It really depends on what type of services you're planning to provide and my answer below is fairly generic. As a VA who provides general secretarial and administrative support, the initial costs were: a reliable computer - most people already own this but didn't when I started in 1994 a reliable printer - ditto above somewhere to sit that is ergonomic to protect your back and neck from aches suitable software for the services you provide. Microsoft Office is still the standard. … [Read more...]
No Commissions Payable
I see, in various places, people asking if they should join freelancing sites like Upwork, Freelancer and others. I can't answer for all freelancers, but I can answer for those who call themselves Virtual Assistants and the answer I have is this: Joining a VA Network or Directory means paying an annual or monthly membership fee. Generally engaging one regular client through these avenues more than covers your membership fee each year, anything else is a bonus. And the good news … [Read more...]
Jobs or roles? What are you seeking?
I love hanging out in the different VA forums to see what is being discussed, what's the latest trend, and what else I might be able to learn. Along the way, I share of my own experiences and knowledge, and hopefully am helpful to a few, or many. In a recent post a new VA told me (when asked) of how she was trying to find jobs. That for me, immediately, showed that she had the wrong mindset and I set about trying to get her to see things differently. Hoping this will help you too, … [Read more...]
Managing multiple clients
Saw a poll in a VA forum recently asking about juggling clients and how challenging it can be and then asking how many clients members had. The highest choice was in the 1-3 bracket. I was the only one (to date) who had more than 7. I guess the real thing is about juggling time. Perhaps the VAs who responded are still new in their businesses but it concerns me, very much, if VAs have 3 clients or less. And I'll share the reasons for this: If you have only 1-2 clients, the tax office … [Read more...]
Do the research!
I feel saddened when I hear about VAs who have set themselves up as a trainer, or coach, or mentor or something and then start giving inaccurate advise. It's so important for you, the one who is wanting to learn, to do the research and make sure that whomever you're going to pay for advice, is qualified to give you that information. Or that the information they are giving is accurate. This includes how long they've been operating as a VA. Generally if it's less than five years - they're still … [Read more...]
The day I stop learning
I've shared on this topic before, particularly back in July 2017 and sharing on it again. It's so important when we're in business to make sure we make time for us - for our own professional development and personal learnings. We get busy with client things, we get busy inside our businesses managing it daily and also busy with family and external activities. BUT, do we make time for improving on our knowledge and keep learning, or do we only do it when a client asks us about something and … [Read more...]
Confusion reigns – employee or contractor?
Once again the topic about employee vs contractor raises its head. It gets particularly complicated here in Australia, for example, when our tax office (ATO) confuses the general public out there what it means. And then we also get remote offshore employees who work for agencies, charging very low hourly/weekly/monthly rates providing similar services. And yet they are employees, not Virtual Assistants. The terminology gets mixed up and confused. And then enter tech gadgets that go by the … [Read more...]
Babyboomers started the VA industry
It's amazing what you read out there about the Virtual Assistant industry and assumptions about how it got started. Some even thinking it started with digital products like Siri, but I want you to know that the industry started back in the mid 1990s and was started by...... Babyboomers. Yes, Babyboomers! People who were born between 1946 and 1964. It began with people, like me, who were operating home based secretarial businesses, because they wanted to get out of the corporate world, and be … [Read more...]
Who sets the rate?
Many 'trades' set their own rates, although some might be guided by industry requirements and expectations. Solicitors, bookkeepers, accountants, business coaches, plumbers, painters, mechanics, and so the list goes on. So, why then, do many of the public feel they can tell Virtual Assistants how much they should be charging? I've heard many VAs talk about this - they get contacted by a potential client who wants a lot of stuff done, often things that require someone with a great deal of … [Read more...]
