Exactly the question asked on a VA forum sometime ago and here is my answer: Find an accountant to get the advice that is needed regarding legal requirements for your business. Apply for whatever licenses or register whatever you need to do legally regarding the tax dept for your region. A business name can wait till you've gotten started - it's not necessary and you can legally operate under your own name if you wish. Get business cards made up - doesn't have to be a real lot, even … [Read more...]
Phone access for clients
I've chosen not to use my mobile (cell) phone for my VA business. Why? Because I'm in my office 95% of the time anyway and they can get me via the landline and email - why do I need them calling on my mobile phone too? I use the mobile phone for personal use only, i.e. family, friends, emergencies. If I'm out of my office I can't be doing work for clients anyway, as the majority of what I do is done on a computer. And yet, it seems I'm in a minority and I think it shocks some clients when … [Read more...]
Are you prepared for the responsibility?
I saw a question at answers.yahoo where a woman was asking about becoming a Virtual Assistant. She's keen to find work she can do at home and had been doing some research and discovered the term 'virtual assistant'. She wanted to know if she could become one and how to get started. I answered her query, gave some information and websites and then thought it was important to add this little bit of information: "It is important for you to know that being a VA means you are self-employed. So … [Read more...]
Punctuation and transcriptions
Do you have challenges with working out the punctuation in a transcription you're doing for a client? It's not always easy to know when you should be putting a semi-colon or a colon, a fullstop (period) or a comma and so on. I've heard the occasional person actually dictate when a fullstop should be used or comma, but not often. I guess if you're under 40 you might not have heard of the name Victor Borge but my husband and I were lying in bed this morning and something just got us thinking … [Read more...]
Don’t stop!!!
It's a busy time of year isn't it? Here in Australia many businesses are winding down for the year with Christmas/New Year and Summer holidays just around the corner. And let's face it, if you've had a busy year with barely a break, the need for rest and relaxation is most important. I am taking time off too, with my husband, so we can enjoy our home, our surroundings, sleep in, go for drives and do some things around the house that we haven't yet had time to do. So, what is my title about? … [Read more...]
The year is almost over…
Don't let your chances to build a Virtual Assistant business for the new year pass! If you have been considering working from home but don't know how to get started, or perhaps you have started but feel you need a guiding hand, then my VATrainer course is exactly what you need! And at this time of year I like to give some Christmas cheer in the form of extra 'gifts' to help you on your way. Until 31 December 2011, I am offering a package deal – the 10 week training course AND membership of A … [Read more...]
More on finding clients for Virtual Assistants
I thought I would share more on finding clients as a Virtual Assistant. We've touched on all the regular things and most of all networking - I believe that many don't fully understand the value and importance of real time face-to-face networking. Why ignore a good percentage of your potential client audience that is close by - just because you work virtually? Local face-to-face networking has always been effective and still is. I was doing that before the Internet and still do it today. I … [Read more...]
Virtual Assistance – Is it a steady income?
This was the question I was asked by a lady recently, who is looking to become a Virtual Assistant. She is thinking of joining my Virtual Assistant Network and wanted some assurance that she would earn an income. This is not an uncommon question and I thought I'd share my answer with you all here on my blog. In answer to that question - no, in the short-term and yes, in the long-term. There isn't a direct answer. What I mean is when you join you might get a client straight away or it … [Read more...]
Professional Development for Virtual Assistants
One of the great things about our industry is there there is a wealth of information out there - within and outside our industry, that we can all benefit from. There are four such events coming up in the next two weeks that would be of benefit to every VA out there. Of course, you have to guard your time (and your money if there is a cost involved) however you do need to weigh up whether the new knowledge or skill you gain will be of great benefit to your business and that of your clients. So, … [Read more...]