launching an organizing business. Assess both local brick-and-mortar competitors and larger national brands with an online presence.

how to organize a small business office

Some ways to better analyze other professional organizing businesses include:

  • Visit their websites and social media pages to evaluate services, pricing, and branding.
  • Note specialties, target client demographics, and any unique offerings.
  • Drive by physical office locations if applicable.
  • Research national organizing franchises and chains like The Container Store and Neat Method .
  • Browse their websites and visit local franchises if possible.
  • Evaluate their service menus and fee structures.
  • Take note of any services lacking in your area that present an opportunity. Review their brand messaging and marketing content.
  • Analyze the online presence and visibility of local and national competitors.
  • Search key organizing terms on Google to see whose website, blog posts, and local business listings rank highly.
  • Check how many and what kinds of reviews they have on sites like Yelp.
  • Visit their Instagram and Facebook pages to assess follower count and engagement.

A detailed understanding of established competitors will inform your organizing business strategy. You can decide about your niche, pricing, services, and marketing with your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses.

3. Costs to Start an Organizing Business

Starting an organizing business has relatively low barriers to entry compared to other service industries. With careful planning and budgeting, the initial investments can be minimal. Here is an overview of typical start-up and ongoing costs to factor into your organizing business plan:

Start-Up Costs

  • Business Licensing Fees – $50-$500+ depending on your state and local municipality. Most areas require at least a basic business license to operate legally.
  • Professional Organizing Certification – $200-$500 for various training programs and certificates like the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO) or Certified Professional Organizers (CPO) credentials. While optional, certification bolsters your expertise and credibility.
  • Website – $50-300+ to purchase a domain, security certificate, and basic website hosting package. Many website builders like Wix and Squarespace offer free templates to create your site affordably.
  • Business Cards – $50-100 for starter packs of 250-500 basic cards to hand out to prospective clients.
  • Insurance – $300-1000+ for general liability insurance to protect yourself from any damages, injuries, or lawsuits, especially if working inside client homes. Quotes will vary based on your location and coverage levels.
  • Technology – $200-500+ for a laptop, smartphone, cloud storage, productivity software, CRM, and other core tech needs.
  • Office Supplies – $100-300 for storage bins, labels, hanging files, shelving, and other inventory to equip your organizing office or vehicle.
  • Marketing Materials – $100-300+ for flyers, brochures, business cards, and promotional giveaways for networking and advertising.

Total Minimum Start-Up Costs: $1,000 – $3,000

Ongoing Costs

  • Insurance – $50-150 to pay premiums on your liability and any other business insurance.
  • Office Rent – $200-1000+ depending on if you lease dedicated office space or work from home. Virtual organizing businesses can skip this cost.
  • Utilities – $50-200 for cell phone, internet, electricity, and other services to run your business, especially if leasing an office.
  • Accounting Software – $10-50 per month for apps like Quickbooks or Wave to manage billing, expenses, and taxes.
  • Website Hosting – $10-20 for hosting fees to keep your site online.
  • Marketing – $50-500+ per month for advertising, content creation, SEO, and other promotion of your services.
  • Professional Fees – $100-500 for legal, accounting, consulting, or other specialized services.
  • Transportation – $100-300 for gas, maintenance, parking, etc. to travel to client locations.
  • Supplies – $50-100 to replenish any inventory of organizing products and tools.

Annual Ongoing Expenses

  • Taxes and Licenses – $500-2000 to file quarterly/annual taxes and renew your business license and certificates.
  • Continuing Education – $100-500 for courses, conferences, and training to maintain your professional organizing credentials.
  • Website Maintenance – $100-500 for updates, security, and enhancing your online presence.
  • Financial Planning & Accounting – $300-1000 to work with accountants and advisors to manage your finances and cash flow.

These estimates provide an approximate overview of what starting an organizing business entails. Your exact costs will vary based on your location, professional experience, services offered, number of employees, and other factors.

4. Form a Legal Business Entity

When starting an organizing business, one of the first legal steps is choosing your business structure. The four main options each have advantages and disadvantages to consider:

Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the simplest structure with no formal business registration needed beyond licenses. You operate as an individual managing all aspects of the business.

  • Pros: Easy and inexpensive to set up. No complex paperwork or legal fees. You retain full control and get to keep all profits.
  • Cons: You have unlimited personal liability for debts and any legal issues. No options for investment funding. Less credibility with clients than a registered corporation. Difficult to scale if you want to grow and hire employees.

