How To Start Your Own Virtual Assistant Business

There are many ways to make an income on the Internet. Unlike many systems this is 'real work' for a physical client and to get started you need the correct skills and a good deal of marketing.

by Liz Folger

Thanks to the Internet there's a new way to make money with your computer.

You might be surprised at all the different services you could offer with this new home business. Most people have become familiar with word processors, which usually consists of typing manuscripts, letters, transcription and writing resumes, but the new virtual assistant is like word processing on steroids.

Diana Ennen, has been a home-based word processor now for about 15 years. She started to educate herself about all the possibilities a person has when starting a virtual assistant business. Diana Ennen along with Kelly Poelker, a certified Master Virtual Assistant, just finished writing an ebook called, "A Bizy's Guide: How To Start Your Own Home-Based Virtual Assistant's Business."

So What Exactly Is A Virtual Assistant? Diana Ennen explains, "A virtual assistant, or VA, is a highly skilled professional who provides administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, and others who have more work to do than time to do it. Many VAs work as independent contractors from their own home. VAs use leading edge technology to communicate work assignments via the Internet, e-mail, disk transfer or such traditional methods as regular mail, overnight shipping and even pick-up and delivery in local areas.

A VAs services typically include word processing, medical or legal transcription, database management, Internet research, e-mail handling, reminder service, bulk mailings, information processing, and any other tasks typically given to the office secretary. Many VAs also provide web development, design and maintenance, desktop publishing, meeting and event planning, bookkeeping, and business start-up consultations. The services are endless depending upon your knowledge and skills. "Tisha Silvers explains her virtual assistant business as, "One who assists another from literally anywhere in the world. I don't limit it to just business support functions. I consider the person a few miles down the street to be just as virtual if you don't meet regularly or at all. I have a few of those kinds of clients myself."

The increase in Broadband Internet connections has made this type of virtual working flourish. For those that do not have ADSL, DSL, Cable etc, there is the option of satellite but even with a simple dial-in line this type of business can flourish as long as you do not choose a business model that requires huge downloads of data.