UPDATE: this list is now updated (much longer!) and available as a printable checklist with space for notes, etc. in our Free Document Library.

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OK, now I know this is going to take some time to work out but I would *love* to create a master to do list of what needs to be done to get started with a VA practice - from concept to launch.

I think this could be really beneficial so please feel free to pitch in - please post with any additional steps you feel are important. Once we're done I expect we'll have a really nice resource for new VAs!


Basic 'to do' list for launching a VA practice:

-List your skills and strengths - focus on those things in particular that you enjoy doing. Brainstorm a list of possible service offerings using this list.

-With these skills and services in mind - brainstorm the particular niche(s) or market(s) you'd most enjoy working with. Which industries and/or types of entrepreneurs/business owners will most likely benefit from your services.

-Write at least a simple business plan with a few goals for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months out (keep this in a notebook where you will have room to edit, expand, add notes, etc. your business plan should be a virtually organic, growing entity that acommodates for change and growth in your practice.)

-Research VA and various other service industry rates, your local business market, and any other factors that will impact how much you will charge your clients.

-Consider your business policies for things such as late payment, new clients, how you will invoice (how often), how payment will be accepted, how your clients will communicate with you, when you will be available, if there are any non-traditional holidays you will not be available, etc. etc. Will you offer rush services? Will you be available weekends? How will you handle work requests that you are not skilled for?
Many of your business policies will develop as your business develops, however - the basics should be outlined *before* you find your first client so that you are presenting your practice and your own expectations in a strong, clear manner.

-Determine a business name - initial branding (logo? tagline? color/design? theme? etc.)

-Research, select, and file a business entity with your state (will you file an LLC, sole proprietorship, S-Corporation, etc?) LLC is a common choice among VAs and is relatively inexpensive to set up.

-Set up your business bank account

-Set up a Paypal account and link it to your business bank account

-Make sure you have all of the necessary equipment you will need. Bare minimum: a good, consistent internet connection, a viable computer, office software, any programs or hardware that are relative to your skill set and tasks you will be completing.

-Craft your contract(s) and/or letters of agreement. Ensure they make all of your business policies infinitely clear.

-Consider learning new skills, new programs, making sense of new information etc. (A truly professional VA is always learning, and always adapting his or her skill set toward the latest technology and internet trends.) Which new skills will enhance what you can already do? Which new skills can you learn efficiently and without a large monetary investmen?

-Create (or have created for you) a professional business website. Your website should give an immediately clear message about who you are, what you are, and what you offer. At a bare minimum you should have a page for your rates, for your services, for your contact information, for your 'about me' information. Consider starting a business blog, e newsletter, creating a resources page for those who visit your site, or adding other features that will give your potential clients and site visitors a reason to return to your URL and help establish you as an expert in your niche/industry.

-Create and order your professional business cards, or print them yourself.

-Develop your marketing materials. Research various options and start getting your name out there!

-Start to develop your network. Research various on and offline communities, organizations, meetups, and chambers of commerce, etc. Immerse yourself in the activities of the ones that feel most comfortable to you. Stretch your comfort level a bit every once in a while to participate in things and events you wouldn't ordinarily take part in. Give your business card or marketing materials to everyone you meet.

Does anyone else have anything to add??

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i think that list has everything there! I really like that list at least I have nearly everything in place

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Julia Neal ...because we ♥ admin!
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Oh my what a list!! Tess, where were you when I was getting started?

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Winslow Girl Virtual Assistant
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This is a great list. Comparing the list with what I have already completed, I am well on my way. Thanks for sharing.

Very well put together list, Tess.

Very nice, Tess. I saw a few things on that list I need to follow up on. Especially my Business and Marketing plans.

Thank you!

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Delilah Smith
Caliber Virtual Services

This list is great! Thank you Tess, you are always ahead! God Bless!!!

Finally! I've been looking for this post all morning! I thought there was another but I can't seem to find it. My question is about a business plan. Now that I've spilled the beans to my husband he wants me to write one. I've seen a typical business plan and I'm not interested! (Pages and pages with graphs and charts and numbers - the type you would put together for a loan to start a new business.) I don't want a loan, thank goodness!

