Essential guide to setting up an office

In a well-set-up office (even if it's just a simple home office), the equipment, the systems and environment all contribute to making you and your business more efficient.

Planning it properly from the start is the best way to make sure your office has what you need.

Furnishing the office

Setting up your communications

Office equipment

Business stationery and marketing materials

Working from a home office

1. Furnishing the office

Start with a basic minimum of furniture and equipment

• A standard desk, with an adjustable (height and back support) chair, on castors, suits most people. A larger L-shaped desk can be better if you're using computer with one or more monitors.
• Look through an office supplies catalogue to work out what you need.
• Second hand office furniture and supplies can often be found online on Facebook Marketplace, eBay and other online marketplaces. Buying second hand items helps to minimise your start-up costs.
• Auctioneers hold regular sales of furniture. Search online for 'auctioneers and valuers'.
• An office clearance company may be able to offer complete sets of office furniture and equipment from downsized or closed companies.
• If you rent space in a business centre, basic furniture is often included in your licence fee.

Plan your office layout for efficient working

• Organise the office to minimise the time wasted moving about.
• Store frequently-used equipment and files in easy reach.
• If you have employees, place those who work together close to each other.

If you expect visitors to come to your office, think about their requirements

• Will you need a separate meeting room?
• Do you want visitors to be impressed by comfortable surroundings?

2. Setting up your communications

The analogue phone system is being switched off at the end of 2025. Since September 2023, all new phone systems have been digital.

Make sure you have enough telephone lines and extensions

• Many small business owners manage with a smartphone
• Investigate the different kinds of business phone systems and packages on the market and shop around for a supplier to save money on calls and data.

There are several options when it comes to acquiring communications equipment

• Most types of equipment can be bought, rented or leased.
• Suppliers can be found online. Shop around, especially for bargains in second hand extension phones and small-business phone systems.

Think about how you make sure you are contactable

• Being available is essential for start-ups. Consider the range of services and devices you can use to ensure you can always be reached.
• Most customers and suppliers will expect to be able to contact you phone, SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger or email.
• A mobile phone allows you to be contacted at all times. Call charges can mount up, but there is a range of tariff structures, including pre-pay deals, to suit most businesses.
• Call waiting alerts you during a call if another caller is trying to reach you. You can switch from call to call and back. Service suppliers may charge for this.
• Call diversion lets you redirect incoming calls. There will be a standard charge plus the cost of the diverted calls.
• Remember that some callers may not like leaving voicemail messages.

3. Office equipment

The time saved by having the right equipment in your office will more than justify the cost.

Most start-ups find that computer equipment pays for itself within a year

• Many small business owners run their business from a smartphone. The wealth of apps makes it possible to do everything from issuing invoices and booking appointments to accepting payments and sending marketing messages and social media posts.
• A laptop or tablet can allow you to work flexibly if you are not always office based.
• The right apps and software will improve productivity and accuracy, and decrease time spent on repetitive tasks. For example, customer relationship management or accounts software.
• Quality hardware will be quick and reliable, reducing stress and downtime.

If you need a photocopier, choose one to suit the expected copying workload

• Many small businesses can use an all-in-one printer for everyday copying.
• If you lease a copier, check the maintenance charges carefully. Watch out for expensive maintenance commitments, buyout clauses and minimum usage contracts.

You may be able to save time and money by investing in basic postal equipment

• Buy a set of postal scales to avoid frequent trips to the post office.
• A franking machine saves time by automatically stamping your mail. It will also reduce your postal costs as franked postal costs are lower than the equivalent in stamps.
• Royal Mail has a list of recommended suppliers.
• Royal Mail offers a range of postal options including those for business selling online and businesses who expect customer returns.

You may want a scanner

• Many businesses find that an all-in-one printer is adequate for occasional scanning.
• A scanner with optical character recognition (OCR) software can be a good investment, if you routinely need to re-type large volumes of text.
• Test any model you are thinking of buying, by trying it out on a document that is typical of your workload. You are likely to want a flatbed scanner which is fast, with high resolution and a good OCR software package.

Consider the alternatives before buying any item of office equipment

• You might be better off using an outside service.
• Some business centres provide office equipment for a higher licence fee.

4. Business stationery and marketing materials

Your stationery and business marketing materials are an important factor in creating your business image.

All your printed materials should have consistent branding

• It should all use matching typefaces, design and paper - or card - quality.
• Choose a clear, easily-read typeface.
• Paper weights range from 80 gsm (grams per square metre) to 120 gsm. Card varies from 180 gsm to over 300 gsm. Is heavy, 'quality' stationery important for your image?
• A recognisable logo or slogan can help to build up your company image.
• A good printer or designer will be able to advise you and show you samples of previous work.

Letterhead stationery (A4 size) is used for letters to customers and suppliers

• Include your business name, address (including postcode), email and website addresses and phone number.
• By law, you must include the name of the sole trader or of all the partners, or the full company name - unless this is the same as the business name. A limited company can add either all or none of the directors' names.
• A limited company must show the registered number, the registered office address and the country of registration.
• Businesses registered for VAT must show their VAT number on invoices.

Compliments slips are a cut-down version of your letterhead

• They give all the basic information (but omitting details like registered office) on a smaller piece of paper - usually the same width, but one-third the depth.
• They are useful - and economical - for sending brief messages and cover notes.

Think about invoices, receipts and statements

• If your business only issues these occasionally, you can use your letterhead with an appropriate heading inserted below it.
• Most acounting software packages allow you to create custom invoices.

Business cards give customers and other contacts a record of your name and details

• Many people now use a digital business card that allows you to tap your phone or share a QR code that provides your contact details.
• If you are using a printed card, use a standard card size and make sure you include your name and job title, your business' name, address and telephone number as well as your phone number, email and web address. Many people include their preferred pronouns too.

5. Working from a home office

Many start-ups find setting up an office at home the most attractive option. It is quick, cheap and convenient for most, but there may be drawbacks.

Is it legal?

• It should usually be possible to use part of your home as an office without incurring tax liabilities.
• You should check that working from or running your business from home does not invalidate your home insurance or the terms of your mortgage or rental agreement.

Will it provide the right working environment?

• It can be difficult to discipline yourself.
• Take yourself seriously. Even if you work only a few hours a week, remember you are running a business.
• Establish a work space. It will be easier to concentrate on work once you enter that space, and to switch off when you leave.
• Separate 'at work' from 'at home'. Discourage social phone calls and domestic interruptions during your working day.
• Arrange your work patterns to fit in with your family and set working hours during which you are not to be disturbed. Outside working hours, give family and friends your full attention.

Will working from home provide the right image?

• Do you expect visitors to come to your office? What will they think? Could you arrange to visit their premises or hire a meeting room instead?
• Will your address be suitable? Should you use a mailing address? Business centres and co-working spaces often offer a 'virtual office' facility, receiving post, telephone calls and faxes on your behalf and then forwarding them on to you.

What are the financial implications?

• An appropriate proportion of bills (eg electricity) can be treated as business expenses and offset against tax. There may be other tax implications. Ask your accountant for advice.
• Unless you claim mortgage payments or rent against tax, you should not be liable for business rates. If part of your property is used wholly or mostly for business, you may be liable.
• You must tell your insurers you work from home (and change the insurance on your car, if you use it for business). Otherwise, your insurance may become invalid.
• You may want to take out public liability insurance. If you employ people - even part-time workers - employer's liability insurance is compulsory.