What is a Virtual Assistant?
A Virtual Assistant is a highly trained and skilled professional who partners with small business owners to provide a variety of business, administrative and office management support services.
Virtual Assistants are self-employed, independent contractors who perform these services out of their own, fully-equipped offices, communicating with their clients using phone, fax, email and the latest Internet-based technology.
Who should use a Virtual Assistant?
Small business owners who:
- Need to use time more efficiently and increase productivity
- Need assistance but don’t want the commitment, hassle or training that goes along with hiring a full-time employee or temp
- Understand and trust modern technology
What are some of the benefits of partnering with a Virtual Assistant?
- Save money by eliminating the need to pay for extra office space, computers, software and other office equipment. A Virtual Assistant also offers the flexibility of assisting you on an as-needed basis, taking into account that your needs may vary during your seasonal or peak activity times.
- Increase productivity when you delegate your administrative tasks to a Virtual Assistant, freeing you up to focus on the core activities that grow your business.
- Gain an experienced business colleague without the commitment, hassle or training that goes along with hiring a full-time employee or temp. We will be a seamless extension of your business.
What is the actual cost comparison between hiring a Virtual Assistant vs. a Full-Time Employee?
|
Cost Comparison |
Full-Time Employee |
Virtual Assistant |
|
Hourly Rate of Pay |
$20.00 |
$30.00 |
|
Fringe Benefits @ 35% (Health/Dental/Life Insurance, Retirement Plans) |
$7.00 |
$0.00 |
|
Overhead Rate @ 50% |
$10.00 |
$0.00 |
|
Total Effective Rate of Pay |
$37.00 |
$30.00 |
|
Hours Per Year* |
2080 hours |
480 hours |
|
Total Annual Labor Cost |
$76,960.00 |
$14,400.00 |
|
Total Annual Cost Savings |
$62,560.00 |
|
*With a Virtual *With a Virtual Assistant, you only pay for the time on task (not for unproductive downtime), therefore condensing an 8-hour workday for a full-time employee into a 3-4 hour workday for a Virtual Assistant.
What is your policy on ethics?
- As a Virtual Assistant, I will maintain the highest ethics and honesty in dealings with clients, colleagues and the general public.
- I will seek to deal with colleagues, suppliers and employees in a fair and equitable manner, and maintain the highest standards of personal conduct to bring credit to the Virtual Assistant profession.
- I will only take on projects that are within my abilities. If a project is not within my ability, the client will be notified immediately and I will provide recommendations for other highly skilled Virtual Assistants.
- Client information will be held in the strictest of confidence and will not be shared with others or used for personal gain.
- I highly value each client relationship and will not place one client above the other.
- I will make a commitment to possess and increase the required knowledge, skills and training to be proficient and relevant in the provision of services.
- I will be honest about my intentions and never misrepresent my skills, peers, or my profession as a whole, whether to networks or to prospects, clients, and the community at large (virtual or otherwise).
- I will not knowingly be a part of any illegal or unethical activity.
- I will promote the Virtual Assistant industry with the utmost professionalism and give of my knowledge freely to new and existing Virtual Assistants and the general public.
*Source: Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) VA Code of Ethics
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