Dream Team: Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant, or VA is someone who works remotely and handles administrative tasks like scheduling appointments, data entry, arranging travel and managing email, as well as more specialized tasks as their skill set allows. They can be an employee, an independent contractor, or come from a company that performs VA services. Hiring a VA frees you up to do the big-picture part of your business, while saving money by outsourcing only the tasks you need as opposed to a full-time in house admin assistant.

Here are some things to consider when interviewing and selecting a VA:

What tasks would you assign to your VA? This helps you plan how much time they need to commit to your business and budget accordingly.

Does your VA need to keep your same business hours or can they complete their work on their own schedule?

How do they track and bill for their hours? Is there a flat rate option or a minimum number of hours?

Is there a backup person or other contingency plan if your VA is sick or on vacation?

How do you check in? Is there a regular call / zoom to communicate about ongoing projects? What systems are in place to manage notes and updates so everything is well documented and expectations are clear?

We recommend asking a ton of questions to get a feel for compatibility and make sure you have a personality fit as well as similar communication styles. Don’t feel weird about asking for references and doing your due diligence.

If you have used a VA, what advice would you give to someone looking for one? What questions did you ask or wish you would have asked? Leave your wisdom in the comments!