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New 1099 rules that you need to know!

January 25, 2012

Notice the image and the passage circled in RED. This means that your clients, if they pay you by credit or by third party payment system such as PayPal no longer need to issue you a 1099. This is excellent. Only if they pay you by check or cash should they be issuing you a 1099. I love this new rule because it will alleviate me of sending out numerous 1099′s (I am now only going to have to send out 1 because I wrote only one person a check!) However, if most people are like me they don’t read the rules they just do what they’re used to. I have already started receiving 1099′s erroneously and I almost sent them out myself when I did not need to. So, if you’ve send them out and should not have, you’ll need to find out from an accounting professional or someone how to correct the error otherwise your poor vendor will have their income reported twice and that’s not right! So, please let this be a good reminder for us all (especially ME) to read the rules before proceeding each year with someone we are used to doing. Especially when

Happy New Year — Goals for 2012

January 3, 2012

By Stephanie Watson

I hope this post finds you all having a wonderful New Year. I had such a successful year in 2011 I cannot even imagine how wonderful 2012 might be. I’m so thankful for the friends I’ve made, clients I’ve had, and just the wonderful experiences and learning that has taken place in 2011. I know that there will be many really successful VAs who are going to move past coaching to complete success in their business. I have so many goals for 2012 that I thought I’d share them with you all. I’d love to hear what your goals are too. I’ll start: 1. Expand VA moms — yea I know I said I’d never have a message board or community but I think it’s time so my plan is to build the technology during 2012. That’ll teach me — Never say Never. 2. Finish my VA book — Within the next three months I want to be finished with my VA book. It’s crazy how many things keep changing, and I keep adding to the book and I keep updating the book. I just want it to be helpful and right. In the past I would have launched it

Does a Virtual Assistant need a business plan?

December 20, 2011

By Stephanie Watson

If you’re thinking about starting a virtual assistant business, or as you’re trying to succeed in your existing virtual assistant business, you probably wonder if you need a business plan. While you don’t really need to have a formal business plan in place to be successful, going through the process of creating a virtual assistant business plan can certainly increase your chances of success, and help you stay on a planned path. Business plans can help you avoid the so-called “shiny object syndrome” that afflicts many online entrepreneurs. By having a written description of your business you can, when in doubt, look at your business plan as kind of a map to decide whether or not this new “thing” fits with your overall business goals moving you closer to your destination. You don’t have to be that fancy to write a good business plan. Simply cover the important aspects of your business such as: Date your business started Your back story Location of your business What services you’ll offer To Whom You will offer services What prices you’ll charge Where you are now Where you want to go It also helps to include what types of technology you will need

Spotlight Interview – Chad Lawie

December 9, 2011

By Stephanie Watson

This is our next interview in a new series on the site – VA spotlight. We’re not looking for just Virtual Assistants – anyone that provides a service is welcome to be interviewed. That means if you’re a web designer, ghostwriter, copywriter, business coach, etc we would love to feature you! Please, fill out the form here and you’ll be contacted once your information is reviewed. This week our expert is Chad Lawie of Longer Days. You will find his bio below and a little farther down the page you can listen in to the interview. Chad Lawie Chad’s Bio: Chad Lawie is the owner of LongerDays.com, a virtual assistance company based entirely in the United States. His daily responsibilities include sales and marketing, as well as looking for talented new staff, and making coffee. Prior to working at LongerDays.com, Chad worked at odd jobs while traveling throughout the Atlantic Ocean on a leaky old sailboat with his wife. Chad is a member of the Muskegon Junior Chamber of Commerce and in his spare time enjoys volunteering at community events Show Notes: Chad talks about how he got started as a Virtual Assistant Find out what he likes most about

Virtual Assistant Profile — What should be included?

December 5, 2011

By Stephanie Watson

When you are starting your Virtual Assistant business it is important that you create a virtual assistant profile that is consistent across all your business social networks, websites, and job boards. But, what should be included on your virtual assistant profile, job board profiles, or your about me page on your virtual assistant website? Always include: Your Name Sounds crazy but a lot of virtual assistants never include their own name, or real name. If you’re afraid to use your real name on the Internet, it is possible that being a virtual assistant might not be for you. Include your real business name in your virtual assistant profile if you want to create a feeling of trust in those who are reading it. Your Skills Your potential clients who take the time to read your virtual assistant profile or your about me area on your virtual assistant website will want to know what your skills are. What can you do? What do you do well? What are you an expert in? Include things like: how many words you type a minute, and other typical secretarial information such as what software you are proficient in and expert in using. Testimonials If