Partnership

A partnership allows two or more owners to establish and manage the business together. You register a partnership agreement outlining financial and managerial details.

  • Pros: Easy to establish with minimal legal paperwork. Shared expertise and investment between partners.
  • Cons: Partners are jointly liable for all financial and legal obligations. A poorly executed partnership can lead to disputes and gridlock. Turnover in partners can disrupt operations. Difficult to raise outside investments and funding.

Another definition of a partnership is working together with specific companies on a regular basis. For instance, you could partner with pallet businesses , laundromats , restaurants, furniture stores, locksmiths , car shops, bike shops , and more, to organize their inventory.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

An LLC combines the pass-through taxation of a partnership with the limited liability of a corporation. Owners aren’t personally responsible for debts and legal issues beyond their investment.

  • Pros: Liability protection for owners’ assets. Flexible management options. Easy to add new investors or owners. Credibility of formal business registration.
  • Cons: More complex paperwork and registration requirements than a sole proprietorship. Must comply with regulations to maintain LLC status. Self-employment taxes still apply.

Corporation

A corporation is a separate legal entity from its owners. Shareholders have limited liability based on their ownership percentage.

  • Pros: Complete liability protection for owners. Additional tax deductions. Can raise funds through stock offerings. Continuity even with changes in ownership. High credibility with customers.
  • Cons: Most expensive and complex entity to establish with extensive legal paperwork. Double taxation of profits and dividends. Extensive record-keeping and reporting requirements.

5. Register Your Business For Taxes

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique tax ID number that identifies your business to the IRS and state tax authorities. An EIN is required to legally operate any type of business entity besides a sole proprietorship.

As an LLC or corporation, your organizing business needs its own EIN for important tax and banking purposes. An EIN is necessary to:

  • Open a business bank account
  • File business tax returns
  • Hire employees and process payroll
  • Apply for business licenses and permits

Applying for an EIN is free and can be done online via the IRS in just a few minutes:

  • Go to IRS EIN Assistant and select Apply Online
  • Choose View Additional Types including Limited Liability Companies, and select Continue
  • Select Limited Liability Company, enter your LLC information, and submit the online form
  • Receive your EIN immediately on submission

It’s that simple! Be sure to keep your EIN private and secure. Once you have your EIN, contact your state revenue agency to register for any tax accounts needed for sales, payroll, or other business taxes in your state.

6. Setup Your Accounting

As an organizing business owner, ensuring your financial records and taxes are in order is crucial. Investing in quality accounting tools and services from the start will save you significant time and headaches down the road.

Accounting Software

Using small business accounting software like QuickBooks is highly recommended. QuickBooks seamlessly syncs with your business bank accounts and credit cards, automatically importing and categorizing transactions to simplify bookkeeping.

It generates invoices, tracks receivables and payables, monitors cash flow, and runs reports for taxes. The automation frees you to focus on clients, not manual paperwork.

Hire an Accountant

Pairing software with an accountant provides maximum financial oversight and expertise. A bookkeeper can handle tasks like monthly reconciliations in Quickbooks to ensure accuracy. Come tax time, your accountant will prepare and file business tax returns, advise on deductions and credits, and navigate any IRS correspondence.

Expect to invest around $200-$500 monthly for a bookkeeper and $1000-$3000 to have your accountant prepare fiscal year-end filings.

Open a Business Bank Account

Keeping personal and business expenses completely separate is also non-negotiable. Register for an Employer ID Number (EIN) and open a dedicated business checking account in your LLC’s name. Never commingle funds or pay personal expenses from the business account.

Apply for a Business Credit Card

Applying for a business credit card in your LLC’s name is also advised. Business cards don’t use your credit score, so you can establish a spending limit and history tied solely to your organizing company. Dedicated business accounts and cards simplify expense tracking and year-end reporting.

7. Obtain Licenses and Permits

Before welcoming your first organizing clients, it’s crucial to ensure your business is properly licensed and permitted at both the state and local levels. Find federal license requirements through the U.S. Small Business Administration . The SBA local search tool offers insight into state requirements.

One of the first steps is to check with your city or county clerk’s office on any general business licenses required locally. Most municipalities require at least a basic business license to legally operate within their jurisdiction. Fees are generally $50-$100 annually.

If you plan to operate your organizing business out of a commercial office space, you’ll likely need a certificate of occupancy (COO) from the local building department. A COO confirms the space is zoned for commercial use and meets code requirements. Expect to pay $200-$500 for the necessary inspections and certificates.

