Virtual assistant / PA - is it doable or a bit of a con?

[SuperCam]

I currently work full time as an exec PA and would prefer to wfh, manage my own hours etc. I have looked online and there seem to be so many companies offering virtual pa training and also companies offering virtual pa services. Is the market really booming or is it over crowded does anyone know?

I don’t think I need lots of training skills wise but there are courses which take you through how to set up and market your own business - has anyone done one of these? Not sure why someone who is a great virtual pa would want to offer training telling others how to set up the same business?

Mainly, does it pay? I have visions of giving up a secure job to find that the work doesn’t just roll in as the online ads seem to imply!

Anyone who has tried it and made a go of it or found it didn’t work, please let me know!

I’m a PA and have seen opportunities for this work on job sites. I personally think unless you’re really well organised and scout for work then as others say here you’ll have to have 2-3 clients to make it pay. You’ll also need to do as others say build up client relationships and ensure you’re indispensable.

I was at a big Microsoft event for work recently in their London HQ and they demonstrated a new package which drew different elements of MS office packages so you could eg write a report with input from teams calls etc.. This is great in theory but then it can put PAs etc out of work.

I’m retraining in HR and payroll and also with an aim to help my DB in his business (and hopefully work for him on the admin side. You could also retain in project management, I’m thinking of doing this but I don’t really enjoy it as much as my other courses.

Also if you’d like a WFH PA role, there are lots out there but a few are hybrid which is common. Lots of applicants for these hybrid roles too. I’d look at companies local to you or commutable to you and see what they need/want. One big law firm I know has been asking for eg marketing and training people. If I wanted to train people (I could) I’d apply for jobs there after doing a training course. Or marketing.

Thank you everyone - lots to think about! I know I don’t need skills training but the business side (setting up a business, marketing it etc) was where I was considering looking for pointers - I’ll steer clear of training courses for now!

Most VAs I know are working full time hours. Clients are contracted, so the hours aren't hit and miss so to speak. You'll know each month what you're bringing in, or whether you're in a position to take on new clients etc.
The only VAs I know who aren't consistently working 40 hours a week are the ones who have intentionally chosen to work around their children/be available for school pick ups etc.

Don't bother with a course. The only few things you need to know that you might not already / might not think of, are things like you need professional indemnity insurance. You can find that out just by reading around.

I think the market is saturated and the pay is too low to make it worthwhile unless there are particular things about your circumstances. As an experienced PA / EA, unhappy in your current role, I would put energies into finding a new job with an employer and negotiating hard on what you want - salary, benefits, hybrid / wfh. I think that is more likely to be out there for you, and easier to find, than a satisfactory full time VA set up from scratch.

My experience is that well trusted and respected PAs / EAs get perks like downtime when the boss is away, good money, a certain amount of flexibility when the boss doesn't need you. That all goes away when you are a VA and the hourly rate can't make up for it, esp when allowing for the constant hustle of being a freelancer. Good administrators are valued by their bosses, who have chosen to bring that talent in house, but not by the wider market. The £££ just isn't there without a personal relationship

I started my VA business back in late 2015. I am still a VA now.

Since 2018 I've been training women how to become Virtual Assistants.

As a Virtual Assistant you are a self employed business owner supporting other self-employed business owner's with tasks and services that you are confident and competent at, and enjoy doing.

The most common misconception is we're PAs, but virtual.

There are so many services we provide, for a plethora of small business owners in a varied array of sectors.

Becoming a VA changed my life. Working from home, when I choose, with whom I choose was the dream. And I succeeded, as have thousands of others.

The new average hourly rate is £35. So to earn £45k a year you wouldn't work anywhere near 40 hours a week as one suggested.

45k a year is £3750 a month
£3750 + 30% for tax and NI = £4875 a month
$4875 x 12 / 52 weeks = £1125 a week
£1125 / £35 an hour = 32 hours a week

I'd love you to listen to my podcast where I invite my mentees on to share their successes.

BTW, I also have an online calculator to show how few hours you'd need to work to earn what you want. And it takes into account Tax and NI.

Catherine Gladwyn

What's the name of the podcast please?

A friend of mine, who was a very experienced senior PA set herself up as a virtual PA when she was made redundant, but found it very hard to make good living from it. She did lots of networking and marketing to get her name known but couldn't really make it work. Ended up going back to a normal PA job. Maybe you'll have better luck.

Thank you for asking.

It's 'She's alright when you get to know her'

🧡

That's a shame.

I get a lot of people come to me saying 'I've been marketing non stop, networking, emailing but no clients'.

I know this life is possible so I go to see what they've been doing.

Sadly, they've either put a few social media posts out to an irrelevant, small or non existent audience.

Or they've not marketed properly.

So many new VAs promote themselves as offering 'general admin' and that means nothing. Or that they can give clients time back. How?

Marketing is hard but in a nutshell we just need to tell people what we're offering and how it'll help the client.

I'm not sure if I said above, I can't recall, but EVERYTHING sells when marketed correctly to an ever growing relevant audience.

What should they say? I remember a PA doing an AMA and saying they buy (and wrap) all the Christmas presents of their client's dcs and organized a lot of their home life admin. Not sure how easy this would be when it's virtual, so what sort of things would be expected for the rate of £35 per hour? I'd love to be earning that, even 10 hours a week would be great and I really need to move into a more remote role.

These are my first posts on Mumsnet for a few years and I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to share links?

I have a list of over 90 services VAs can offer. It's free, but behind an email sign up - unsubscribe at any time. I'm totally GDPR compliant.

I'll happily share the link to it if you'd like / I'm permitted, or it may also come up on Google with a search of:

'Catherine Gladwyn 90 services you can offer as a Virtual Assistant'.

I would say that wrapping presents isn't a VA service though. That's more a service in house staff for HNWI would do, isn't it?

Very helpful, thank you. The PA in question was very much a trusted right hand and her employed pretty much entrusted her to do everything.