How to become your own boss as a Virtual Assistant in 2024
Is 2024 finally the year you take the plunge and become your own boss?
You might have been thinking about the idea for a while, or maybe you have recently discovered the term ‘Virtual Assistant’ and you’re wondering if it’s the right choice for you.
Either way, you’re in the right place.
Although VAs have been around for a while now, the demand for their support is bigger than ever. Businesses are enjoying the benefits of lower (i.e no) hiring costs, flexible contracts and a wider pool of skills, talent and expertise. On the flip side, VAs get to take control of their time, career and income, and reap all the rewards of being their own boss. It’s a win-win situation for everybody, making the VA industry more popular than ever.
So if you’re thinking about making a change and becoming your own boss as a Virtual Assistant, 2024 is your year to get started.
Keep reading to find out what it means to be a Virtual Assistant, as well as some practical steps to help you launch your business.
What are the benefits of being a Virtual Assistant?
Starting your own business is a big decision, but the benefits make all the hard work worth it. Some of the perks of being a VA include:
Working when you want
Being a Virtual Assistant means you don’t have to work the traditional 9-to-5 schedule if you don’t want to. You get to set your own working hours, allowing you to create a working schedule that aligns with your lifestyle and works around you.
Working where you want
Working virtually also means you’re not tied down to a specific location or even office. You can work from the comfort of your home, a cosy coffee shop or a beach halfway across the world – the choice is yours.
Deciding who you work with
As your own boss, you have the power to choose your clients and the projects you take on, which means you can avoid those annoying colleagues or bad bosses that you might have to work with when in employment.
A better work life balance
With so much freedom, flexibility and control over your time and workload, you have the ability to prioritise what’s important to you. Whether that’s more time with your loved ones, regular self care, or just having the option to take the day off without having to ask for someone else’s permission.
You never stop growing
Building a business teaches you so much and will help you grow massively – both personally and professionally. Alongside gaining new skills, experience and training, you will also learn so much about different tools, software and even learn from your clients and their business and industry.
Where do you start launching your own business from home?
There‘s a lot of things to consider when starting your own Virtual Assistant business; and with so much information out there, you can end up with a never-ending list of things to do.
To help make your journey easier, here are a key few things you should consider:
Think about your why
Understanding the ‘why’ behind becoming a VA helps you identify your priorities, how much money you want to earn, how many hours you want to work etc. Once you’re clear on that, you have a framework to build a business that supports your ideal lifestyle.
Plan your services and pricing
When it comes to the skills you can offer as a VA, consider the experience you already have as well as your strengths and passions. From there you should already have enough to build a list of services (read more about how to decide your services here).
Once you’ve outlined your services, it’s time to determine your pricing structure. Depending on your preference you can charge an hourly or project rate but it’s important to consider factors like complexity of tasks, the value you’re bringing, your experience and industry standards (which at the end of 2023 is an average of around £35 per hour in the UK).
Pick the right tools
Using the right tools, software and systems is crucial as a VA. Not only will it save you time, stress and money, but it also keeps your business running smoothly, provides your clients with high-quality service, and makes sure you’re always growing as a VA. I share some of the tools you should be using here.
Make sure you’re legally protected
Although you might have heard that all it takes is WiFi to become a VA, you are a legitimate business and have to make sure you’re legally compliant. This includes registering as self-employed for tax reasons, as well as signing up with the ICO and investing in insurance and contracts. Read this blog for a more comprehensive list of your legal requirements as a VA.
Market yourself consistently
Although marketing yourself and posting on social media might feel uncomfortable or even scary, you have to if you want your business to succeed. You need to be regularly telling people about your business and services, making connections and growing your audience. I know it’s hard but it’s the most effective way to find (and sign) clients.
Find your community and support network
Just because you work for yourself doesn’t mean you have to do everything on your own. It will save you a lot of time, stress and maybe even money if you work with a VA coach or mentor. They understand exactly what you’re going through and can provide you with the support, guidance and motivation to build your dream business – without the mistakes that most new VAs have to make.
Ready to be your own boss?
Click here to download your free VA starter checklist for a clear and concise list of steps to follow so you know exactly what foundations you need to create a flexible, online business that will work around your life.
And if you want to make achieving your dream of being your own boss quicker and easier, then just get in touch with me to find out how my VA mentoring services can support you.
