We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Virtual Assistant / Typing from home...
Options

bridiej
Posts: 5,775 Forumite

I have had loads of PMs on this subject so thought I'd start a thread instead so anyone can access the info if they want it. 
I started my own home-based secretarial business back in 2003. First I took on some work for The Transcription Agency http://www.thetranscriptionagency.com/vacancies.html which gave me some income while I tried to gain new clients. They mainly cover consumer market research interviews which can be boring but the money was pretty good and kept me ticking over - I worked for them for about six months.
Over the first year I sent out 500+ letters to local business, everything from builders, architects, surveyors, estate agents, farmers - basically anyone I could think of that may need a spare pair of hands but not want to take on an actual member of staff. This netted me a couple of regular clients.
Word of mouth also got me a couple of good clients - mainly luck due to my next door neighbour doing some temping but not wanting anything more regular and she passed my details to two companies who I started doing regular work for one of which was Medsight International who deal with medical market research - a much more specialised field.
I also set up a website via 1&1 internet which again netted me a couple of clients, but I have to say the biggest gain was Yellow Pages. A credit card size boxed ad cost me a few hundred (a big investment at the time!) but got me the most clients - several regulars as well as some big one-off jobs. If you are serious about setting up as a virtual assistant then I would recommend this be one of the first steps you take as it soon paid back on the investment.
When I first set up tapes were the norm but these days digital sound files are the way most people tend to go. I use the Stop-Start Transcription Software as it covers a wide range of different sound file types - again a bit of investment but soon pays itself back once you get regular clients. How it works for me now is clients email me their sound files, I type them up using Microsoft Word and email them back and they then print them on their letterhead paper.
Another bit of advice I would get is concerning rates - you need to charge at a minimum £10 an hour to make it worthwhile - it's really worth asking for more up front rather than offering a reduced rate to entice customers as they are very resistant to change if you want to increase it! Personally if I were to take on a client today my rate would be £15 an hour - remember, this is not always regular work, you're a spare pair of hands when needed so there will be times when you won't have much which you need to cover, plus holiday and sick is unpaid so has to be taken into account.
Umm.... I think that is all, if anyone wants to ask anything please add it to this thread and I'll try and pop in regularly to answer.
I guess the only other thing I would add is that personally I find the work interesting - especially if there is a variety of clients - and it has been fantastic for not only working around my daughter but when we emigrated I brought several clients with me and it was a relief to know we'd have at least some money coming in if it took time for my DH to find a job, so ideal for those who need something a bit flexible (i.e. working school hours / evenings).
HTH

I started my own home-based secretarial business back in 2003. First I took on some work for The Transcription Agency http://www.thetranscriptionagency.com/vacancies.html which gave me some income while I tried to gain new clients. They mainly cover consumer market research interviews which can be boring but the money was pretty good and kept me ticking over - I worked for them for about six months.
Over the first year I sent out 500+ letters to local business, everything from builders, architects, surveyors, estate agents, farmers - basically anyone I could think of that may need a spare pair of hands but not want to take on an actual member of staff. This netted me a couple of regular clients.
Word of mouth also got me a couple of good clients - mainly luck due to my next door neighbour doing some temping but not wanting anything more regular and she passed my details to two companies who I started doing regular work for one of which was Medsight International who deal with medical market research - a much more specialised field.
I also set up a website via 1&1 internet which again netted me a couple of clients, but I have to say the biggest gain was Yellow Pages. A credit card size boxed ad cost me a few hundred (a big investment at the time!) but got me the most clients - several regulars as well as some big one-off jobs. If you are serious about setting up as a virtual assistant then I would recommend this be one of the first steps you take as it soon paid back on the investment.
When I first set up tapes were the norm but these days digital sound files are the way most people tend to go. I use the Stop-Start Transcription Software as it covers a wide range of different sound file types - again a bit of investment but soon pays itself back once you get regular clients. How it works for me now is clients email me their sound files, I type them up using Microsoft Word and email them back and they then print them on their letterhead paper.
Another bit of advice I would get is concerning rates - you need to charge at a minimum £10 an hour to make it worthwhile - it's really worth asking for more up front rather than offering a reduced rate to entice customers as they are very resistant to change if you want to increase it! Personally if I were to take on a client today my rate would be £15 an hour - remember, this is not always regular work, you're a spare pair of hands when needed so there will be times when you won't have much which you need to cover, plus holiday and sick is unpaid so has to be taken into account.
Umm.... I think that is all, if anyone wants to ask anything please add it to this thread and I'll try and pop in regularly to answer.
I guess the only other thing I would add is that personally I find the work interesting - especially if there is a variety of clients - and it has been fantastic for not only working around my daughter but when we emigrated I brought several clients with me and it was a relief to know we'd have at least some money coming in if it took time for my DH to find a job, so ideal for those who need something a bit flexible (i.e. working school hours / evenings).
HTH

