It seems from the posts I have found, that many of you operate your Virtual Assistant business on a part-time basis. However, there are others that are fulltime--maybe with multiple VA's working with/for you. I consider fulltime to be a minimum of 30 hours per week. (If I'm off on this, please correct me.)

I am wanting my business to become a fulltime endeavor and am interested in learning how many of you are fulltime and about how long it took you to get to that point.

This is my first time taking a poll, so I hope it works!!

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Sylvia Mesaros
The Alliances

Hi Sylvia, I became a full time practice within about 6 months through great word-of-mouth referals from a very happy first client

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Stuck in startup? Stop dreaming. Start DOING!
Get the Become a Virtual Assistant eBook for just $29

I'd say I also probably became full time within 6 months but I was also working at it full time and not working a PT job at the same. So, if I wasn't doing client work, then I was working on marketing which I believe is what got me to full time within 6 months.

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Kimberly
Facebook Marketing Magic!

I too am full-time but did not start out that way. I think every situation is different and I am fortunate to now have a full-time load and start using sub-contractors.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I've been part-time by choice and now want to move to what I consider full-time. Started being persistent in that direction this month!

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Pam Deyerle - Transcriptionist in the Richmond, Virginia area
The Perfect Word Transcription Services

I am a full-time VA too. I did start part-time and was working a part-time job as well. By late-summer of 2008 I left my part-time job and have been a full-time business since. It was about 6 months after I started my business.

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Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

I was part-time for 5 years. When my load became too much, I went full-time for 3 years. I took a part-time onsite position 2 years ago but I'm ready to go back to being virtual full time!! I am trying to convince my current employer to try it out for 6 months to see if they like it... Still waiting on a response!!

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Shellye L. Lyons, Business/Marketing Manager ~~ The Lyons Group, LLC

I am part-time right now, but with a growing client base. I don't work outside the home, so full-time is my ultimate goal.

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Jules, SunRise Virtual Solutions - WordPress Customization & XHTML/CSS Web Sites

Hi Sylvia,

I am also part time at the moment, working on site to make up the additional hours I require (but through my VA business).

I would like to be able to go part time too. Some of you have done that very quickly - congratulations!

I have been working on my business for 12 months, but did work after hours for 3 years before that.

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Chauntelle Rakebrandt | Leading Logic | Getting You Inline, Online! | Central Coast, NSW, Australia

I'm just doing after hour work right now I would love to move up to part time and generating more income. I'm still working on time management though, wish me luck I need to work on my marketing mostly.

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Sierra Davis
Airra Virtual

I took the plunge and went full-time in January - but I'm not earning full-time money yet! However, I don't regret it - sometimes you just need the challenge. Having said that, if you have the option to work part-time I think that's great - I didn't get the option. My employer wanted me full-time or not at all. So broke but happy, that's me!

As soon as we open March 1st, I will be full time, as this will be the only income we will have. At my current "job", I can't even count on getting paid on time, so I cannot continue to work for this company, as it's losing clients anyway we feel because she cannot keep her pricing consistent. She is constantly changing the pricing, the packages, etc... and there's no continuity or consistency. I am giving her my notice next week and we will be live right after that. We are praying that we will pick up clients quickly, so we're planning on a hot and heavy marketing campaign to get our info out there.

Originally Posted by mksdesignss

As soon as we open March 1st, I will be full time, as this will be the only income we will have. At my current "job", I can't even count on getting paid on time, so I cannot continue to work for this company, as it's losing clients anyway we feel because she cannot keep her pricing consistent. She is constantly changing the pricing, the packages, etc... and there's no continuity or consistency. I am giving her my notice next week and we will be live right after that. We are praying that we will pick up clients quickly, so we're planning on a hot and heavy marketing campaign to get our info out there.

Congrats on the March 1st start date. I hope your marketing plan works well for you and you are able to get clients fast.

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Sierra Davis
Airra Virtual

Thanks to those of you who have taken my poll and for your insightful responses. I'd love to hear from lots more people!

I actually "started" my (part-time) VA business 3 years ago and had two clients, but one sold his business and the other one wanted me to work for him fulltime. I did that for over a year, then when that didn't work out (very long drive time that I just didn't want to continue and difficult boss to boot), I took a several months off.

I am finally trying to get things started back again and like mksdesignss, have a "grand opening" target date of March 1st. I'm looking forward to getting as many clients as I want so I can work as much, or as little as I want. That would make me very happy.

To mksdesignss: Many, many Good Luck wishes to you and hope you get lots of clients very quickly. It stinks to be without any income. Please keep us posted as to your progress.

And to the other posts that are part-time wanting to be fulltime--hang in there! You'll get there--and so will I.

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Sylvia Mesaros
The Alliances