Getting started as a Virtual Assistant

November 30, 2011

By Stephanie Watson

Getting started working from home as a remote virtual assistant (VA) can be an exciting and scary time for the new VA. But, if you really think about it, getting started in this business is no harder that getting started working as a secretary for a bricks and mortar business, it’s just different. To get started as a Virtual Assistant you need: Administrative or Secretarial Experience A Niche A Business License A Business Banking Account (or PayPal) A Virtual Assistant Website Knowledge of Interactive Technology Systems Developed to Help you Work Remotely Standard Operating Procedures A Client Contract Once you have these things in place, you simply market yourself as a virtual assistant both locally, and nationally. You can use sites like Shelancers.com or Guru.com, or Vanetworking.com to help find positions as a Virtual Assistant. You can also answer local ads that want a part time secretary that isn’t responsible for answering telephones. Make sure you spread the word. You can also offer to do over flow work for other VAs but do not feel like you have to work free unless you feel like you are truly getting something out of it such as good training such as with

How to Deal With A Difficult Client

November 21, 2011

By Sharon

A difficult client is every virtual assistant’s worst nightmare. These clients call excessively and are always changing their mind. These clients can be rude, disrespectful, and even worse, may want you to lower your rate. So how do you handle a client like this? Stay Calm – This is one of the most important things that you can do when you’re dealing with a difficult client. It is also a lot easier said than done. Try to remember that clients have bad days too, and maybe you’re the scapegoat. Above all else, do not lose your temper. Losing your temper can cause you to say things you shouldn’t. This may not only cause you to lose the client, but it could damage your professional reputation. Know What You’re Worth – It is easy to underestimate yourself. Decide what you are worth and do not let clients talk you into lowering your rates. A difficult client may try to get you to do more work than you initially signed on to do or may try to get you to accept less pay. They may try to do this in different ways and may even attempt to lay a guilt trip on

Do You Have Standard Operating Procedures?

November 16, 2011

By Stephanie Watson

Do You Have Standard Operating Procedures?

Well run businesses have standard operating procedures (SOPs) that inform every member of the business, the CEO, the secretary or virtual assistant, and every worker how to run each part of the business. Sometimes each department in a business has their own SOP manual, and sometimes there is just one manual. Oftentimes, sole business owners have the SOP in their head, which is a bad idea. It is important to develop procedures for every aspect of your business, put them in writing and share them with people who help you in your business, such as a secretary or a virtual assistant. Some good things to include in your SOP manual are: New Account / Client Set ups — Each new account should be set up in a specific way. If you have billing software, or file sharing, or certain software that you use with each particular type of client, spell out the procedure involved. Finances – There should be certain procedures set up for not only requesting and collecting money but for recording the money. Your accounts receivable and accounts payable needs to have a specific procedure involved so that you never forget anything. You would be shocked at how

Where do I find Virtual Assistants?

November 15, 2011

By Sharon

If you are looking for a virtual assistant, there are a lot of places that you can look online to find assistants. Make sure you know what tasks you want the assistant to complete for you and what your monthly budget is when you start your search. This will likely help you to weed out people and narrow down whom to hire. Agencies – There are many agencies on the internet that have a roster of people who work for them. You tell the agency what you are looking for and your budget, and they will find someone that meets your description. The more information that you provide, the better match you will receive. If you require someone with specific education or experience, that should be provided as well. Bidding Sites – Many freelancers/work at home businesses advertise their services through various bidding sites such as Elance or Odesk. You can head over to these sites and browse the services offered to see if you can find someone who would match your needs or you can post your own ad to find someone. Chances are you will get lots of options for you to consider. One advantage to these sites

Spotlight Interview – Michelle Dale

November 14, 2011

By Stephanie Watson

This is our next interview in a new series on the site – VA spotlight. We’re not looking for just Virtual Assistants – anyone that provides a service is welcome to be interviewed. That means if you’re a web designer, ghostwriter, copywriter, business coach, etc we would love to feature you! Please, fill out the form here and you’ll be contacted once your information is reviewed. This week our expert is Michelle Dale, aka Virtual Miss Friday, of Virtual Assistant Live. You will find her bio below and a little farther down the page you can listen in to her interview. Michelle Dale Michelle’s Bio: Michelle Dale is the Virtual Assistant behind VirtualMissFriday.com and now VirtualAssistant-Live.com. She developed her thriving VA Business while travelling and living in a variety of different countries, and she is still regularly on the move. VMF Ltd is now a multi 6 figure IBC. It began in 2005 when she left the UK to begin her travels in Egypt and experience life abroad, and since then she has taken it — from just herself, to a multi-VA practise, upgrading herself to a highly effective online business consultant. She is now a 100% mobile entrepreneur and