Ah, the luxury of having a home-based business. No office leasing costs, no daily commute and no disturbances from co-workers.

Here are seven tips to get your home office on the right track:

1. Legalize it. Check with your local zoning office about regulations in your area. Licensing requirements also vary among jurisdictions.

2. Establish a business address. Some people rent a post office box and use that address on business cards and stationery.

3. Get the right equipment. Devices such as an all-in-one fax machine, printer, scanner and copier increase efficiency while conserving space. You may need more than one phone line.

4. Organize for productivity. Carefully design your workspace.

5. Establish contacts. Connect with potential clients and colleagues by joining a professional association.

6. Keep careful records. The Internal Revenue Service tends to audit home-based businesses more frequently.

7. Discipline yourself. It is tempting to take advantage of quiet time for personal chores and errands, but time away during business hours is time and money lost.

Stephen L. Rosenstein is co-chairman of Greater Baltimore, SCORE Chapter No. 3. Call 410-962-2233 to speak to a SCORE counselor or visit www.scorebaltimore.org To send a question to SCORE representatives, e-mail smallbiz@baltsun.com