How do i organize my file cabinet? New businessman, and lots of paperwork, just no idea on how to file it.?

Question

4 drawer, any help would be greatly ppreciated. Business is a junk hauling company

Answer 1

OK ... you need to have those frames and hanging folder holders and some folders.  The trick is to keep the paperwork split up so you never have more than an inch or so to look through.

DRAWER 1: Bills and receipts, filed by month, like utility bills, fuel purchases , equipment repair.  

All the tax deductible expenses go here, by month, for tax time.

Drawers 2 and 3 (the middle ones):

*Estimate forms for customers.

*Paperwork on each job you do ... probably one folder per month will do until you get real busy. Keep the estimate or bid, the payment record, and a record of what you made from selling the junk.

Drawer 4 (bottom): Business paperwork, like business licenses, permits, office leases and employee files. One folder for each kind of paperwork to start.  You will not need these much.

This is a good place to keep spare printer paper too, to keep the file cabinet stable.

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At the end of the year, move last year's folders to the back, or to a storage box.  You should keep files for 5 years in case of audit. At the end of the 5 years, shred it!

Answer 2

I'm not 100% sure how to help you, since everyone seems to have a system that works a little differently.  I personally use this website that lets you enter in your organizing problems and then gives you a filing solution based on the way you work.

http://smead.com/organomics

(that is the main part of the site)

They also have a very interesting article about organizing files with color that you may be interested in.

http://www.smead.com/Director.asp?NodeID...

Best of luck to you!!