Whether you free yourself from the corporate world by choice, or by your (former) employer’s choice, you need to figure out the best place to set up a home office. The F-R-E-E-D-O-M plan (as in freedom from the corporate world) will get you started on the right track.

F=Find a good place for your home office

My philosophy is that no matter what size home you have, there’s always room for a home office. Try to avoid setting up a home office in your kitchen, because it tends to be a high-traffic area. Your bedroom is also a bad choice since it should be a place to relax and get away from your business.

Instead, find a place that’s not in a high traffic area, but not too isolated. A dining room or a living room is a good option for a home office, especially if it is rarely used.

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• Find the right place for your home office. Make sure that your new home office space isn’t in the main flow of traffic but also, isn’t isolated. Also, make sure the space has enough room for a desk or other work surface and a place to store files. Crate & Barrel and aspenhome carry a few of my favorite desks. Don’t forget an ergonomically-correct chair. The sleek, multi-function Think chair is a good option.

• Invest in quality equipment. Before you buy a desktop computer, consider a laptop instead. You’ll be able to work anywhere within your home and if you need a break from your home office, you can take your laptop to a coffee shop or meetings.

• Save space within your home office by using “all in one”(AiO) equipment that faxes, prints, copies and scans documents. The Brother inkjet MFC-J615W AiO is a good choice because it’s reliable, easy to set up and doesn’t take up much space.

• Decide whether you’re going to install a separate business line. Kids don’t make good receptionists so your home line isn’t a good option. A better option would be to use your cell phone as your business line.

• Have reliable tech support available. When you leave the corporate world behind, you can say goodbye to instant tech support. But savvy entrepreneurs like the folks at Geek Squad can take their place.

• Set up a support system. Family and friends may be helpful when you first start working from home but they have lives too. Instead of relying on them for emotional and business support, find other professionals in your area through LinkedIn and trade associations. You can also tweet your request to connect with other business owners nearby.

• Set a schedule every day. Yes, the beauty of working from home is that you don’t have to punch a time clock. That means you can sleep in, wait to take a shower until the afternoon (if at all) and work on projects late into the night. It also means that you have to motivate yourself to go to work every day. Set a specific time for when you want to be at your desk. Your schedule may vary because of appointments, but stick to your schedule as much as possible.

Moving from a corporate office to a home office is challenging but not impossible.  When you keep in mind the benefits of flexible work hours, a comfortable office and a short commute down the hall instead of across town, you can make the transition an easy one.

• Work surfaces that are the wrong size. A desk or workspace that’s too narrow, too deep, too tall or too short can affect your productivity. Instead of using that space as a place to work, you may turn it into a dumping ground for papers and supplies.

• Cheap filing cabinets. Drawers that don’t glide open, get stuck, or don’t open completely can put a damper on filing. Instead it will be easier to stack papers on top of the cabinet until you’re ready to fight with the drawers.

• Furniture that doesn’t fit through the door, up the stairs or within your home office. Know ahead of time how large your home office furniture can be. Otherwise you’ll waste time shopping for the wrong furniture and you’ll waste money on delivery fees.

• A home office space that initially seems ideal but turns out to be too hot or too cold, too noisy or too quiet. Avoid moving your equipment, furniture and supplies several times by trying out your new home office space for one month. That should give you enough time to decide if you’ve picked the right place to set up shop.

Is there anything you would do differently if you could start over and set up your home office today?