I agree. This thread was very helpful and a great read. I work from 7a to 3:30p at my day job. Because its with the school system I have the Summers from mid June through August for vacation. I will also work partime as a VA while working my regular job. It helps to know what to say and how to say it - so you can still maintain client flow.

Thank you for starting this!
~Nikki Chisholm

I'm in the same boat and this is a process I'm working through. Until I'm ready to launch full-time, I'm still in a regular job I enjoy, but want to move out of in the next 6 months. I agree with the posts about being careful to not tell too much information regarding my schedule (I'm able to check email/phone anytime during the day, so in that sense, I'm always available for the VA business). Good discussion, thanks!

Sharon

I too am starting my VA business while working full time. I am trying hard to figure out where to start and how to find new clients.

Thanks for all the posts - i find them very helpful.

[QUOTE=Office Goddess;10150]Repeat posting BTW just signed my 4th client, have a meeting wed. about my potential 5th!

I, too, still work a "9-5" job while getting my VA business going strong enough to support my household. I devote 6am-8am and 8pm-9pm M-F and 8am-noon on Saturdays to "The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC"; it's understood at home that I am "working" those hours and not to be disturbed. I also check emails/posts at lunch time and on breaks during the day. This makes for a long week but, that's what it takes to run your own business in the beginning!


This was my main question. How to set up hours for clients since I am still working full time. How hard has it been to locate clients who are willing to work around your schedule?

Quote:

This was my main question. How to set up hours for clients since I am still working full time. How hard has it been to locate clients who are willing to work around your schedule?

My clients have NO IDEA that I work a 9-5!! I don't answer my phone during the day (my default ring is 30-seconds of silence, I have custom rings for the hubby and my 9-5) and I explain to my clients/potential clients that 1) answering the phone is really distracting, it can take up to 10 minutes to get 'back in the groove' of what I was working on when I answered the phone, and that it might have been THEIR project I was in the middle of... 2) I prefer email as it guarantees that discussions/instructions/questions are clearly understood by both parties.

I return phone calls/emails during breaks (morning/lunch/afternoon) and before/after my 9-5; I often return calls from the parking lot of work at 4:30pm.

I work on projects outside of JOB hours, but my clients don't need to know this!

Feel free to pm me if you would like info on the 'silent' ring tone.

__________________
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Thank you so much Lily, I have to say that I never would have thought of that.

Hi folks - your dedication to the industry and time management is inspirational - I'm taking a leaf from you book!

This was a point of concern for me too. Thank you for asking the question and I really appreciate all of the info.

Thanks much -

It is tough..I am getting started as well and work full time with 2 little ones and wondering how I am going to do it. But the idea of being more flexible with my time keeps me going so that I can do this FT really soon!

Have you considered subcontracting for awhile until you get on your feet?

I only intended to be a part time VA and look where that ended up. If you have a will there is a way. Plan out your time, use it well and don't expect too much of yourself.

__________________
Kylie Short
Tilda Virtual Services - Making virtual personal

I am in the same situation of almost everyone here working a fulltime and trying to do this part-time. I have one client and had to turn down my first potential client yesterday. Very depressing for me because she would probably have been my best client but she wanted more of a "Personal assistant" someone to do errands and travel with her, I was just not confident enough to just give up my full time job and work for her at the drop of a dime. I'm a single parent with a son in college and I NEED my insurance. But I had to tell her upfront that I had a 9-5 and that it just wouldn't work..

Oh well you win some you lose some....

Reading all of your comments sure has put my mind at ease a. I feel a lot more comfortable about working full time and starting this business on the side now. I sure do appreciate all of your input.

Originally Posted by slimthick2001

I have a question for veteran VAs as well as newbies. I am currently building my practice while still holding down a full-time job. How did you manage to juggle the two? Suppose you have a client that needs support during working hours. Did you do work for these clients while at work? Or did you inform your prospective clients that you would only be available to do work for them in the evenings? Not sure what I should tell prospective clients when speaking to them for the first time. Looking forward to your input.

Hi there,

It was a juggling act for me at first, and I only took on jobs that I could do in the evenings and weekends. Then I transitioned to part-time from full-time while building my client list. Then when the client list got big enough to sustain a VA practice, I left my job and concentrated on my business.

Thank you - this is great to read all your posts.

I don't work full time but I currently support an entrepreneur on-site 2 days per week and the hours are so flexible. While I'm there, I have the capability to check email and voice mail. In the future, I hope to support him virtually.

It's nice to see that a lot of you are maintaining a va practice while working other jobs... It's encouraging to see that there are clients out there who are flexible with your time and it can be done!!


Lori
Aspiring VA