Work From Home - Independent Homeworking Portal

In any industry, all businesses strive to save two things: time and money.  A Virtual Assistant can help with both. 

Already many work from home entrepreneurs/SME's have embraced the concept of Virtual Offices to help their homeworking businesses at a fraction of the cost they would have paid to maintain a fully serviced office.  This benefit is realised when their needs require them to have a professional fixed mailing address or the occasional meeting room for example. 

In any office, there is a 'to-do' list with tasks that generate or build the business - marketing, meeting clients, networking etc - and tasks that have to be done to ensure that the business keeps running smoothly - invoicing, bookkeeping, meeting planning, word processing etc.   

Traditionally, there have been two types of secretarial and administrative support to deal with these tasks - a permanent employee or a temporary worker.  A virtual assistant has evolved from these roles to become a permanent-temporary business partner who can be used as often or as little as is necessary to save businesses time, effort and money.  This is achieved by utilising technology such as telephone, fax, email and the Internet as well as their wide range of skills. 

In the past, businesses have assumed that outsourcing admin related work is too expensive and have kept it in-house.  However, when they realise that there are many tasks that can be delegated, they find that valuable time can be saved handing this work over to someone else, whilst only being charged for the time taken to complete. 

Apart from this, there are many other benefits that businesses may not have considered before such as: 

• No employee related costs such as PAYE taxes, NI, Sick or Holiday Pay.

As independent contractors, virtual assistants take care of their own taxes and costs. 

• Clients only pay for services used, when they use them.

Instead of having a permanent employee, clients only use a virtual assistant when they need them - a couple of hours, a day a week, every month, at short notice or in an 'overload' work situation. 

• No overheads such as onsite training, equipment provision or 'temp' staff.

Clients have all the benefits of an employee but don't have to pay for setting them up in their office.  Not only that but the hassle of taking on a 'temp', paying exorbitant agency fees and worrying about whether they will be 'up to the job' can also be avoided. 

• Flexibility from working with a virtual assistant.

As a 'virtual' service, virtual assistants are able to work unsociable hours and are not tied to when the office is open.  Perfect for those who travel and wish they had admin support on hand when they are working in the hotel room in the evening.  This also applies to those who may just be starting out in business and are working all hours to get everything done! 

• A relationship built over time.

The Virtual Assistant is a business partner clients can come back to time and again who will have an understanding of the business and a shared desire for success. 

As the newest technology and flexible working methods are adopted by more businesses and industries, it becomes increasingly easier for tasks such as proofreading, word processing and audio transcription, to name but a few, to be completed remotely by a virtual assistant.   

By only paying for services as and when they are required with no fixed contracts, the client always remains in control and can maximise their business potential whilst minimising their business costs. 
 

Contributed by the Virtual Assistant Evie Hague from http://www.TheOfficeAngel.com

Contact: evie@theofficeangel.com

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