Are you looking for a full-time job or a lucrative side hustle allowing you to work from home or on your digital nomad journey? Well then, becoming a virtual assistant (VA) is a good choice. Many people have worked in an office environment in different roles. From administration to reception to marketing to accounting to social media to name a few. And a lot of these people are trading in their ‘in office’ job for a virtual one. Becoming a virtual assistant gives you the freedom and flexibility to do your chosen job when you want and how you want. And the best way to do this is to become a virtual assistant by creating your own business, choosing the services you want to offer, and being paid for it.

With the number of people who work online, virtual assistants are in-demand jobs. People who work online are realising they cannot do everything to run their business smoothly and so allocate certain tasks. These tasks may only require a couple of hours per week to undertake, so it makes sense to business owners to outsource these tasks to VAs. And VAs are filling the gaps to get these tasks done. So if you ever wanted to put those administration skills you have into an online business, now is the time to become a virtual assistant.

In this post I will explain what a virtual assistant is and the process involved to becoming one. There is also an interview with a current VA providing lots of useful information to inspire you on your virtual assistant journey. I also work as a VA, mostly related to travel writing and travel blogging, so I will be offering my 2 cents worth. Let’s get into it.

 

What is a Virtual Assistant (VA)?

 

A virtual assistant or VA is someone that does tasks and provides services to businesses and individuals. They do this from a virtual or remote location which can be in a favourite coffee shop, co-working space or their home. And home can be anywhere. It could be by a beach in Bali, in a co-working space in Georgia, in your van or in your lounge room at home! This is why being a virtual assistant is a popular digital nomad job and remote worker job as you can work from anywhere.

The type of virtual assistant jobs are unlimited. There is a wide variety of services that can be done online including website creation and management, customer service, email management, bookkeeping, administration, social media management, marketing and content creation to name a few. And all these jobs can be done online from your virtual or remote location without needing to be onsite at your employer’s office. 

As long as you can fit in and complete all the tasks required of you, you can have a number of employers. Now, virtual assistants can work as employees, but more commonly run their own home based business and charge an hourly rate or agree on a fee for a particular service.

 

Is Becoming a Virtual Assistant for You? The Pros and Cons of Being a VA

 

Before I get into ‘how to become a virtual assistant’, you may want to weigh up the pros and cons of becoming a VA. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of being a VA can help you in your decision whether to become one or not.

 

Pros of Being a Virtual Assistant

 

Some very good reasons to start a VA business include:

• You don’t need a degree or specific licenses to offer VA services. You can be someone who is very good at something like social media, writing or typing.
• You can work to your own schedule as long as you get the work done on time it doesn’t matter when you work.
• It is quick and easy to set up and doesn’t cost a lot either.
• You can work in your PJs if you so wish.
• You can save on transport costs to and from a traditional office.
• Have a bette work / life balance.

 

Cons of being a Virtual Assistant

 

As with all types of jobs there are some cons to consider.

• Finding clients can be a challenge – I talk about finding clients further on.
• You need to stay abreast of the latest trends in your chosen field.
• You will be competing with many VAs for work. You may need to undercut to get work yet still offer a higher standard of work.
• Do your own accounts and follow up on unpaid invoices.
• It can be lonely working from home.

 

Me, working online as a VA in my hotel room. Pro – I can work anywhere. Con – table and chair not overly comfortabel!

 

How to Become a Virtual Assistant (in Australia)

 

To become a virtual assistant, you don’t require any formal training. As long as you have experience, skills and the confidence to provide quality work, then you should be able to work as a virtual assistant. Beginning the journey to becoming a virtual assistant does require several steps. These steps will help you set yourself up for a career as a virtual assistant. 

 

1. Decide what Services You want to offer

 

The first step to becoming a virtual assistant is to decide, after deciding you want to be one, is what virtual assistant services you want to offer. As mentioned previously, there are many jobs that can be done online that virtual assistants do. To make this step easier, look at the next step.

 

2. What Skills Do You Need for VA Work and what skills do you have?

 

What Skills Do You need for VA Work?

