As an entrepreneur in charge of all aspects of your business, it’s all too easy to get bogged down by mundane tasks. No matter the industry, every company has these critical tasks that can’t be ignored and ultimately keep entrepreneurs from the work they do best. This is where a virtual assistant can come to the rescue.
What is a Virtual Assistant?
Think of a virtual assistant as an individual who handles your crucial administrative tasks from a remote location. They can handle everything from answering emails to database entry, website administration, and even social media. Generally, most are contract or freelance workers who operate from their homes, allowing for complete flexibility in how much work you choose to delegate.
Benefits of Using a Virtual Assistant
Wondering whether a virtual assistant sounds like a good fit for you? Here are five benefits of using their services:
1. Get More Time To Do What You Love
Running a business can sometimes seem like an endless parade of pesky emails, phone calls, meetings, and appointments. These can quickly begin eating into your free time, leaving you with less opportunity to focus on the important stuff. Brittany Hardy, owner of Empty Desk Solutions, says:
“Sometimes we know our plate is completely full, yet we cannot wrap our heads around managing an in-house team member. Virtual assistants are the perfect solution to many of the day-to-day business tasks that would otherwise require a part-time or full-time employee.”
2. Rely on an Expert
As the virtual assistant industry grows, so too does the breadth of skills available to call upon. Virtual assistants often have years of experience under their belts in areas such as marketing, copywriting, social media, human resources, and even bookkeeping. Claire Costa, a Vancouver-based Virtual Assistant, explains the benefits:
“For small business owners, taking care of certain aspects of your business can mean making mistakes simply because it’s not your area of expertise. These mistakes can lead to so much extra work, so hiring a virtual assistant is as much an investment in your business as it is your own free time.”
3. Enjoy Less Hassle
As your business grows, you’ll likely need help, but you may not be ready to hire a full-time administrative employee. Consider how much you can afford to pay to get admin tasks done, then find a virtual assistant to work within those constraints. You won’t have to worry about the tax implications, benefits, or long-term contract agreements.
“Your virtual assistant will only charge for work done,” Claire explains. “You don’t need to worry about tracking hours, covering source deductions, and all the other challenges a full-time member of staff brings. It’s the perfect middle ground for a small business owner.”
4. Build a Personal Business Relationship
It’s natural at the beginning for a virtual assistant to concentrate on simple tasks. But as your relationship grows, you’ll learn to rely on them more and more. With time and trust, you can ask your virtual assistant to take on more aspects of your professional life, leaving you more time for important things.
5. Gain Time for Strategic Thinking
Through the growing pains of a small business, you’ve probably become accustomed to taking a “do everything yourself” approach to management. Obviously, if you’re pulling 100-hour work weeks, it doesn’t really leave much time for big-picture planning. Delegating tasks to a virtual assistant means more headspace to devise new projects, make big decisions, or find creative ways to grow your business.
Small Business BC is Here to Help
SBBC is a non-profit resource centre for BC-based small businesses. Whatever your idea of success is, we’re here to provide holistic support and resources at every step of the journey. Check out our range of business webinars, on-demand E-Learning Education, our Talk to an Expert Advisories, or browse our business articles.
