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How To Start a Business as a Virtual Assistant A virtual assistant is a person who is available to businesses to assist in running their business. VA’s become like a partner to the business owner, by learning about their business needs.

by Deanna Gibbons

My name is Deanna and I left a 40 hour work week to be home with my kids. I had planned on being the greatest stay at home mom ever! I would create these amazing crafts with my kids, expend amazing amounts of energy on playtime, and know every Pokemon by name, and basically live my second childhood with them all while maintaining a Martha Stewart-like home. Even now, that sounds absolutely unbelievable! Looking back, I can’t begin to explain how wide-eyed I’d felt about it all!

It was extremely fulfilling to be there for my kids. But, I certainly didn’t count on one thing. Feeling restless and unsatisfied. I started to feel as though an essential part of me was lost. The part of me that needed adult contact and a feeling of self worth. It’s not that being with my kids was unfulfilling. I just didn’t count on the woman inside of me longing for more.

I decided to get online and see what type of opportunities the Internet had to offer. After connecting to the information superhighway, I began to see these ads everywhere. "Earn money while you sleep!" "Learn the secrets to gaining a six figure income in your pajamas!" You get the idea. I thought, as many people do, that this sounds like it’s perfect for me. It gave me hope.

But that hope quickly turned to frustration. After wasting money on work-at-home scams, I gave up! Then I found a site called Digital Women. (http://www.digital-women.com) An incredible site which is a great inspiration for women wanting to start a business. I joined their discussion list and kept seeing the term virtual assistant. So, I decided to do some research. This is where my new career began.

A virtual assistant is a person who is available to businesses to assist in running their business. VA’s become like a partner to the business owner, by learning about their business needs. They offer services such as word processing, phone calls, database management, and even web design. It is up to the VA to decide which services to offer. Virtual assistants communicate with their clients through phone, fax e-mail and instant messaging, which means clients can live on the other side of the globe.

The benefits of being a virtual assistant are quite obvious. Parents can stay at home with their kids while running the VA practice. They can tailor their schedule to fit their busy lifestyle. The benefits of hiring a VA are limitless. Its cost effective. There is no extra space requirements, or equipment for the hiring party. There is no need for them to pay for health insurance or unemployment taxes. VA’s are available when they are needed. Virtual assistance is beneficial to all parties involved.

I had years of experience working as a secretary, which is the basis of the VA practice. I worked as a coordinator of a reprographics company where I dealt with customers on a regular basis, so I knew all about customer service. And I worked in a design department of a major automotive company, where I was the admin for a management team of five, and a design and engineering staff of thirty five to fifty. I knew my stuff! I was ready to be a VA.

I came up with a name, DSA Desktop Services. DSA are the initials of my three daughters, who are my inspiration in life and in business. I started the paperwork. I went to the local county clerk and asked about the procedures for starting a business. After filling out the proper papers and paying the $10 fee, I was officially in business. Next, I was on to the bank to open the business checking account.

Then, on to the Federal government. I called the IRS and they sent out the papers to file for taxes. And finally, I contacted SCORE. SCORE (Service Corps Of Retired Executives) is the greatest resource around. They have e-mail counseling, which I fully recommend to anyone starting a business. You look through a database and find someone who has experience in the fields you are looking into. They can answer your questions and even help you write a business plan.

Next, I started my marketing efforts. I let everyone I knew, know about my new endeavor. Friends, family, PTA parents. Heck! Everyone I came into contact with learned all about my new business. Soon, I got my first client. And from there, things took off.

Starting a business is definitely not an easy task. You will make lots of mistakes and you’ll learn more than you thought you ever could. You must be persistent, organized, excited, and ready to learn from your mistakes. These are all important qualities you need to run a business. It takes time and energy, but it’s worth it when you see business taking flight. Not to mention all the wonderful friends and business acquaintances you’ll make. I’m doing what I love and I’m working with the best co-workers in the world! My kids! As Dorothy says in The Wizard of Oz, "There’s no place like home."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deanna Gibbons is CEO of DSA Desktop Services, a virtual assistance company where she works out of her home. She’s been in business for 2 years and is currently undertaking new projects. She is Membership Director of the Virtual Business Group (http://www.virtualbizgroup.com), an online community for Virtual Office Professionals to network, share resources and job leads, and get the virtual office professionals the exposure they need. She is also co-owner of a print newsletter, Business Seeds, (http://www.business-seeds.com) which provides valuable information for maintaining and growing your business.

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