Answers to Frequently
Asked Questions
About Hiring Virtual
Assistance:
Who is a virtual assistant?
Outsource your clerical and administrative support tasks to a virtual
assistant (also called a VA). A VA is an independent contractor who
works from his or her own home or office space. A virtual assistant
works virtually, thanks to technology like email, Internet, telephone,
fax machines, postal mail and courier services.
In fact, your VA can be in another state and still meet your needs as
though he or she were right beside you. You will probably never meet
your virtual assistant in-person. Yet she will handle your
administrative tasks with the care of a business partner. VAs are
professional business owners themselves and that enables them to
particularly understand the needs of small business owners and home
based business owners like you.
Who needs virtual assistance?
Virtual Assistants are ideal for small offices and home-based
businesses that need administrative support or clerical assistance
without the cost of placing a new employee with salary and benefits on
staff and on-site.
VAs work out of their own offices, not yours. And they use their own
office equipment.
A virtual assistant is classified as an independent contractor, not an
employee or a temp. You outsource work to your virtual assistant.
Ideally, many VAs want to establish long-term working relationships
with you. The VA wants to get to know you and your business in order
to work closely to meet your business and office support needs
ongoing---yet only as-needed by you.
Why do I need a virtual
assistant?
If you're a successful small business entrepreneur, you've learned the
value of outsourcing tasks (even ones you're capable of doing
yourself) in order to spend your time growing your business and
working on bottom-line functions. You probably already outsource tasks
like your accounting and advertising. Why not outsource your
administrative and clerical duties too?
Still not sure about hiring virtual
assistance?
Here are
12 reasons
to hire a virtual assistant now:
-
You will have more free time to spend with your
family and friends.
-
You will have more time to work on growing your
business.
-
Pay only for work you need completed.
-
Reduce your business overhead costs. You don't
provide benefits, office equipment or office space. You don't even
provide a paid lunch hour and holidays!
-
No need to train staff. VAs come equipped and
trained in their specialty areas.
-
You will be provided with skills that you don't
have but need (e.g. Create PowerPoint slide presentations).
-
VAs provide you with additional help. VAs
are an additional set of hands.
-
You will have someone that helps you implement
your great ideas quicker to build your business faster.
-
VAs do even your boring tasks! Hate data entry?
Hire a VA to do it for you.
-
Get help with emergencies quick. 24 hour support
available (by some VA's and VA agencies).
-
Use software you don't even own (many VA's own
and use PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat and more).
-
VAs are professionals and independent business
owners. They understand better than anyone your needs as a
home-based or small business owner and give your business the same
care and service they expect in their own business.
What tasks can
virtual assistants do for me?
All virtual assistants are talented professionals that can handle
daily administrative and clerical support tasks for you ranging from
keeping your databases and calendar/scheduling software to handling
correspondence and mailings for you. But many VA's also have
additional talents and specialties that they can bring to the table
like foreign language translation, press release writing and
distribution or internet research skills. Within each listing in the
Virtual Assistant Directory, you'll read about services offered by
each VA.
How much do virtual
assistants charge?
Rates are set independently by each virtual assistant. You should
contact VAs of interest to you for price quotes and references as
you require. On average, expect to pay at least $30-$50/hour---some
VA's charge more, some charge less. VAs may work on a project or
hourly basis or you may be interested in putting a VA on retainer
for your business needs throughout the year. Just remember, a VA can
help you grow your business by freeing your time to concentrate on
the "big picture". When you use the services of a VA, you're
investing in your business growth.
