In the past, power analyses were not that common for fMRI studies, but recent advances in power calculation techniques and software development are making power analyses much more accessible. As a result, power analyses are more commonly expected in grant applications proposing fMRI studies. Even though the software is somewhat automated, there are important decisions to be made when setting up and carrying out a power analysis. This guide provides tips on carrying out power analyses, including obtaining pilot data, defining a region of interest and other choices to help create reliable power calculations.