0
Comments
-
I once got some work done by a virtual typist.
Gace her over 2000 names, addresses, business names and contact names to put together in a spread sheet.
She done it in practiaclly no time and was reasonably priced.
What I was most pleased about was her hi level of accuracy. I spent 2 hours looking for mistakes, so that i could try and get some money off and couldnt find a single fault.
Virtual typists are defo of use to the small business.When dealing with the CSA its important to note that it is commonly accepted as unfit for purpose, and by default this also means the staff are unfit for purpose.0 -
Thank you very much for this. I'm looking for something like this at the moment, as I'm very computer literate, and can do some poster design as well, but everything i come across seems like a scam, and this sounds ideal. transcript is not currently recruiting, do you know of any others?
How would you word a letter to mail out? Any help would be marvellous!A Gmac refund client : Letter of Confirmation received, now awaiting £311.04 cheque - Please feel free to PM me with any questions about the GMAC situation!
:j All kids christmas presents bought by 29th October! :j
:rotfl:I survived the Sainsburys Toy sale Scrum!:rotfl:0 -
Hi best bet is to google for transcription places - I recommended that one as I've worked for them and TBH wouldnt feel happy giving a list of people I didnt know.
As for letter, this is what I used - might be a help to get you on the right track - obviously I am posting this in good faith that it won't just be copied
I would like to introduce you to ***, a new home-based business offering a full range of professional secretarial services, including:
· Audio & copy typing
· Letters, manuscripts & reports
· Spreadsheets
· Manual book keeping
I can assist you when you are at your busiest, or have staff on holiday or sickness.
As I work from home I have no expensive overheads to cover so am able to offer very competitive rates. Work can be delivered to me or sent by fax or email, and I offer a collection / delivery of work service for a small additional cost. I accept work on as “as and when required” basis, so you are not committed to any on-going costs.
If you would like to discuss your requirements in further detail please feel free to contact me via telephone, email or fax.
I look forward to hearing from you.0 -
Cheers for the information in this post - I would love to do something like this on a part time basis - just to boost my income.I have all my IT qualifications and spent years working as a data processor / 1st line IT support in the Civil Service.
Might just give it a shot!0 -
Hi there- I am new on here.
What a fantastic thread, it has really given me inspiration! I was looking to do something similar myself, because I had a baby in February and resent going back to work and paying someone all my earnings to look after my beautiful daughter!
So thank you for all your information, its really good to hear that you made it work. Good luck with Baby No 2.
One question, did you find all the businesses you targeted in the Yellow pages, or did you also door drop some local businesses?0 -
Hi, I've also recently started to advertise myself as a VA...my website is online but I can't add a link here, however if you google OfficeBrite you should find it!
No work as yet, but still early days.
I just wanted to know if you used any other specialised software for you VA work? What do you use for phone calls??
Feedback on the website would be very much appreciated!
Thanks Emma0 -
Feedback on the website would be very much appreciated!
Well its basic and thats the image it presents for your business.
Sorry.When dealing with the CSA its important to note that it is commonly accepted as unfit for purpose, and by default this also means the staff are unfit for purpose.0 -
borders_dude wrote: »Well its basic and thats the image it presents for your business.
Sorry.
I agree, whilst the layout (flower at the top and the pink) looks really nice, maybe get rid of them in favour of a more secretarial, office layout sort of thing. Also more detail on the side, basically only 3 pages on your site?
Better than alot of sites you see though, there's no spelling/grammar mistakes which is good if you want to be taken seriously..."People fear what they don't understand and hate what they can't conquer"0 -
-
I've just googled VA's and transcription services in my area and i'm concerned that there won't be enough work for me.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 257K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards