Are you someone who prefers to work independently and from the comforts of your home? Then in the digitally advanced age of today, you should certainly consider becoming a virtual assistant. From low startup costs to plenty of opportunities - there are many reasons to choose this lucrative career path for freshers as well as experienced professionals. Here is all about how to start a virtual assistant business.
But how to start a virtual assistant business from scratch? If that's the question on your mind, this detailed guide will answer all your queries. So, scroll down and find out how you can develop a successful virtual assistant business.
Who Are Virtual Assistants?
Before discussing what a virtual assistant business requires, you should have a clear idea about your roles and responsibilities as a virtual assistant. A VA (virtual assistant) is like an administrative freelancer offering admin support to organizations. Mostly, small businesses look for virtual assistants as they outsourcing services is cost-effective for them.
Naturally, a virtual assistant's job is highly customizable. You can provide a variety of services (like graphic designing, bookkeeping, etc.) depending on your areas of expertise and skills.
Reasons to Start Your Virtual Assistant Business
- Do you possess strong communication and organizational skills? Then the designation of a virtual assistant is ideal for you.
- It will not be like a boring 9-5 job as you'll always work with different clients. So, each time, you will be working on novel projects and overcoming new challenges.
- Imagine the freedom and flexibility that comes with being a digital freelancer. You can work from anywhere in the world. So, you will get global clients and if you love to travel, this business will allow you to work from the mountains or some picturesque beach.
- More and more companies are eager to outsource their business operations. So, if you are skilled and experienced, you won't struggle to get work. You can make excellent profit after some years.
Tips to Start a Virtual Assistant Business
1. Choose your niche
As mentioned already, VAs can provide a wide range of services, ranging from customer service to email management. So, before you build a resume or approach clients, decide what services you'd like to provide. Have a look at the kinds of services offered by VAs these days:
- Schedule and calendar management
- SEO services
- Social media management
- Tracking sales
- Invoicing, bookkeeping, and accounting
- Content creation and website upkeep
- Handling press releases
- Customer service
- Email marketing
- Affiliate marketing
- Graphic designing
- Webinar setup
- Data entry
- Proofreading
- Project management
- Community management
So, the possibilities are endless. It for your you to decide whether you'll offer some specialized services or the usual administrative tasks. Once you have clarity, you can focus on marketing your services only to those companies that are in need of your services.
2. Create your business plan
A very important step for an aspiring entrepreneur is designing a business plan. This document will include everything about your business - from its mission statement to its target audience. It will be your roadmap for the upcoming years, and it'll ensure you don't lose focus.
Note: The business plan is not a rigid document, and your goals may change over time. As you gain knowledge and wisdom, you will be updating it.
3. Upskill yourself and obtain training
You may think that having skills like time management and communication are enough, but they aren't. What is it that makes you stand out? How is your technical knowledge? If you want to excel as a VA, you have to brush up your skills.
You can check job descriptions of your dream organizations to see if they expect their employees to be proficient in specific procedures/ software. Accordingly, you may obtain some certification. Receiving training will improve your salary and marketability as a VA.
4. Get your business registered
Operating a business - even when it's a home-based business - comes with tax obligations and legal obligations. Hence, you need to proceed ethically.
First, come up with a name for your business that's relevant and memorable. You also have to figure out how you'll operate. Will you be an LLC or opt for sole proprietorship? Each type has its drawbacks and benefits. So, register your business after doing proper research. To understand how you'll be taxed, you can consult an accomplished business attorney.
5. Invest in necessary tools for a VA business
Depending on the type of work you'll do, the two main things to start are a laptop and good Wi-Fi connection. You may have to purchase/ rent some additional tools to simplify and streamline your work. Some such tools are time tracking tools, accounting software, and tools for project management. Investing in professional tools makes sense as they come in handy, and they'll increase your efficiency immensely.
6. Price your online services
To accommodate multiple clients, you should price your skills and services. Having different pricing models will be helpful and these are the most common ones:
- Project/ task based
- Weekly/ monthly
- Hourly
7. Create an attractive online portfolio
Virtual assistant is a person who works remotely. As you will work from home, having a strong online presence becomes mandatory. However, for a new business, it takes time to build a portfolio.
As you lack experience, begin with setting up a profile on LinkedIn, Upwork, etc. Additionally, having a dedicated business website will be great as it gives credibility to an online business. Moreover, third-party sites will be taking a certain percentage of your earnings. So, have your own official website where you can showcase your services and skills confidently.
8. Set up a reliable payment system
An integral part of business management is keeping track of expenses and for that, implementing a smooth payment system is crucial. As a small business owner, you should monitor your expenses and income closely to reduce tax burdens and increase profits. You must also ensure that the process of payment is user-friendly. Customers wouldn't appreciate if multiple modes of payment (like Credit Card, UPI, Debit Card, etc.) aren't available.
Parting Thoughts
When everything is ready, it's time to network with people in your industry. That's how you will meet potential clients. There are also freelancing sites where you can find work initially. Also, to spread word about your business, post flyers and let your acquaintances know that you have started working as a VA.
In the first few months, you have to be patient and persistent. Hang in there, and soon you will have a solid client base on your own.
If you require help promoting your business on social media, PinsWizard offers a range of Pinterest marketing services. With our personalized marketing strategy, we can assure you that you will get new clients quickly. Get in touch with us to know more.
