“Don’t confuse working for other companies with building your own practice as they are two completely separate things.”

It is so very true!

Now, I know the type of companies you talk about in this post – they operate more like staffing agencies, than VAs. But what’s your take on multi-VA firms?

Danielle already gave you great advice, but I wanted to add a little from my own experience. When I first started out, I looked into some of those companies and it ended up being a collosal waste of my time, cost me financially, and set me back emotionally when it comes to shedding the employee mind-set and standing on my own two feet as a business owner. As a VA, you cannot be “employed.” You are by definition an independent business owner. Since you have already had success finding clients on your own by marketing and networking, I highly encourage you to continue on that road and forget all the agencies that “employ” VAs and find them work. They are chiefly concerned with fattening their own wallets and leaving you with very little, and I can’t imagine any that wouldn’t have you sign a non-compete agreement, so I doubt you could ever get a client of your very own from them (much less one that is willing to pay you what you’re really worth). Like Danielle said, when you’re first starting out and you need the money you gotta do what you gotta do. But as someone who has been there and done that, I’ve got to tell you, I really wish that I hadn’t.

Oh, and as far as companies “certifying” you to be a VA — I don’t put much stock in that. Spend money if necessary on acquiring specific skills and especially, knowledge of how to properly run a business. You’ve aleady been in the trenches. You know how to do administrative work. You are already qualified to be a VA.