There are many practical office organization products that make organizing documents fast and easy. They come in all forms, from the most basic plastic containers to high-tech machines that actually do work for you.

Depending on your type of business, the amount and type of documents that pass through it and the policies that surround them, document organization supplies applications and uses can vary greatly. The purposes for document organization products are as follows:

1. Document organization equipment should make the job easier and be easy to transition to with minimal change in habit; this is the best way to ensure continued use.

2. Computer programs like document organization software will help with organization of digital information and time organization.

3. Office organization supplies need to make business processes more efficient, not eat up more time.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Organize documents in filing cabinets

Traditional filing cabinets are vertical with two to five drawers, but there are many other options available. You can find portable filing cabinets on wheels, cabinets with drawers for storing discs and DVDs or over-sized specialty filing cabinets for things like blueprints or designs.

I recommend: Find all kinds of filing cabinets at FilingCabinets.com. Read the guide on Adirondackdirect for choosing the right file cabinet, and browse their wholesale selection.

Get folders and sub-folders for document organization

Create folders with sub-folders, like a folder for invoices with sub-folders for each year or month. Organize each folder by color or label and alphabetize each sub-folder within.

I recommend: Find file folders in a variety of styles and colors at BuyOnlineNow.com or Supply Hero.

Archive while organizing documents

Archive old files at the end of each year. Use corrugated box storage to keep files in after a length of time appropriate for your business.

I recommend: See various styles of filing boxes sold by Uline Shipping Supplies or Staples.

Use desktop paper organization supplies

Keep documents organized that are still in use with desk organizers. Keep documents that are yet to be read, documents that require responses, and documents that need to be filed separated.

I recommend: Have a look at desktop document organization products at Bright Settings and Office-Supplies.US.com.

Include electronic document organization

Depending on how many documents your business deals with, it may be beneficial to purchase digital imaging and file storing software, which is costly but worth the investment if dealing with many important documents. For the storage of fewer documents, consider scanning them and saving the file in Microsoft Office.

I recommend: Try out the free download version of M-Files document management solution software from Motive Systems. Look into document storage options from an industry leader, SmeadSoft.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Once the process of organizing papers is developed, create a master File Locations List, laminate it, and keep it in an easy reference place so employees can easily remember where each kind of document is filed.

Document organization supplies come in all shapes and sizes. The only limit is your budget. Find out the many ways you can organize the various kinds of documents in your place of business.

Documents solutions vary according to the different types of records you move throughout your workplace. Other challenges arise due to the way you display or store written information and the length of time you're required to keep documents. Another common problem surfaces because of the number of times your documents need updating or referencing. Fortunately, there are many solutions to help you when it comes to your document organization needs:

1. Physically organize documents by putting them into binders, file folders, or cabinets and shelves or in document display solutions.

2. Speed up your paper management processes by purchasing equipment to automate tasks like folding, opening envelopes and inserting documents into envelopes.

3. Find software and online solutions to manage documents electronically, as more information is now transmitted and processed in electronic format.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase document organization equipment and supplies to organize your paperwork

Put frequently-referred-to pages in slim plastic binders and purchase a desktop document organizer to hold them. Find file folders of all sizes, and store them in any number of file folder caddies: mount a plastic folder holder on the wall to keep it right at hand, find file cabinets of all sizes for you permanent filing needs, and get file storage boxes for those old financial records.

I recommend: Buy office organization supplies for filing and document storage at Quill and Office Depot.

Organize documents and literature with literature organization products

If you have promotional literature you need to display, or periodicals that need to be available for easy reference, buy specially-designed office organization supplies designed to hold literature. Put a set of brochures in a neat, wall-mounted rack. Organize the magazines in a countertop stand, or put the catalogs your employees always refer to in a rotating magazine rack.

I recommend: Purchase literature organization products at OfficeZone and ABC Office.

Obtain paper organization equipment to speed up repetitive jobs

If you open a lot of mail or send a large quantity of invoices, consider purchasing document organization equipment that automates the letter opening, folding and inserting. You can even get a folder inserter that will both fold the invoice and then insert it into an envelope.

I recommend: Order letter folders, envelope inserters and other paper handling machines at Factory Express and Advanced Document Systems & Supply, Inc.

Install document organization software to organize and manage your electronic documents

You may have documents that were 'born digital' -- they were created on the computer and have never been printed on paper. Or you may have paper documents you need to scan in and store electronically. Solutions for both of these document storage dilemmas exist in the form of software that will help in organizing documents of the digital variety.

I recommend: Content Central from Ademero is an all-in-one document management solution. DocuXplorer software has 3 levels to fit every size business need. Dymo File is a system that facilitates organization of scanned documents using barcodes.

