| The term Virtual Assistant (VA) was coined | | | | Some VA's work individually and others may be |
| sometime in the 1990's. I first heard the term | | | | part of a VA company. VA companies work |
| used by Thomas Leonard, founder of Coach U. | | | | differently. Sometimes the company owner |
| The first VA I knew, Staci Brice, like me, she | | | | "manages the project" by dishing out the work, |
| worked for 't' as he was affectionately called. | | | | then checking it before it's sent to you. Other |
| Staci founded the first VA school, Assist U, now | | | | times, the owner will have you work with |
| one of the many VA schools in existence today. | | | | different VAs in their pool. You need to determine |
| If I had to describe a VA, I would say it was like | | | | your boundaries and do what you feel is best for |
| having your own executive assistant in the outer | | | | your company. |
| office, except you don't have an outer office! It | | | | VAs are people too, and you may not get along |
| may be best described as a consultant who could | | | | with every VA. Try to find a VA who |
| perform administrative, accounting, and marketing | | | | understands you and how you like to work. It's |
| tasks away from the clients' offices. | | | | not only OK to shop around, you should shop |
| It's not surprising that the VA industry has grown | | | | around. |
| to be so encompassing. Home business owners of | | | | Hiring a VA |
| all sizes, from solo to micro-businesses to small | | | | Below is a list of things to consider when hiring a |
| businesses making millions of dollars out of their | | | | VA: |
| second bedrooms, can use help, daily. | | | | 1. It is quite likely a VA will not live near their |
| VA Positives | | | | clients; although some do live in the same city or |
| Hire a VA to do the work you don't enjoy doing, | | | | state. |
| don't have time to do right, and whatever work | | | | 2. A VA will work with you when you need extra |
| that's holding you back from doing what you love | | | | help, even though you might not know how long |
| to do the most. | | | | you need that help. But expect to pay more for |
| In most cases (check your state and federal | | | | "per-hour" hires, than you would pay them on a |
| government guidelines on employees) a VA is not | | | | retainer basis. Rush fees may also apply. |
| your employee. Instead, they are a consultant | | | | 3. A VA might be the missing link in your business, |
| you hire to work "x" number of hours a month or | | | | and can be your eyes or ears on the Internet, |
| per project. | | | | even doing that time-consuming social networking |
| They become part of your virtual team. | | | | for your company. |
| Remember: consultants can be fired without the | | | | 4. A VA can act as a sounding board for your |
| HR headaches of an employee if the relationship | | | | ideas or plans. |
| doesn't work out | | | | 5. They can coordinate your workflow, and your |
| If you live in a town or city where the residential | | | | schedule. |
| codes won't allow you to have employees, you | | | | 6. A VA is an independent contractor, consultant, |
| CAN hire a VA! On the other hand, you can also | | | | and a business owner, too. Most likely you'll need a |
| choose to hire a VA who lives in your community | | | | W-9 form from them, and will be sending them a |
| so that she/he can do tasks at your office when | | | | 1099 at year end. |
| needed, like filing, or getting you ready for a | | | | 7. You'll be charged extra for things that will cost |
| speaking engagement or updating your database | | | | them money, such as long distance phone calls |
| with business card information. | | | | they make for you, mailings, software, supplies, |
| Each VA has a different skill-set to offer and like | | | | stamps etc. Just what you'd expect from a |
| every hiring, it's imperative to create a job | | | | regular employee. |
| description. Also consider creating a wish list of | | | | 8. Expect to sign a written agreement with your |
| tasks you want your VA to do, now or in the | | | | VA on the tasks they'll perform and time they'll |
| future. Planning is extremely important in creating | | | | spend on your work. |
| your Virtual Team. | | | | 9. VAs may specialize in certain areas or they |
| You purchase a VA's time on a retainer basis, | | | | may generalize. They could be former CPA's, web |
| hiring them for a certain amount of hours a | | | | designers, coaches, executive assistants, personal |
| month. Most VAs will allow you to test drive | | | | assistants or they may specialize in the type of |
| them for a short time of 1-3 hours. | | | | client, preferring to work for real estate agents |
| VA Negatives | | | | only or specifically for attorneys, etc. |
| There are some VAs that profess to do it all. | | | | 10. A VA's hourly rates range from $25 to $175 |
| And like other business owners, if they are doing | | | | per hour, depending on the services they are |
| it all, without their own staff, well, you know the | | | | hired to perform. That may sound a bit |
| saying, no-one can do it all really well. For VAs | | | | expensive, but remember, you are only paying |
| working on their own, there are just so many | | | | for the time worked on a specific job. You are |
| clients they can handle. I've seen VAs that took | | | | not paying for vacation time, sick leave, or |
| on too many clients and couldn't keep up with | | | | employee taxes. |
| their work load. On the other end of the scale, | | | | Hire a VA to be on your Virtual Team today and |
| I've worked with a few VAs that lost their one | | | | start focusing on the rest of your business. |
| and only client and were left out in the cold. | | | | |