So, you’ve found that spending eight or more hours each day confined to a small room, with no breaks except for lunch, fits your idea of telecommuting heaven? Our next round of telecommuting tips will center around office requirements.

I highly recommended you have the following items prior to beginning your telecommuting adventure:

• Computer – Obviously your most important item. Your computer should be less than three years old, with a large hard drive, a fast processor, and a good amount of RAM. Additionally, you will need to ensure that your firewall and anti-virus are up to date and functioning properly. If you will be supporting a company remotely, either as a contractor or employee, most larger businesses list their computer requirements on their website. You will need to meet these requirements prior to further consideration.

• Printer – There are many inexpensive printers out there, with varying levels of quality. As with any purchase, be sure to do your research. Pay particular attention to the price of the ink. A printer may be inexpensive, but the ink cartridges may not last long and may be fairly costly to replace.

• Scanner or fax machine – I prefer a scanner to send all applicable information to businesses, customers, and vendors. But, you may be more inclined to use a fax machine. Typically either one will suffice.

• Desk – You don’t need anything fancy, but make sure you have plenty of space for other things besides your keyboard. At minimum, ensure the desk allows for a small area to your right or left on which you can keep a telephone, note pad or post-its for handwritten scribbles, and, of course, a small trivet or coaster for your morning and afternoon refreshments.

• Chair – A comfortable chair is a must in a home office. And when I use the adjective “comfortable”, I don’t mean an overstuffed recliner with built-in cup holder. I mean a chair that offers good support for the back and one that can be adjusted to fit all varieties of body shapes. Again, do your research; you may be able to find a good sturdy model at a used office furniture store or from a local seller in your online classifieds.

• Corded Landline Telephone and Corded Handset – A landline phone, you ask? Can’t I use my cell phone to conduct business? Uh… NO. Many companies that hire virtual employees or contractors require they use a landline phone, with a corded handset, for business purposes. This is to ensure the highest amount of security for their clients and customers. Remember that you may often be handling confidential or sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers.

• Tip: Before purchasing your phone, make sure it functions with a corded headset attachment. You don’t have to buy the most expensive models; however, the cheapest ones oftentimes don’t function, or function improperly, with a headset.

Those are the basics. Other items you may want to have on hand are a headset (corded, of course!), a file cabinet, and a various assortment of pens, pencils, paper clips. Keeping your favorite scented candle or other aromatherapy handy to help you relax during a particularly stressful day can do wonders!

I hope these telecommuting tips for your office have helped you. Please feel free to add any additional items you feel are important below in the comments section.