Starting a VA business

[ThatDogWoman]

I'm looking to start self employed VA / data entry work to make ends meet, and I wondered if I am looking for something that doesn't exist...

I want to find a few hours in the evenings, or during the day Fridays / weekends - up to about 10 hours a week (willing to do more if it means getting some income).

I'm worried that's too inflexible and it'll turn people off. Do you think I can make this work and get some income? I've tried Fiverr and got no interest whatsoever.

Does anyone have any luck with this type of work, and are you using an agency? Thanks for any advice.

I’ve done this since 2004. There’s loads of groups on Facebook for support and there are VAs worldwide for all types of roles. Happy to chat further, have a call or brainstorm with you.

the Facebook group is start in is Darren’s free VA community.

you don’t need courses, qualifications or any real outlay to start.

admin experience and access to an iPad but preferably a laptop or computer is best.

I was in a similar spot when I started looking for freelance work. It can feel a bit discouraging when you’re not getting the response you want, but don’t give up! Sometimes it’s about finding the right platform or niche. Have you tried places like Upwork or even LinkedIn? You can filter for part-time or flexible hours, and it might give you a better shot at finding the right clients.

Also, when I first started freelancing, I set up a simple Delaware business registration for my side gig. It really helped in making things more professional and organized, plus it gave me some peace of mind. If you're serious about this long term, it might be worth looking into.

I would just advertise yourself on your local Facebook group?

There is bound to be a tradesman or two who wants help with paperwork, advertising or responding to enquiries.

Just be really clear and upfront about what you can and cannot do, even in your initial post. Otherwise it just wastes everyone’s time and causes bad feelings. Hth.