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Scaling Your Biz: The Down Low on Virtual Assistants
Hiring a virtual assistant can be the first step. The first step to growing your business. As an entrepreneur or business owner.
It’s less daunting than hiring a contract or part time employee. And it’s a great way to test whether you’re ready to grow your team.
Recently, I’ve had several of my clients ask for pro tips and strategies on hiring a solid VA.
This is also a topic we discussed on the Business Builder Throwdown. To watch that episode, click here. If you found it useful, be sure to subscribe to the show and share it with someone else.
When to Hire a VA:
- You have several documented, repeatable processes in your business. You are ready to hand those processes off.
- You know how you will onboard your new VA (i.e. you have videos recorded on processes, tasks, and needs).
- You are working too many hours in the day and need help with administrative tasks.
- You have enough cash on hand to invest in scaling your business.
- You are ready to start building your team.
- You have steady income, clients and services that are working well in your business.
- You are ready to let go of the reins and have someone help you. This is a BIG one. Too many business owners struggle with delegating and want to control everything.
- You understand which activities in your business you can outsource. For example, not customer service or anything that’s core to your business and client success. Non-core or administrative activities are a great starting point.
If you can’t say yes to all the above, you are not quite ready to hire a Virtual Assistant. You are also not ready to hire anyone else on your team.
Hiring and working with a VA can be a great way to practice the onboarding process. Knowing who you want to hire on your team. Creating values and vision for your company. Getting more streamlined in your processes.
But you need to have these items in the checklist above ready to make your investment worthwhile. I don’t want you to become frustrated and lose confidence in your abilities as a leader.
Checklist for Finding the Right VA:
- Get clear on the skillset you want to hire for.
- Know your values and mission as a business. Hire someone who fits the future company culture you want to build.
- Get clear on what time zone they need to be in. Do you want to be able to interact during your work hours or can they help any time of the day.
- Draft a job description detailing what you want this person to do. What daily tasks, goals do you want them to complete? How many hours a week do you need them?
- Build out your onboarding process. How and what will you train them on?
- Set goals for your VA for the first 30 and 90 days. Make them specific, actionable, tangible and with a deadline.
- Based on the tasks they will be handling, do you need to hire someone on shore or offshore. If they are building content, emailing, etc. you may want someone onshore so there isn’t a language barrier.
- Set your budget. What can you afford to pay them hourly? How many hours a week do you need them for?
- Consider using a company that pairs you with a VA. This removes the burden of finding the right VA from you. Some companies offer additional benefits like training, tracking VA activity with computer SW, etc.
- Find and interview VAs. Find the best fit for your company, what you need, the culture and your chemistry with them.
Feeling overwhelmed?
That’s because hiring anyone in your business requires a lot of preparation. If you want to get your money's worth, you must be prepared.
And if you want your VA to have a great experience, it is equally important that you are prepared.
Each of these steps requires reflection and organization. But it is worth the time investment. I guarantee you will get more clarity across your business when you do.
When you complete this checklist you will be prepared for a positive experience hiring your first VA. Don’t make the mistake of rushing into this decision. Take your time. Reflect and get clear on who you want to hire. What you need them to do. And the future company culture you want to create.
When business owners do this the right way, frequently their VA will become a full time employee. Their role will expand into something bigger.
Just like it’s more expensive to find and attain a new client, the same thing applies for any form of staffing. It’s a HUGE investment of your time onboarding anyone into your business. Be sure you are prepared.
Be strategic. Take your time. Get it right the first time.
Need Help?
Scaling your business can feel overwhelming. And it can feel lonely. Humans and business owners thrive in community. Not in isolation.
You don’t have to do this alone. There is strength in building a community to support you. And there is great strength in working with a mentor or coach to breath fresh ideas into your business and life.
If you are ready to scale to that next level but are looking for someone to help guide you, I’m here for you.
Schedule your complimentary consultation call below. I can’t wait to help you break through to that next level! You’ve got this!
Schedule a call so we can get you unstuck and build out a plan to help you move forward.
