New Virtual Assistant Business

General vs. Specialized VA Preview 03:59

Learn about General vs. Specialized VA's, their similarities, and differences.

Why do we use the term VA? Is there an alternative? Preview 01:25

Learn more about why you may want (or not want) to market yourself as a VA.

Top 10 tools to get you started TODAY! Preview 09:56

It’s a myth that you need to buy equipment, apps, online tools to get started. As a new business, your priority should be getting set up while spending the most minimal amount you possibly can.

In this lecture, we’re going to chat about tools. I often tell students to aim for free tools only. If you can’t find a free tool, then sign up for a tool’s free trial-run.

Think of looking for tools to help run your VA business like driving a car. You wouldn’t ever buy a car without test driving it first. And you shouldn't buy a tool without test driving it either. If - and only if - you end up genuinely needing the tool, then you can upgrade at a later time.

Tools:

1. Reliable, fast internet.

2. A reliable computer.

3. An email account.

4. Video Conferencing Tool like Zoom, Facetime, Google Hangouts, and Skype

5. A Secure way to store data like LastPass.

6. Cloud Storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.

7. Time tracking software like Toggl or Harvest.

8. Task Tracking System: Ora, Trello, Asana, Evernote, To-Doist, or a combination of those.

9. Payment Processor like PayPal or Square.

   
   

10. Contract Creator

Don't forget to download your "backup brainstorm " sheet, and remember, the tools I mention in this course are linked in the course description as well.

Setting your SOP's + worksheet Preview 02:56

An SOP, or Standard operating procedure, is a necessary part of establishing yourself as a successful business. Until you’ve answered questions like “what are your hours of operation, how will you manage incoming requests, and do you work on weekends,” you are not yet ready to hit the ground running as a VA.

Don't forget to download your SOP brainstorm worksheet!

Identify your ideal client + worksheet Preview 02:27

When you choose any client without truly asking yourself questions like “what are my ideal hours of operation” and “do I even need to be in the same time zone as my future clients” you’re doing yourself a great disservice.

In this lecture, we'll cover the demographic and psychographic criteria of your ideal client. Don't forget your downloadable PDF!

Identify client "pain points" + worksheet Preview 03:23

Now that you know who your ideal client is and who you want to be marketing to, we need to brainstorm their pain points.

We'll discuss what pain points are and ways in which you can identify your ideal client's struggles.

Download the PDF that comes with this lecture!

Client prospecting on LinkedIn Preview 04:02

LinkedIn is a fantastic platform to find clients because it functions a lot like Google. Typing keywords into the LinkedIn search bar brings up profiles that most closely match the search phrase.

We'll learn how to set a keyword rich title so that people searching for your services can find you more easily on LinkedIn.

*Note that the LinkedIn course mentioned in this course is no longer free*

Finding clients on VA groups Preview 02:17

Now that your LinkedIn profile is primed to attract your ideal client, it’s time to embrace a secondary strategy to help you find clients - FAST - and that’s through VA groups on social media.

Pitch clients with ONE SIMPLE strategy Preview 01:51

If there’s 1 single thing I’ve learned about pitching clients, it’s this: SHOW, DON’T TELL.

Let's learn about this simple but game changing tool.

Do you need a website? Are there alternative options? Preview 02:12

Do you really need a website as a new VA? We'll briefly discuss 2 schools of thought as well as alternatives.

4 steps to set your rate + scripts Preview 05:01

Setting rates can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Learn about the 4 simple steps you can take now to help you set your rate with confidence.

Don't forget to download your rate increase script, too!

Hourly vs. flat rate Preview 06:43

Have you thought about how exactly you want to charge for your services? As a business owner, there’s no one-size fits all model when it comes to charging for your services, but we will learn about the pros and cons of charging either by the hour or flat rate.

How to determine your flat rate Preview 02:14

Let's learn how to charge flat (or package) rates based on a simple formula.

4 tools to accept payments online Preview 03:43

Let’s briefly discuss four of the most common ways that freelancers receive payments.

Tips for getting paid on time Preview 03:02

Let's discuss 3 tips to help ensure you get paid on time - every time - as well as a *hot tip* to ensure that you don't accidentally end up working for free.

Common insurance policies and what they cover Preview 04:00

A common question from new VA’s is whether they should take out business insurance. First, let’s break down the two most common types of insurance policies and what they cover.

Basic accounting/bookkeeping + tools Preview 06:10

Let's cover basic tips and tools to help you track your income and expenses like a pro!

How to give yourself a raise Preview 01:31

Reducing your expenses is the easiest way to give yourself a raise. Let's discuss a few ways to keep extra dollars in your pocket without feeling like you're making sacrifices to your quality of life.

How to find a great accountant Preview 02:38

Eventually, you may want to consider finding an accountant to help you manage your income, expenses, and maximize your business-related deductions. 

For example, did you know that American VAs who works from home can legally deduct a portion of their rent and home utilities on their taxes? If you didn’t already know that, a great accountant will.

Do you need an LLC? Preview 07:04

Let’s discuss tax entities. Simply put, the way you classify your business can affect how you’re taxed. For the purpose of this course, I’m going to focus on the two most popular options for freelancers: Sole Proprietorship and LLC’s.

Pro & Con: Using your name vs. a business name Preview 03:39

To use your name for your business or not to use your name, that is the question. I have seen great debates online as to whether VA’s should operate under a DBA (Doing Business As) or their own name. Let’s look at more pros and cons of each.

Mistakes that lead to failure and how to avoid them. Preview 08:38

There are several sure-fire ways to set yourself up for failure as a new VA. Let’s cover some of the more popular (and costly) mistakes and how to avoid them!

This lecture "problem" and "solution" oriented, it's not to be missed!

Fire a client without burning a bridge in 2 steps Preview 04:07

There will come a time in your VA career when it’s time to fire a client. There are a variety of reasons why you may decide to part ways, but let's focus on how to let clients go without burning a bridge.

Download your book. Preview 02:16

Let's recap lessons learned and what comes next. BONUS! Download the script for this entire course.