Emma Conway-Hyde wanted more from her life. She had become disillusioned with working in an office environment, was finding the commute hard, office politics harder and had become very unhappy. Emma couldn’t bear the thought of being in the same situation in 30 years’ time so she decided to set up her own Virtual Assistant …| The VA Handbook
This is a Virtual Assistant case study on yours truly! This is the story of how and why I became a Virtual Assistant, what I did before I went freelance, how I manage clients and what I’d do differently if I had to start again. I set up Munro PA Services at the end of …| The VA Handbook
Most Virtual Assistants will tell you that working for yourself is wonderful and will bring you unbelievable satisfaction and freedom. But what they often won’t tell you is that it’s also often confusing, scary, frustrating and stressful. Existing VAs will hopefully read this article, laugh and nod their heads with recognition – and new ones …| The VA Handbook
Setting up your own Virtual Assistant business may seem like hard work, but I’m sorry to tell you that it’s actually the easy part. Being a good VA isn’t simply about helping someone with their admin, a large number of personal qualities are required to be a successful business owner and you should be aware …| The VA Handbook
I know from experience that when you first discover Virtual Assistants exist and you suspect you might want to be one, you research the subject to death and then quickly become overwhelmed with information. So, here are the most frequently asked questions about becoming a Virtual Assistant to help you decide if it’s the right …| The VA Handbook
Although the types of tasks you’ll be given by clients will obviously vary depending on what your services are and what these clients do for a living, I thought it might be a good idea to give you three examples of different Virtual Assistant tasks so you can get a basic idea of what to …| The VA Handbook
As you don’t need any formal qualifications to become a Virtual Assistant, there’s often confusion and misunderstanding in the VA Handbookers Facebook group around what being one entails. Because I sometimes see it described as an “easy side hustle”, I want to explain what it actually means to be a Virtual Assistant. What it means …| The VA Handbook
When you’re setting up a website for your shiny new Virtual Assistant business, you need to make sure it’s clear, professional, client-focused, and designed to convert. In this post, you’ll learn exactly what to include on your VA website, from essential pages and what to write, to practical ways to turn curious visitors into paying... Read more » The post What should a Virtual Assistant website include? appeared first on The VA Handbook.| The VA Handbook
I have an entire website on how to set up and run a successful Virtual Assistant business, but I recently realised I didn’t have a post that explains what a VA actually is and what they do as I kinda assumed you knew! So, if you were wondering what a VA is and the kinds... Read more » The post What is a Virtual Assistant, and what do they do? appeared first on The VA Handbook.| The VA Handbook
Martha Kilner lives in NE London with her husband and three children. She started her Virtual Assistant business, Any Other Business, in January 2024 after facing redundancy twice in the education sector. A primary school teacher for 20 years, Martha now supports education-focused clients and has even appeared in Business Insider and on the BBC!... Read more » The post Ten questions with ex-teacher turned VA, Martha Kilner appeared first on The VA Handbook.| The VA Handbook
Holly Copsey lives with her partner and two children in Essex. She set up her Virtual Assistant business (now an award-winning agency), Virtually Priceless, in 2018 during a separation and while seven months pregnant with her second child. Holly now runs a team of over 30 Virtual Assistants from her stable yard offices, and goes... Read more » The post Ten questions with award-winning VA agency owner, Holly Copsey appeared first on The VA Handbook.| The VA Handbook
This is a Virtual Assistant case study and interview with Nikki Ince. Nikki is the owner of Willow Social, a Virtual Assistant company based in Essex. She initially only provided onsite admin support to local businesses but went fully virtual in 2013 and now provides social media support to small businesses and entrepreneurs. This is …| The VA Handbook
Does this soundlike you? You’re wondering what being a VA involves and whether it’s for you. You just want to know where to start and what to do first. You’re worried you might mess it up and end up penniless in a ditch. You’ve done so much research you feel your head might explode. You …| The VA Handbook
Unless you live on the moon, I’m sure you’ve heard of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. Commonly known as the GDPR, these regulations affect every business whether it is based in the EU or not – so you AND your clients need to comply with it. Here’s what you need to know about …| The VA Handbook
Difficult clients can undermine your business, knock your confidence, feed your insecurity, make you doubt yourself and even make you start to hate freelancing. So it’s really important you know how to identify and manage all the different types. Remember that you work with your clients, not for them, so it pays to steer the …| The VA Handbook
If you’re a Virtual Assistant who charges by the hour, at some point you’re going to reach an income plateau as there are only so many billable hours in a day. You know you need to raise your rates as time goes on, but you’re worried you might lose some of your clients if you …| The VA Handbook
In my blog post on how to choose a laptop for your Virtual Assistant business, I mention that I use a Chromebook in conjunction with a “regular” Windows laptop to run my business. This interested quite a few of my readers so I thought I’d tell you more about Chromebooks and how they work so …| The VA Handbook
Back when I used to offer 1-2-1 training, I mentioned to a friend that a couple of trainees had confidence issues. I’d given them the practical steps they needed to become a VA, but I wasn’t sure how to move them forward when it came to building confidence. He reminded me that I wasn’t a …| The VA Handbook
Confused about all the different platforms, apps and tools that Virtual Assistants talk about online? Worried that if you don’t know what they are and how to use them, then you can’t be a VA? Uncertain whether a platform should be used by you or one of your clients instead? Not sure if you should …| The VA Handbook
Whether you’re still in the process of setting up your VA business or have already started working with clients, managing your time can be a real challenge. Your schedule as a business owner will be very different from when you worked as an employee, so having an effective task-management system in place will make a …| The VA Handbook
