Loading ...So you want to be a Virtual Assistant, huh?
Having built a successful Virtual Assistant practice myself, I can tell you it can be very rewarding being your own boss, doing work you love for fantastic clients. But make no mistake–this is a real profession requiring a high level of qualifications and expertise. And life as a business owner can be very demanding.
Virtual Assistance is not for everyone, and not everyone can be a Virtual Assistant. For serious-minded newcomers who are considering entry into the Virtual Assistance profession, I want to share some of my insights.
1. Does it take a long time to get a Virtual Assistant business off the ground?
As with any business, success doesn’t happen overnight or without much effort. You get what you put in, and it takes hard work, dedication and perseverance. For some people, business sense comes naturally, and they have the acumen it takes to market, network and promote successfully while operating intelligently and providing superior administrative support. For others, this is a struggle, and they often perpetuate ineffectual methods and practices that won’t ever lead them where they’d like to go. Outside of that, it will simply take time to become established. The better you are at networking, marketing and creating your own opportunities, the quicker that will happen.
2. What qualifications do you need to become a Virtual Assistant?
Virtual Assistant practices are true businesses providing a valuable professional service. Virtual Assistance is not a get-rich-quick, work-at-home, telecommuting side-job, MLM or any other network-marketing scheme.
A small segment of the people attracted to the Virtual Assistance profession are those with little to no qualifications or only entry-level skill sets who are looking for a way to make a quick buck with no effort. That won’t happen in this business, and veteran Virtual Assistants vehemently discourage that mentality as it both disrespects and misrepresents our profession.
Most Virtual Assistants led accomplished professional lives in the workforce before taking their expertise into the entrepreneurial world. Virtual Assistants come from a variety of business backgrounds, but the common denominator is that they are typically overachievers with extensive administrative experience and superior skill sets and training.
Entry-level skills and experience simply will not afford the ability to serve clients well. Business owners need Virtual Assistants with top-of-the-line administrative expertise. Entering into the profession without these qualifications would be a mistake, and a grave disservice to both consumers and the profession, as well as yourself.
3. Is the income good?
The income can be very good. But I won’t mislead you. It again comes back to how hard one works and learns to create a successful business, and how intelligently the business is set-up.
One of the most important decisions, if not THE most important, is determining your rates. Rather than pulling a rate out of thin air, smart Virtual Assistants utilize established business formularies to determine a profitable rate for their business. These formularies take into consideration, among other things, the amount of salary you expect to earn, administrative costs (non-billable time), anticipated expenses, operating costs and capital outlay. You also need to factor into the calculations the value of your time and expertise.
Realize that in order to remain in business, doing the work you love and living the life of your choosing, you must be profitable, so set your rates with intention and due diligence.
4. How can you avoid getting the wrong kind of clients?
Many Virtual Assistants will take any client on. More successful Virtual Assistants have learned that screening and handpicking ideal clients within a target market is much smarter. One of the ways we do that is by first developing a profile of the kind of client we want to work with. That profile can include, among other things, personality traits, work habits, and the kind of work they do. Once you discern the kind of person you prefer to work with, it’s much easier when interviewing new clients to weed out those who won’t be a good fit.
Every Virtual Assistant has different tastes, skills and strengths. Along those lines, we determine who our target markets are, and narrow down our services to offer only those that we most enjoy and are most qualified to deliver. Covering all these bases will go a long way toward finding your most suitable clients, and maintaining joy and satisfaction, as well as quality, in your work.
Although all Virtual Assistants get their fair share of one-time or occasional projects, the business model is specifically geared toward establishing long-term partnerships with clients. Therefore, it’s important that the client fit your needs as much as you fit theirs. Your earning potential will also be greater with retained clients.
Working with the “right” client on a long-term basis is also much more gratifying, and creates a positive reciprocal energy for both of you. You get to know them and the work very well, which makes anticipating their needs more intuitive, and the satisfaction of having a more personal relationship with a client and being a part of their success can be very rewarding for both of you.
5. Are there courses that are worth my time to take?
Understand that the single-most important qualification to become a Virtual Assistant is at least five years administrative experience earned in the real (non-virtual) business world working in upper level capacities such as secretary, administrative assistant, executive assistant, real estate assistant, legal secretary, paralegal/legal assistant, office manager or supervisor, etc. Those whose only experience was in receptionist or clerical roles typically have only entry-level skill sets which will not equip them to meet the very real and important administrative needs of clients, much less deal with the rigors of running a business.
There are no programs that will “teach” you to be a Virtual Assistant. However, if you already have the requisite skills and experience, the Virtual Assistant industry does have some business training and coaching programs that can be of great benefit in learning how to run a business successfully.
Joining an industry forum such as Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce is also a smart move. For free, you can network with other Virtual Assistants, share knowledge and resources, get answers to technical questions, and learn from veteran Virtual Assistants who have established successful practices themselves. From there you can also get tips on who to turn to for other business training programs, personal coaching and mentorship
6. I want to leave a crazy job and certainly don’t want to jump from the frying pan into the fire. Can the work get out of hand?
Again, this depends on how smart you model and operate your business and establish your systems, standards and boundaries. It can only get out of hand if you allow it. I really encourage systemizing your business and processes and how you deliver your services. That, combined with focusing on a target market and choosing to work with people who fit your ideal client profile will go a long way towards living and working exactly the way you intend.
These are simplified answers to some of the questions you may have, but I hope they help you start thinking in the right directions.
JOIN THE VACOC –> The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce is the premier Virtual Assistant association with a body of Virtual Assistant business knowledge and know-how that is second to none! Our passion is helping Virtual Assistants run smarter, more successful businesses that bring them more money and greater personal happiness, freedom and client satisfaction. Come join our Virtual Assistant Peer Networking Group–it’s free!
