Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Current Reality for You and Your Business?
Most businesses will, at some stage, need extra assistance to stay ahead of their competition. The reality is that until recently, the cost of hiring part time or temporary assistance was an expensive exercise. You had two choices:
1. Hire a Temp through and employment agency. The downside:
You may not get the same Temp each time you need assistance. That means lost hours having to show the new "temp" the ropes. Not efficient! Not cost effective!
2. Employ a part-time person to take up the overload when it happens. The downside:
If your part-time employee is utilised only when there is extra work, you're still outlaying dollars associated with your payroll and other on-costs for that employee, whether or not there is work available! Not efficient! Not cost effective!
Change that Reality and become part of the Revolution
Do it Virtually. The results for you will be efficient use of time at a Cost Effective outcome.
How can I assist you in your business?
If you are a busy professional who requires excellent administrative and secretarial services that will save you Time and Money ... I can assist you.
If you are a small business owner/operator who requires professional "back-office" support that won't cost you a fortune ... I can assist you.
If you need someone to help you to realise your dream of running your own successful business enterprise ... I can assist you.
In addition, I can offer you one-on-one mentoring covering a wide range of business strategies.
Cost Effective and Time Efficient practices are a reality when you contract the services of a Virtual Assistant. As your Virtual Assistant, I can provide you with reliable, professional Executive Secretarial and Administrative Services which will save you time and money.
Whether you're already in business, or just starting out, ask yourself this question: "Do I need an office and administrative staff to provide my service or product to my target market?"
You're answer will probably fall somewhere between, "Doesn't everybody?" and "Yes, but my car is my office, so where would I put my Secretary!"
Most businesses today, especially small and micro businesses, require professional administrative and secretarial support which is not going to cost them "an arm and a leg".
You can have that support without having to set up and office with the furniture and equipment!
You can have professional, executive administrative and secretarial support when you need it, and without the on-costs, such as Superannuation, Work Cover, Payroll Tax, Holiday Pay and Sick Leave.
Why use my VA Services?
While you're out doing what you do best, you can be confident that your administrative, secretarial and clerical needs will be in expert hands, and you don’t need an office or equipment … it can all be done from my office.
My aim is to be one of your most valuable business assets, providing professional, courteous, reliable and confidential services on an "as-the-need-arises" basis.
How much will it cost?
Surprisingly, less than your average "Temp". You don't pay the loading some agencies charge. You don't pay a three-hour minimum charge when only one hour is necessary for the task at hand.
Another very appealing bonus is that you'll have continuity, with the same person each time you need assistance. A "temp" agency can rarely guarantee that.
I can offer you a broad range of skills, which means that you don't need to have a different person for each function.
You can contract my VA Services for an hour, a week, a month, or an on-the-need-arises basis.
Does it matter where you are located?
Definitely not! You can be anywhere in the world. With the advances in office technology, email and the Internet, you can contract my services wherever in the world you are. I will produce professional services on time and on-line, emailing your files back to you at the agreed turnaround time.
If you live and work in the Northern Hemisphere, you have an advantage over the business contracting me in my country ... Australia. The time difference will be attractive, as you can be sleeping whilst I'm working. In some cases, I can offer you a 24 hour turnaround. This means that when you get back to your office in the morning, you'll be able to download the finished product. Your on-site Secretary couldn't do that unless she worked a 24-hour day.
What types of businesses use my services?
My client base includes businesses in the fields of:
Architecture ~ Advertising ~ Conferencing ~ Education ~ Health ~ Law ~ Medicine ~ Medico-legal ~ Public Relations ~ Publishing ~ Radio ~ Television
Those who offer the very necessary Utilities also use my services. They include Plumbers, Electricians, Painters, Gardeners, The General Handyman.
I can offer you a wide range of skills from basic Clerical through to Executive PA Services as well as several specialty skills. Click here for a comprehensive list of Services.
Who uses my services and why?
The why is probably best answered first - There is no need for you to hire a full-time or part-time Administrator or Secretary, and therefore, no need to have another office with the necessary office equipment. I do it all at my office!
The only cost to you is my hourly rate plus any expenses necessarily incurred.