In an incredibly short period of time, the world has gone from barely any AI to it being absolutely everywhere. The speed seems to double every few days, and the constant updates and developments are enough to make your head spin. But is it a threat to the Virtual Assistant industry, and if so, what …| The VA Handbook
Working for yourself is extremely hard work, you need a different mindset than when you were an employee and it isn’t for everyone. Because you should know what you’re letting yourself in for, let me tell you exactly what it’s like to be a freelancer so you can make an informed decision and decide if …| The VA Handbook
I’m sorry to tell you this, but some unpleasant and unexpected events are likely to take place during your freelance career. To help you anticipate what these events could be and to prevent them from impacting your business, I’ve created a disaster recovery exercise so you can implement steps and future-proof your business against every …| The VA Handbook
Being a Virtual Assistant is brilliant. You get freedom, flexibility, and the ability to work from anywhere in the world. But it is not an easy gig or a lazy side hustle; it’s a proper career that takes hard work to set up. In this post, I’ll explain what’s really involved in starting and running …| The VA Handbook
Okay, grab yourself a cup of tea or coffee and maybe a large pack of biscuits because today, we’re diving into the wild, high-octane world of your legal responsibilities as a UK Virtual Assistant. The subject is as dull as ditchwater, but if you’re going to run your own VA business, you need to understand …| The VA Handbook
Monthly retainers are one of the most reliable pricing models. They provide a predictable income, ensure clients always have access to your time, streamline your workload, eliminate uncertainty and help create stable, long-term working relationships. In this post, I’ll cover how monthly retainers work, when to use them, and common mistakes to avoid. What is …| The VA Handbook
Setting your Virtual Assistant rates can be tricky. Charge too little and you’ll struggle to make a living; charge too much without proving your value, and clients may walk away. This post breaks down hourly, retainer, project, and day rate pricing models so you can confidently set rates that are fair, sustainable, and reflect the …| The VA Handbook
At some point during your VA career, you’re going to get some late-paying clients – it’s just the way things are. Some clients are fantastic and pay your invoices immediately, some like to cut it fine, and some will really test your patience. Here’s how to deal with the late payers without opening a can …| The VA Handbook
When I started out as a Virtual Assistant I thoroughly researched other VA websites and noticed that many of them mentioned contracts or terms and conditions – yet when I asked another Virtual Assistant in my area about them she said she never used a contract and simply trusted her clients. So what did I …| The VA Handbook
If you’re still in the setting-up phase of your VA business wouldn’t it be great to receive some personal advice from established Virtual Assistants who have walked the path before you? I mean, imagine how helpful it would be to hear some words of wisdom, get some pointers and find out what the best course …| The VA Handbook
Award-winning Virtual Assistant training course (Voted for by VAs). Create the life you've always wanted.| www.thevahandbook.com
A while back I was talking to a woman who was thinking about becoming a Virtual Assistant and wanted some advice. She said: “I’m confused as to what to do at the moment. Full-time work is a safe option but the hours are too long for me now and I’m trying to run a part-time business …| The VA Handbook
Early in 2017, I decided to ‘properly’ invest in my business. I wanted to up my game and to do that I knew I needed to learn from people who were better than me. So I bought a 2-day ticket to the Expert Empires event in London. I wanted to see Gary Vee and Ryan …| The VA Handbook
Whenever the world experiences a period of economic and political uncertainty, people who work for themselves aren’t as worried about their options. In fact, historically, freelancers usually do quite well during these periods because they are more in control of the situation and can use their flexible business model to create opportunities for themselves. I …| The VA Handbook
Although you may really want to set up your own VA business, stepping into the unknown can be quite scary. Because I know that going freelance will change your life in so many fantastic ways, I asked members of my VA Handbookers Facebook group what the best thing about being a Virtual Assistant was. This …| The VA Handbook
I’ve written about how to say no to “well-meaning” saboteurs called naysayers, but what I haven’t done is give you examples of what they might say so you know what to say no to! Whether you’re on the receiving end of a negative comment or battling your own negative thoughts, it will help to have a …| The VA Handbook
People often email me their questions and concerns about becoming a Virtual Assistant, and while I suspect I’ve heard pretty much every mindset stumbling block under the sun, I still haven’t found one single good reason why someone shouldn’t set up their own business. Here are your biggest fears and how to overcome them. What …| The VA Handbook
New Virtual Assistants often ask if they need insurance and, if so, what type of cover they should get. As it’s vital that Virtual Assistants have insurance, I’ve put together a comprehensive summary of the different types of policies available to you to help you make an informed decision and ensure you don’t get sued …| The VA Handbook
Virtual Assistants need legal contracts so they don’t get sued or screwed. Clients expect you to have them and they’re there to give both you and your client peace of mind if it all goes south. It may start out all rainbows and fairies but client relationships can sour – and you do not want …| The VA Handbook
When you decide you’re going to become a Virtual Assistant and take over the Universe, one of the things you’ll need to do is tell HMRC you’re no longer working for The Man but for many men and women instead. The information provided below is based on current UK tax laws, so please check what …| The VA Handbook
Having a Virtual Assistant niche comes with numerous benefits, not least because you want to be the irreplaceable VA whose clients would pay anything rather than lose, rather than an average do-it-all VA who can be easily interchanged with a cheaper one. You definitely have an area of expertise in your repertoire, so let me …| The VA Handbook