Why is the market hot for virtual assistants?
As we noted before, businesses are always on the lookout for ways
to save money, and virtual assistants do just that. By contracting
your services, businesses benefit in a variety of ways including:
. You already have your own equipment.
. You are an independent contractor, which means businesses
are not responsible for paying your social security and Medicare
taxes, health insurance, unemployment, worker's compensation
or vacation and sick pay.
. You will work for them only when they need you, thus saving
them the cost of a full or part-time employee.
. You work from home or from your own office, thus the
business doesn't have to find space for you.
. By developing a relationship with you, businesses don't need to
hire temporary employees. Temporary employees often have to
be brought up to speed quickly, and they usually do not have
the opportunity to develop a relationship with the business as
you will.
. As a virtual assistant, you can offer flexibility to businesses both
in the hours you work and the way you are paid. (As a virtual
assistant and independent contractor, you can be paid either by
the hour or by the project, whichever you decide is best for
you.)
Virtual assistants are also usually highly-qualified individuals who
need little instruction and guidance. An employer gives you a project,
and you run with it, checking in only when you have questions and to
give periodic updates.
All of the benefits we discussed can play a role in your marketing
campaign, for these are the reasons businesses should use your
services.
How much will it cost to start your business?
Starting a virtual assistant business is relatively inexpensive,
especially considering you probably already have most of the
equipment you'll need: a computer, an Internet connection, a phone
with an answering machine and a fax.
Most computers already come equipped with some sort of fax
program, and you can usually find a printer/scanner/copier
combination for around $100, a worthy investment.
Do you already have an office in your home? If not, is there an area
you can designate specifically for your virtual assistant business? This
is important for tax purposes; ask your tax consultation for specific
details.
Aside from the equipment you'll need, you also need to take into
consideration the legal issues. Will you need a business license to
operate a business from your home? Check with your local
government and state government to determine their rules and
regulations.
Once you've decided on a business name, you'll need to determine
whether or not it must be registered. If your name last name is
Thomas, for example, and you call your business Thomas' Virtual
Assistance, you won't need to register your name simply because
you're using your name.
However, if you name your business Excellent Virtual Assistants, you
will need to register your name. To determine how to register your
name, including fees involved, go to
http://www·sba·gov/world/states·html and click on your state.
Market, Market, Market
With the mere mention of the word marketing, some people begin to
panic, thinking a successful marketing campaign means shelling out a
lot of money. The good news is that's just not true. You can market
your virtual assistant business with a little bit of money and a lot of
creativity. The key to success is persistence.
First and foremost, you need to identify your market. Are you going
to focus on small businesses? Big businesses? Individual
professionals such as graphic designers, writers and accountants?
Deciding who your market is will help you tailor your written material,
such as postcards, to your specific audience.