Check your state’s Secretary of State website for any business registrations required at the state level. For example, California requires LLCs to file a Statement of Information. Florida mandates an annual report for LLCs. Stay compliant with any annual state filings.

Most states also require a reseller permit or sales tax license if selling physical products. For organizing businesses focusing solely on services, this may not apply but double check with your state revenue department. Optional specialty licenses like waste transport licenses may also apply depending on your services.

Do you plan to travel to organize clients’ homes? States often regulate service industries like home contractors. In Texas, household organizing requires a Property Tax Consultant license. Louisiana enacted a Home Organizer license category. Check for any similar regulations in your state.

At the local level, some cities require additional business licenses for service providers working inside residences. Verify the rules in the municipalities you plan to serve. You want to avoid expensive compliance violations.

8. Get Business Insurance

Carrying adequate business insurance is highly advised to protect your organizing company against unexpected liabilities. Without coverage, a single incident could destroy everything you’ve built.

Imagine a client slips and falls in your office, resulting in an expensive injury claim. Or while organizing a client’s home, you accidentally damage a prized furniture piece or art object. Your assets could be seized in a lawsuit if you lack insurance.

Other risks like fire, theft, or natural disasters could destroy your office and equipment. Cyber incidents could expose private customer data. Employees may be injured on the job. Insurance covers these disruptions so your business can survive.

Follow this process to get insured:

  • Research policy options like general liability, commercial property, professional liability, workers’ compensation, cyber, and business auto. Review costs and coverage explanations on sites like CoverWallet .
  • Speak with an insurance broker who can assess your specific risks and make coverage recommendations. Expect to pay $500-$2,000 annually depending on your needs.
  • Provide requested information like your employee count, office details, service regions, revenue projections, and client contracts. Insurers will use this data to quote premiums.
  • Review multiple quotes in detail and ask brokers to clarify exclusions or limitations. Select a policy that fits your budget while providing robust protection.
  • Pay your policy premium to activate coverage. Ensure you understand the requirements for submitting claims if incidents occur.

Don’t wait until it’s too late—get insured from the start. Comprehensive business insurance gives organizing entrepreneurs peace of mind to grow without fear of financial ruin from unforeseen events.

9. Create an Office Space

Having a professional office space can give your organizing business credibility and provide a centralized hub for meeting with clients. The right office setup for your needs depends on your budget, location, and work style.

Home Office

A home office is the most affordable option, with no leasing costs beyond dedicated supplies and furnishings. It offers convenience and flexibility for solo entrepreneurs. However, home offices lack the legitimacy of commercial spaces and can hamper productivity with household distractions. They also provide no space for employees as you scale.

Coworking Office

Coworking spaces like WeWork offer affordable monthly memberships ($200-$500) for shared office environments. You gain amenities like meeting rooms, office equipment, and networking without the cost of solo leased space. Downsides are potential distractions and no long-term stability if you later relocate.

Retail Office

Short-term retail spaces may suit organizing consultants who meet clients on-site. Kiosks in malls or booths at markets let you book affordable space ($25-$100/day) only when needed versus a permanent lease. You gain exposure to customer traffic but spaces are small and lack privacy.

Commercial Office

For established agencies, leasing dedicated commercial office space provides the most professional setup for meeting clients on your turf. Expect monthly rents of $1000-$5000 depending on location, size, and amenities. The fixed overhead is substantial but offers long-term stability and unlimited growth capacity on-site.

10. Source Your Equipment

An organizing business has relatively minimal equipment needs, with most materials able to be sourced affordably. Here are some options for acquiring the necessary supplies:

Core inventory like storage bins, shelves, and hanging files can be purchased new from general retailers like Target , Walmart , and Amazon . Office supply stores also carry essentials like labels, binders, and organization systems. Expect to invest $500-$1000 to stock up on quality gear to use with clients and outfit your office.

Buying Used

Used and vintage storage containers, shelving units, file cabinets and more can be sourced secondhand for cost savings. Scout local thrift stores, garage sales, estate sales, and online markets like Craigslist , Facebook Marketplace , and eBay for unique bins, baskets, and shelves to add character to your office.

Consider renting a storage unit near your office to house surplus inventory between client jobs. A 5×5 unit rents for approximately $50-$150 monthly, providing flexible overflow storage without buying unnecessary supplies. Portable shelving units and storage pods can also be rented on demand for large client projects.

