Are you wondering how to start a virtual assistant business in 2022? Joining the virtual assistant industry sets you on a path to the freedom of being your own boss. You will be joining a wider gig and freelance work industry that has proved vital in the current digital world.
The importance of this industry was evident to a larger extent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of hiring virtual assistants increased by 41% in 2020 compared to 2019. The spark in demand for remote employees was attributable to the strict lockdown measure introduced by governments during the pandemic.
The demand for virtual assistants continues to rise. Companies have realized that they can save huge amounts of labor costs through virtual assistants. Therefore, you made the right decision by wanting to become a virtual assistant. Now, let’s discuss how you can start your virtual assistant business.
Step 1 Understand What it Means to Be a Virtual Assistant
You may already know who is a virtual assistant, but if you’ve forgotten, let me remind you. A virtual assistant (VA) is an independent contractor who provides remote services to businesses and professionals who need support with their business, special event, or projects.
A virtual assistant role is customizable depending on the following factors:
The skills you possess
The services you want to provide
The hours you want to be working
Where do you prefer to work
You do not need to have prior experience to be able to start a virtual assistant business. You can learn some of the skills while on the job. However, there are some important things you need to do first when starting a virtual assistant business.
Step 2 Define the Services You Will Offer in Your Business
The list of services you can offer as a virtual assistant is exhaustive. But you cannot be a jack of all trades in this sector. Therefore you have to settle on the skills you want to provide so that you can start focusing early enough.
In making this decision, it is important to take note of your current skills. What skills do you possess, and what services can they help you offer remotely? Those are the skills you will develop a plan to monetize. Some of the services you can provide include social media management, administrative services, project management, content production, e-commerce, and financial services.
Step 3 Develop a Business Plan for Your VA Business
You are on a path to becoming an entrepreneur. Therefore, you have to lay the right foundations for your business. Creating a business plan is the first step to having a strong foundation for your business. It will serve as a roadmap for your business and a future point of reference when making strategic decisions.
It does not have to be a complex one. However, it should include important details such as:
Name of our business
The services you will offer
Your main competitors
Your preferred hourly charge
Capital required
Your target market
Your marketing plan
Step 4 Invest in Tools of Trade
Remember, you will be working remotely, which means you will have to rely on technology for your hardware and software solutions. Among the basic requirements you will need for your VA business startup include:
Computer and internet connection
Time tracking software
Invoicing and accounting software
Project management software
Step 5 Create a Website for Your VA Business
Creating an attractive website is the first step to marketing your VA business. A large percentage of your target customers are online. Therefore, having a website will enable you to reach many of your target customers.
A website will also make it easier for your customer to find you and communicate with you whenever they need your services. However, if you do not have the budget, you may skip this step.
Step 6 Market Your Business
It is hard to score clients in a virtual assistant business unless you are ready to put in the marketing effort. Consider this as the first step to implementing your business plan. You do not have to go crazy in the first stages because your starting capital may be limited.
You can focus most of your marketing efforts on social media and referrals for a start. You can use social media platforms to reach a large number of your target audience. For example, you can create a LinkedIn profile and optimize it. Having a LinkedIn profile will allow you to interact with professionals and businesses who are a large part of your target customers.
Step 7 Take a VA Course to Learn the Basics
You may be skilled in your field yet lack the basic knowledge of running a virtual assistant business successfully. For example, how do you convince customers to entrust you with their projects? What is the best software to use for your VA business? You can learn these details by taking a VA course. The courses are available online for an affordable fee.
Learn More Tips to Start a Virtual Assistant Business in 2023
Remember how we talked about finding someone who can mentor you as you start and manage your VA business above? That is the type of mentorship you’ll get after joining Royal VA Academy. We will support you with more tips to make your business successful.