The Three Key Factors of Using a Virtual Assistant

div align="center">that go along with hiring an employee, rather than
You may have heard some of your colleaguesa VA. When you hire a VA there is no
speak of hiring a “VA” or VirtualWorker’s Compensation or disability
Assistant and you may have wondered how thisinsurance to purchase; no lengthy tax paper work
works and how you can benefit from it. The keyto keep track of. No Social Security Tax to pay
factors of hiring a VA over an employee or just– and of course no paid benefits like sick
doing the work yourself are: time, money anddays or vacation time!
expertise. These factors are of course veryWhat is YOUR expertise in? Probably not
important to all businesses. They always need todocument formatting or creating calculations in
be improved upon continuously so that yourspreadsheets, social networking for your business
company can run smoothly, efficiently andor updating your website. Your expertise likely lies
profitably. You may think you can do it allin what your business is all about. As an
yourself, that you can’t afford to hireentrepreneur or business owner, you may be
anyone, or that hiring anfamiliar with Michael Gerber’s book,
“employee” is safer and easier.“The E-Myth Revisited”. Gerber
Let’s look at the three factors in depth.talks about the baker who opens a bakery, but
First, let’s look at time. Ifnot only has to make the pies and other baked
you’re doing everything on your own,goods that they specialize in, but who also has to
you are probably often thinking, “I reallymarket the business, wait on customers, keep
need to be working on marketingthe books, clean the shop and just about
strategies,” or “I really need toeverything else. The baker’s business is
be increasing my billable time," or whatever it isjust starting and they feel they can’t
that you do best and what your business is reallyafford to hire anyone to help. But do you think
about! Yet, there you are, doing data entry,the business will make it? Is the baker really
research or tweeting and facebooking throughouthappy owning their own business, when they are
the day. As a company owner or entrepreneurworking long hours and having to rush through
you need to spend your time wisely to get awhat they love to do and what they do best
jump on the competition. Can you do it all? If you– baking? The whole idea is lost in the
work 12 to 18 hours a day – probably.logistics of it all. A Virtual Assistant has the
But is that why you decided to own your ownexpertise to do the things that need to be done
business or be self-employed? Probably not.to keep your business running, while you do what
You may wonder how you can save money byyou are passionate about and what your business
hiring a VA. If we think about what it takes tois all about!
hire an employee, we can easily add up theHiring a VA will save you time by getting things
savings. When you hire an employee, you paydone quickly and efficiently; giving you your life
them salary or on an hourly basis –back. Hiring a VA will save you money by getting
sometimes just to sit and wait for the phone topaid only for the work actually accomplished and
ring. You pay them for every bathroom break,not for “dead air” time, as well
personal phone call or co-worker chat that theyas saving on benefits. And lastly, the expertise of
have. When you hire a Virtual Assistant you paya VA will allow you to do what you got into
only for the work that is actually performed,business to do – your passion, your
down to the minute. Sometimes you pay a flatbusiness, and your expertise! Oh, and somewhere
rate for a project to be completed; regardless ofin there, you get to have a life outside of work
the time it takes for them to complete it. Oftoo!
course you also save money on all the extras