Leasing options are limited for organizing equipment, though new companies like Fernish rent premium furniture and decor to stage organized spaces for clients. There are also office equipment leasing companies for copiers, printers, and technology needs.

11. Establish Your Brand Assets

Developing a strong brand identity is crucial for organizing businesses to stand out and be remembered.

how to organize a small business office

Follow these key steps to create professional brand assets as you launch your company:

Getting a Business Phone Number

A business phone number lends legitimacy versus using a personal cell. Services like RingCentral offer virtual phone numbers with custom greetings, extensions, call routing, and more for $25-$50 monthly. A professional number builds trust when prospects call your organizing business.

Creating a Logo and Brand Assets

A logo encapsulates your brand identity. Consider an organizing logo with clean lines and categories or a fun character like “The Clutter Slayer.” Looka makes custom logo design easy starting at $20.

Use your logo across assets like business cards, invoices, office signage, your website, and social media. Brand consistency boosts recognition so prospects remember you.

Creating Business Cards and Signage

Business cards establish your professionalism in person. Signage marks your organizing office. Vistaprint offers affordable custom cards, door decals, banners, and more starting at $10.

Hand your card to prospects at networking events, client meetings, and when asked what you do. Display signage so passersby can easily find your office.

Purchasing a Domain Name

Secure a domain like YourOrganizingBiz.com using a registrar like Namecheap . Pick a name that’s memorable, short, and describes your services. Buying the .com establishes brand authority online.

Building a Website

Every home-organizing business needs a professional organizing business website. Use DIY builders like Wix to create your site for free. Or hire a contractor on Fiverr for $500.

Your site is a digital brochure for services, credentials, and booking. Ensure a professional design aligned with your brand.

Investing in core brand assets gives startups like organizing businesses an instantly polished identity. This engages prospects and builds company value.

12. Join Associations and Groups

Joining relevant local groups and associations provides invaluable connections when starting an organizing business.

Local Associations

Look for local chapters of larger professional organizing associations like NAPO ( National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals ) or ICD ( Institute for Challenging Disorganization ).

Attending association events puts you in touch with fellow organizers to exchange insights, leads, and advice. Displaying association membership also builds your credibility with clients.

Local Meetups

Sites like Meetup list events for organizers and small business owners in your city. Attend these meetups to connect face-to-face with potential mentors, partners, and clients.

Look for meetups focused on decluttering, productivity, home organization, small business marketing, women entrepreneurs, and related topics. Bring plenty of business cards to distribute.

Facebook Groups

Facebook communities create valuable virtual networking at your fingertips. Search for and join groups like CLEANING BUSINESS OWNERS , Organizers Unleashed: The Art of Professional Organizing , and Organizing Experts to tap into thousands of fellow organizers worldwide.

13. How to Market an Organizing Business

Implementing an effective marketing strategy is essential for organizing businesses to attract clients and expand. Try these key tactics to get the word out:

Referral Marketing

Marketing builds awareness so prospects seek out and hire your services. Satisfied clients also provide invaluable referrals, so prioritize excellence. Offer referral rewards like a $25 gift card or account credit to incentivize shares. Send thank you notes and testimonial requests to happy customers.

Digital Marketing

  • Search ads – Run Google/Bing ads targeting and organizing keywords in your area. Pay only when prospects click your ad.
  • Social media ads – Facebook and Instagram ads can target local demographics who may need organizing help.
  • SEO optimization – Ensure your website has organized keywords to rank highly in search engines.
  • Video content – Create a YouTube channel sharing organizing tips and tour client projects.
  • Blogging – Write weekly organizing advice posts to build website traffic and expertise.
  • Email marketing – Send emails to subscribers with decluttering tips and special offers.
  • Social media – Post regularly on your business’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Share before/after photos, client testimonials, etc.

Traditional Marketing

  • Direct mail – Send promotional postcards showcasing your services to local households.
  • Flyers – Distribute flyers at community centers, libraries, real estate offices, and other high-traffic areas.
  • Radio ads – Ads on local radio stations can promote your organizing business.
  • Newspaper ads – Local paper ads target older demographics who may need organizing help.
  • Billboards – A roadside billboard offers high visibility but can be costly.
  • Vehicle wrap – Brand your car or van to essentially make it a moving advertisement.

While digital marketing provides advantages like better targeting and measurement, don’t rule out traditional mediums completely. A mix of digital and traditional tactics combined with an amazing client experience is the recipe for rapid organizing business growth.

