OVERVIEW OF A VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS

The Virtual Professional (VP), sometimes known as Virtual Assistant (VA), industry is growing fast. It’s an excellent way for those who want to run their own business to get started. This type of business lends itself to low startup costs and can be started on a part-time basis. It is also an area with a good deal of growth potential.

Pros of a Virtual Assistant Home Business:

• You can begin with very limited funds.
• You can use the same skills you have used in the past for prior employers, later expanding or specialize in your niche area.
• The Virtual Professional industry is growing rapidly and demand is expected to remain strong.
• Income potential is strong. Typical virtual assistants charge from about $35 to $75 per hour, depending on the type of services offered and/or the skill level of the virtual professional.
• You have control over which hours you work and how many hours you work each week.

Cons of a Virtual Assistant Home Business:

• Finding initial clients can be challenging, as with any business. However, this can be overcome by using creative marketing techniques, joining a VA group and/or networking. Tell everyone you come in contact with what you do and ask them to spread the word.
• As your business grows, it’s likely that your equipment needs and expenses may also grow.
• Like any home business, you are responsible for paying your own taxes, securing your own health insurance, etc.

What You Need to Get Started as a Virtual Assistant:

• A professional website which showcases your services and talents.
• A good idea of who you want your potential clients to be. How to reach them and what their needs are. Since the industry is relatively new, many of your prospects won’t know what a virtual professional or assistant is, or how you might be able to help them.
• Business cards. If your VP business has a professionally designed logo, you should include it in the design of your card. This is particularly true if you use the logo on your website or other promotional materials such as a brochure or letterhead. Using your logo on your business card ensures that your business uniformly presents its brand to all your clients. Most virtual professionals offer a wide array of services too numerous to list on a small space such as a business card; including your website address is a good way to ensure that potential clients can access much more information about you easily and quickly. The back of your business card is a good place to put a bulleted list of your VA services that would otherwise not fit onto the limited space on the front of the card.

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