Recently there's been a number of articles on news type websites and posts on blogs about what it takes to be a Virtual Assistant or what a Virtual Assistant actually is.

If you believe the news type websites and all the advertising hype, it's anyone who has a computer, can type a little and has an internet connection. It's promoted that to set up is very cheap and almost anyone could become a VA.

And there are many out there who still don't know what a VA or Virtual Assistant is, so let me enlighten you, the reader!

A Virtual Assistant is someone who operates from their own office (usually a home office but not always) and provides virtual office type support to their clients. They usually don't see their clients face-to-face, although some services provided requires that does need to happen. VAs are usually someone with a minimum 5 years experience in office based work, the corporate world, bookkeeping, computer troubleshooting, graphics design, web design and a heap of other computer based skills. Whilst initially those who had a strong secretarial background embraced this new industry as their career path, the reality is there are many now operating as VAs or VPs (Virtual Professionals) who do not have a secretarial background but might have worked in Human Resources, Banking, other financial institutions, engineering, IT and heaps of other types of business. The emphasis is on 'assistance' - the VA is providing assistance to a business owner/operator and providing the support they need so they can focus on the things that bring in the money, not the things that need doing daily to keep it operational.

For anyone to set up in this type of business the fact remains that there are costs involved, computer equipment, software, furniture, insurances, advertising, some ability to manage and run a business and so on. The software is important - they really need to know and understand it - no client wants to be paying for someone to learn how to do something when they should already know, particularly if they're promoting that type of service.

Is it true that some VAs charge only $10USD an hour and others over $50USD? The answer is 'yes' and 'no'. Those charging at the low end of the scale most likely are hobbyists looking to earn some extra money at home and have some idea of how to do what they're promoting. Very few at that price range are serious about building a business and developing it, and their skills. Those who charge at the higher end are highly skilled and most likely worked in Senior roles in the corporate world before setting up business. Many others are middle of the range - $25USD - $45USD and again, are working at building their businesses and increasing their skills range.

You do pay for what you get, or should I say you will get what you plan to pay for. But remember, that paying someone who is at the higher range will save you a lot of problems - you are not paying for an employee and all that means in the way of insurances, taxation, etc and you are paying for experience and skill. Someone at the lower end scale will mean you'll need much more input into the work that is produced and will need to be following up, checking and correcting things - based on my own personal experience of what I've seen take place in the industry.

The following articles will help those looking for more information on this industry:

Business Operator or Employee?

Not Cash Poor Nor Skills Poor

Advice to those seeking to use a VA

Virtual Assistants, Home Business, Customer Service, working virtually, virtual support

It struck me today what incredibly good value for money the winweb new pricing structure offers, don’t get me wrong it was well priced before, but now …

For £119.88 per year for a single user licence you get a lot for your money, mind you always have, and that’s when I realised, you get so much with winweb I am sure a lot of people out there don’t realise what it can do to help them with their business or how it can help them get their business up and running.

I know I am often told about features I didn’t know existed, so I thought over the coming weeks, and depending how much more I discover it can do, the coming months, I would look at winweb and how its business infrastructure can help you by looking at all it does.

I would welcome input from other users on features you have discovered that others may not know about, or if you are a user who is not getting the full benefit then let me know what you want covered, and lets see if together we can’t unlock the true potential of the winweb business infrastructure together.

One reason many small businesses fail is a lack of structure to their business, winweb is offering you that structure, it is  already packaged and priced at the ‘incredible’ value end of the market.

Tags: Winweb, Accountants, Accounting, AccountsOffice, AccountsVision, Bookkeeping, Bookkeepers, Business Development, Business Infrastructure, Business Start Up, Business Tool, Client Relations, Customer Service, E-Commerce, Entrepreneur, Home Business, Self Employed, Working for yourself, OMB, SME, Small Business, Small Business Infrastructure, SaaS, Software as a Service, Virtual Assistants

In my posting ‘Barriers to growth’ I covered employment regulations being the second barrier to growth, second only to taxation.

It’s true that many small businesses find it difficult, if not near impossible to comply with all the regulation that is placed on them when employing staff, and I dare say, most will fall foul of some legislation along the way, not intentionally, but through the shear amount of legislation that comes with employing someone.

The cost of using a solicitor to draw up a contract of employment, or using an outsource company to deal with the ‘HR’ side of your business is probably not in your budget, but you need to ensure you get it right, but how?

Well the other day I came across Your e-Personnel, well I should say I came across the advert I cut out from one of the business magazines I read.

The idea of Your e-Personnel is that for a low price it will produce personalised contracts of employment, personalised offer, disciplinary and other letters. It also keeps full personnel records and much more, take a look at the site and see for yourself.

Tags: Business development, Business idea, Business Start Up, Entrepreneur, Micro business, Self Employed, Working for Yourself, SME, OMB, Employing staff, Employment, Employment law, Employment legislation