Interested in Becoming a Virtual Assistant? Here’s your F.A.Q.
Like many other VAs, I frequently receive phone and email inquiries from people planning to enter the Virtual Assistance industry. While I respect anyone who conducts research before jumping in, it’s hard to justify taking time out to respond individually. I know that many veteran VA’s face this same challenge
Speaking for my colleagues, we support and encourage people interested in this field. In fact, as a member of the International Virtual Assistant’s Association, or IVAA, I welcome interested people to our periodic Virtual Assistant Connections, which are face-to-face gatherings throughout the country. (Visit the IVAA website to find a Virtual Assistant Connection that is coming up in your area: you’ll find the calendar in the left hand column, under “Events.”)
I think inquiries deserve a reply, but I also believe that any serious would-be entrepreneur should understand how busy a self-employed person is. Other than those who call, leave a message on my phone asking that I call THEM back long distance in order that they may ask me for detailed instructions on how they can get started (no, I probably won’t be returning THOSE calls!), I sincerely do want to provide useful information, without tying up my day. I’ve tried a boilerplate emailed response, I tried offering fee-based consultations (that was a bomb and not well conceived on my part—sorry!), but neither approach feels quite right.
If you’re a practicing VA, let me know the questions you receive all the time which you think I should add.
Or, if you are a prospective VA and still seek answers to specific questions, you can ask them via commenting here.
Q: What’s the most important advice you can give someone thinking of going into this profession.
A: 1. Write a business plan and marketing plan (please don’t ask me how to do either unless you want to pay me, thanks!) and 2. Join the International Virtual Assistant’s Association, the only non profit organization for VA’s.
Q. How did you get started?
A: I spent 4 - 6 months trying to identify my specific skill set and match it up with a suitable profession. (This was before the title Virtual Assistant had been coined.) Then, studied the process of writing a business plan and marketing plan at the library and with input from S.C.O.R.E. (Service Corps of Retired of Executives) and my local SBDC (Small Business Development Center), both of which are free resources.
Q. Then what?
A. Joined the Chamber of Commerce in my community and one other networking organization. Executed (and occasionally revised) my business and marketing plan.
Q. Can you make it financially as a full time VA?
A. Yes.
Q. Can you develop a business if you specifically plan to be part time.
A. Yes.
Q. Is special training required?
A. That depends. There are specialties within the field, some of which carry their own certifications. Initially, most VA’s came to the profession with a background in administrative assistance. Now, there are those who specialize in real estate support, bookkeeping/accounting, web development, databases, programming, graphic design, human resources, live phone support, and so on. I think it’s wise to get certifications if you have the skills and a target market that warrants it.
Q. How long before your company was truly profitable?
A. 2 and a half years.
Author note: More good tips follow below in the comments.
Author note added 3/11/07: Don’t miss new post added today, on Risk Management for Home-Based Businesses.
Links to faqs by other VAs:
Comment // August 17th, 2006 // 10:54 am
Hey Katie! Love your FAQs…I just dropped by to view some of your blog posts and this post really got me as I’ve just received quite a ranting from a wanna-be Virtual Assistant because I wouldn’t give her advice, for free. She called me full of myself and egotistical. LOL I wish she understood that I get about 20 people per week looking to enter the industry. I enjoy helping others enter this industry but if I were to take the 30-60 minutes per inquiry to answer all of their questions, for free, I’d be losing 10-20 billable hours per week. What’s a VA to do? I love your FAQs and should consider the same for my site. Permission to steal your fabulous idea?
Take care!
Comment // August 17th, 2006 // 3:45 pm
Anna - please DO steal, and then let’s link to one another’s F.A.Q’s. Of course I would appreciate your giving credit on the idea! kt
Comment // August 18th, 2006 // 1:47 pm
Thank you for offering your FAQs–people looking into being VAs really appreciate being able to get “real world” info from people actually working as VAs!
Comment // August 18th, 2006 // 2:39 pm
Jennbenn - how great to have feedback from the intended audience! I’ll have to pay more attention to keeping this post current, and add new info as it occurs. (P.S. your blog is cool)
Comment // August 20th, 2006 // 11:42 am
Great FAQ Katie! I always love the question … “How do I get clients?” My answer is almost always the same … Make sure you have a website that demonstrates a professional online presence, find your target market, then network, network, network, and network some more! Also, whenever I get email from aspiring VAs wanting advice on how to become a VA, I let them know about IVAA’s Mentoring Program (http://www.ivaa.org), and send them to the VA Networking Forum (http://www.vanetworking.com). VAN is a free forum for VAs at all stages in their business, including wannabees, newbies, and established VAs. If you can think of a questions, it’s most likely already been asked and in their archives.
