How long did it take for you all to start your business? 6 months? a year?.. two years?

Were you all looking at this business as your main source of income? or does it make more sense to have a full time job until the VA business takes off?

Hey Diane - I'm sure you're going to get a lot of different answers...
In my case, my husband got orders and within three months, I quit my full-time job and started up the VA business right after the move. It took me around six months to get my first solid client. but this was after messing around with freelance sites, answering Craigslist ads, and joining non-relevant associations and groups. I am mentoring a VA who is in this situation right now: full time job while starting up the VA job. Sometimes it does make sense to hold on to the f/t job as long as possible. We all got bills to pay!

I definitely had to plan for the big move - both financially & mentally. We paid off bills so we didn't have that much debt and could handle the big cut in pay. After about 2.5 years I was making as much as I did at the old job. I would have loved to have been able to ease into the VA business, but at the same time, it made me work a little bit harder because I REALLY wanted to make it successful and fast.

Good luck!

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Lisa Wells~Online Biz Manager
Free Marketing Tips, Resources, and Reports for your VA Biz

Hi Diane. A friend once told me, "money responds to movement." So whatever you decide, just keep moving and things will fall in line. All you need to learn, ask, research, etc. - can be found right here.

I wish you the best!

Hi Diane,

For us it is not the main income. I am lucky and can take my time to set things up. But, I am excited and a little impatient. I think I am on the right track and just keep going on this journey. At the moment I am working on my website, since I thing when you start networking and talking, this must be ready.

Take care!
Melissa

While I'm not quite where I want to be financially, I'd say about 80% there. I marketed and was able to get my first two clients relatively quickly (less than 2 months in). I dove in and did this full time because I knew myself and needed to put myself in position where I had to make money to pay the bills and I knew if I had a fulltime job my focus on building my business just wouldn't be there. So for me, I did it the way I did because it worked best for me.

Do what's comfortable and fits with your life.

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Renee Shupe, Become a Techie Virtual Assistant
eMail Marketing & Aweber Training Starts May 15! - Save 50% using VAFAweber

Thank you for your post everyone... it's really informative. I ask these questions because I haven't worked in 5 years. That's because 5 years ago I was pregnant. I decided to go back to work after my son was 2 years old. But, during that time I found out he had autism. So, I decided not to go back because I wanted to research what autism was and be there for my son as much as possible. He is now four going on five and I found some schools that are helping. Autism really changes everything, your income, your awareness, you as a person. My fiance was laid off since last October, money is running out. I wanted to find something so that I could stay @ home and be available at all times for my son, even when he is in school. He is doing a lot better now, but we have a long way to go. I am now finally comfortable finding work, as well as work hard for/with my son. All I want is my son to be a functional citizen in society. But, not having money makes Autism harder. I know there are a lot of places, associations, and federal money I could get for him. But, I don't feel like things are moving quickly enough for him. Although, he is 5 with Autism, he speaks and there is lots of communication. There are a lot of things that I can't communicate with him because he doesn't understand, so I need to find something to even the playing level. You know what I mean? Ahh.. I am just babbling... but thank you guys for you feedback! it's really appreciated.

Diane

My husband has a job that covers our bills & health insurance. I launched my biz in February & had two clients by end of June. I was thrilled, but now I need to really focus on getting at least two more clients.

There are some days I think, 'It would be easier to get a full time job!", but then I remember the angst of corporate life - will the company downsize? Outsource? Go out of business? Be bought out?

Also, a VA business is portable. You can move anywhere & take your business with you.

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

I tried to start my VA business while still working FT and I just couldn't get things going. So, I changed direction. My main reason for wanting to start the business was I wanted to stay home with my son who was 2-1/2 years old at the time. My direction change was to a home daycare/preschool, which actually worked out much better as my son had playmates and I was able to spend bunches of time with him and be his teacher! Once my son was in 5th grade, I changed the daycare to part-time and started the VA business part-time and started getting clients rather quickly. After about a year of that, I dropped the daycare altogether. My son is now almost 22 and in college. Now I couldn't imagine going back to the "corporate" world!

Everybody's experience is different, so just hang in there!

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

Diane I feel for you. Only those who care for family members with challenges can relate (I am caregiver to my 84 year old mother who has Parkinsons). If your fiancee is laid off he can care for the child while you get your business going. Frankly, if he's not prepared to do that (assuming this is his child and if it is why won't he marry you?) get rid of him - you don't need two "kids" to care for and support.

You need someone to care for the child while you work - a screaming child in the background while you are on the phone will kill any hope of business. I have dogs, after their run at dawn they sleep most of the day - I can speak to clients on the phone quietly and professionally. I can also go meet local prospective clients in a professional manner - dragging along your child, dog or grandma will kill your chances of gettng a client.

Sorry if I seem a little harsh, but this is reality and it takes a lot of hard work over time to be successful.

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The Wordpro Wizard
www.wordprowizard.com

No, not harsh at all. I am the same way. I appreciate your candor. He helps me with him. It's really hard to put in words how my son deals with change. Although, my fiancee can be the main caretaker until I get my business up & running, my son will not understand what's going on. It's hard to make any changes. Once there is change, he regresses. We worked really hard in the past 3 years to get where he is today. My son will regress in a second. Then we have to start all over again. So, I will have to find a balance. As for marriage, ahh.. that's my fault, not his. LOL!