So you want to know how to start a virtual assistant business. My simple answer: SAY that you’re a virtual assistant. But follow this list and you can start TODAY!
Below is a list of the 5 key things you need to start a virtual assistant business.
You need a place to work
That’s easy! As an independent contractor, you can work anywhere! I have a small office in my house, but I’m sitting at the kitchen table as I write this post. Almost my entire last pregnancy was worked from the couch!
I have clients who regularly spend time at a coffee shop and another client who needs to go to the library when she wants a strong internet connection. So really – anywhere!
You need a computer to do the work
As an independent contractor, you are responsible for “outfitting” your own “office”. But if you already have a computer, you don’t need a new one! Just use what you have!
Honestly, though, with cloud access to so many things, you could work off of a computer at the library until you earn enough to get your own! Talk about bootstrapping!
You’ll need internet access
You have to be able to do the work and submit it virtually. I can’t think of any way to do this without access to the internet.
Does it need to be your own internet? Absolutely not! You can go to a library or coffee shop to access their internet.
Still in the days of COVID and you can’t sit in a coffee shop? Sit in your car in a parking lot where they have internet access – Starbucks, Mcdonald’s, etc.
Have you ever seen the Will Smith movie, The Pursuit of Happyness? Oh boy, I just cried watching the trailer! I think of that movie and I think that anyone can do anything if they really want to!
People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. – Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness
You need clients
Tell everyone. Work it into conversations! The more you say it, the more you will believe it. And the more you believe it, the more it will be true!
I was recently interviewed in a podcast about becoming a VA and right around the 19:15 mark, I am asked about my first client. I go on in the interview to explain that my first client was my physical therapist and that it came about through simple conversation! You can listen to it via the link above or you can watch it on Youtube!
If you want more info about how to get clients, you might want to take a course. I suggest 30 Days or Less to VA Success. I’ll tell you more about it in a bit.
You’ll need a contract
Once you get your first client, what do you do next? You’ll need an Independent Contractor Service Agreement, or contract for short. I’m working on a template pack right now! At the time I’m writing this, you can actually pre-order it at a lower price!
So those are the 5 key things that I think you need to start a VA business.
Of course, there will be other things you’ll eventually need, but you don’t need them to get started. Someday you might want to make a website or make your business really legit by registering the name or creating an LLC.
You can learn more about these things and tactics for finding clients if you decide to take the 30 Days or Less to VA Success course.
I highly recommend taking any of Gina Horkey’s courses. Gina is the founder of Horkey Handbook. She’s an infinitely successful Virtual Assistant turned course developer who will help you set up your business to be a smashing success.
But don’t think for a minute that you have to take a course to get started! You can start your VA business for $12.99 – the cost of a contract template that you will use over and over!