What Does A Virtual Assistant Do For Your Business? A Complete Guide for Small Business Owners

VA Support Can Be A Small Business Owner’s Secret Weapon – Here’s How

The Virtual Assistant field has seen a major boom since 2020, with more and more self-employed professionals searching for remote work opportunities. This has been a great asset for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The increased hiring of virtual assistants resulting in greater workplace efficiency and productivity, reduced business costs, and the confidence that comes with trusting an expert in business services.

However, it’s still a relatively new profession, and many small business owners aren’t aware of just how many different kinds of tasks virtual assistants can handle. If you’re an entrepreneur who hasn’t made the jump to hiring virtual support, keep reading to learn about how a VA can make your business run better than ever before!

Why Should Small Business Owners Hire A Virtual Assistant?

If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably felt like you have to do everything yourself. Maybe you haven’t brought on extra help due to budget restraints, or because you’re struggling to find full-time talent who meet your needs and gel with your organization.

But the truth is, it’s a lot harder to reach your small business goals on your own – and you deserve better than a never-ending game of catch-up. When you're ready to make your first hire for your small business, contracting with a virtual assistant or VA agency provides a great middle path.

Here are three major benefits of hiring a virtual assistant:

1. Get Your Time Back: As a business owner, your time is best spent on the work at the core of your brand’s identity and offerings. When you’re not dedicating hours to repetitive tasks like expense reporting or inbox management, you can focus on making your business shine (and stave off burnout, while you’re at it!).

   
   

2. Save Money: Handling everything in-house might sound great, but it just isn’t realistic for small businesses. Many virtual assistants work on a contract basis, so they can help as much or as little as you need, allowing you to grow when you’re actually ready for it.

   
   

3. Work With Experts: Virtual assistants are admin wizards, but that’s not all they do! The field has become increasingly specialized, with many VAs having a wealth of experience in specific industries, i.e. real estate, healthcare, law, and beyond.

With the benefits on the table, let’s look at some of the day-to-day tasks virtual assistants can take off your plate.

What Work Can Virtual Assistants Do?

Administrative Management

Got a backlog of files you need to organize, or an inbox that needs monitoring? These administrative tasks are perfect for a general virtual assistant who specializes in keeping your business organized, allowing you to focus on being productive where you’re actually most needed.

Finance Tasks

If you’d rather be in your zone of genius than sending out invoices, following up on payments, or filing expense reports, you’re not alone. . A skilled accounting virtual assistant can handle invoicing, expense reports, and basic bookkeeping tasks so you can spend your time more efficiently.

Digital Marketing

Many marketing virtual assistants have a wealth of experience in marketing, and can help your business stand out. Tasks like copywriting, graphic design, social media management, and email marketing are perfect for them to take on. A social media virtual assistant can manage your online presence while you focus on core business activities. For businesses focused on building their brand identity, this support pairs perfectly with essential branding strategies.

Planning & Scheduling

Imagine a beautifully-organized calendar with all the information you need, when you need it. That dream becomes a reality when a virtual assistant can help schedule meetings and appointments, plan travel, and organize events.

Customer Service

Whether they’re following up to make sure clients are happy, responding to inquiries, or helping to make a mistake right, virtual assistants are a perfect addition to any customer support team. Whether you need a virtual assistant for entrepreneurs or established businesses, customer service support can be tailored to your specific needs.

Research & Strategy

Half the battle in any business decision is having the information you need, and the wherewithal to know how to use it. A virtual assistant with a background in research and strategic planning can help you zero in on what’s truly important, and make fully-informed choices for your brand.

If you’re ready to start handing these tasks off, we see you. To maximize your success, learn more about how to use your VA effectively. Now, we’ll dive into how working with a virtual assistant actually happens.

How Does A Virtual Assistant Integrate Into My Business?

Many virtual assistants are freelancers available for hire via platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. These sites are wonderful for connecting customers and contractors, and allow a great amount of flexibility for workers and employers alike.

However, the wealth of choice and independence can sometimes be a little overwhelming for both sides. Plus, it can be time consuming to interview and hire multiple different contractors to handle multiple areas of your business.

Virtual assistant agencies are a great solution to this problem. When hiring one of these agencies, your business can be easily matched with a team of remote workers who can collaborate to handle a wide variety of tasks. 

In fact, this is exactly what Moonwake Collaborative does! By assessing the full scope of your needs, budget, and goals, we are able to match you with the best contractors for the job. Plus, we work with you every step of the way to make sure you’re feeling as supported as possible.

If you’re ready to work with a remote team that meets all of your needs, we’re here to help. Schedule a free consultation with us to see where our work can fit in.

Frequently Asked Questions About Virtual Assistant Tasks

Why Hire Remote Instead Of In-Person?

Contrary to popular belief, remote workers are 13% more productive than those in-office, according to reporting from Truelist. There is also an increased demand for remote work, indicating a growing trend in this direction.

Additionally, you shouldn’t be limited to nearby talent – there are contractors across the country and the globe who can suit your needs.

What Rates Do Virtual Assistants Charge?

This varies significantly based on experience level, specialization, location, and other factors. Websites like Upwork provide their averages, but the important thing for business owners is to weigh hourly rates, the time needed to complete a given task, and the desired quality of work.

How Can I Make The Most Of Hiring A Virtual Assistant?

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are your friend! Whether you set these up before or after hiring is up to you and can be largely dependent on your specific situation, but having established guidelines and time-saving templates is crucial to setting your VA – and your small business – up for success.

What Types of Virtual Assistant Services Are Available?

Virtual assistant services range from general administrative support to highly specialized expertise. You can find general virtual assistants for everyday tasks, marketing virtual assistants for digital promotion, accounting virtual assistants for financial management, and social media virtual assistants for online presence management. The key is matching your specific business needs with the right type of virtual assistant support.