After graduating from Rutgers in 1980, I embarked on a career in Professional Business-to-Business Sales of Commercial Office Equipment and related technologies. In 1983, I started my own sales, service, supply, and marketing company, Electronic Office Systems of New Jersey (EOS). For more than 42 years EOS has worked with over 4,000 businesses of all shapes and sizes. The clientele that EOS serves consist of startups and Fortune 100 companies, amongst others. Helping companies to boot strap and grow their business has given me the greatest sense of joy and motivation to give back to society. Over these decades, I have met many business owners who started their companies without understanding their target markets and properly allocating their financial resources. As a result, these businesses tended to fail in the next 2-3 years and experience significant losses on their investments and their time.
Proper Office Technology Planning Should Be Done from the Get-Go
Passionate about helping businesses with pre-business setup/planning, I developed an Office Technology and Backbone Components list. Aspiring entrepreneurs should consider the following checklist
- Commercial Realtor: Location/Zoning/Dollars/Space needs to Lease/Purchase easy from inception. (Location, Garage Doors, Loading Docks)
- Bank/Banker: Checking, Lines of Credit, Fees, and Credit card processing
- Cellular Phone Provider
- Marketing Company: Corporate Identity, logo(s), tagline, website, SEO, social media presence, and public relations
- Signage: (Town Guidelines) seeking a variance if required for successful ongoing growth
- Offset Printer: Brochures, letterhead, envelopes, forms, and premiums
- Attorneys: Real Estate, General Business, and Human Resources
- Accountant/Bookkeeper: Accounting Software
- Insurance Agency: Property & Liability, Workman’s Comp, Errors and Omissions, Cyber, Sexual Harassment, Health & Life.
- Payroll Company: Tax Filings and Employee Leasing
- Employee Benefits: 401Ks, HRA’s, HSA’s
- Temp Agency/Recruiters
- Vehicles Purchase/Leasing: Fuel, Repairs, and Insurance
- Utilities: Gas, Electric, Water & Sewer
- Garbage collection: Cardboard, paper, and recycling
- Post Office: Register Address and PO Box
- Cleaning Company
- Electrician, Plumber, HVAC, Solar Panel System, and Sewer Cleaner
- Handyman
- Garage Doors and Loading Docks
- New/Used Office Furniture
- Racking, Forklifts, Pallet Jacks, Propane, and Equipment Services Providers
- Landscaper and Snow Removal Company
- Office Supply Company
- Break Room Supplier: Coffee, Water Purification, Snacks, etc.
- Locksmith
- Alarm Company, Central Station, and Video Cameras
- UPS, FedEx, and/or Pickup Box
- Elevator Repair
- Roofing Company
- Franchise Fees
- Business Coach (S.C.O.R.E)
- Government Finance Entities: SBA and NJEDA
- Budgeting
- Business Plan
- Drip Marketing Software
- Contact Management Software (e.g., Salesforce)
- Corporate Credit Cards
- Zoom Account
- LinkedIn Account
- Online Store
- Employee Handbook
- Marketing Plan
- Mission Statement/Value Proposition
- Staffing and org chart including reception/admin
- Hiring- Recruiting/Screening/Selecting/Training
- Compensation Plans
- Reviewing and Feedback Structure
