There are many benefits of using a “virtual” assistant versus bringing an assistant into your home office. Not all VAs are created equal and you don’t want to be paying someone to learn on the job. Some are new to the assistant industry and have a lot to learn about helping a self-employed small business owner. Some have excellent technical skills while others labor with using a computer or the internet. Some have great customer service skills while others struggle to keep in touch with you about the status of your projects. Some work part-time and are only available for limited hours per week. We’ll talk further about selecting a VA below, but be aware that it’s up to you to interview the VA and determine if his skills match your needs. Some VAs are taught that they should be a “partner” with you in your business. On the surface, this sounds great. However, I have heard too many horror stories about VAs who did things without asking permission, from modifying website text to changing established class titles. Make sure you are clear about the boundaries of what your VA can do without your permission. I prefer that my VA takes the extra time to ask my permission, rather than taking it upon herself to do something that might negatively impact my business. Many self-employed people are not looking for someone to “take over” running their company; instead they want a professional who can assist them with specific tasks and projects. It’s a rare entrepreneur who doesn’t feel overwhelmed wearing all the hats and doing all the tasks alone. But when is the right time to hire a VA? First, look at your task list and determine which tasks should be delegated. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking, “I can do this so much faster and better, I won’t delegate this task.” The question isn’t whether you can do a task; the question is whether you should be the one to do the task. Think how you will use all the time you free up from administrative tasks to create more income for your business. Second, look at your budget. How much can you afford to spend? Remember to add into your budget calculations the fact that you’ll be able to generate more income, and design more products and services, with the time that is freed up by hiring a VA. Virtual assistants have a wide range of fee structures. Some charge by the hour, some work on a monthly retainer basis (a certain number of guaranteed hours per month). Some charge a sliding scale: a lower hourly rate for common administrative work and a higher hourly rate for high-end skills, like website maintenance or database management. In my research, I’ve found the range to be from $20 – $80 per hour, depending on experience and skill. This is one field where you get what you pay for, so if you need a highly skilled VA, pay the money, and get the best. I can’t emphasize this strongly enough. A virtual assistant who prices herself too cheaply may be a sign of lower skill set, lack of self worth, or just plain poor business strategy. When a business owner prices her services too low, she automatically sets herself up for cash flow problems, the leading cause of businesses failing in the USA. You want to make sure your VA is around for a long time to serve you. This is a person who will save you time so that you can spend that time making more income for yourself. Also consider that you might hire multiple VAs with specific skill sets. For example, hire one who focuses on your bookkeeping and another who focuses on implementing your marketing campaigns. While you can use on online referral or directory to find a VA, I would recommend you first ask for referrals from other small business owners. Hiring a VA is a very personal decision and it’s good to have someone to talk with, who can tell you about a particular VA’s strengths and weaknesses before you call to interview the VA. In addition to personal referrals, there are several online referral services to help you find a Virtual Assistant: Finding the right virtual assistant for you is an important task; give it the time and attention it deserves. Whether you ultimately choose to hire one VA to do all your tasks, or multiple VAs with special skill sets, make sure you get it in writing: how much you’ll pay, how many hours a week or month the VA will work, how often you’ll be invoiced, confidentiality agreement, etc. Then start delegating those tasks! – See more at: http://www.passionforbusiness.com/articles/how-to-choose-a-virtual-assistant.htm#sthash.ToMmj98Z.dpuf
Some of the Drawbacks of Hiring a VA
When Is It Time To Hire A VA?
What Should You Consider When Hiring A VA?
How Much Should You Pay For A VA?
How to Find a VA
Conclusion