Use online document storage and sharing solutions

If your employees need access to their files from a variety of locations, or if you need to share large files with your customers, online document storage and sharing services can help you in organizing documents online.

I recommend: Take advantage of online document storage and management functions in Box.net and Microsoft Office Live Workspace.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Document organization supplies of all sizes exist to hold promotional brochures and even business cards; buy one that fits in your reception area to keep this type of document visible to those who enter your business.

Customers hoping to straighten out their home or work desks and paperwork can keep your business booming if you stock a diverse selection of document organization equipment. Whether they’re looking for an inbox, a way to sort current projects or a place to keep older paperwork, a variety of document organization supplies types and styles will ensure you’ll meet their needs.

Check out new items to add to your inventory by browsing through catalogs from document organization suppliers, competitors’ websites or articles dedicated to cleaning and organization. These sources can give you new product ideas and marketing strategies as you:

1. Consider a selection of office organization supplies for temporary use like file folders, binders and wall pockets that allow customers to sort and access documents quickly.
2. Look for desk organization tools like stackable trays and file stands to create a document organization for ongoing projects.
3. Order larger office organization products like storage boxes and file cabinets that clients will use to organize documents as part of their long-term storage system.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find inexpensive document organization products like folders, pockets and binders

Although paper organization supplies like binders and file tabs have lower price points than other office equipment, customers are always in need of the paper goods and replenish supplies often. Consider offering folders that customers can use as both storage and presentation options to increase sales.

I recommend: Find a selection of multi-tiered and stackable desk document trays in metal, plastic and wood through Bulk Office Supply. Dollar Days offers desk and office organizational supplies like desk trays, message holders and compact disc organizers to hold document organization software discs.

Discover new styles of paper organization equipment like stackable inbox trays

Clients will also be looking for ways to contain larger of amounts of paperwork or even hold groups of file folders. Offering office organizational supplies like trays and file sorters may even increase sales of binders and files if you display them together.

I recommend: Check out products for organizing documents from binders and binding systems to pocket displays, sheet protectors and folder inserter products through Wholesale Warehouse Supply. Study the selection of portable files, pockets, wall files and tab folders for organizing papers offered by Office Supply Wholesalers.

Study paper organization supplies to archive documents like storage boxes and file cabinets

Increase profits if your customers continuously ask for larger document organization products like file boxes or even file cabinets. The units can hold current projects, as well as older paperwork for archival purposes.

I recommend: Comertia offers office organization products like wholesale document storage boxes with double-wall construction and easy grip handles. Boxes can be stacked to save space and are available in cartons of 20. Get wholesale file cabinets in horizontal, vertical and armoire styles through AGV Office Furniture. The storage units are available in a variety of colors in wood and metal.

Staying organized has a direct impact on the efficiency and productivity of a business. There is a huge variety in the supplies available to fit every business's organizational need or budget. Depending on the types of documents that need to be kept track of, there are document organization solutions for keeping documents straight through every stage of the process, from the inbox to long term storage. Start with the basic document organization supplies key terms and make a list of the necessary supplies from there.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Specialty filing cabinets

Specialty filing cabinets are made for safely, securely and easily storing things that are different shapes and sizes than standard documents. They may have special needs, such as computer disk storage, temperature-controlled storage or large filing cabinets for filing blueprint or architectural drafts.

I recommend: Get a better idea of what kinds of specialty filing cabinets are available by viewing them at FilingCabinets.com.

Portable filing

Portable filing solutions are products for making transportation and mobility of files easy, such as filing cabinets on wheels or plastic file caddies with handles.

I recommend: See a great example of commonly used portable file caddies available at Staples.

Corrugated boxes

Corrugated boxes are lightweight and durable cardboard boxes ideal for long term document and organizational storage in dry areas. They may include features like lids, handles, built-in separators and labels.

I recommend: Learn everything there is to know about corrugated boxes from Corrugated.org, including the benefits of using them.

Document organization software

Document organization software, or electronic document storage, is a kind of software that helps in the organization of documents, from reminders of due dates, keeping records updated and electronic imaging for easy document retrieval.

I recommend: Read more about document organization software from KnowledgeTree.

Desktop organizers

Desktop organizers are constructed to sit on top of a desk and make the most of limited space by organizing everything from folders and publications to pens, pencils and post-it notes.

I recommend: Visit Office 1000 to see how complex desktop storage can get.

Panel organizers

Panel organizers hang on the side of a cubicle wall, or mount directly onto a wall, and usually feature anywhere from one to five compartments for organizing files or documents without taking up desk space.

I recommend: Have a look at an example of a panel organizer at TheNerds.net.