So you want to be a Virtual Assistant, huh?

Having built a successful Virtual Assistance practice myself, I can tell you it can be very rewarding being your own boss, doing work you love for fantastic clients. But make no mistake--this is a real profession requiring a high level of qualifications and expertise. And life as a business owner can be very demanding.

Virtual Assistance is not for everyone, and not everyone can be a Virtual Assistant. For serious-minded newcomers who are considering entry into the Virtual Assistance profession, I want to share some of my insights.

DOES IT TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET A VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND?

As with any business, success doesn't happen overnight or without much effort. You get what you put in, and it takes hard work, dedication and perseverance.

For some people, business sense is effortless, and they have the acumen it takes to market, network and promote successfully while operating intelligently and providing superior services. For others, this is a struggle, and they often perpetuate ineffectual methods and practices that won't ever lead them where they'd like to go.

Outside of that, it will simply take time to become established. The better you are at building relationships and creating your own opportunities, the quicker that will happen.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO BECOME A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT?

Virtual Assistant practices are true businesses providing valuable professional services. Virtual Assistance is not a get-rich-quick, temporary work-at-home, telecommuting side-job, MLM or other network-marketing scheme.

A small segment of the people attracted to the Virtual Assistance profession are those with little to no qualifications or only entry-level skill sets who are looking for a way to make a quick buck with no effort. That won't happen in this business, and veteran Virtual Assistants vehemently discourage that mentality as it both disrespects and misrepresents our profession.

Most Virtual Assistants led accomplished professional lives in the workforce before taking their expertise into the entrepreneurial world. Virtual Assistants come from a variety of business backgrounds, but the common denominator is that they are typically overachievers with extensive administrative experience and superior skill sets and training.

Entry-level skills and experience simply will not afford the ability to serve clients well. Business owners need Virtual Assistants with top-of-the-line expertise. Entering into the profession without these qualifications would be a mistake, and a grave disservice to both consumers and the profession, as well as yourself.

IS THE INCOME GOOD?

The income can be very good. And offering certain or highly specialized services can be even more lucrative. But I won't mislead you. It again comes back to how hard one works and learns to create a successful business, and how intelligently the business is set-up.

One of the most important decisions, if not THE most important, is determining your rates. Rather than pulling a rate out of thin air, smart Virtual Assistants utilize established business formularies to determine a profitable rate for their business. These formularies take into consideration, among other things, the amount of salary you expect to earn, administrative costs (non-billable time), anticipated expenses, operating costs and capital outlay. You also need to factor into the calculations the value of your time and expertise.

Realize that in order to remain in business, doing the work you love and living the life of your choosing, you must be profitable, so set your rates with intention and due diligence.

HOW CAN YOU AVOID GETTING THE WRONG KIND OF CLIENTS?

Some Virtual Assistants will take any client on. A larger number of us, however, prefer to screen or handpick our clients. One of the ways we do that is by first developing a profile of the kind of client we want to work with. That profile can include, among other things, personality traits, work habits, and the kind of work they do. Once you discern the kind of person you prefer to work with, it