Launching a start-up is quite daunting for anyone, particularly for entrepreneurs who do it for the first time or have had no exposure to the start-up community. According to a Harvard Business School article, previously successful entrepreneurs have a 30 percent possibility of succeeding in their next company venture. The article also detailed that around 20 percent of previously unsuccessful entrepreneurs succeeded in their next attempt. While the figures are not precisely increased – assessing, understanding, and avoiding the risks is what makes or breaks an entrepreneur.
The amount of VA’s is rapidly increasing. They vary from contract employees to freelancers focusing on administrative duties in distinct industries. Agencies that are specialized in managing contract employees have thousands of VA listings.
You can understand the reason behind this trend; technology has enabled employees to have more flexibility in their schedule and finish a wide range of duties that do not require them to be physically present in an office. It also enables companies to access a huge talent pool that may not be easily available in their neighbourhood.
A virtual assistant is a worthwhile investment for your start-up or small business if you know how they can (and should) be used. If you fall into one of these categories, it may be time to consider a VA:
- You don’t need and can’t afford a full-time employee.
- You’re having trouble completing your most important tasks.
- You need work done that doesn’t require an office presence.
- You travel a lot and need someone who likes working virtually.
- You spend more time organizing rather than executing.
- You know what tasks need to be done but you don’t have the manpower.
Like employing any employee, finding a good fit is about addressing your individual business culture and goals. But if you realize you need assistance with administrative duties and you have the flexibility to recruit someone who can operate remotely, it’s certainly worth considering.
What a Virtual Assistant can do for Start-ups
- Virtual assistants are no longer just for executives. VA offers an evident advantage to many start-ups and small business owners. They are a huge time saver during a development stage of a company where it may not be viable to have a full-time employee.
- Start-ups are always in need of more resources or expansion. Office spaces, utility bills and licensed products are engulfing a huge portion of their investment. Virtual services such as co-working spaces, teleconferencing and virtual offices have brought down nearly nothing overhead costs for small companies. Unlike permanent employees, VAs are compensated by the hour for the work done. Employing VAs offers the advantage of reduced operating costs. Since most of them are freelancers, employers have reduced or zero tax liability. Additional benefits and training for VAs are not an employer’s compulsory requirements. Effectively, their salary per hour is almost one-fifth of that of a full-time employee. Virtual services therefore allow start-ups to use their resources for their desired purpose-to boost income.
- Most individuals who make the shift to virtual assistance job because of flexibility; they want to handle their own time so they can be with their families and take care of other parts of their respective life.
For instance, if you plan to have 24-7 customer service, you can employ virtual assistants from distinct parts of the globe to handle shifts throughout your working day. The time zone differentials will operate for you. As they come in, all customer service problems can be efficiently addressed.
- By letting a VA step into your shoes and sharing your burden of daily duties, you gain the freedom to concentrate on your company. As a start-up founder, your most important commitment is to your current customers, and your most significant obligation is to attract more customers. A VA can guarantee both a 24/7 customer service and a consistent online presence, which is essential to a start-up’s achievement.
Imagine not being bothered by the ideas of whether your website will use red or purple background, the best topic to post on the blog, missing an important mentor / client mail, sending meeting minutes to the attendees and many more tasks that will rob you of your creativity. At the same time, imagine all these duties being accomplished to perfection with almost zero involvement from you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by looking at employing a virtual assistant in your company, you would do yourself a huge favour. There’s really no risk, and if it doesn’t work out, you can always look again as there’s sure to be someone out there with the skill set, you’re looking for.
A virtual assistant can be an excellent asset to any company, and as things develop and change in company, technology and life you will both learn and grow together.
The key to your achievement as a company owner, entrepreneur, is having a good team member to support you–and that’s what a virtual assistant can be for you.
