Your stories are so inspiring I have been an assistant to one kind or another for going on 15 years. Although I dont have a degree as what was suggested in one of your posts I am hoping to take a program soon. I am also like most of you still working my full time job and I decided it was time to work for me the same day I realized I love what I do but dont necessarily like the people I work with or for. I have always wanted to be my own boss and although this has presented itself as one of the scariest but most exciting things I have ever done I really believe that it is time. My husband has been my biggest supporter and cheering section through this whole process. We too are tight as everyone is with todays economy so trying to research and do alot of this on my own has been tiring but I think it will be well worth it in the end. Thank you to all of you willing to share, advise, and help if it wasnt for all of you I would not be anywhere close.

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Valerie Snyder KBK Office Services
www.KBKOfficeServices.com

I am new to the VA world, but not new to entreneurship. Companies are so focused on the bottom line, they are making all kinds of cuts to stay afloat. I have been through this scenario several times and am just fed up with the "corporate" world. When my husband was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme of the cerebellum in December, I got a wake up call. He is in stage 4 and worrying about whether or not the company is going to downsize me is not something I want to spend my time worrying about. I need to be home with him and enjoy the time we have left. Failure is not an option for me as with so many of you. I myself have reactive asthma and the workplace is full of reactors. It is time to do what I really want to do and that is make a contribution to those who really need my help in their business as opposed to someone that justs needs another employee. I am very proficient in data entry, administrative support, training and consulting (most of my skill is in the medical field) and I want to put those skills to good use. I have worked harder in these past few weeks on making my VA business an actuality than I have ever worked for an employer and I am a die-hard employee. Whatever I do, I push myself to put my best foot forward. I guess I am a bit of a perfectionist. But I believe that anything worth doing is worth being done right. Whew! I'm sorry. Got on my soapbox, so I'll get off.
Wendy

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http://www.anofcextension.com
Office support, Database Creation and Management, Internet Research

I'm just getting started in my VA business, so its great to read your stories and hear how your businesses came to be. Its very encouraging for me. I am a stay at home mom and I also homeschool my 2 children so finding time to put into my business does mean staying up late after the kids go to bed. So I've had to push back my "official start" date several times but things are coming along. I'm glad to have found this forum and threads like this for encouragement. Thanks.

After nearly 25 years of working brick and mortar businesses, and doing some stuff here and there for friends or the occasion, hey, I heard you do web work type of clients, I took the plunge to look into working at home. We have a special needs adult child that lives with us so this really was the only option to continue to bring in that well needed extra income. I worked for a service for awhile then launched out on my own. My clients have come via word of mouth mostly, one of the clients that I had had at the service came to me after they closed.

I work full time for two Virtual Customer Service call centers. (Yes, two full time jobs.) I also have this business on the side where (currently) I'm mostly doing freelance writing for clients. I need to put more effort into advertising and showing other clients that I am out there! I don't feel secure enough in my business to quit my job(s) to dedicate myself to this full time. Unfortunately, I'm a single mom with two girls and the uncertainty just won't work when I have to put food on the table! I hope to in the future,though! It's a dream of mine.

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Kristin, owner KRumian LLC
KRumian LLC Business Website

I'm still working a full time job while doing VA work on the side. I was hoping to do VA work full-time when I started but the way the economy is right now I can't afford to not work full-time. My family needs the benefits that I receive as a full-time employee.

WOW !! I'm also new to this forum and to the VA business. I worked locally/virtually for a yachting company , I booked sailing holidays , wrote articles, created promotional folders, created marketing strategies and managed their websites. The company downsized due to bad business practice and I was out of work.
Then my husband and I created an e-store for me , it hasn't done as well as expected and here I am starting with VA once again. I have experience in various fields and I'm looking for my niche right now and a client !!

I was (and still am ) working for a 9-5 four years ago when one of our sub contractors came in and said the non-profit she worked for was seeking a p-t bookkeeper for just a couple of hours/month. Could I recommend anyone? Of course I said "me" and she's the one who suggested I file an llc to make it more 'legitimate' and turn my 'extra time' into a business.

I started researching working virtually, found VAF (which was only a few months old!), and took off running! I had to go on hiatus about 2 years ago when my (at the time 92 yr-old) father-in-law moved in with us but I had already built up my reputation enough that I was still turning down potential clients for over 6 months!

Now that I'm ready to build my business back up, I am back on my standard schedule of 7-8:30am and 7-9pm M-F and 8-noon Sat plus checking mail, forums, returning calls, etc. during morning, lunch, and afternoon breaks. At the time I went on hiatus, I could have gone full-time VA at any point but was waiting for my boss to decide to retire first (he still hasn't - good for me since I'm basically starting over with Goddess!).

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

WOW Office Goddess you chose the right name for your business , I can't wait for the day when I will be turning away clients.

Nice meeting you here , looking forward to getting to know you better.

Originally Posted by mak39

WOW Office Goddess you chose the right name for your business , I can't wait for the day when I will be turning away clients. Nice meeting you here , looking forward to getting to know you better.

Thanks! I hope to get back to that point again soon. It took about 1.5 years the first time around. Nice meeting you, too.

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