Keep up the good work with the FAQ, it’s a great idea.
Terry Green, MVA, GVA
Comment // September 18th, 2006 // 8:55 am
Just discovered Virtual Assistant - THE Blog, by Kathie Thomas. Great resource for VA’s. Kathie’s post “Advice for New VA’s”, fits well here. Stop and see what she has to say. ktcosmos
Comment // January 10th, 2007 // 3:50 pm
A colleague of mine, Roberta Eastman, owner of Executive Virtual Assistant Services (EVAS) recently shared some great advice with another VA who was having some struggles getting her business off the ground. This advice has great relevance for prospective VA’s, new VA’s and seasoned VA’s. So, with Roberta’s permission, I’m quoting her below:
“I would like to elaborate on items that should be documented in a successful VA practice. These documents may help you see the successes you have had in your business and will continue to have as you move forward and hone your skills on obtaining clients.
#1 Business Plan
#2 Sales Plan
#3 Marketing Plan
#4 Business Processes
#5 And, last but certainly not least, your complete Business Operations Manual.
Documenting all of these items (not just some of them) will provide you:
• A strong foundation to your business (building your business one brick at a time so it doesn’t crumble when you reach the top).
• Efficiency & consistency for you and your clients (for those of us who think our businesses are all about us, I would have to disagree. It is about our families, clients, associates, subcontractors and vendors) … and then us!
• Critical Success Factors (knowing what these are for your business, you will better understand what are the “make or breaks” of your business)
• Ability to overcome obstacles (proactive instead of reactive)
• Means and systems to track your results. For me, success isn’t just about having clients, it’s about moving forward.
• Documenting my business and this one is most important to me; it provides my family the “how to” if something was to happen to me. Priceless!!
These documents become the road map for your business. They are living documents so they change over time and evolve, just as your business does.
Google anyone of these items and there are tons of articles out there that will assist you in the “how to” of getting these accomplished.
Hope this helps & Good Luck!
Roberta E. Eastman, GVA
Executive Virtual Assistant Services a.k.a. EVAS
“Progressing your business from your head to paper”
Creating efficiency and consistency by defining and documenting your business manuals, processes and plans.
http://www.YourEVAS.com
Roberta@YourEVAS.
Comment // February 13th, 2007 // 3:45 am
Just discovered this great summation of what it takes to get started as a VA, by my pal Angela Parker: check it out.
Pingback // June 15th, 2007 // 11:33 am
[...] Interested in Becoming a VA? Here’s Your F.A.Q. Suitability vs. Eligibility for your Profession Virtual Assistants and Mobility Fall and Carrying Capacity Carrying Capacity, Part II The Ever-Expanding Network How to Work With a Virtual Assistant [...]
Pingback // June 26th, 2007 // 4:54 pm
[...] Related material can be found here: Virtual Assistant Resources Life of the Virtual Assistant Prospective Virtual Assistant F.A.Q. [...]
Comment // July 10th, 2007 // 1:42 pm
I am looking for a Virtual Assistant who knows iMacs and is familiar with Rapid Weaver. Any suggestions?
Comment // July 10th, 2007 // 3:14 pm
Gail, as I understand it, Rapid Weaver files can be imported into GoLive. If that’s an option for you, please write back.
Meanwhile, I have asked about people who might have experience with RW in a couple of discussion groups and will follow up once I hear back.
Thank you for stopping by.
Comment // January 10th, 2008 // 2:24 pm
I think it’s great that you wrote this article. There are so many aspiring VA’s out there who are just generally lost, and I think you really answered some important questions for them. I particularly like that you pointed out the importance of joining a VA association and networking group. I believe that one of the keys to heading down the right path to learning more about starting a VA business is by learning and networking with other VA’s. Thanks for the great article!
Pingback // January 24th, 2008 // 7:58 am
[...] Since we have few true metro areas in Arizona, our AZ VA population is widely scattered. As such, distance prevents many of us from getting together as often as we might prefer. A colleague, Carolyn Freeman of “Crickets Roar,” has arranged for us to meet today using GoToMyMeeting. [...]