Ever since Tim Ferris came out with “The 4-Hour Workweek” back in 2004 and changed people’s views on working (including my own), the popularity of working as a virtual assistant has grown rapidly (the rise of technology has helped, too).
Entrepreneurs don’t have time (or enough hours in each day) to do everything associated with running a business. If they want to get ahead in the world, they need help from personal assistants—and, thanks to technology, these assistants can often be anywhere in the world.
If you’re interested in getting started as a work-from-home virtual assistant, below is a comprehensive list of what you absolutely need to know about becoming a VA. This is not an exhaustive list, as the industry is changing rapidly to meet the demands of entrepreneurs all over the world, so make sure you do your own research and thoroughly vet a company before you accept a position or a client.
What Do Virtual Assistants Do?
People need VAs for a wide range of projects. Some of the duties associated with a VA job may include:
- Communicating through email or phone calls
- Internet research
- Data entry
- Scheduling appointments
- Editing/proofreading/writing
- Managing a blog for a small company or entrepreneur
- Marketing
- Bookkeeping
- Graphic design
- Customer service
- Event planning
- Managing social media accounts
Which Websites Are Best For Virtual Assistants Looking For Work?
There are two types of VAs: one where you’re an employee of a larger company that employs VAs and supplies clients with their services, or one where you build your own business from the ground up.
Those who are employees and work for larger companies (like Red Butler, see below) don’t have to worry about finding clients or an unstable paycheck. There’s also the potential for benefits.
On the other hand, those who start their own VA business get to set their own hours, are responsible for building their own website and finding clients on their own via marketing or sites like Craigslist or Upwork. There are also the tax and legal obligations you have to deal with as a small business owner. If you are starting your business, talk to your local tax attorney and check your bank account to make sure you a) have enough money to actually do it and b) are paying required taxes correctly and on-time.
We’ll break up the websites into two separate categories: employee vs. entrepreneur.
Employee
Entrepreneur
These are just a few of the websites and resources out there to help you get started on your work-from-home virtual assistant journey.
