Are you currently a stay at home mom? Well, you’re already in the right place! But joking aside… that’s basically what I am! In my article on my pet project mommy blog, I talked about my schedule in this short post.
But you’re here because you want to know: Can you work from home as a virtual assistant. The simple answer is yes. YES! Yes, you can!
Do you have to work from home to be a virtual assistant?
No, you can work from a coffee shop (if we were sitting in coffee shops these days, thanks COVID). I used to go to our local library to get some focused time.
It might depend on your reason for wanting to be a virtual assistant. I started out wanting to be a VA because I wanted to be home with my kids. So why would I leave the house to be a VA if I wanted to be at home?
Simple: I AM home with my kids. Sometimes, when my husband gets home from work, I need to put in some time, so I go somewhere quiet. But the point is that I AM HOME when my kids need me.
If my kids are sick, I’m home with them. If it’s a snow day, I’m home. Doctor’s appointments, no problem!
How do you start working as a virtual assistant?
Here’s how it might look:
- You will meet a potential client online, possibly from an ad on LinkedIn. Or you’ll see an acquaintance post something on Facebook stating that they need help with something.
- If you know how to do the thing they need help with, you reach out to them, electronically, through the same platform you heard of their need.
- You’ll go back and forth with a discussion, possibly do a zoom meeting.
- Together you will define your scope of services.
- You write up the appropriate and necessary contract. (here are my contracts)
- You’ll start working.
Is that simplified? Overly! But you should get the idea. You CAN work from home as a virtual assistant! Check out this list from Horkey Handbook. It’s 150+ services you can offer as a virtual assistant.
What do you need to be a virtual assistant?
There’s not much that you really need to be a VA. You’ll need a computer and internet access. Even a phone could be considered optional. Personally, I text with my clients for quick questions, but otherwise, everything is done by email. I do virtual “calls” as one of my tasks for a client and those “calls” are through the computer. So again, only my computer is needed.
You also need to have contracts with your clients. Any legit business person will want to have a contract and will understand that you want one too. I have a contract template as part of my Asset Pack.
Do I need to have a website to be a virtual assistant?
Do you need to have a website? Nope. I started one right away because I wanted to learn WordPress. But it’s not necessary to get started as a VA. A simple Facebook Page would suffice.
Do I need to take a course to be a virtual assistant?
IF you wanted to take a course to start your journey as a virtual assistant, this is the course I recommend – 30 Days or Less to VA Success, by Horkey Handbook. Is it necessary? Not at all!
Technically, I started as a virtual assistant before I even knew what it was! I was responding to emails for a friend. Then I saw an ad for the Horkey Handbook 30 Days or Less to VA Success course and I took the course to find out what else I could do as a VA and to walk me through setting up my business.
I mean, do I recommend it? Absolutely! But it’s NOT necessary. Find something on the 150+ list of VA services that you can do and just get started! When you start getting paid, you can set some money aside to use for development.
I hope this article helps you see that you CAN work from home as a virtual assistant! While you’re here, look around my website and remember to join my email list!