What is VA?
Veteran's Administration? Virginia? How about Volt Amp? While all three are abbreviations for VA, today I'm talking about Virtual Assistant. When I started my business in 1996, Virtual Assistance was considered a business support service, office support service, or secretarial support just to name a few.
The trade organization in 1996, of which I was a member, was Association of Business Support Services (ABSSI). Since then ABSSI has been dissolved and the International Virtual Assistance Association (IVAA) was formed in 1999 and had 28 members in 2001. Today IVAA has more than 1,000 members. The VA industry is a wonderful industry to be a part of, helping each other in their businesses.
As technology developed, the role of business support services also developed into a more virtual work environment. The ability to work virtually became more accessible and more acceptable. The mental attitude of needing the person "right here in my office" that used to be a major roadblock for the person looking to hire an assistant has diminished.
Now, you may be asking yourself, "What exactly is a Virtual Assistant and what do they do?" A Virtual Assistant is an entrepreneur who provides a variety of administrative support through the use of telephone, fax, U.S. mail, overnight mail, and Internet.
A Virtual Assistant:
- is an entrepreneur
- works as an independent contractor
- works from her own office
- keeps her equipment and software up-to-date
- is ambitious
- is proactive
- is interested in learning about your business
- has a desire to help you succeed in your business
- is always willing to learn new technologies and skills
- is only paid for the time actually spent on your projects
- is able to multi-task
- provides accurate, quality work
- provides confidentiality for her clients
- abides by a code of ethics published by both IVAA and Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA)
"How do I know what kinds of things I can send my VA?" If you're a solo entrepreneur, look at the non-billable tasks you do on a daily basis. For the next two weeks make a list of the things you do every day that is non-billable work. I'll bet there are things that are low payoff activities that your VA could be doing...allowing you to focus on the high payoff activities.
Perhaps you're in the position that you're considering hiring a part-time person to help you. Keep in mind, an employee can cost 2 to 2-1/2 times their hourly rate. The cost savings comes in the fact that when using a Virtual Assistant:
- You don't pay taxes.
- You don't pay for benefits such as vacation or sick time, workers' compensation insurance, or health insurance.
- You don't pay for downtime. You only pay for the time required to complete your work.
- You don't have to provide equipment and software, upgrades to that equipment and software, or office space.
Take the challenge, make that list. If you have an "I should have hired a VA" moment, do your homework and find that Virtual Assistant.
The trade organization in 1996, of which I was a member, was Association of Business Support Services (ABSSI). Since then ABSSI has been dissolved and the International Virtual Assistance Association (IVAA) was formed in 1999 and had 28 members in 2001. Today IVAA has more than 1,000 members. The VA industry is a wonderful industry to be a part of, helping each other in their businesses.
As technology developed, the role of business support services also developed into a more virtual work environment. The ability to work virtually became more accessible and more acceptable. The mental attitude of needing the person "right here in my office" that used to be a major roadblock for the person looking to hire an assistant has diminished.
Now, you may be asking yourself, "What exactly is a Virtual Assistant and what do they do?" A Virtual Assistant is an entrepreneur who provides a variety of administrative support through the use of telephone, fax, U.S. mail, overnight mail, and Internet.
A Virtual Assistant:
- is an entrepreneur
- works as an independent contractor
- works from her own office
- keeps her equipment and software up-to-date
- is ambitious
- is proactive
- is interested in learning about your business
- has a desire to help you succeed in your business
- is always willing to learn new technologies and skills
- is only paid for the time actually spent on your projects
- is able to multi-task
- provides accurate, quality work
- provides confidentiality for her clients
- abides by a code of ethics published by both IVAA and Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA)
"How do I know what kinds of things I can send my VA?" If you're a solo entrepreneur, look at the non-billable tasks you do on a daily basis. For the next two weeks make a list of the things you do every day that is non-billable work. I'll bet there are things that are low payoff activities that your VA could be doing...allowing you to focus on the high payoff activities.
Perhaps you're in the position that you're considering hiring a part-time person to help you. Keep in mind, an employee can cost 2 to 2-1/2 times their hourly rate. The cost savings comes in the fact that when using a Virtual Assistant:
- You don't pay taxes.
- You don't pay for benefits such as vacation or sick time, workers' compensation insurance, or health insurance.
- You don't pay for downtime. You only pay for the time required to complete your work.
- You don't have to provide equipment and software, upgrades to that equipment and software, or office space.
Take the challenge, make that list. If you have an "I should have hired a VA" moment, do your homework and find that Virtual Assistant.