The who part is equally easily answered. You'll probably find yourself in the following list of those who use my services.
The Busy Corporate Executive whose Executive Assistant needs her own Secretary. There are times when there is just so much going on that even the best EA could use another pair of hands. Let her tend to the EA tasks and outsource the other very necessary tasks to me.
The Super Sales Executive who is at the top and wants to stay there. If you're a great sales person, you need a top-flight VA to take care of those things while you're out making a killing. Allow me to prepare your presentations, make your appointments, file your reports and track your sales. Call me!
Specialist Utilities Operators Gardeners, Electricians, Plumbers, the General Handyman and many other trades people who are experts in their chosen field. Unfortunately, many of you have little time to devote to the paperwork. I will prepare your quotes, organise your records, produce your invoices, type you correspondence, etc. This leaves you free to do what you do best! Call me!
Small Business Operators You may be an artist, a writer, a small retail outlet, the corner store operator, a website designer, an architect, or a builder. You may be the owner of a substantial property portfolio. Who does all your "back-office" tasks? Allow me to take that worry away, deal with it and give you back the completed tasks. Just call!
Medical Practice Managers and the busy General Practitioner or Specialist Physician There can be anywhere from four to a dozen medical practitioners in the one practice. All of them need their patients greeted. Case-notes need updating, hospital bookings and arrangements for various medical tests must be made. Then there's the billing and the stationery and medical supplies which need ordering. The two or three clerks or secretaries have little time to do anything else in a successful medical practice where the phones never stop ringing.
Allow me to take over the other necessary tasks such as transcription for case notes, medical reports to and from referring doctors, medico-legal and general correspondence. Your overworked staff will thank you.
The GP or Medical Specialist in a Solo Practice If you're a successful solo operator with an overstretched secretary/ receptionist, consider outsourcing dictation of case notes and correspondence to me. Confidentiality is assured.
Downsize and Outsource If you're one of the many business operators who were forced to downsize, you probably find yourself in an unenviable predicament. Not only did you downsize by laying off staff, you also moved to smaller premises. There are no longer enough hands to provide your usual level of service. There is no space to take on extra staff to take care of things. What will you do? Outsource your administrative and secretarial needs to me.
When your Car is your Office Wouldn't scattered papers, hastily scribbled notes, appointment diary and client files be better with the reliable, professional and well organised services of your own Virtual Assistant? Don't hire office space or lease office equipment and furniture. You'll probably need it for only three or four days a month ... the rest of the time it will sit idle while it chews a hole in your finances. Call me before your car becomes a health hazard. I will take care of your administrative and secretarial needs, and I'll do it in my office.
No need for a "shopfront"? If that's you, you probably don't need an office, but there's a load of paperwork attached to your particular product or service. You need to keep your client lists updated and messages answered. Outsource these tasks to me, along with your correspondence, invoices, emails and arrangement of your appointments. Leave them to me while you take care of the things only you can do.
Not in Business yet?
When I first started out, I researched what I thought was necessary, questioned friends and colleagues, became good at sleuthing, made mistakes, sometimes took the wrong advice, and the list goes on.
After several years of hard work and lots of support from my husband, family, friends and professional acquaintances, I've succeeded in my quest to work for myself.
One of lessons I learned during the process was to trust my instincts. I believed I could succeed. I did succeed, and have operated my business successfully for over 12 years.
Now I have the experience and the ability to assist others realise their dreams of working for themselves.
Let me help you to do the same.
If you're thinking about or already in the process of setting up your business, I can offer you a programme that will assist you through the necessary steps. It will guide you through the legal, ethical, taxation and government issues.
By no means do I "know it all", but I can point you in the right direction, giving you options, resources, suggestions and ideas which will help you decide what you want to do and how you will do it.
If you're going to work from home, you'll need to consider certain regulations as well as common sense issues regarding safety. If you need advice about setting up, please call me. I would be happy to assist you.
If you're working in the Central Business District or the suburbs in leased or owned property, there are even more rules and regulations to consider. If you need assistance sourcing office space, furniture and equipment, allow me to be of assistance.
Once you're up and running, you may like to consider contracting my services as your Executive Virtual Assistant.
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