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A small business owner’s guide that wish I had when I started
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items Starting out as a brand new business owner is tough. Sometimes we just need a little help! With that said, I’m building a list of supplies and websites to help others get started. Items I’ve purchased or something similar!
Sections
3
Supplies
Websites
Furniture Pieces
Supplies
Supplies I use or something close to what I use and recommend. You don’t need the most expensive stuff to get started.
These are my favorite polymailers. The quality is fantastic. I also love that these are from a small business. Amazon shows I’ve purchased these 5 times! I use these to ship book sleeves.
Poly Mailers 10x13-100 Pack
Depending upon what you’re selling, you’ll probably need tissue paper. I always go for whatever the cheapest is. This is $0.05/sheet. I don’t have any issues with the cheaper options. I wrap my items in tissue paper.
130 Sheets 20"x14" White Tissue Paper
Thermal labels for your thermal printer. I go for the cheapest and Amazon shows I’ve purchased these 3 times. Around $0.02/label. I haven’t had any issues with the quality of these.
4" x 6" Direct Thermal Labels
You’ll want something to store your labels on/in. This is good for label rolls or the fan fold labels. I have one of these in white and it’s super easy to put together.
4x6 Thermal Label Holder for Rolls & Fan-Fold
Amazon Basics shipping boxes. $0.53/each is a great price. I like the style of these boxes and I find that they’re easy to use. You don’t need a ton of tape.
Amazon Basics Cardboard Shipping Boxes 50pk
Any thermal label printer will do the job. Mine doesn’t have Bluetooth but that’s definitely a plus to have.
Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer, 4x6
I always add a thank you sticker to my packages. It’s just an extra touch. Nothing fancy but still meaningful. Amazon has plenty of options to pick from.
500 Pcs 1.5 Inch Pink & Rose Gold Thank You Stickers
I use this for my reading journals. They’re high quality IMO.
iMailer 100 Count 8x10 Self Sealing Bags
Websites
Websites I use and recommend for running a business with ease and efficiency. This includes platforms for shipping and platforms to sell on.
If you’re making your own labels, you’ll want to print them at home rather than the post office to save time, that’s what I do anyways. Pirate Ship offers cheaper shipping than going into USPS. Super easy to use and is free to use.
Pirate Ship | Shipping Software
I use Shopify for my website. It’s super easy to use and there are plenty of free options for designs and apps.
Shopify: The All-in-One Commerce Platform for Businesses - Shopify
Etsy is an easy platform to begin your seller journey. The fees are high but it’s worth it to me because then I don’t have to spend so much time marketing. I find it very easy to navigate as well.
Etsy
I am a premium Canva user. I absolutely love Canva. It’s easy to navigate and use. I prefer using the desktop version instead of my phone. I design things such as my thank you cards and business cards.
Canva: Visual Suite for Everyone
Furniture Pieces
Furniture that will help make your space easier to navigate and more organized. Definitely need comfy and efficient.
I highly recommend an electric desk. I like to stand at mine for specific tasks and sit for others. These desks are great!
48x24 Inch Electric Height Adjustable Desk
These are SO comfy to sit in, especially because you can sit criss cross. The wheels are a must btw. We have a pink one in our house and I love sitting in it while working.
Wide Chair with Wheels
Starting out, you don’t need anything fancy to store your stuff. These are super easy to put together and sturdy. I have a couple of these shelves in closets.
4-Shelf Plastic Storage Shelves