Owning a business comes with a lot of responsibilities, from managing all of the paperwork to making crucial decisions that have a direct influence on the growth of the company. In addition to putting your time and energy into the most important tasks that produce the best results, you’ve also got to dedicate yourself to some smaller tasks, like important buying decisions, that at first glance may not seem like a big issue, but will be of great importance in the future. It is often said that you need to buy before you can sell, and this is quite true, especially when it comes to purchasing products for your office. Even the smallest details like stocking the shelves with sticky notes and note pads or creating promo pens and t-shirts for your annual company picnic are important buying decisions for your company.

When your business grows larger than your initial “company of one” and you start to hire employees to take on some of the work, it is important to establish an office setting. Whether you are still working out of your living room or have decided to rent an office space, you will have to start thinking about buying products to support your employees and their overall productivity. Larger and more expensive items like computers, phones and printers may need to be purchased along with smaller, less expensive items like pens, paperclips, stamps, or mailing envelopes.

There are several types of purchase decisions that need to be made depending on the items that your company needs to buy. Many new businesses decide to order wholesale from larger suppliers to be eligible for bulk discounts, while others choose to keep their initial purchases small and shop at retail stores like Staples or Office Max. Business purchases depend on personal preference, but in order to be cost efficient, it is vital to shop around and perform price comparisons so you can get the most for your money.

Most buying decisions for office supply products are known as “straight re-purchase” or “modified re-purchase” decisions and most often involve routine ordering from the same select suppliers. Small businesses can choose this option and can re-order when necessary, and large companies whose inventory levels are automatically monitored can opt for an auto-refill option where items are sent directly when inventory levels fall below a certain amount. The key with the straight or modified re-purchase option is to do extensive price comparisons before you buy to ensure that you are getting the most from your money.

Most online companies can give you instant quotes on the product you are interested in purchasing, so price comparisons can be as easy as entering in your information and order amounts or details, and with the click of a button, you can have your cost estimates. Other companies have sales representatives that you can speak directly with over the phone or in person, and many times they offer to come to your office to show you their products and talk to you about the benefits of using their company as your supplier for the long term.

Most newly established companies or those uncertain of order levels in the present time can choose to perform “new task” purchasing, where they shop around and compare competitive prices for all of their orders. This method is also useful if a company is faced with a major new task purchase involving complex items such as computer systems, buildings, or robotic assembly lines. In this case, the purchase cycle from first recognizing the need to placement of the order may be months or even years, and is best left to companies with dedicated buyers who are qualified with specific merchandising experience.

Once your business has been established, it can be a good idea to order some promotional products to stock the shelves at the office for employee use, to give away at trade shows or public events, or for the assembly of media kits. Items like pens, mugs, folders, and letterhead are great ways for your logo and brand name to be visible to the public. Putting your brand in the public eye through the use of everyday items like these is an important tactic to establishing brand identity and credibility as well as serving as a mini billboard for your products or services. There are many companies that are solely dedicated to creating and selling promotional products, so this is another area where shopping around and comparing prices can be a good idea.

Buying decisions are crucial to your employees’ efficiency and productivity as well as your customers’ awareness and retention of your product or services. Whether you are buying paper clips or a computer systems, there is no doubt that buying decisions at your workplace are extremely important.