Virtual assistants work from home with their own equipment, handling tasks the client either doesn't have the expertise or time to do. Essentially, a virtual assistant allows the client to concentrate on what's important - the moneymaking aspects of the business. And because the virtual assistant is an independent contractor, the business owner only pays for the time he or she is actually working. That's right, no more administrative assistants sitting around reading or talking on instant messenger.

Having a virtual assistant also cuts costs, as in no payroll taxes, vacations, sick days, employee benefits or use of office space, hardware and software. Virtual assistants have been around for years and the profession continues to grow as more and more administrative assistants are being laid off from corporate jobs or are looking to work from home. They work best in a long-term business relationship with their clients and build a stake in the success of the client's business as they go.

Virtual assistants charge by the hour, starting around $30 an hour and going up from there, depending on the services offered. Services offered range from general administrative support, marketing assistance, web design, editing, business card and letterhead design, creation of flyers and newsletters, mail and e-mail services, internet research and much more.

For more information on virtual assistant services or becoming a virtual assistant, visit: www.SusanMarshallVA.com e-mail (e-mail protected from spam bots) or call 303-655-1215. http://www.susanmarshallva.com

Become a Virtual Assistant is dedicated to all VAs from any country in the world that needs help and advice to start a new VA or virtual PA company or to improve the business they already have. Please send us any articles or comments that you feel would add to the content of this site. If we use them we will give you a prize of your choice as a small thank-you for your time and effort.