Can somebody give me some ideas to get going? I would assume that "our type" of business plan has to be just as unique as our industry. I would like to hear from some of you who have employee J O B S because that changes everything. How long are you planning to do both? Are you going to wait until your income reaches a certain level or you sign a certain number of clients or you have $X in savings to switch to full time VA? At what rate do VAs add clients when the first get started? I'm sure you veterans have things coming to mind I haven't even thought of yet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Although I can see my husband swaying I have yet to yell *TIMMMMBERRR* and we haven't shaken on it yet!

Make it a great day!

Sundi

Tess, your list is extremely thorough. Asside from the obvious (Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and perhaps QuickBooks), is there any other type of software that a new VA should consider investing in?

Sundi - check out this thread to get some thoughts on working a 9-5 while building your practice.

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

Originally Posted by cyewing

Tess, your list is extremely thorough. Asside from the obvious (Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and perhaps QuickBooks), is there any other type of software that a new VA should consider investing in?

Good question! I'd suggest checking out the posts in the VA resources and software section of the forums - you'll find lots of 'favorites' listed there - depending on your specialties or niche there are all kinds of possible investments (and free resources) that will help enhance your practice.

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Thanks for the suggestion Tess! I can't wait to check it out!

Hi Sundi

You might want to start out with a simple business plan. I found this link that will help you out. http://www.isitebuild.com/simplebusinessplan.htm

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Originally Posted by Sundi

Finally! I've been looking for this post all morning! I thought there was another but I can't seem to find it. My question is about a business plan. Now that I've spilled the beans to my husband he wants me to write one. I've seen a typical business plan and I'm not interested! (Pages and pages with graphs and charts and numbers - the type you would put together for a loan to start a new business.) I don't want a loan, thank goodness! Can somebody give me some ideas to get going? I would assume that "our type" of business plan has to be just as unique as our industry. I would like to hear from some of you who have employee J O B S because that changes everything. How long are you planning to do both? Are you going to wait until your income reaches a certain level or you sign a certain number of clients or you have $X in savings to switch to full time VA? At what rate do VAs add clients when the first get started? I'm sure you veterans have things coming to mind I haven't even thought of yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Although I can see my husband swaying I have yet to yell *TIMMMMBERRR* and we haven't shaken on it yet! Make it a great day! Sundi

Sundi, I currently work a 9 to 5 and haven't quite figured out my game plan for transitioning from it to working as a VA full time. So if you figure something out, please share. However, I have typed up what I feel is a very solid business plan. I, like you, do not foresee having to ask for a loan so I was able to leave out a lot of the "un-necessaries". But even with doing that, coming up with a plan was far from simple. I worked on it for weeks before I was happy with it. And now I consider it to be more of a guide than a plan. When the plan/guide was in draft stages, I would write down everything that I thought was important to being successful in business. Some of it would be common sense stuff like "good customer service", but I wrote it down anyway because I wanted to identify everything that I didn't want to lose sight of. I identified every single thing about my business from services, to marketing techniques and target markets, to customer service strategies, retention strategies, and so on and so on until I ended it with long and short term goals. Once I identified all of those things, it was simply a matter of grouping like items, placing them under the appropriate headings, and "fluffing" the language for appearances sake. It was a lot of work but I am sure that anyone who has written one will agree, well worth it. It's like a road map to success that I can edit, add to, and delete from as often as necessary in order to reach my goals. I hope that this helps just a little bit.

Repeat posting (again)

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!

I have been "officially virtual" for approx 7 months and just signed up my 5th client! Each of my clients is only 4-10 hours/month of billable work so I devote the rest of my "Goddess" time to marketing, networking, etc. while maintaining my 40-hour full-time job so that my hubby and I can continue to eat.

Once I am up to 20 hours/week on top of my 9-5, I will go full-time virtual and offer 25-30 hours/week to my current employer as a VA (that way, if they decline, I'm not TOTALLY dead in the water for finances )

I anticipate working 60+ hours/week for at least the next 3 years if I want to get my practice solid and develop "Goddess" into a good living. I hope to find a part-time assistant at that point to take over the "drudge work" and let me go back to working 40 hours/week and still be able to live comfortably.

Let me know if you have any questions about working full-time while building your practice; I'll answer what I can...

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