What is records retention and how many lateral file cabinets do I need?

Records retention refers to how long your business is legally required to keep various document types — typically 3–7 years for financial records, 7+ years for contracts, and permanently for corporate documents. Calculating your cabinet needs starts with estimating total retained files: a 36" wide 4-drawer lateral cabinet holds approximately 200–250 hanging file folders per cabinet. Plan for 2–3 years of growth in your initial purchase to avoid buying again too soon. FindOfficeFurniture.com has the lateral file cabinets to build out your records system — call 888-719-4960 for the best deals.