14. Focus on the Customer

Providing an incredible customer service experience is crucial for organizing businesses to drive referrals and growth. Some ways to improve your customer focus as a successful professional organizing business include:

  • After you’ve helped organize a home or office, ask happy customers to share their positive experiences on review sites like Yelp.
  • Send follow-up thank you notes after a job and include a referral code they can pass to friends for 10% off.
  • Offer additional value like free maintenance visits every 3-6 months.
  • Check-in on your organizing systems and make tweaks.
  • Clients will appreciate the continued attention and be more inclined to tell contacts about your amazing service.
  • Be transparent about your fees and timeline so clients know what to expect. Thoroughly explain your organizing process and methods during a consultation.
  • Avoid pressuring clients to purchase add-ons or extras. Deliver services on time as promised.
  • Personal touches also build lasting relationships with customers. Remember and use client names frequently.
  • Ask about any upcoming events or milestones in their lives. Send a handwritten congratulations card if a client mentions a new baby or promotion at work.

Providing this level of customer service shows you care about more than just a transaction. Clients are so impressed that they can’t help but share your organizing business with family and friends. Word travels fast, bringing in a stream of new clients from referrals.

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11 Beautiful Home Offices That Are Neat and Organized

Shelby Deering is a lifestyle writer who specializes in decor articles and home tours. She spends her spare time at flea markets and hunting for vintage finds. Shelby is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

how to organize a small business office

Katherine is a professional home organizer and certified KonMari consultant with over 5 years of experience helping clients get their homes in order. She launched her own professional organizing business, Tidy Milso, in the summer of 2020, to help reorient those feeling overwhelmed with both clutter and disorganization in their homes. To date, she has logged over 500 hours of organizing with her clients using Marie Kondo’s KonMari method.

how to organize a small business office

An organized home office can help to improve focus and productivity. The key is to put organizational systems in place to prevent clutter from building up. That way, you'll feel prepared to tackle any project that comes your way.

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Here are 11 home office organization ideas to take your workspace from chaotic to clutter-free.

Keep Desk Accessories Clean and Simple

If you organize anything in your office, make it your desk. This desk from Fancy Things has several options to keep clutter off the surface with a cup for pens, a magazine holder for folders and small journals, and a stacked drawer unit on the far left that blends in seamlessly with the desk and wall. This design keep papers and other small items out of sight.

Bring in Plenty of Shelving

No closet? No worries. Use open shelves to organize and style your home office. In this office by designer Joanna Whittaker , the two white shelves put a substantial amount of empty wall space to good use while leaving enough room for a floor lamp. The chic arrangement is kept organized with the use of two large baskets on the bottom shelves that hold the messier work items. Prevent books on shelves from looking too disorganized by keeping them in order using sturdy and decorative bookends.

Customize a Working Wall Calendar

Placing a calendar on the wall helps you keep a better eye on your planning needs. The result? You'll feel far more efficient and in control of your time. This DIY calendar system from Polished Habitat adds coordinated and customized glamour to an office with other gold accents . Three frames were painted gold on the inside of the glass. White tape creates the boxes, and dates can be written in erasable ink or pinned with sticky notes.

Organize Items in Cubbies

@jessisrussell / Instagram

Do you have hard-to-store inventory or need to display items for guests who come to your home office? If so, a cubby system can be your best organizational tool. This stylist's cubby bookshelf elegantly holds jewelry and accessories.

The beauty of a cubby system is that it's naturally neat, symmetrical, and perfectly proportioned. Slide decorative storage baskets into cubbies to hide items small or items that would otherwise look disheveled.

Maintain a Bin Organizing System

Just like cubbies, matching bins bring a look of orderliness to a home office. This flawlessly organized home office from A Beautiful Mess  uses white bins with labels to contain tons of crafting supplies and other office essentials. Not every bin is identical, but even the ones that have a different design beautifully blend in to make the wall of storage work.

Take Advantage of Paper Holders

Desktop paper holders and paper sorters are perennial office staples. These tools provide a simple way to hide all of those papers that are lingering around your workspace. A white desk sorter effortlessly blends in on the desk of this chic office from The Lovely Drawer .

Surround Yourself With Beauty

Although it sounds counterintuitive, bringing beautiful objects into your office can be a way to organize your space. By surrounding yourself with items you cherish, you're more likely to keep your space free of junk so you can thoroughly enjoy your pieces without the interruption of clutter. That's the idea behind the small shelf in the corner of this office from 204 Park . The simple shelf showcases precious vases and gemstones that also serve as decor.

