VIRTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUCCESS SOLUTIONS

IN THE NEWS...

Issue Date: Volume 3, Number 32

Economic win-win for business in current economy

By Rochelle Paul
Journal Guest Writer

 PHOENIX — It's hard to imagine, as we hear daily about layoffs, corporate restructuring, rising gas prices, falling homes prices and the worsening of our economy, that there could be a "win" in this economy for business. Yet that is exactly what hiring a Virtual Assistant can accomplish in almost any industry, for the entrepreneurs, consultants, and business owners who still have businesses to operate, no matter the economic state.

Business does not stop in these times. However, a business owner needs a staff of some sort, to help in the daily tasks. Even a staff of merely one costs money: salary, insurance, taxes, space, furniture, electronics, and benefits. All of these and other outgoing, overhead costs can be the difference between staying afloat, and getting ahead.

For Laura Paul of Virtual Administrative Success Solutions, she's taken her fourteen years experience as an executive assistant and Coordinator and turned it into a "win-win" for herself and those she works with. "In this situation, I get to choose the people I take on as clients and provide them with the same services I did when working for a company. But now it's on my terms. And the people I work with actually are grateful for my help. They don't take my work for granted and they understand that I'm a professional."

Virtual Assistants, a fairly new industry and one that few have heard of, can provide the answer for many business owners, entrepreneurs and consultants needing help to keep their business going, even growing. A Virtual Assistant is a business owner who partners with a business and helps in the administration, projects and needs of a business. All services are provided virtually, via email, fax and phone.

A fulltime staff costs fulltime overhead. A temporary employee might not require all the same overhead costs, but they also have no way of learning your business nor have any long-term investment in your success. A Virtual Assistant works long-term with the business owner, learning your business and helping the owner achieve their goals.

With a range of services offered by a Virtual Assistant, the basics include all the functions of administrative and executive assistants. Some VA's specialize in certain industries, such as law, real estate and construction.

In all cases, the Virtual Assistant provides their services as an Independent Contractor and as such, does not receive things such as benefits, nor does the business owner pay out for computer, furniture, and taxes. Items such as FedEx and project printing are negotiated between the VA and business owner.

What the business owner gets for their money is a professional, usually with multiple years of experience, and the investment in making their business successful.

For a business in not only this, but any economy, the overhead costs of having employees is stressful, but a VA can allow that business to operate with a staff, but not the costs. Laura Paul adds, "A business owner pays me per hour, but they only pay for the time that I am working on their projects. They do not provide me with my tools, and they do not pay for me to go to the bathroom or have water cooler chats. They only pay for the time that I work directly for them. The per hour fee can be a bit high if looked at by itself, but when you take into account all of those other elements that you are not paying for, you are literally able to save hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year, while still having my help."