Virtual Assistant / Typing from home...

bridiej

Unless you try how will you know???

stephyh80

bridiej wrote: »

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.

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

Hi Thank you so much for posting this information. I am looking at starting my own VA business next year (2010 is my doing year). I have a question and i hope you don't mind me asking but do you have a foot pedal and headset for your audio software or do you control the playback speed via your computer, and would you recommend expressscribe? There are so many audio transcription software packages and i am finding it tricky to decide which one i should go for.

Hope my question makes sense, happy new year.