Starting a successful side business is just one of the many ways to become a stay-at-home mom. If you have experience in the administrative field or are able to offer virtual office services to clients, you are a good candidate to run a successful virtual assistant business.
Getting started as a virtual assistant requires a few simple steps. There is no certification process to become a virtual assistant, but many companies offer their own training and certification. It’s not really necessary to be a good virtual assistant, but it can be useful for a fall job as a newcomer. Before signing up for a program or course, do your due diligence and research the company. Get advice from successful virtual assistants and consider finding a mentor to help you get started.
Legally, you need a business license to become an independent contractor. By obtaining a business license, you will be able to open a business bank account and keep your business and personal finances separate. Being legal also means you can claim many of your business expenses as tax deductions. Once you’ve set up your home office, you’ll need to set up your virtual office. On the Internet, you will use a website to advertise as a virtual assistant. Having a website is important to establish your presence. If web design is not your skill set, find someone who can create a website for you. Try reaching out to virtual assistants and see if you can change the design if it’s something you can’t get started with. On your website, you should, at a minimum, list your work and who you are. You can also include an hourly rate, although many virtual assistants prefer to charge per service rather than hourly. When it comes to work, don’t give jobs you don’t like. If you can do a newspaper but don’t want to do it, don’t give this job. If you have experience in a specific area, such as law, please list it as a major. You can also specialize in the type of service you offer. Most virtual assistants limit their work to writing and editing, web design, data management or scheduling, but some offer a mix of all types of work. Remember, this is your business and you can choose the jobs you want to do.
For starters, the best way to get a virtual assistant job is to start networking. The best leads will come from people you already know, whether they are online or in your community. Let people know what you have to offer and promote your website address so people can see who you are and what you do. Be sure to add new contact information to your website, including a phone number.
When you get your first client, it’s important to have a contract before you start working. You can find many deals online that you can customize for your needs. Make sure you and the client are on the same page about the type of work you will be doing. Therefore, there is no surprise when the service and the invoice are delivered.
After you have a few projects under your belt, you should start building a reputation. Then your virtual assistant business will grow to include regular customers as well as new services. When you consistently do good work, your reputation comes first and you can get more work done in less time. Make sure you don’t work on your own and create a network of virtual assistants who are willing to take over for you if needed. Starting your virtual assistant business off on the right foot is easy when you follow the steps mentioned above.