Put Inspiration on Display

Pin inspiring clippings and random pieces of paper on a board or wall. By using your vertical space, you'll give them a place to live instead of left in a forgotten pile of papers. That's what Interior designer  Vanessa Francis  did in her home office by dedicating the space under her shelving and behind her monitor to thought-provoking imagery. It's also a way to liven up typically unused wall space.

Install a Wall of Cabinets

Rookery Design

If you have the space and budget, consider bringing in a bank of cabinets to improve your organization. A wall of built-in cabinets in this office by Rookery Design keeps items out of the way. Top cabinets with a countertop for extra workspace, or, head to IKEA for cabinetry that you can customize to fit in your office.

Create a Command Center

Bring the same efficiency of a mudroom or kitchen family command center into your office. Create a home office station that includes your printer , a corkboard, files, and a calendar. The benefit of clustering essential items into a centralized area of your space means you have immediate access to critical paperwork and supplies, preventing them from being misplaced and cluttering other areas of your office. A small table creates the base of operations for a few well-chosen items in this home office by Interior Love Affair .

Use Desktop Drawers

Black & Blooms

A desk can be both functional and beautiful. The cubbies, computer stand, and  roomy woven baskets  on this desk are there to help keep everything organized. And the houseplants, terrarium, and framed art look warm and inviting. A tower of drawers works well as a desk base. Plus, a set of lightweight desktop drawers works well as a catch-all for clutter.

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Trump ordered to pay over $355M for fraudulent business practices in New York

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Ximena Bustillo

how to organize a small business office

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his lawyers Christopher Kise and Alina Habba attend the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial on Jan. 11 in New York City. Shannon Stapleton/Getty Images hide caption

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his lawyers Christopher Kise and Alina Habba attend the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial on Jan. 11 in New York City.

A New York judge has ordered former President Donald Trump and executives at the Trump Organization to pay over $364 million in a civil fraud case, handing a win to New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trump and his associates after a three-year investigation.

The Friday decision from Judge Arthur Engoron orders Trump and his flagship organization to pay the bulk of that amount: almost $355 million. Trump's two sons and co-defendants, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., are each liable for $4 million. Allen Weisselberg, a former Trump Organization executive, is liable for $1 million. The total is even higher with interest — more than $450 million overall, according to the attorney general's office.

"Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological. They are accused only of inflating asset values to make more money. The documents prove this over and over again. This is a venial sin, not a mortal sin," Engoron wrote in the court filing. "Yet, defendants are incapable of admitting the error of their ways."

Trump himself called the decision a "Complete and Total SHAM" in an emailed statement and repeated his accusation that the justice system overall is politically biased against him.

James, however, declared that "justice has been served."

"This is a tremendous victory for this state, this nation, and for everyone who believes that we all must play by the same rules — even former presidents," the state attorney general said in a statement.

Additional consequences

The judge also decided to limit Trump and his co-defendants' ability to do business in the Empire State. Trump and his companies are prohibited from serving as an officer or director of any New York business or applying for loans for three years. His sons are limited from similar leadership roles for two years.

Jeffrey McConney, ex-controller of the Trump Organization and also a defendant, was not ordered to pay any amount, but he and Weisselberg are permanently barred from serving in the financial control function of any New York corporation or similar business entity registered or licensed in New York state.

"This Court is not constituted to judge morality; it is constituted to find facts and apply the law. In this particular case, in applying the law to the facts, the Court intends to protect the integrity of the financial marketplace and, thus, the public as a whole," Engoron wrote.

The ruling comes at a crucial time for Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. Engoron's decision comes a day after another judge set the date for what could be Trump's first criminal trial, related to hush money payments issued during the 2016 election .

Trump's New York hush money trial will start March 25

Trump's New York hush money trial will start March 25

He is facing a combined 91 state and federal charges, including several related to his role to stay in office after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden. But the charges have done little to dent Trump's popularity among his base. Instead, the charges appear to have bolstered his credentials, potentially setting up a rematch with Biden.

The facts of the case

Trump and his two older sons are accused of knowingly committing fraud by submitting financial statements that inflated the value of their properties and other assets. The lawsuit alleges that from 2011 to 2021, Donald Trump and his organization created more than 200 false valuations to inflate his net worth by billions of dollars with the goal of getting better business, insurance and banking deals.

