Type of Products/Services Offered: Virtual
Assistance
Start Up Cost: $1000-2000
What did start up
costs go for?: Computer equipment, office
furniture, stationary, business cards, phone
equipment
Earning Potential:
$50,000 yearly
Skills Needed: Administrative, secretarial,
computer, organizational, misc skills depending on
area of expertise
Special Equipment
Needed: Computer, phone equipment, other
equipment depending on expertise
Best Customers/Target Market: Small business
owners, professionals that work at home
Resources & Organizations to use : IVAA, VAU,
various books
Any Tips?: If you have
administrative and secretarial skills as a foundation, this
might be the career choice for you. Virtual Assistants
provide their services to all types of business, primarily
to small business owners and those professionals that work
from their home. VA’s can offer various services ranging
from: bookkeeping to data entry, from word processing to
desktop publishing, web design to proof reading and many
more. The advantage of being a VA is that you can work from
home and your schedule can be flexible. If you do not have
experience in this field, there are many ways that you can
gain the experience. There are several on-line schools where
you can learn the VA field or take different computer
courses. The more that you know, the more valuable you will
be to your potential clients. You would need computer
equipment, faxing capabilities, phone equipment and a quiet
place to work. If you desire to be more specialized, you
would require additional equipment such as a transcribing
machine. Most families already have a computer at home; this
would save you most of the initial start up cost. The
biggest challenge you might face is marketing. You need to
get the word out to everyone that you are available.
Contacting local businesses is a great way to start. There
are many groups and associations to join in order to meet
other business owners. Also having a website is a great
marketing tool. Make sure you take the time to have a
professional looking site, as this will be their first
impression of you and your services. There are a lot of
internet marketing tools that you can use, for example link
exchanges. Bartering is an old friend, but one that you can
use to your advantage in many ways. Join forces with other
businesses in shared marketing in order to get more for your
dollar. The earning potential in this career is very good,
much better than if you were an in-house assistant.
