You know my office actually could be a REAL SIMPLE studio shoot. Everything in its place, perfectly organized, perfectly color-coordinated, my desk tops clear of clutter.
Hahahahaha.
But I have a few tricks to the paperwork deluge that comes from running a business on the side.
1. Buy a label maker and file folders (lots of file folders). Everything, every single piece of paper, no matter how insignificant it is (if you need it, keep it) gets a file with a label. I have a Brother label maker and it works great. They are twenty bucks or so at any office supply store. The tape is spendy, so check the price of that before you buy the device itself.
2. File weekly (I have to file daily to keep up) and I mean just sit down with a sorted pile of stuff and make labels for each thing. Then put everything into their own folders with the labels and file alphabetically. That way if you’re looking for Web site designer later, you look under “W” and not his last name of Smith. This is not the time to file creatively aka I’ll file my designer under Y for yellow, because that’s my favorite color on my site. You get the drill.
3. Throw away needless papers. If you can keep a copy of something on a hard drive, do it. There’s no reason to have printouts of everything you also have on your computer (unless there’s a reason for it). So shred those extra paper copies and you just might find your office (and computer) desk top looks a bit tidier. 
4. Save all receipts. And I mean all. People don’t think about receipts until tax time when they have to write off business expenses. You want to think about this all year long. A few brave souls (my hubby) scans receipts into a folder for easier saving. Cuts down on the paperwork for sure.
5. Get a bulletin board. It’s easier to see things when they are displayed. I have my permanent lists on a board near my desk, which helps me to see in a quick glance where I am in my processes. It cuts down on the active files I must keep on my office (and computer) desk top as well.
Have a great Wednesday!
