You’ve been running your own business for a while now, you’re used to doing everything yourself, you wear all the hats and the thought of getting someone else in to help you feels like you’re adding extra work to your already full plate? A friend has recommended you hire a Virtual Assistant for your business, however, you’re worried about:
- Them not knowing anything about your business;
- Having to train them;
- The cost;
- Where to find one;
- Finding one with the right skills and experience;
- Confidentiality;
- Not understanding what a Virtual Assistant actually does.
I promise you, there is nothing to worry about.
Like myself most Virtual Assistants will have already spent their career working as a Secretary, Personal Assistant or Executive Assistant. We are now business owners ourselves just like you so know what is needed in order to run a business efficiently and productively.
Of course we won’t know anything about your business at the start, but once we get going we’ll know your business inside out and will be able to help you every step of the way.
Virtual Assistants are learning continuously, we know how to use all of the latest tools and technology so chances are we’ll be able to step right into your world and take on whatever task you throw at us with efficiency and ease.
Where do I find the right Virtual Assistant and how much do they charge?
Cost
Hiring a Virtual Assistant doesn’t need to be expensive. You will find most Virtual Assistant’s charge anywhere from £20 to £45 depending on location. You must remember that you’re only paying for our time, you won’t need to worry about paying our tax, NI, holiday or sickness pay or buying us a computer or desk as we already have our own set up.
It is also worth considering how much you charge per hour yourself. If you’re charging out £200 for example and you’re spending 2 hours a day on admin, that’s £400 a day! Quite a comparison to a Virtual Assistant’s hourly rate.
Secondly, if you’re in a specialist industry e.g. law, finance or health and wellness then it should be much easier to find a VA who specialises in this area. You will be their target client and you’ll find working with them so much easier as they will already know your world.
Where to find a Virtual Assistant
In terms of finding your Virtual Assistant, it really does help to have an idea of the types of tasks you want help with. Virtual Assistants come with a whole host of skills but many of us specialise in specific areas. My blog details what tasks a Virtual Assistant can take off your busy hands.
If you’re looking to outsource your typing for example then there will be a Virtual Assistant that specialises in audio typing, all you need to do is dictate and send over your audio file. However, you might need a Virtual Assistant to help with event management and so you can narrow your search to a Virtual Assistant who offers this as a main service.
Nowadays it is easy to find a Virtual Assistant using any one of the following methods but remember to give as many details as you can in order to attract the right person:
- Put a post on LinkedIn;
- Advertise in your local Facebook groups;
- Ask your network – lots of business owners use Virtual Assistants nowadays, they might recommend you use theirs;
- Ask your friends, family and ex colleagues if they know of anyone;
- A Google search using relevant keywords e.g. Virtual Assistant Social Media will also bring up suggestions.
How will a Virtual Assistant benefit my business?
In conclusion, having a Virtual Assistant on board can save you so much time and stress. Rather than spending hours on admin you can put your time towards actual fee earning work that brings in the money.
You’ll soon start to reap the benefits which can include:
- Adding better value to your clients whilst also concentrating on nurturing and finding new clients;
- More time to focus on client work, thus earning more money;
- More time to focus on training and professional development;
- Being able to scale and grow your business;
- More time for family, friends and leisure time out of work;
- Knowing there is a second pair of eyes on your business so nothing is missed;
Are you ready to hire a Virtual Assistant for your business? Read my blog on hiring a Virtual Assistant in 5 easy steps.
I’ve worked in a Personal Assistant role for 17 years within the legal sector. If you’re a self employed lawyer, barrister or mediator and you have too much on your plate and need to outsource please get in touch by sending me an email at info@kelliesimpsonva.co.uk – I’d love to help you.
