My Favourite Office Essentials for Business Owners & Work-From-Homers

Although I haven’t been a student for years (and work from home 90% of the time), the back-to-school season still feels like a fresh start.

As a business owner, I use this time to brainstorm new ideas and plan my company’s future. It’s also in September that I like to rejig my home office setup!

Last year I picked up some great finds so I’ve curated a list of essentials to check out in case you want to do the same.

This post contains affiliate links, but rest assure that I only recommend products I've actually purchased and use in real life! (Since availability differs from Canada to the U.S., be sure to click the right link for your region.)

Journalling Markers

My marketing company might be paperless, but I still keep an annual goal planner/journal hybrid!

I set objectives for each month/week/day, and jot down “wins,” like signing a new client or securing a speaking engagement. It makes things fun but also keeps me accountable.

I use these markers weekly and they’ve lasted a few years without going dry. My two favourite colours are the deep green (my company’s brand colour) and hot pink (to make my daughter happy – it’s her favourite colour 😊).

Plastic Drawer Organizers

I like to think I’m one of “creative types” who appreciates “beautiful objects,” but really I’m just a collector of too many little trinkets.

A few months ago I bought these plastic trays and used them to organize my entire office drawer.

This pack came with quite a few, so I used some in the kids’ bathroom (for toothbrushes, etc.) and for storing small toys in their rooms.

Desk Pad (That Actually Comes in Nice Colours)

When it comes to my home office décor, I like to make sure the colours coordinate as much as possible (hence the deep green filing cabinet I got from Costco two years back!).

I love this desk pad. It’s wide enough for my mouse area but doesn’t conceal the entire top of my desk.

My daughter has since coloured on it with permanent marker, so I’m going to go ahead and buy another right now! Mine was the colour “grey/silver.”

Sleek White Mod Filing Cabinet

Speaking of my filing cabinet, I found a version that’s a close match to the sleek look and feel of my Costco find.

Again, I’m paperless, but I still need somewhere to track tax forms, household papers, and some printed marketing materials for my business, FreshLeaf Marketing, that I need to use up.

This one is pretty, not too expensive, and the delivery seems fast (so not coming from overseas).

White & Bright Desk Organizer

As I said above, I’m not a fan of clunky or stuffy-looking office décor. That’s why this is in my cart RIGHT NOW and I’m about to check out!

I like that it’s just one unit and isn’t too big. Plus it’s the perfect place to store my journaling markers (which I talked about already).

After all, I can’t work when my desk is cluttered or filled with ugly stuff (like traditional offices - lol).

Podcasting/Webinar Microphone

After appearing on a few podcasts, I found the audio quality (on my end) so bad that I was embarrassed I had poor tech!

Ever since I decided to do more virtual workshops and webinars, I knew I needed a better mic.

This brand and model, the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone (ATR Series), was recommended by a podcast host and connection of mine. The second he recommended it to me, I bought it and the rest is history!

It’s a mid-range (not super high end) mic which is what I wanted. I don’t need anything crazy, and the price point was half of what I thought it would be.

If you plan on starting a podcast or podcast guesting, or hosting webinars like me, give this one a try.

Ring Light for More Professional Looking Social Media Videos

The first time I started doing video back in 2019, I didn’t fully appreciate the importance of light. And while I understood the importance of natural light in my food blogging days, my home office (or anywhere else in my house that I can film uninterrupted videos), simply DOESN’T have good lighting!

My aunt gifted me with a ring light, and I use it anytime I’m filming a video for LinkedIn or Instagram. This is the closest model with a reasonable price point (again, the highest end thing isn’t always needed…simpler works for my needs!).

Try this one if you want to up your video game too!

Branch Ergonomic Chair

The winter I threw my back out, my chiropractor told me to experiment with a yoga ball while at my desk, or to invest in a better quality office chair.

The yoga ball didn’t work for me, so I chose the Branch chair (the model my chiro recommended), and haven’t had a better chair in my life!

The one shown is the exact colour and model I have. My home office is light and bright, so I didn’t want a clunky black chair weighing it down. (Although I convinced my husband to get the black version – and he did shortly after!)

For those of you who can submit this as an office expense, why not? If you have Amazon Prime, delivery is free.

My Book, Scientist to CEO

I couldn't complete this list without a shameless plug for my book :)

If you have a current or aspiring technical business owner in your life, I can guarantee they'll gain value from it!