Engoron had already determined that there was fraud and that the former president, his sons and other executives were liable.

Throughout the trial, legal teams argued whether the value of notable Trump properties, such as Manhattan's Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street, were inflated deliberately.

Documents shown during trial ranged from spreadsheets to signed financial statements. In one example, the attorney general's legal team showed that Trump's triplex in his eponymously named Manhattan building was marked as being almost 11,000 square feet in 1994 and later as 30,000 square feet. A Forbes magazine article in 2017 originally shed light on the discrepancy.

The former president and three of his children, Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, who is not a defendant, all took the stand to testify about the valuation process and their involvement in the Trump Organization. Testifying in November , Trump argued that the estimated property values were actually conservative, and he said that he relied on others to compile the statements. His sons also testified that they relied on others , including their accounting firm, to come up with the numbers — even as emails and documents showed the Trumps ultimately approved them.

In closing briefs, Trump's team doubled down on the argument that the three members of the Trump family did not have knowledge or involvement in the creation, preparation or use of the fraudulent financial statements.

Closing arguments concludes in Trump civil fraud trial in New York

Closing arguments concludes in Trump civil fraud trial in New York

Trump says he won't testify as planned in his civil fraud trial

Trump says he won't testify as planned in his civil fraud trial

Who else testified.

Witnesses included former Trump allies such as Michael Cohen and Weisselberg , who was also a defendant.

Cohen testified that it was his responsibility, along with that of Weisselberg , "to reverse-engineer the very different asset classes, increase those assets in order to achieve the numbers" Trump had asked for.

Weisselberg, however, testified that he couldn't remember whether he discussed the financial statements with Trump as they were finalized.

The decision on Friday comes as Trump continues to campaign for the presidency. He will likely appeal this ruling, as he has in the other cases where he has suffered legal setbacks. It may take years before he parts with any money in the case.

New York judge brings back gag order on Donald Trump in civil fraud trial

New York judge brings back gag order on Donald Trump in civil fraud trial

  • trump corp.
  • letetia james
  • judge arthur engoron
  • Former President Trump
  • new york state

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COMMENTS

  1. 9 Tips For Small Business Organization Success

    1. How to organize your business for success Doesn't it feel great to look at your workspace and see everything organized, neat and ready to go? If you can't remember the last time you felt that way, it's time to do a little clean-up. One's working environment has been shown to directly impact productivity.

  2. 18 Proven Small Business Organization Strategies

    1. Manage Your Office Space and Storage Start by making sure your physical surroundings are neat and organized. This ensures that you're able to perform at your highest level. In many ways, the organization of your entire company is determined by how organized your desk is.

  3. The guide to organizing your business for long-term success

    Digital files. First, take a look at the files on your computer and delete the ones you know you no longer need. Move the ones you plan to organize into a new folder. Once you're left with the files you want to keep, begin organizing those. Make sure you develop an organizing system that works best for your team.

  4. 7 steps to organize business paperwork so you always find ...

    1. Get the materials you need The last thing you want is to scatter all of your papers across your office only to realize you don't have what you need to make order out of the chaos. Before so much as touching a page, ensure you have access to what you'll need. These items can include: Shredder File folders Filing cabinet Label maker or labels

  5. How to Organize Your Business Effectively in 20 Steps

    9. Invest in Technology. Leverage technology solutions that automate tasks, improve productivity, and enhance customer experiences. Embracing technology can streamline various aspects of your business, from automating repetitive administrative tasks to enhancing online customer interactions. 10.

  6. How to Organize Your Office (with Pictures)

    1 Position your desk so you can look out a window if you can. Being able to look out a window while you work can help reduce stress levels and focus better on your work. Move your desk to a location where you can easily sit down and glance out the window occasionally.

  7. How to Organize A Small Office: 12 Tips & Tricks

    Increase your productivity when you work from home. Discover how easy it is to organize a small office and create the workplace of your dreams. Working from home can be such a mixed blessing. There's no commute (yay!). But if you don't have a dedicated space from which to work, it can be really distracting.

  8. 10 Tips to Organize Your Small Business This Year

    With the new year, toss out whatever is outdated, no longer relevant or a duplicate. For example: Recycle the broken electronics you may have stashed in a closet. Delete all those old voice messages. Donate anything you don't need or use. Keep the basics and anything you've used in the past year; all else can go.

