This article is about a Virtual Assistant and explains why smart businesses, particularly sole traders and SMEs are turning to freelance secretaries to help maximise profits, portray a more human face in a world of ever increasing technology and achieve that work / life balance we all dream of.

In today's competitive market, thriving businesses understand that flexibility and reputation are everything. Who knows what's around the corner or who might call? If an opportunity arises, are you in a position to seize it and do it well? When things get busy, will there be enough hours in the day? For many entrepreneurs, business success is all they dreamed it would be when it arrives, but it's sometimes accompanied by a shift in the work / life balance in the wrong direction, presenting a different set of challenges.

If you could delegate the paperwork, have a real person instead of an answering machine represent you when you're not there and enhance your professional image, would you? If this someone was a flexible, commitment-free, intelligent and reliable office professional that needed neither office nor equipment and understood your business needs because they're business owners themselves, would you? If they could let you do what you do best and took care of the rest, would you? Just think what you could do with the time they give you, not to mention the peace of mind.

Welcome to life with a Virtual Assistant.

As one entrepreneur puts it, “As a busy photographer, especially at this time of year, I just don't have the time to deal with the nuances of office administration. Having a Virtual Assistant has enabled me to capitalise on ever increasing demands within the marketplace and spend more time with my family.”

Virtual Assistants are office professionals offering a range of traditional secretarial and PA services, using the latest technology from call minding, through diary management , sending out invoices and audio transcription to more specialised services such as payroll. Working virtually with the aid of phones and computers is as easy as having a secretary by your side. They are available for ad-hoc, project-specific or regular work and usually cost less than an office temp. More importantly, because they're small business owners themselves, they care passionately about the level of service they're providing – your success is integral to theirs after all and it's their reputation at stake!

“I never worry about missing an important business call – no-one leaves a message on an answering machine and waits for someone to get back to them these days. With the competition and pace of life being what it is, they just try someone else.”

If you now know how a Virtual Office Assistant can make a difference to you and your business, he is some advice on choosing one. “Virtual Assistants are professionals. They must have Professional Indemnity insurance and ideally, membership of a professional organisation such as the International Association of Virtual Assistants or Society for Virtual Assistants giving them access to a network of other professional VAs across the country.”