How to Maintain Office Supplies

Every business needs office supplies to help it run smoothly.   All companies have their own way of controlling how office supplies are stored.  All supplies should be accounted for at all times. Maintaining supplies will help to keep the expense of the supplies at a manageable level. Keeping track of the office supplies does not need to be a monotonous duty. If done correctly it can be an easy task.

• Make a list of all office supplies that can be ordered and give to management. Have the manager look over the list and approve it and ad to or delete supplies that they feel are not needed.  After the order is given back to you, make another list of what the business will be using on a regular basis and will need to be ordered monthly.


• Choose a company to order supplies from that has given a low-cost quote. This way a monthly budget can be created for office supplies. When ordering supplies, stay within the budget created for the supplies.  Pick a time of month to order the supplies and then place one large order once a month at that same time.


• Make a new spreadsheet with the final supplies that will be ordered monthly. When creating the sheet, be sure to include a column for a checklist. Print out the sheet monthly. This will be used to maintain the office supply inventory. The checklist can be used to mark when supplies are needed, ordered and received.


• Make a list of monthly supplies that employees are allowed to order from and then pass out to employees or put in their employee mail slot. All employees will have all of the same types of items that they may use.


• Help employees with ordering office supplies by composing an office supply policy.  Have a manager sign the policy and then print copies out and make sure all employees receive it. Make sure to stand by the policy at all times to keep costs down and so that employees are responsible for how they handle the supplies.