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[S930]Starting A Virtual Assistant Business

by Melissa Brewer, Mel

The internet changed businesses. The internet changed media. The internet changed government. Then, it changed lives. We now have new careers, new ways to communicate, new ways no make income, to talk to mom, to say I love you and I hate you and “I quit”. The internet has given us more options than most of us ever imagines having. It has contributed immensely to the unprecedented success of individuals working from the home and the invention of a completely new title for administrative professionals – who thought that they would never be recognized as such – the birth of the title Virtual Assistant.

As a self-employed virtual assistant, never again will you have to send a fax or tell a lie for a boss you don't particularly like. Never again will you have to accept low wages or make coffee for an entire office staff. The internet has made it possible to break down the physical obstacles that used to limit administrative workers – they can now work anytime they choose in the comfort of their homes regardless of their physical location. They can now get more done, in less time, and their bosses can be anywhere, only asking them to concentrate on one or two tasks at a time.

Telecommuting enables Virtual Assistant all over the world to discover and reap the benefits of running businesses from of their homes with no strict dress codes to follow or demeaning busywork. Administrative assistants are often loaned out to other departments in the office world – which is often frustrating and demeaning. In the VA world, you choose your clients, but accept referrals. You charge your own wages. You can turn down projects. You can share responsibilities with other staff if you choose. You do administrative work on your own hours and terms, spelled out in an independent contract.

Some of the more obvious benefits of Virtual Assistant businesses are:

Working from home gives you freedom from traffic and office politics; it provides flexibility of schedule and more time with your family..

A Virtual Assistant business gives you more opportunity to save – no fuel expenses, you get to eat at home, and the money stays home with you, too.

A home business entitles you to home business tax deductions, which is a tax deduction category all by itself.

A home business means more quality time for your family.

Running your own business gives you first-hand experience in marketing, advertising, sales, strategic planning, business development and research.

Virtual Assistant businesses are almost always run by people who have organizational skills and an entrepreneurial spirit that sets them up for success in all they do. Having your own Virtual Assistant business gives you the opportunity to gain more self-confidence because you are in control of your success. Financial independence is the most compelling reason why people go into business.

Being a Virtual Assistant is a rewarding occupation and an inspiration to the people you love, as well. It may start off as a lot of hard work, but the joy of having new clients, and the stability of new contracts coming in, will make it all worth it in the beginning, middle, and retirement age end.

In “Field of Dreams" the Kevin Costner character is told to “build it and they will come". He worked and worked to build his field of dreams. If you have seen the movie, you know that he was ridiculed and there was a lot of work to do to turn that field of corn into a baseball diamond. But it was all worth it in the end.

What are you willing to go through to see your business become successful? How much work are you willing to do? Some people see becoming a virtual assistant as a get-rich-quick business. If you talk to any successful VA, you will find out this is just not true. They are successful because they have put the time and energy into their business.

I am not trying to discourage anyone from becoming a virtual assistant. I just want people to go into this field with their eyes wide open. Here are a few things to consider before you decide to take the plunge into the virtual assistant industry:

1. Definition – What is a virtual assistant? I like the Wikipedia definition: A Virtual Assistant (or simply VA), is an independent contractor providing administrative, technical, or sometimes creative assistance to clients--usually to other independent entrepreneurs and solo and small business practices, such as that of a lawyer or realtor. Virtual assistants work from their own office (hence "virtual"). Common modes of communication and data delivery include the Internet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and fax machine.

2. Experience – How much experience do you have in the non-virtual world in the area of expertise you are going to market? Some organizations believe you should have at least 5 years experience before you start your virtual assistant business. If you have the experience and skills then go for it. If not, why not wait another year or two before stepping out on your own.

3. Training – Virtual assistant training does not train you how to use a computer, build a website, or send an email. It does train you to run your own business, create a business plan, and how to market yourself and your VA business. There are a lot of training options available. Make sure you are comfortable with the format of the training as well as the content. Don’t purchase anything you won’t be able to learn from.

4. Web Presence – This used to mean that you would have a website, but now it means so much more. Having a web presence now means to have a website, a blog, at least 3 networking page memberships (like MySpace), and membership in various forums and groups. You have to get yourself out there in cyberspace as much as possible.

5. Marketing – Marketing your business can take many forms. You can do it through your local Chamber of Commerce, newspaper ads, and other traditional methods. Your web presence is basically marketing. You can spend hours keeping up with marketing. Writing articles, press releases, and commenting on forums are great ways to get your business into the minds of prospective customers. Networking is another effective method of marketing. This can be done online or in person, but you have to keep up with it. Experts say your prospective clients need to see your information 7 times before it registers.

I hope you haven’t been put off becoming a virtual assistant. I just wanted you to be aware that it is a lot of work. Not only do you have to complete your client work, but you will have a tonne of stuff to do to keep your business running. If you let either fall behind, you will have no business at all.

Build your “field of dreams" but remember how much work it will take to build.

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Both Melissa Brewer & Darrell A. Williams Williams are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Melissa Brewer has sinced written about articles on various topics from Advertising Guide, Telemarketing and Work From Home. Melissa Brewer is the author of the Little White Ebook of Virtual Assistant Jobs, the complete guide to virtual admin work online, available at . She. Melissa Brewer's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.

Darrell A. Williams Williams has sinced written about articles on various topics from Small Business. Darrell A. Willliams is the owner of Right-Hand-Man Virtual Assistant Services - a Multi-VA team practice. Darrell has over 8 years experience in the administrative support field. He has worked in Canada, the US, and the UK. For more information visit. Darrell A. Williams Williams's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.