Once the potential client becomes a "regular", only you can decide how much personal contact you allow. For local clients, I offer a pick up and delivery service and I am very fortunate in this respect because my husband is retired and can deliver for me. I think this is another useful ploy because the client can see I am not a lone female. If I have to go and collect work, Rex nearly always comes with me - at least in the early stages of my association with that client.

I also would never allow my home address or details be used for a client as an accommodation or Registered Office address. There are companies who specialise in this and have the relevant insurance and security systems.

Of course there are some local clients who, over the years, have become friends and I've come to trust them completely. I am also fortunate in that the majority of my clients are virtual; only 25% of my business comes from local sources. So I rarely have to deal with either a constant stream of visitors or have to go out to deliver completed work.

Inevitably, many local clients will not be businesses but individuals and the same level of caution should apply when visiting their homes. Again, insist on knowing their full address and phone number. Look them up in the local telephone directory. If they are students, elicit their college or university address and the name of their main tutor.

There may also be various local authority rules and regulations which govern how you can work from home. Or if you live in a flat, the terms of your lease may preclude admitting business visitors to your home.

Business office insurance is essential because the chances are your ordinary home insurance will not be appropriate. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to add an office insurance policy for your Virtual Assistant equipment onto your home insurance, as I did.

The other possible drawback of admitting business visitors to your home could be the reaction of neighbours. However accommodating and supportive of your new business venture they may be, it won't be long before a steady stream of visitors may annoy them. It only takes one to report you to the local authority. Avoid this hassle if you can by keeping visits to an absolute minimum.

You may think that personal safety issues are only applicable to local clients, but security problems may arise even with virtual clients. After all, they too are complete strangers, at least initially and I would advise against giving away too much information. For example, if you're going on holiday, even if only for a few days, set up a holding email. Don't say you're away - this implies to all and sundry that your home is empty. You might as well stick a sign in the window or on your website saying, "Please help yourself!"

For all female VA or PAs, it's probably a safe bet to assume these personal safety precautions apply only to male clients. I've never yet felt uneasy in the presence of any female client. Irritated - yes. Threatened - no. However, for all you male VAs out there (and I know there are a few), you will also need to be cautious about arranging meetings with female clients. Be aware of and sensitive to any security or safety issues they may wish to address.

I realise you don't want to run the risk of losing a potential client but it is best to be cautious, although I don't wish to turn you into a nervous wreck in the process! I apologise if you think I'm being alarmist because I know that most of the things I've mentioned amount to sheer common sense, which we all have in abundance. But remember, it only takes one mistake. So be sensible - and stay safe.

Irene Boston
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Once again Irene has given good sage advice. Ignore it at your peril. I once spent a day travelling to meet a client that came to nothing except a very good lunch. It was a female client but we both went half way.  I also did this with a male client - who I was unsure of, but mostly I never meet my clients and this is not a problem to either party.