  9. Office Organization Ideas to Improve Efficiency

    Organizing a small office space also reduces stress and anxiety, contributing to a better at-work culture. 10 tips on how to organize your office. ... Emerging small business trends are reshaping how businesses will operate this year and beyond. Technology that was recently only available to larger corporations with big budgets is now within ...

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    One of the significant steps a small business owner can take to maximize profitability is keeping their office and the overall business organized. There's a positive correlation between office organization and business success. Unfortunately, workplace or business organization remains non-prioritized by most small businesses, especially the one ...

  11. 5 Ways to Organize Your Business for Success

    1. Declutter your space. First things first, get your workspace and tools in order. Go through your office, desk, emails, and any other space currently being used for your business. Sort, file, and store all the items and documents that you still deem necessary for your business. Take it a step further and digitize physical documents so that ...

  12. How To Organize A Small Office

    2 Create A Chalk Wall To Keep Your Day Organized. Speaking of using wall space for a calendar, chalk paint can really be your friend when trying to make the most of the space in your small office. If you need extra room for notes, a calendar, or to brainstorm ideas, try covering your wall with chalk paint.

  13. How to Organize an Office: A Guide for Small Business Owners

    Uncategorized >> How to Organize an Office Small business owners have a lot on their plates and a lot to balance. In keeping up with the all of the day-to-day tasks, often the aesthetics of a clean desk or organized office seem unimportant in the swing of things. There's so much to be done!

  14. How to Organize Your Small Business Office/Workspace

    11 Steps to Organize Your Office or Workspace and Create a WSL Plan. Assign a name for each office or anticipated work station onto separate sheets of graph paper. Measure each office or anticipated work station and draw the overall dimensions to scale on the graph paper. It is important to draw to scale to ensure that your layout plan is ...

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    3. Sparco Mesh Phone Stand. Sparco Mesh Phone Stand. (Read the Article) One day I saw this Sparco Mesh Phone Stand in a coworker's office and I thought it was a great idea. When it comes to unique small office organization ideas, this phone stand is very versatile.

  16. How to Start a Profitable Organizing Business [11 Steps]

    1. Perform market analysis. 2. Draft a organizing business plan. 3. Develop a organizing brand. 4. Formalize your business registration. 5. Acquire necessary licenses and permits for organizing. 6. Open a business bank account and secure funding as needed. 7. Set pricing for organizing services. 8. Acquire organizing equipment and supplies. 9.

  17. 19 Office Organization Ideas In 2024 For Best Productivity

    Hear me out. An organized work environment has a lot more than just visual appeal. For starters, DIY office organization has been shown to reduce stress. The appearance of clutter signals to your brain that there's extra work to do. When your brain feels overwhelmed by all this (actual and perceived) work, it triggers a stress response.

  18. 10 Steps to an Organized Home Office

    DIY Playbook Designate a space in your office to house the printer and printer supplies. If you have a wireless printer, it doesn't need to go on your desk. By placing it in a cabinet or other area in your office, you will gain much more space on your desk for other items. STORE IN CONTAINERS Melissa George, Polished Habitat

  19. How To Organize A Small Business Home Office

    How To Organize A Small Business Office. Those with small offices need to take extra care with their organization or it's going to get on top of you quickly. Here are some tips that you can use to excel. Source. Furniture Placement For Small Offices. You need to make getting to your desk as easy as possible.

  20. How to Start an Organizing Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

    1. Conduct Organizing Market Research To start a professional organizing career you need to know about the professional organizing industry. Market research offers insight into your target market, service trends, local market saturation, and more. Source

  21. 11 Beautiful Home Offices That Are Neat and Organized

    Fancy Things. If you organize anything in your office, make it your desk. This desk from Fancy Things has several options to keep clutter off the surface with a cup for pens, a magazine holder for folders and small journals, and a stacked drawer unit on the far left that blends in seamlessly with the desk and wall. This design keep papers and other small items out of sight.

  22. How To Be Organized in the Office (With Benefits and Tips)

    Organize your desk, work area or office with these steps: 1. Sort and purge. Begin by addressing any paperwork on your desk, chairs and shelves. Sort the papers into files, such as documents you want to store in file cabinets and items you want to shred or store away.

  23. Trump ordered to pay over $355M for fraudulent business practices in

    Shannon Stapleton/Getty Images. A New York judge has ordered former President Donald Trump and executives at the Trump Organization to pay over $364 million in a civil fraud case, handing a win to ...