How to Start an Online Virtual Assistant Business
It is the age of digital and tech.
Assistants no longer need to be positioned at a desk in an office in a corporate building.
Do you speak tech?
Do you need to work virtually?
Are you organized? (lol, if you’re a WAG it’s almost a requirement, am I right?)
A career as a Virtual Assistant may be exactly what you were meant for!
What is a Virtual Assistant?
Wikipedia says: “A virtual assistant is generally self-employed and provides professional administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients remotely from a home office”
Pretty much, anything a “classic” assistant may do… a Virtual Assistant does… virtually. *MIND BLOWN*
How do you start a career as a Virtual Assistant?
I recommend brainstorming a list of skills you have that could translate to this industry. Remember, there are a ton of different careers that could use a VA. Whether it’s a Life Coach, a Blogger, a Personal Trainer, or a Real Estate Agent… there are things you could help with!
I highly recommend seeking out positions in an industry you have experience in or a passion for. Ex. If you love the “woo-woo” spiritual stuff, seek out a Coach in that industry. If you love houses… seek out a Real Estate Agent. You get the drift!
Some virtual assistants are specialized in one thing (like Email Marketing or Pinterest), and some fall under the “everything” umbrella. As you get more experienced, you may discover that you enjoy some tasks more than others, and at that point, you could specialize.
You can find positions for random tasks or ongoing work on sites like Upwork and Fiverr. When first starting out, these can be a good place to find jobs, but I wouldn’t stick around there long, as there tends to be a lot of competition and a lot of low paying gigs.
An option for more permanent and “classic” employment options would be through a site like FlexJobs. Here, you’ll often find listings for “Executive Assistants”, which I often find to be listings coming from Employment Agencies. You would probably have more luck going straight to the agency instead of through FlexJobs, as they likely get a ton of applications.
The last option (& the one I had the most luck with myself) is through Facebook Groups. There are so many entrepreneur Facebook groups out there, and there are always people looking for help in them. All you have to do is lurk in the groups for a while, ask and answer questions, and jump on any opportunity that looks like it may be a good fit!
You can be an assistant for one person, or you can sell blocks of hours and have multiple clients per-month. That is entirely up to you!
I recommend starting a Facebook Page and/or Instagram account for your “business” at the very least, if not a full website eventually. This gives you credibility and more of a reach. It makes you look real, and gives potential clients a way to get to know you and reach out if they’re interested in your services.
Woah, wait. I just called this a business. Things are getting complicated… right?
Eh, not quite yet. You can legally earn an income without registering a business. *side-hustle life*
When you’re first starting out, and your income is low, you will find that you learn a lot, shift and grow, and things change quickly. I recommend working 6 months to a year before officially registering as a sole-proprietor or LLC, depending on how your income is going.
(I am not a lawyer or a tax professional, and all states differ, so please do your own research.)
One big recommendation I have is to open a second bank account and keep all income and business-related expenses in that account, so that when it is time to do your taxes it is all separate and easy to sort through. This can just be a second personal checking account for now. You need to accept money properly… and that isn’t through something like Venmo. Look into invoicing software (there are free ones), and while you’re at it, find a contract template. Protect yourself now so you aren’t kicking yourself later!
There are SO MANY things you could do before you start… but that is usually the hang-up people have. My best advice: JUST START. The rest can follow.
I’ve created a simple checklist of things you can focus on to get started and start building, as well as a list of valuable Facebook Groups to join. Grab yours here!
Once you’ve started… you may decide it’s time to get *real*... a business name, a registration, professional branding and a custom website… when you’re ready for those last two, I’ll be here to chat!
