The first step, even before you begin to plan or build, is to check with municipal zoning officials. With considerations such as traffic flow and taxes, there may be limitations to what you can do. Some cities may not even allow you to work from home, so it is important to check early on. Most places require a business license to practice within its city limits. If existing laws are problematic, you can consult your attorney and consider attaining a variance through the city.

Once you have legal clearance, it is time to choose the location. We've all heard the saying, "Location is everything." Well, the same is true for your home office. Whether your home office is going to be in your breakfast nook, a spare bedroom or a new addition, location will be a part of your business image. It is the environment in which you are expected to be productive, efficient and professional. Your location should be free from distractions, have good lighting and be accessible to clients and employees.

From there, the next step is to consider how your home office will be situated. Things to consider include how much surface area is needed to work and handle equipment, how much storage is necessary and what kind of lighting you would like. It is also important to consider how many people will be working in our office and if you will need an area to accommodate client meetings. If you are working on a budget, factor costs into your decisions but keep in mind that you might be able write some costs off as business expenses on your taxes.

Now might be the time to consult a design professional. The more expensive option is to hire an architect or interior designer. If you are working on a budget, you might try visiting furniture and shelving retailers, like Ikea. While employees are not professionals, they are trained to help solve problems when it comes to making the most of your office space. To save on furniture and accessories, try furniture wholesalers and liquidators, which sell new and used products much cheaper than the average retail store.

Once you have your location and your design, it's time to start shopping for furniture. When choosing your desk and chairs, consider ergonomics. Chairs should support the small of your back and allow your feet to be flat on the floor. Desks should keep the keyboard at elbow level and the top of the monitor at eye level when sitting. There should be enough space in your desk area to move your chair in a circle and still lend itself to plenty of storage space. Storage can be found in several forms-wall shelves, bookcases and file cabinets-and must be located in areas conducive to easy movement.

Along with the task of selecting your furniture comes the chore of buying equipment. That can include telephones, computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, scanners...the list is endless. To save on space, consider a four-in-one machine that consolidates your printer, copier, scanner and fax into one.

Finally, check into plans offered by your phone company to see if you can save any money as a home business. You should probably consider getting a separate phone line to handle the influx of calls that your business will have. Other options include multiple extension lines, call waiting, call forwarding and an answering service or voicemail. Also, make certain that you have enough outlets and phone extensions to accommodate your equipment.