The virtual assistant industry has certainly made some strides in the recent past. There are new members joining the fold every day. Just a word to the wise, this is not the easiest industry to "break" into. Some articles may lead one to think that all you need is a computer and desk and you can be a virtual assistant: not so. I will admit that a tiny bit of my motivation towards this business was fueled by a bit of naivety in that I thought it would be easy.
I would caution a newbie to thoroughly research the industry and join forums where they may have questions answered about what to expect once you hang out your sign that says "Open". Contrary to popular belief, the flood gates don't just open and new business does not RAIN down on you just because you say "I'm here". I have just recently reached a point where I can say "whew!" and I have been in business for over a year.
Here are a few things that I would advice any person looking to start a virtual assistant business. These are not things that I heard about, but lessons that I learned over the past year in the school of hard knocks!
- RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
- Network, network, network. start doing so long before you officially open your doors, Let people know about your business well in advance so that you can potentially have clients lined up waiting on the doors to open like "Best Buys" at Christmas time (we'll maybe not that much!)
- Go to the SBA or www.sba.org and find out all of the information necessary to start your business in the proper form, with the proper resources. Didn't I say RESEARCH :-)
- ADVERTISING COSTS....ALOT! (the best advertising is still word of mouth...but in the beginning at least, you will want to put your business out there in the papers, magazines, and the like.
- Join a VA affiliation or two, these are invaluable resources for VAs.
- Save yourself some time and energy and decide ahead of time during the business plan stage what your niche is going to be. I ignored advice to do this early...I now head up the RE Division and my assistant Aldrena heads up the General Business Division. It would have been easier had I focused more in one particular area (Real Estate of course, or I couldn't be an ACTIVE RAINER!)
- You will have to learn early on to weed out some of the "mess" that comes your way.
- Be prepared to spend lots of time at the computer, LOTS AND LOTS OF TIME! (especially if you mess around and become an AR Addict!). The pretty picture has been painted..oh you get to be your own boss and you get to set your own hours...yeah that comes down to working 12+ hour days sometimes. Business ownership is not easy, it is not that fairy tale we hear about sometimes...but it can be rewarding. When you look back and you can see the progress that your services have brought to a new business or a business that was in trouble or just doing borderline until they met you. It is a beautiful thing...it's just not an easy thing.
- If for whatever reason, you are starting with a small budget as I was, be sure you have a plan B for how your basics will be covered until the dollars start to RAIN in. (that may be quite a bit...)
- It may be a good idea to come into this business part time until you are up and running full steam ahead. Some of us (ahem) take off running and find that we are not ready to be out there yet full time, but by then, it is too late and like Wylie Coyote, you find yourself out there and the ground is not under your feet! (Thank God that my husband was able to cover all the bases while I got myself together.)
- Last but certainly not least, if you are, as I am, already struggling with weight, OH BOY! I thought that once I started working for myself, I would have all this free time to eat right and exercise...and then I woke up and noticed that my body is changing since I started this. At least in the beginning, you will spend alot of time just getting your portfolio and website together....meetings, there may not be alot of free time. Keep healthy snacks nearby, and make yourself take breaks where you get up from the chair and stretch, walk or do some form of exercise for a bit before getting back to work. It can go a long way in the course of your work day.
Comments(12)