 

The skills you will need to be a VA will depend on the skills and services you offer as a virtual assistant. Some essential skills include:

• Good organisational skills
• Effective communication both written and verbal (in the preferred language of your client)
• Very good knowledge and understanding of working online
• Time management

As well as these skills you will need skills and / or experience to offer some of the services that VAs are called upon to do. You can specialise in just one area however, when starting, it is best to be able to offer a few different services. The top virtual assistant services that are in highest demand are:

• Social Media Management (Posting on social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.)
• Administrative Support (Booking in appointments and calls, drafting emails, creating reports, managing files, preparing presentations, setting up spreadsheets and data entry)
• Email Marketing and Management (Designing email templates, scheduling emails, writing newsletters)
• Graphic Design (using software such as Canva to create ebooks, pins, logos, etc)
• Online Marketing (Creating SEO-friendly landing pages, creating sales pages, setting up paid advertising campaigns)
• Customer Service (Handling customer inquiries in real-time using Live Chat, Processing orders, chasing payments)
• Finance Management
• Content Writing/Blogging (Writing blog posts, Keyword research, making blog posts SEO-friendly, scheduling of posts)
• Website/Blog Management (Repairing broken links, updating plug-ins, tracking performance on Google Analytics, improving a website’s SEO)
• Financial/Tax/Bookkeeping Management (Tax Planning, Processing payments, Bookkeeping)
• Data Entry

 

READ MORE: 18 Digital Nomad Jobs For Beginners You Can Do From Anywhere

 

Look at the skills you have

 

When deciding on what VA services to offer it is wise to offer services you can do, or are going to learn to do, and that are services you like doing. When you like doing the services you provide, it makes being a VA more enjoyable. So look at your skills.

• Can you answer the phone? Having good communication skills can lead to online customer service roles.
• Do you have good typing skills? Consider typing up documents or doing online data entry.
• Are you really good at social media? What about helping someone get traction on their social media by helping them promote their business through Facebook posts, reels, YouTube videos and Instagram photo ideas. Maybe you love Pinterest – what about creating Pins.
• Do you love to design? New websites are being created daily, you may want to offer to design them. And if you are technical minded, maybe help website owners with technical issues.
• Are you creative and have excellent English and grammar skills? You could become a content creator and provide written content. A lot of bloggers often want content for their websites or help to update content.
• The ability to work autonomously is paramount. You need to budget your time effectively to ensure you provide the services by required deadlines, or ask for extra time to provide the VA service.

 

What if you have No or Little VA Skills?

 

If you don’t have any, or very little VA skills, I suggest you do some courses and get some. It is wise to have some knowledge and skill in the service/s you offer. You don’t want to sink before you start swimming!

 

3. Create your VA business

 

Even though some virtual assistants are employed by a company and allowed to work remotely as a remote worker, most virtual assistants create a business they can run from home. So before you start offering services you need to choose a business structure. As you will be working for yourself will you be using your name or a business name? Do you need to register the name and obtain a business number? When setting up your business you can speak to an accountant to ensure you get it right the first time. Maybe even write a business plan outlining your VA business.

You will also need to be set up a professional email and maybe a website. And do you need insurances such as public liability and/or professional indemnity)? What about being paid? When you are a VA your client’s can live and work abroad so you will need to work out how you will be paid. Many VAs have payment direct credited to a bank account or use WISE or PayPal to accept payments. 

 

4. Get the Tech and Gear you need to offer Virtual Assistant Services

 

Being a virtual business means you are going to need some essential technology to perform tasks plus to connect you to your clients. The technology required will vary depending on the services you offer, but there is some tech gear that will be required by any virtual assistant. But in general gear you need to offer virtual assistant services include:

• A good computer or laptop. It doesn’t have to be the latest but as long as you can do the jobs required.
• A fast and reliable internet connection is a virtual assistant’s best friend. The faster the speed of the internet the better. But internet reliability is essential.
• The software you need to perform the services you want to offer are essential. You need to be compatible with your client’s software. Many VAs use GoogleDocs, GoogleMeet, etc.
• Have a comfortable and quiet workplace setup that includes a desk or table and ergonomic chair. I say quiet, I am often at home working in my lounge room with the TV on as company! Sometimes my kids are around. Whatever works!

 

5. Set Your Prices

 

Virtual Assistants working for themselves can set their own rate they charge clients. You can either charge an a hourly rate or a total price for a project. Either way, you need to work out how much to charge for your services. This can be tricky sometimes to work out. But don’t undersell yourself. It is important to consider costs involved of performing the job for a client. 

