| I reached a point in my law practice a number of | | | | personally. It is a routine task that my VA takes |
| years ago where I was stuck. Like, La Brea Tar | | | | care of, and on completion, sends me a copy that |
| Pits stuck. I had reached my fullest capacity - by | | | | I synchronize with my existing database. An |
| myself -- of serving clients, handling the billing, and | | | | updated database without any interference from |
| going out to get more clients to start the cycle all | | | | me! |
| over again. The biggest part bogging me down | | | | Next, list those tasks that you are loath to do. |
| was the administration of it all: sending out bills, | | | | Many of us dislike handling accounts payable and |
| retainer agreements, entering business card | | | | receivable. Now, your VA may not have the right |
| information... none of which contributed to my top | | | | experience to handle these functions, but she can |
| line (income!). I needed someone to take the | | | | certainly do the legwork to find a suitable |
| administrative and basic-level marketing tasks off | | | | bookkeeper. |
| my plate and free up my time. But my fears | | | | How to Build a Partnership with a VA? |
| echoed that common plaintive cry of | | | | The process of finding a building a solid partnership |
| entrepreneurs who are burning out doing | | | | with a VA is not different from that for a regular |
| everything themselves: "I can't afford it." The | | | | employee. Here are some questions you may |
| cost of employee taxes, benefits, and other | | | | want to ask: |
| perks -- not to mention the base salary and the | | | | - What are the skills, background, and experience |
| costs of adding additional office space and | | | | you want the VA to have? |
| equipment - was enough to make me choke. | | | | - How long has the VA been in business, and how |
| So what did I do? I reconfigured my business, | | | | much training does she (VAs are usually women) |
| found some ways to work a little more | | | | have in the business world? What kind of |
| efficiently, automated a few more procedures. | | | | administrative skills does she possess? |
| Yet I soon find myself banging my head against | | | | - Does she exhibit professionalism? Are her cover |
| the same capacity ceiling. I faced burnout. Visions | | | | letter and resume well written, or are they filled |
| of the Peace Corps in Outer Mongolia danced in | | | | with bad grammar or slang? If there is a website, |
| my head. | | | | after reviewing it, do you feel more confident |
| I wised up the second time around. I was already | | | | about the VA and her abilities? |
| outsourcing some of my work such as developing | | | | - How much time are you willing to give to the |
| my website, tech support, and accounting and | | | | partnership to let it settle down? |
| bookkeeping tasks to consultants. Why not seek | | | | - Does your VA have a written agreement with |
| virtual assistants to handle my administrative and | | | | her clients? Will she agree in writing to keep your |
| marketing jobs? | | | | information confidential? |
| Administrative Help Without the Employment | | | | - Does she have a "contingency plan" - that is, |
| Taxes | | | | backup help in the event that she runs into a |
| Like other consultants, virtual assistants (VAs) are | | | | problem, family emergency, etc.? |
| generally considered independent contractors. | | | | Once you have prepared your list of |
| "Assisting" is their business. Among other factors | | | | requirements, consider posting the opening to and |
| that the IRS looks at to ensure that someone | | | | similar sites. Scrutinize cover letters from all |
| really is an independent contractor (and not an | | | | applicants, and be prepared to speak to them on |
| employee in disguise), VAs set their own hours, | | | | the phone to get more information on their |
| provide their own office space and equipment, | | | | background, and how they carry out their |
| negotiate their own rates, and perform similar | | | | business. I cannot begin to count the ways my |
| services for other clients. This lack of complete | | | | VA has been of great help to me. Not only is she |
| control over VAs and their work environment - | | | | managing the old, routine tasks, she steps in to |
| coupled with their paying their own employment | | | | handle new jobs which I delegate to her as my |
| taxes -- lends to their being considered | | | | business grows. By doing so, I am freed to be |
| independent contractors. | | | | where I need to be to grow the business, which |
| What Can a VA Do Best? | | | | is to be at the frontline. Where would you rather |
| Make a list of all those tasks that do not require | | | | be ' lost in the back office, or right at the |
| your individual attention. For example, building a | | | | forefront as the face of your business? Which is |
| database of contacts from all my networking | | | | best for your company? |
| events is not a job that requires me to attend to | | | | |