Originally Posted by VA-rific

I would appreciate a checklist of things I must have in place before I even start to advertise my VA business.

If you haven't yet done so, download the free 'getting started as a VA' packet. This may answer lots of your questions.

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

I am also considering starting out part time, because I am a student. At my work-study position we can do homework or whatever we want while working at school. I sit at a front desk of a residence hall and swipe people's ID cards, if anyone comes into the building. It frees up a lot of my time to do VA work while at "work" so I may be somewhere in between part and full time!

I don't know that you necessarily need to disclose that you're doing the work outside of "normal" business hours. I can check and answer e-mail on my phone during my breaks and lunch times at the J-O-B, and I don't answer the phone if I'm in the middle of something - so I just pretend that the J-O-B is another VA client, and I don't offer services where I would need to be continuously available.

You are a business owner, and it's none of the client's business whether you do the work at 2 am or 2 pm, as long as it's done by the deadline/within agreed upon timeframes.

Just my $0.02.

Originally Posted by 25thHour

I don't know that you necessarily need to disclose that you're doing the work outside of "normal" business hours. I can check and answer e-mail on my phone during my breaks and lunch times at the J-O-B, and I don't answer the phone if I'm in the middle of something - so I just pretend that the J-O-B is another VA client, and I don't offer services where I would need to be continuously available. You are a business owner, and it's none of the client's business whether you do the work at 2 am or 2 pm, as long as it's done by the deadline/within agreed upon timeframes. Just my $0.02.

You're dead on. My clients have NO IDEA that I work a j-o-b along with their needs.

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

Very interesting. As far as whether or not to let your clients know about your work hours - I think a lot of it has to do with the specific client. Some may need to reach you at a specific time, or have daytime deadlines, etc. I think that decision may need to be made on a client-by-client basis.

Again, my $.02.

I will be starting out part-time as well....thanks for posting the link to the "getting started as a VA" packet!!! Very helpful!!

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Yolanda Allen

I am starting out part-time as well. Thankyou for the replies, it has helped put me more at ease as to managing my clients needs.

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Megan - Aspiring VA from Australia
Starting my VA Business in 2012

I agree that you can work wheen you want as long as you get the job done, however some clients you can do that with and others you can't. Take for instnace one of the clients I support. I plan teleconferences, send out invites, communicate with their web developers which all needs to take place during the day since they are 9-5 workers.

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Shelley R. Drasal
Your Faithful Assistant

Originally Posted by Your Faithful Assistant

I agree that you can work wheen you want as long as you get the job done, however some clients you can do that with and others you can't. Take for instnace one of the clients I support. I plan teleconferences, send out invites, communicate with their web developers which all needs to take place during the day since they are 9-5 workers.

Since I am not available during a 9-5 day for clients ('cuz I still work one myself), I just don't take on that type of client. This doesn't preclude me from working part-time, however, as Goddess is now successfully going on 5 years old with steady clients.

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

Hi Lily,
Do you disclose to your clients that you have a 9-5 job outside your Goddess business?
I too work an 8-5 outside the home and will be starting my VA business part-time and outside these hours. I am debating whether or not I should disclose this to potential clients.

Thanks!
~ Lori

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Lori Hedgpeth
Author One Source