The amount charged needs to cover your time (your salary), any expenses involved to undertake the job plus tax and any other amounts that need to be considered. And what currency will your fees be charged in? There is no point in becoming a VA if you are going to lose money providing work. 

If you are struggling to set your price, maybe enquire with other VAs their pricing. Sometimes they have this listed on their websites. For instance, a Pinterest whiz I know says on her website she offers a Pinterest creation package of 1 Pin created and uploaded to your Pinterest account per day with a monthly fee of $300. Things like this can help you decide on your pricing.

One good thing about working as a virtual assistant from home is that your overhead expenses are generally minimal. But include any costs when working out your VA costs. As the main aim of working from home or anywhere as a VA is to provide you with an income to afford you the life you want to live! Right!

 

How Much Can You Earn As A Virtual Assistant?

 

How long is a piece of string? The truth is, most VAs set their own rates of what they think their services are worth. But if you have a look at the website Payscale you will see virtual assistants are earning anywhere from about US$15 per hour to around US$30 per hour. Once you have your hourly rate you can work out how many hours per week you will work. Some VAs work full-time, some work only part-time while some do extra hours as a side hustle to their full-time employment. In the end, how much you will earn will depend on how much work you can and will do.

 

6. Create Your Online Presence and Find Jobs

 

To work online as a VA you will need to have a presence online, so you will need to create your online presence. Having an online presence makes it far easier to promote your virtual assistant services. You could create a website to promote yourself and your VA services but also create a social media presence. 

Facebook is great for promoting your services as there are many Facebook groups set up that link people seeking VA help to a VA and vice versa. Do a search of Facebook groups with the words virtual assistant to see which groups pop up. I have joined a few and have found clients through these groups.

 

Websites to find work

 

There are also a number of websites where you can upload your profile and list your services. Some of these websites include:

• Fiver – Read my review on working on Fiverr here
• Upwork
• Flexjobs
• Belay Solutions
• Expert360
• Virtual
• DesignCrowd
• OzLance
• 99 Designs
• Freelancer
• PeoplePerHour

 

Keep in mind these websites make their money by charging you a percentage fee of your fee. But at the end of the day, if they are helping you find work, then it is a small percentage to pay.

 

7. Get Reviews and Referrals

 

One of the biggest assets you can have as a virtual assistant is happy clients. And happy clients can recommend your services. In the early days of your VA business have clients that recommend you to others will lead to more work. And while you are setting up your business, this will help get your name out there, and get you more clients.

 

How to Become a Virtual Assistant With Little or No Experience Review?

 

1. Decide on the Service or Services You Will Offer.
2. Review your skills – Do courses to gain skills if needed.
3. Create your VA business. Set Up Your Business Structure – Do a Business Plan outlining name of your business, what you will offer, what you will charge and other logistics of your VA Business like how you will get paid.
4. Have the appropriate equipment to offer the services. Read my posts setting up at home, digital nomad gear.
5. Decide How Much You Are Going to Charge and What Services you will offer
6. Create an online presence.
7. Get reviews and referrals.
8. Follow up on invoices to ensure you get paid

 

Interview with VA, Rachita Saxena

 

It can be a big step giving up a full-time job to become a freelance Virtual Assistant working from home. If you feel uncertain about being a virtual assistant, to help you realise you aren’t alone in this journey, and to give you some inspiration, here is an interview with Rachita Saxena, who quit her job to become a VA. Check out the interview here.

 

Rachita working remotely as a VA

 

Are You Ready to Become a Virtual Assistant?

 

Honestly, being a virtual assistant is a great way to be flexible with your work life and allows you to travel as freely as you want. If you have a good rapport with the client and finish up your work on time, you can even take off days to travel in a network-free zone.

Most importantly, you can set the expectations beforehand of when and how you are going to work. If you were to try this in a corporate job, you would be laughed at but the virtual assistant is all remote work. So, you have the freedom to choose your hours and manage your work as you seem fit.

Finally, I hope you have found this post with the interview helpful to becoming a virtual assistant. If you made it to the end of this post, it’s time to begin your journey as a Virtual Assistant. Good luck, and I’d love to hear how you go in the comments.