How To Set Up Your VA Business Like A Pro
Are you interested in starting your own virtual assistant business? If so, you're in luck! This blog post will teach you everything you need to know about how to set up your business like a pro. We'll discuss the different steps that you need to take, from choosing what services you want to offer to setting up processes to marketing your business. So whether you're just starting out or you've been running your VA business for some time, this post has something for everyone! Let's get started.
How to start a virtual assistant business
Decide on your services
First, you need to choose what types of services you want to offer as a virtual assistant. This can include tasks like scheduling appointments, managing emails, managing social media accounts, or performing other administrative tasks.
If you're unsure what services to offer, don't let that hold you back. Deciding this before you get your first client may not be necessary. A lot of clients will hire someone to take on a variety of tasks for their business.
But, if you know exactly what you want to offer, you will be better able to market yourself to clients needing that specific skill.
Find your niche
People often forgo finding a niche or a target industry, but it is an incredibly important step for most virtual assistants. While it may not be as crucial for virtual assistants that offer specialized services like website design or digital marketing, it is essential for virtual assistants that offer general tasks, like social media management or administrative tasks. By niching down, virtual assistants can specialize in helping clients solve specific issues or fulfilling particular needs for their client base. For example, suppose a personal trainer wants to hire someone to help them manage their scheduling software. In that case, they will look for a VA with experience with that particular software or similar software. Niching down will also help you market yourself. We will discuss this more later, but being able to speak to your audience’s specific needs will help you land more clients for your business.
Register your business
Once you've decided on your focus area, the next step is to set up your business structure and choose a name. This may involve registering as a sole proprietor, LLC, or incorporating, depending on the legal requirements in your state. You will also need to get any necessary licenses and permits, so make sure you do your research ahead of time.
To register your business, you will need a business name. It’s okay to just use your first and/or last name for your business. But, if you want to create an official name, try using an AI tool like Namelix to help you think of some business names.
Set up processes
Once your business is up and running, you will need to set up processes for managing clients and completing tasks. Setting up good processes can set you apart from other virtual assistants. Good processes attract luxury and high-paying clients, whereas bad processes repel them.
You will need software and processes to schedule discovery calls, send invoices, make video calls, take payments, track projects, and complete work for your clients.
Some ideas for software:
Discovery call scheduler: Calendly or Doodle
Video calls: Zoom or Google Hangout
Invoicing: Dubsado or HoneyBook
Project manager: Asana or Trello
Email platform: Flodesk or MailChimp
Marketing
Finally, it's important to start marketing yourself as a virtual assistant. This is the scariest part of the process for a lot of new business owners. Marketing your VA business can include building a website, engaging in social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) tactics, or reaching out to potential clients directly.
Any one of these could be suitable for your business, but don't try to do all of them all at once. Pick one or two ways to engage with your future audience and lean into those strategies. To create your marketing strategy, first think about whom you want to serve and on what platform you can reach them. For example, if you want to offer photo editing to wedding photographers, Instagram might be an excellent place to create marketing content. It might also be helpful to join Facebook groups for people in the wedding industry. This is why knowing your target niche and audience is so important.
If you want more information about marketing your virtual assistant business, read [insert link to marketing blog].
With the right strategy and preparation, you can build a successful virtual assistant business that helps you achieve your goals and grow your career.