Business plan and logo design - Virtual Assistant Forums

Lewis · #1 (**permalink**) 06-25-2007

Good morning to you all - i am new to this forum and just in process of setting up my business - i live in northern ireland where it is relatively quiet on the va front.

Can anyone help me with my business plan and how i can design my logo.

Many thanks

Tess · #2 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

Hi Maria and welcome to the forums

I think being overseas actually gives you a bit of an edge, whether you find local clients or not you can always market yourself to the States and Canada with the idea that you'll be working while the client is sleeping - essentially expanding their own working hours to 24 in a day.
I've been living abroad the past four years and have found my location to be a real asset to our business in that regard.

In any case - when I was getting set up and wanted to craft a business plan I just searched Google for some samples to help me get started.
A few links I found useful were: SCORE (offers free business advice to small-biz and those just getting started - an AMAZING wealth of information and completely free! They have the option of communicating online, so you don't need to be local to the States to benefit from their services.) and the Small Business Association website was a great resource as I was setting up as well.

There's also a title at Amazon : VA's Startup Manual that is pretty straight shooting and gives good basic info and direction (although like anything you will want to take the bits of information that resonate well with you and your own intentions).

Regarding logo design - what are you thinking here? Did you want to design it yourself or hire someone to develop a concept for you? I actually do web design, including logos - but am aware of a few do-it-yourself programs that are great for people who have a more limited budget and want to try their hand at easy logo design. Let me know and I can point you in the right direction.

Lewis · #3 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

Hi tess

Thank you so much you are a great help - i would prefer to design the logo myself as my budget is very small at the minute.

How or where could i register my name for work in the states and canada - i had been thinking of that before and it would be ideal to work for clients in the states while they are asleep.

maria

Tess · #4 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

I don't think you need to 'register' yourself anywhere?
Although the SCORE website might have a more concrete answer to your question.
I'm American so never even gave it a second thought providing services virtually. I've worked with clients in the U.S. and Canada both without much worry about where I was located. If you have local laws regarding providing services then I'd suggest checking with your own tax/business locality to find out.

If you want to design the logo yourself you might try The Logo Creator - I've played around with it a bit and while it's nowhere near the performance or complexity of Photoshop or other 'pro' design programs it *does* give those without design background a great format in which to design a nice logo. *Very* easy to use and comes with a bunch of cute graphics you can play around with. Also, you can download and install free fonts to your computer (one of my personal favorite free font sites is here - you can search for styles by keyword or browse by category.) and the program will automatically pick them up - allowing you to design with even more fonts than it offers in it's initial package. All in all a bargain and a fun little tool for design novices.
If you have the budget and are willing to learn the program though, nothing beats Fireworks or Photoshop for quality and of course they pick up fonts installed on your computer as well. If you click the links to these programs you will see a link to 'download a free trial' - the functionality on the free trials are limited (the licensed programs do MUCH more) but will give you an idea of how they work before you invest $300+.

Both the logo creator program and the Adobe programs have little tutorials to help you learn to use the software - just check out the menus at each site to find them.
Personally, I prefer the Adobe programs - simply because they are far more professional - but it all depends on your budget and how much you want to learn about design.

Hope that helps

I'd love to see what you come up with

Lewis · #5 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

Hi Tess - thanks for the advice - i will check those out and i will let you know how it goes - im getting my website designed by a professional so hopefully it will turn out ok - my business name is 121va - what do you think

maria

Tess · #6 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

Very nice choice

I like the name!
I'm curious though, is your designer not providing you with a logo? (that's something I produce standard with a website unless it's already been done...)
Usually, a good designer (who isn't doing your logo for you) will need the logo first in order to take color, style, etc. into account when creating a website...

Lewis · #7 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

I will check with him - i did think that would be part of the package - i want to use black, grey and white (with maybe some red in it) as my colours on the website.

Just putting in a kitchen in black, grey and glass units and its very nice - have a black car and thought my website would suit these colours.

How long have you been a va?

maria

Tess · #8 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

I've been a VA for about two and a half years - it was a purely accidental choice (as was web design) but has been the absolute BEST decision I've ever made in my life regarding work (the freedom is incredible and as we love to travel, having a business we can pack up and take with us - anywhere there's an internet connection

has been amazing)
The other half of 'us' is my programming-guru husband

so we make a good team and have really thrived from a business standpoint in this virtual environment.

Tess · #9 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

Also, I think it's great that you're finding inspiration for your site in the things that surround you and that appeal to you. That's exactly how I design websites - usually based on a piece of fabric or an image and/or personality. It's a great way to go - be sure you translate that vision to your designer as best you can to ensure it comes out the way you're imagining (I'd even suggest showing him a pic of the car, if it's the lines, etc. of the car that you like...and a pic of the room you did - if it's something about the way the room functions as a design piece that you're wanting to see in your site, so he understands what you're thinking.)

Lewis · #10 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

I hope that I will be able to make a success of the business - my other half is a search and rescue instructor ( hes the guy on the rope from a helicopter if you need rescued!) but he is amazingly brilliant with computers so will be a great asset to the business.

I must go and put the dinner on! its great to talk with you and i will speak with you soon - you really have been a great help. Its good to know there are people to help and offer advice.

Once again many thanks

speak soon

maria

Tess · #11 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007

I'm sure the two of you are a great team all the way around

I'm glad you were able to find some info and I'm sure you'll find the support you need here as you get started in your venture - there are lots of great VA's on the site but we're all so darn busy it gets quiet sometimes

Talk to you soon! And do show off your website in the 'reviews' section once you're all set!

americanrose · #12 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007

I think I'll get some major use from these links to SCORE and the SBA as well as I'm just getting started writing my business plan too!
Maria, shall we compare notes in a week or so?

Lewis · #13 (**permalink**) 06-28-2007

Hi American rose

I would like to compare notes - im going on holiday for 10 days next friday so i may not have it completed in 2 weeks.

I live in northern ireland and there is a very useful website called investni.com which gives you valuable information on writing a business plan and what content to put it in - have a look at that and it will help you too.

maria

Tess · #14 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007

I came across these great links dedicated to helping entrepreneurs write a successful business plan and thought they might be useful as there have been a couple of recent questions on the forums regarding this same topic.

Check out this page on About.com for articles on everything from a general FAQ on Business Plans to How to do a Breakeven Analysis - there are about 20 articles listed with tons of help and direction on creating your business plan!

americanrose · #15 (**permalink**) 06-30-2007

Maria, sounds like a plan

Have a wonderful holiday and let's get in touch on the subject when you return and have had ample time to get started.

Tess, thank you for the wonderful links