So, you want to become a Virtual Assistant – what steps should you take?

Are you an existing PA or secretary, looking to branch out on your own as a Virtual Assistant? Maybe you’re in the process of being made redundant, or are wanting to work from home, so you can be with your children? Whatever your reasons for wanting to become a Virtual Assistant, you’ve decided it’s the best option for you – so what do you do now?

Here’s a list of the steps you need to take, in order to make your decision a reality for you.

Step #1: Don’t quit your day job!

This may sound counterintuitive, but trust me, it’s not! The last thing you want, when setting up your own business, is to be worrying unnecessarily about paying your essential bills. If you are able to, look to make the transition a smooth and financially worry-free one, over a set period of time. So, in the meantime, make a commitment to that timescale and move onto the next step.

Step #2: Get clear on your finances

As mentioned already, you don’t want to be worrying about your finances, when first starting out. Look at your budget and see where you can cut back – as ideally, you’ll want to have at least 6 months’ income saved, ready for the transition. You’ll also want to have money set aside for your start-up costs and your training.

Step #3: Set aside time for your new business venture

Ok, so you may not have that Virtual Assistant business set up yet, but you need to allocate time for it – so when will that be? Can you set aside time, once the kids are in bed or early in the morning, to spend on your business? If finances permit it, could you cut down on a day at your existing job, to concentrate on your business? It pays to get into a routine now – as this time can be used for training in the interim – and you’ll then be settled in the work routine, once you start to gain clients.

Step #4: Decide on your business strategy

It pays to have a plan – and in this case, your plan will clarify your overall Virtual Assistant business ideas and plans, including ideal clients, target market and income goals. There’s also the legalities, such as what type of business set up you’ll use and the name of your business.

Step #5: Find a reputable training company

You already have the majority of skills needed, to become a Virtual Assistant – however, there’s the business side to consider too. Running your own business can be stressful and time-consuming – and this is why it pays to not do it alone. If you want to save yourself a lot of stress and wasted money and time, find a reputable training company to help make the transition faster and easier for you.

The best training companies will have a decent track record, offer ongoing training, CPD Accreditation and cover everything, from business strategy and tools and technology, to client management and marketing, financial planning and working with associates. They’ll also offer tailored one-on-one mentoring and ongoing support and training, past your initial VA qualification.

At the Virtual Assistant Coaching and Training company we want to help as many PAs, EAs, administrators and secretaries take steps towards creating their own Virtual Assistant business. As a company, we’ve successfully trained 1,000’s of VAs – helping them to launch their own successful VA businesses – and we want to help you too. Why not take a look around our website, as your first step?

Image courtesy of Jacob Lund/stock.Adobe.com