Why would you hire a virtual assistant?

I had an assistant who worked for my at least fifteen years quite impressively. However, when I shifted my business to a new place thirty miles away to my old office, I eventually lost her services. So, I have had two choices, first look for an administrative assistant who is closer to my office or delve into the world of “virtual assistants”. Virtual assistants shall not come to your real office; instead they handle all your administrative works from a distance place perhaps from his home and help you via Internet, Fax, and Email. When I gone over the list of tasks I had to accomplish, I couldn’t find a reason why this person shouldn’t come to my office to assist me. Followed by a through research I hired a virtual assistant who lives 2000 miles away. We have formed a strong relationship while we never met in person.

The Benefits of Using a Virtual Assistant:
There are several benefits of hiring a virtual staff against bringing an assistant into your real office. They are:

• You don’t need to purchase or share a computer for your virtual assistant. This person will use his own computer equipments. Also, you don’t need to set up an extra desk in your office. These will save office space, and perhaps some electric bills.
• Flexibility of paying: you don’t need to pay a fixed schedule of hours every week; instead you pay only for those hours you use with a virtual assistant.
• You could assign a virtual assistant for a specific number of hours per month with a retainer which makes sure his availability. Some virtual assistant can work on a fixed rate.
• You can find virtual assistants with a wide rage of skills from QuickBooks to graphic, internet marketing, or technical skills.
• Because virtual assistants are not permanent staffs, they know what it’s like to be self-employed.
• As virtual assistants are independent contractor, you wouldn’t pay them employment taxes, or other facilities such as medical benefits, insurance, travel allowance, provident, and gratuity.

How much should you pay for a VA?
There is a wide rage of fee structures. Some VA charge hourly, some on a monthly retainer basis, and some on a fixed rate. You will find the rate can be $20.00 to $80.00 depending on their experience and skills. Please note, this is a field where get what you pay for, so if you need a skilled assistant you pay the money to get the best.