| Working at home as a Virtual Assistant is a great | | | | to your schedule during the day to avoid your |
| opportunity for many women, but there are | | | | work intruding on your family life. While working at |
| challenges to a home based business as well. | | | | home it is important to maintain a balance |
| Working from home is extremely popular today | | | | between your work and family responsibilities. |
| and the trend is growing. Many women are eager | | | | Another expense that can come as a surprise to |
| to become self-employed or work at home | | | | those who are new to being self-employed is |
| moms (WAHMs) and the idea of working from | | | | taxes. You employer pays a portion of your |
| home can be rather appealing. Starting a virtual | | | | taxes that you will now have to pay as a |
| assistant business is one of the easiest ways to | | | | self-employed professional. Be sure you have |
| get started in a home business, but there are | | | | excellent bookkeeping software that will keep |
| drawbacks to consider as well. | | | | track of your expenses and income as well as |
| While there are many advantages to working at | | | | your year end tax reports you or your |
| home, the following are some challenges you | | | | accountant will need to complete your taxes. |
| should consider before making the leap. | | | | There are some tax advantages as well to |
| Your Current Career. Some people find the | | | | working at home and you will want to consult |
| transition from a traditional workplace to a home | | | | with an expert to be sure you have the best |
| office easier than others. There are also some | | | | business structure for you and that you are |
| careers that are well suited for transitioning to a | | | | taking advantage of every tax deduction you are |
| home based business, while other careers cannot | | | | entitled to. |
| make this transition. If you current career cannot | | | | Wahms have to be very self-disciplined in order |
| transition to a work at home option, do you have | | | | to get their work done on time while avoiding the |
| other skills or are you willing to learn skills that can | | | | many distractions at home. Phone calls, TV, |
| easily be done at home? | | | | Internet and household chores looming can |
| Administrative professionals are among those that | | | | distract you while working on your business. If |
| transition well to working at home and can be | | | | you are the type of person that needs |
| successful as WAHMs. If you have experience as | | | | supervision and a schedule set for you, working |
| administrative professional, have great | | | | at home may not be the best option for you. |
| organizational skills, or have creative skills like web | | | | You will also need to be self-motivated. You no |
| design and writing, you have a good foundation of | | | | longer have a boss to motivate you to work or |
| skills that can be used in a home based virtual | | | | praise you for a job well done. You will need to |
| assistant business. | | | | work independently and have excellent time |
| The wide variety of services a virtual assistant | | | | management skills. |
| can provide allows many women from various | | | | Isolation is another drawback to working at home. |
| backgrounds to start a home based virtual | | | | While the thought of working at home may seem |
| assistant business; however, there are pros and | | | | ideal, you may find that you miss the daily |
| cons to this decision and it's wise to do your | | | | interaction of coworkers. On the upside it can be |
| research and consider the challenges you will face | | | | less stressful than a noisy cubicle and office |
| when working at home. | | | | politics; it can be lonely particularly for very social |
| Cost is another important factor in deciding if | | | | people. If you do want to work from home, be |
| working at home is right for you. While you will | | | | sure you takes steps to avoid isolation and make |
| save on some expenses like gas, eating out and | | | | time for friends. Meet for lunch just as you would |
| wardrobe expenses, you will incur other expenses | | | | when working in an office. Socializing is also |
| as well. One major challenge for work at home | | | | important for staying connecting to potential |
| moms is health insurance. If you are not able to | | | | clients and referral sources. |
| obtain coverage from a spouse, you will have to | | | | Take some time to considering these challenges |
| pay for this yourself. | | | | to working at home before you decide if it is the |
| Another important consideration is childcare. While | | | | right move for you. Remember, thousands of |
| moms may be anxious to work at home in order | | | | women have faced these challenges drawbacks |
| to save on childcare expenses, it can be | | | | and become successful virtual assistants working |
| challenging to work at home with small children | | | | at home. If this is something you want to do, |
| not yet in school. You may still need to pay for | | | | there is no reason you cannot be successful as |
| some childcare during your work day or you may | | | | well. Just be sure you understand the realities of |
| find yourself working many late nights while the | | | | the virtual assistant lifestyle before you commit |
| kids are asleep. Older children that spend the day | | | | to working at home. |
| in school are easier but you will still need to stick | | | | |