Now that you have figured out the number and size of your workstations, you'll have to do the same for all your equipment and storage needs.

Many people who work at home tell me that storage is their biggest problem. In planning for storage, it helps to separate records and supplies into two categories - active and passive. What you don't need on a daily or regular basis can be stored in another location.

Choose your location carefully. Now you can begin to zero in on a potential location within your home. Armed with a good list of requirements, you'll be able to tell whether a given location can work for your needs. If you've determined that you're going to have occasional visitors, a shared bedroom situation won't be an appropriate place for a meeting station. Or perhaps you can arrange meetings in another location in the house - maybe by using a dining room close to the main entry.

Each location you evaluate will have its particular pros and cons. For example, you might have raw, unheated attic space in your home that could be finished into a workplace. Compared with simply using a spare bedroom or guest room, it'll cost more money and time before it can be used. But the benefit is that you ultimately get free space, without having to snatch space already used for other purposes.

Develop a plan that meets your needs in your chosen location. This is the hardest step for most people, because it involves translating your needs list into a working arrangement in your chosen location. This is accomplished with a scaled drawing. The benefit of a drawing is threefold. First, you get to see whether the whole thing will work; it's like trying on a pair of shoes before buying them. Second, you'll have a plan from which to operate. You'll know whether you need an electrician; what size desk, worktable or cabinets to buy; how many chairs you'll need, etc. Third, you'll be able to establish a budget, before jumping into a project that may be financially beyond your expectations.