By Nina L. Kaufman, Esq., www.AskTheBusinessLawyer.com
Like the Holy Grail of dieting, I wanted to gain muscle without adding unnecessary weight. For my business, that is.
I knew my business model was “broken.” I had reached my fullest capacity. I couldn’t put out fires fast enough. I was almost drowning in client work, but had no regular system for filling the pipeline. So my marketing cycles looked like a Coney Island rollercoaster. And what of all the administration and billing and financial tasks? The wee hours of the morning (or weekends) saw me trying to clear those off my plate. Is “burn out” a two- or a four-letter word?
Why You Need a Virtual Assistant Team … or at least someone to assist you
The problem for most solopreneurs is that their business isn’t scalable. Beyond them, there’s no place for it to go. And when your business is stuck, so is your capacity to generate income. Are you happy with the levels you’ve reached?
I wasn’t. I wanted more. Not just more money for its own sake; more freedom, more time to spend with family, more opportunities to make a contribution to my community. I wanted to offload the tasks that really didn’t need my personal attention, like:
- Entering business card information
- Formatting and distributing ezines
- PR blasts through social media
- Paying bills
- Following up on overdue invoices
- Website updates and changes
- Appointment confirmations
… just to name a few
I was ready to delegate, but froze when I thought of (1) the cost of expanding my office space and technology and (2) the cost of employee taxes, benefits, and other perks.
Enter the virtual assistant. (I’ve been working with them since 2004). They add muscle to your business. So instead of just putting on the pounds—for who wants the extra weight?—they’re like adding strength to your body so you can stay lean, nimble, and healthy … and actually do far more. And because they’re generally considered independent contractors, virtual assistants are paid like outside consultants. In a nutshell, no employment taxes! Relief from overwork was in sight!
How to Find a Good Virtual Assistant Team?
But once I wrapped my mind around working with someone virtually, another issue arose: trust. How could I find the virtual assistant team that’s right for me? Like anything else, I needed to be crystal-clear about what I wanted. What are the tasks you’ll need done, the skills you want them to have, your expectations for professionalism? Here’s a handful of questions to get you started:
- How long has the virtual assistant been in business?
- What’s the virtual assistant’s track record with other clients for achieving the kinds of results you want?
- What’s the virtual assistant’s proficiency with the computer programs you use?
- How can the virtual assistants help you beyond being a service provider? Can they provide strategic insights? Introductions to other contacts? Marketing opportunities?
- What’s your impression of the virtual assistant team’s professionalism? Were they prepared for your initial telephone call? Did they answer your questions promptly and thoroughly?
- Do they have a “contingency plan” – that is, backup help or a team to ensure service delivery in the event that the virtual assistant runs into a problem, family emergency, etc.?
I can’t begin to list all of the ways that my virtual assistants have supported me. By handling the behind-the-scenes functions, they help me stay where I need to be: at the forefront, as the public face of my business. Now where would you rather be: the front line or the back office? And which will enhance your business growth more?
