PRO TIP: If you have a limited office space, consider checking and reading our post of the best file cabinets for small spaces. A rule of thumb to is to always leave room for more files, no matter if you are working with a filing cabinet or countless binders of files. This way, it is close but not actually on my desk which gives me extra room to work. Mine consisted of lots of organizing, which feels amazing in the end, but throughout the process you start to think you’d much rather just throw everything away than deal with sorting it all. An office filing system is a tool that can support the management and growth of your business, or it can hinder its operation. Every time a piece of paper comes across your desk, either throw it out or file it. Office Solution Pro is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Paperless offices sound great, but the reality is that many small businesses still need to store easily retrievable paper documents. What causes the downfall of a filing system? Papers sticking up out of the folders will block the tabs and make it more difficult to find a file. After spending time out of their offices due to the COVID lockdown, companies that relied heavily on their paper filing systems recognized that it was time to go digital. We hope you love the products we recommend! In the past I have recycled old file folders and used mismatched hanging files, but that just contributes to the overall messy look of your files. Create a filing system. Start by picking up folders from the supply cabinet. Determine whether you will organize files alphabetically by subject, numerically using a predetermined numbering system or chronologically by either date created or due date. Today I am sharing my “zone” system with you. Try to organize all your files in the same area so that it's easy for everyone to access and use the filing system.You should also use one source to get all your supplies. However, this outline will give you the confidence to take control of the papers in your own home office or household. Printer supplies, go in the bottom file cabinet drawer. So, how can you improve the filing system in your office? In fact, maintaining an organized office is much more effective if you treat it like an on-going project, instead of a massive assault. In the office, there are usually many more documents than at home. The first step in setting up a home filing system is to corral all of your paperwork in the same space, so you can sort through it. Gather all of your unorganized files and folders into one folder and start the sorting process. We have carefully selected the most compact file cabinets that offer surprising storage capacity. The 8 Best Receipt Scanners of 2020. If your files are completely out of control, I like to create a folder named Sorting Folder. More than 25 percent of survey respondents said their biggest filing struggle was figuring out what items should be kept versus what should be shredded, while another 22 percent ranked this issue second on their list of filing … Here is a step-by-step way to do it: 1. 5 Quick Things You Can Do to Organize Your Home Office Right Now, The Balance Small Business is part of the. If you aren’t sure how many drawers you will need, create a practice system using banker's boxes. Once you have done so, you can use file cabinets to safely store each file and folder in their corresponding category to make it easier for you should you need to retrieve them. Mount spacious wall holders in one of your office’s common areas. Not only do these hold information required for potential audits, but they also make staying organized easy. Now may be a great time to reconsider your office filing system. 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