By News Canada
Profitability relies on keeping overhead costs in line while striking just the right balance with business performance. Start-up costs, especially, require careful planning to ensure every bit of equipment paves the way to revenues.
The bare necessities for your day-to-day administration usually include a desk, telephone, computer, printer, fax machine, and general desk supplies. Each business has its own unique essentials for making sales, but owners often ask: Of all the equipment available, what is wisest investment? Or put another way: What products do the most successful businesses not do without?
“These questions are the right ones for a start up, and should be asked again as the business grows,” says Steve Matyas, president of Staples Canada. “It’s always valuable for business people to learn from each other through industry associations, or with general networking in person and online. Business blogs serve this purpose for time-strapped entrepreneurs.
And when it comes to the wisest investments, here is this retailer’s Top 5 Tools list for leading you directly to the money:
1. Own the best notebook: Efficient time-management is maximized if records and files are kept up-to-date everywhere you go. Equip yourself with the very latest laptop technology, like the HP Probook line. The features of the 4320 model includes: built-in wireless; DVD and Bluetooth capability; 2.26 GHz Intel Core i3-350 M processor with 4 GB memory; 320 GB hard drive; 13.3” LED-backlit HD display; and the latest Windows operating system with a spill resistant keyboard and top energy efficiency.
2. Carry data on your key chain: USB drives today are lighter and more durable than ever. Take a look at the Verbatim Tuff-N-Tiny line. It’s penny-thin, travel-tough, resists dust and water, and fits into all standard USB ports. With a choice of 8 or 16 GB data storage potential, you can share files with customers and co-workers easily – and take it with you on your key chain.
3. Buy a mobile mouse: Business activity is often on the road, so the latest tool is a wireless mouse with built-in receiver to let you operate up to six devices. The Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX allows better precision on a wider range of surfaces, including clear glass and lacquered desks. This mouse conforms to your business needs, including hyperfast scrolling from zero to 10,000 lines in 7 seconds. With its tiny wireless receiver, there’s no need to plug it in or deal with the hassle of multiple receivers.
4. Be wireless instantly: The Valet line is a breakthrough product to quickly and simply make your home or business wireless. The Easy Setup USB Key gets you connected to the Internet in 3 simple steps. And, Cisco Connect software lets you quickly link and manage your other wireless devices. With Valet, the set up is a breeze and you can connect additional computers, block unwanted websites, and give temporary passwords to visiting customers.
5. Calculate the profit: Owning at least one HP Calculator is essential for any deal, big or small. Hewlett-Packard has designed many models and very popular for small business is item HP 17-BII with more than 250 built-in functions and date calculations. This calculator has RPN and algebraic entry-system logic; 28 KB user memory, plus the HP Solve functionality which will calculate any variable without re-writing the equation. Guided by the right calculator, you’ll keep overheads low and revenues high.
You’re launching a new business and you want to outfit your home office with budget-friendly tools and supplies that provide quality and reliability. Before you grab a shopping cart, you might want to consider why switching to 
When you’re shopping for lighting, choose bulbs and fixtures with an Energy Star rating. They use up to two-thirds less energy than the regulars. And—not to sound like the boss of you or anything—don’t forget to turn the lights off when you leave a room.
Not only do laptop computers provide you with use-anywhere mobility, they also consume one-eighth the power of a desktop computer. According to Winter, multiple laptop users under one roof performing a variety of tasks will still not use as much power as one desktop computer!
Flatscreen or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors use less than half the energy of traditional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors, plus they’re lighter and easier to adjust. With sharper quality and no flickering, text is easier to read and there’s less strain on your eyes.
Many everyday items that we toss away without thought can be reused. The back of used paper—daily desk calendars, sticky notes, etc.—makes great notepaper for jotting ideas or diagrams. Use the two-sided setting on your printer and copier to reduce paper consumption, and again, instead of throwing away already-printed-on-one-side paper, use the backside as notepaper. When you do purchase paper, choose brands made from recycled materials and approved by the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada. Save elastic bands from newspaper deliveries. Buy rechargeable batteries and refillable ink and toner cartridges. Did you know that it takes up to 1,000 years for one cartridge to decompose in a landfill? Instead of trashing them, drop your electronic waste, finished rechargeable batteries and old ink and toner cartridges at a 
Online banking is secure, saves you time and reduces paper trails. Have payments deposited directly into your account instead of accepting cheques. Sign up for monthly online statements. At the same time, sign up for online billing. Many companies now offer this service, as well as allow you to make automatic payments through monthly bank account debits. Not only will you save trees by cutting back on the paper trails, you’ll also save money on envelopes and postage. And—bonus!—electronic files take up much less space than file folders and shoeboxes!
Buying used is very fashionable these days. Scour flea markets and yard sales for used office furniture and other items in good condition. It really is true: “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure”… And the extra treasure in my wallet is nice too!
Why choose non-toxic cleaning products when you can get cheaper stuff at a dollar store? Because while you’re sanitizing your office and home, you and everyone else under your roof are inhaling a cocktail of chemicals such as chlorine bleach, ammonia, petrochemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The result? Indoor air pollution as well as environmental pollution through drainage. Non-toxic products might cost a little bit more, but clean breathing air and groundwater is priceless. (Check out STAPLES’ line of