Many times, entrepreneurs/solopreneurs
jump at the opportunity to hire a Virtual Assistant without realizing that
Virtual Assistants are entrepreneurs as well. Most individuals misconstrue
this profession by categorizing Virtual Assistants as their employee...when
that is not the case. A Virtual Assistant (VA) is an independent contractor who
provides business support services to clients while operating from a virtual
office, usually their home office, by using technology such as laptops, cell
phones, and internet access. Because a VA
works offsite, the client doesn’t need to provide a work-space or other office
equipment. Typically business owners
outsource specific tasks to VAs to assist with managing certain aspects of
their business on a contractual basis. The duration of the contract is at the discretion
of the client, but needs to be within the guidelines of the VA. Because Virtual Assistants are contractors, a
business does not have to provide the same benefits that it would for a
full-time employee.
The specific duties of a VA vary according to the needs of
the client and the terms of the contract. Some VAs handle clerical and
bookkeeping duties, while others may post regular updates to social media or
write articles for a blog. A well-rounded VA may also handle travel
arrangements, appointment scheduling, data entry and online file storage.
Want to know if you’re ready to work with a Virtual
Assistant for your business? Below is a
brief checklist you can use to decide your readiness to hire a VA:
- Do you have specific tasks that you need help with to optimize your business?
- Is there some area of activity you’d really want to include in your business, but don’t have the time to do it yourself (like finding leads or specific marketing tasks)?
- Are certain tasks starting to fall through the cracks?
- Are you overwhelmed with administrative tasks?
- Is hiring a Virtual Assistant within your budget? Do you have $700+ to spare a month on a VA (full-time/20 hrs a month) or $200+ (part-time/5 hrs a month)?
- Do you need more time to focus on the profit making aspects of your business?
- Is your business growing?
If you are a
business owner and you answered “YES” to the questions listed above, then you’re
ready to work with a Virtual Assistant for your business.
