Running a business, whether large, small or in your home, is full of challenges. Getting the day-to-day tasks completed, e-mail, faxes and telephones answered, bills and statements sent out, reports run, schedule updated, travel arrangements made, marketing pieces and website updated, as well as a plethora of other tasks, can be downright daunting.
In swoops the "Virtual Assistant" to handle these and many other tasks for you and help your company's bottom line. In case you're still working out of a cave (as you may be if you're still doing it all yourself), a Virtual Assistant, who has been touted as one of the must-haves of the modern entrepreneurial arsenal of time and money-saving tricks, is a highly skilled independent contractor who handle their client's administrative (and sometimes personal) needs in a large variety of ways.
Because Virtual Assistants (VAs) are business owners themselves, they have a vested interest in your company's success -- your success leads to their success. They really aim to please because their business depends on it. And who better to understand the trials and tribulations than another business owner? Also, most VAs came from the corporate world and were executive or administrative assistants (secretaries), customer service managers or representatives, paralegals, project managers or coordinators, database administrators, or bookkeepers.
Here are just some of the services a Virtual Assistant can provide:
Typing / Word Processing,
Database Management and Entry,
Proofreading and Copy Editing,
Accounts Payable and Receivable,
Calendaring / Scheduling / Reminder Services,
Travel Arrangements,
Customer Service (including answering forwarded phones, making outgoing calls and answering e-mails),
Presentations,
Event Planning,
Research,
Web Services,
Ordering Supplies and Equipment,
Project Coordination / Management,
Marketing Projects,
Incoming and Outgoing Mail,
Expense Reports,
Reporting.
You have a lot of work you could delegate to a Virtual Assistant, but you're still not convinced one would be right for your business. According to Hackett Group, a Hudson, Ohio consultancy, "outsourcing, in general, can cost 50% less than hiring a full-time employee." Because your VA is an entrepreneur and not an employee, you don't have the extra expense of paying additional taxes, providing insurance, purchasing office supplies and equipment, updating software, sick, vacation and personal time, office space to provide, and you only pay for the time the VA actually works (you're not paying for coffee breaks, downtime, etc.).
Hiring a temporary can come with a whole host of problems including their lack of skills, the need to provide equipment, supplies, and office space, as well as going through several temps (or agencies) to find one that can adequately provide the skills you need! Also keep in mind that temporary services normally take about 1/2 of the monies you pay them -- when the temp only receives $7 - $11 an hour, you really can't expect a high quality person. If you still think it's best to do it yourself, you'll find that your time is much more profitably spent on revenue-generating activities. Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant adds to up increased profits for your business.
Work is transmitted via e-mail, fax, mail, overnight service, etc. -- they will coordinate with you to provide the work to you in the most timely and inexpensive manner possible. You can also keep in touch via telephone, e-mail and instant messaging.
Costs of a Virtual Assistant run from $15 - $50 per hour (depending on the scope of the work and their skill level) and some work by the project or on a monthly retainer. I know of a few VAs that are willing to barter for the right products and/or service. Always read any potential Virtual Assistant's website and take a look at their testimonials, client list, etc. If you notice grammatical and spelling errors anywhere on their site or newsletters, you can be assured that your work will come back with spelling and grammatical errors. A highly skilled VA will be very detail oriented and will not put out work with these errors.
I recommend contacting a few VAs via e-mail, then by telephone to see if the rapport is there, which is very important for anyone you work with. The one you are most comfortable with that charges a reasonable cost is the one to try first. You may want to keep the contact information of your second pick where you can easily find it in case your first pick is unavailable for any reason. Then give them a small project and work up from there.
Soon you will find that a dependable, accomplished VA will become your indispensable partner for years to come.
(c) 2005 Nita Helping Hand? - All rights reserved
You are free to use this material in whole or in part as long as you include the following:
About the author: Nita Ammon is a professional proofreader, copy-editor and the President of Nita Helping Hand? Please visit Nita's website for additional information about proofreading, copy-editing and other administrative needs available at http://www.nitahelpinghand.com or contact her at http://www.nitahelpinghand.com. Nita is your 'Partner In Perception'.
Chicago charter limousine service Streamwood .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIn today's marketplace the words 'job security' have become an... Read More
Just recently, I took a break and caught "The Return... Read More
Some of the very qualities that attract people to the... Read More
You've come up with the best idea since sliced bread,... Read More
Becoming a contractor or sub-contractor for the U.S. government can... Read More
1. Don't Spend Too Much Time PlanningWhen you are entering... Read More
We love Wichita because it has great all round weather... Read More
Franchising Directory Sites-Paid Advertising, Lead Generation for FranchisingFranchising Directory Sites... Read More
Many years ago, I had warned the carwash industry of... Read More
Imagine that you have operated a successful franchise business for... Read More
Your on-line success is based on your efforts and yours... Read More
A suggestion box is a really good idea for your... Read More
Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality... Read More
If you are in a franchise and have a territory... Read More
Every business plan book tells you how the Executive Summary... Read More
Let me get right to the point. The single most... Read More
It is essential that you fully understand how the fuel... Read More
So you want to get into the auto detailing business... Read More
One of the simplest ways to expand your marketing efforts... Read More
Writing a business plan for a mobile car wash is... Read More
Some of the greatest words of wisdom for any man... Read More
One of the biggest fears people have about starting a... Read More
As an Investment Representative you've worked hard to build trust... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission decided to sit down and revamp... Read More
You're a small business owner with a hot new product... Read More
limo O'Hare Elk Grove (west OF 53) ..That sizzling sound you're hearing may be a symptom of... Read More
If you are a non-operator owner of many work trucks,... Read More
How do window cleaning franchise businesses start? It is a... Read More
When is advice free and when should you charge for... Read More
My clients and many of my readers are small and... Read More
Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality... Read More
Should you buy a business opportunity or Franchise if you... Read More
Send handwritten notes. That applies whether you're a guy or... Read More
Announcements can be handed out as a business cardAnnouncements can... Read More
Essentially there are 5 tremendously powerful methods to make money... Read More
Approximately 200,000 new businesses are started each year. More people... Read More
Mobile carwashing is hard work, it is tough on the... Read More
Most business owners know when they need an accountant, but... Read More
Want your small business to flip instead of flop?! Statistically... Read More
If you are thinking of turning your current into a... Read More
In a world full of complications sometimes we overlook the... Read More
Did you know that satisfaction is the number one emotion... Read More
When is it a good thing to say no to... Read More
If you run a pressure washing company in a rural... Read More
It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More
How much is your time really worth? Is it worth... Read More
We love Wichita because it has great all round weather... Read More
Would you rather have one good client paying you five... Read More
1. Have A Strong Constitution ? Justices deliver decisions by... Read More
The Franchise Group at the Federal Trade Commission in all... Read More
Small Business |