Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

t.brooke · #1 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

My question is what type of equipment should I be trying to get? Such as should I do online fax rather than regular fax? I think I would prefer online for the purpose of less cost for upkeep and being able to receive faxes away from home/office. I think that is the route I'm going to shoot for, but I'm not sure if it makes that big of a difference. Also, I do not have a home phone right now and I'm going to be working on that. Until then, how important is a phone? If I choose not to do phone call jobs, is it super-necessary to have a phone or can most of my correspondence be via email? You guys are in the business and know better than I would about this. I appreciate any feedback that you can give me.
I am not getting started just yet, but I am currently doing my research and asking my questions.

VagabondetteVA · #2 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

I wouldn't get a fax machine unless it's an all-in-one. I also wouldn't get a home phone when you can easily do VOIP.

I have a laptop and a cell phone...that's it.

I have a skype account and I'll be getting a number with them.

If I need anything else I'll do a quick trip to kinkos - which is 5 blocks away.

Tess · #3 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

RIght now, we have two laptops and a Skype number (we don't even have a landline) and only recently bought a printer/copier/scanner but we needed one anyway (otherwise, we didn't have one for the first three years). We also use online fax systems - for the amount of faxes we ever need to send or receive it works well for us (we have a free incoming fax line with efax and use faxzero for sending outgoing - also free). Otherwise, pretty much everything gets done via email!

jeannedb · #4 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

I'm going to preface my answers by telling you that I am a relatively new VA (less than a year).

As far as a fax machine - I purchased an all-in-one printer, scanner, copier, fax (HP) from Costco for a great price. As far as the fax is concerned, I've never used it for my business but have used it six times in the last two months for personal purposes. I think the other fax options would probably have worked out just as well.

Phone - I use my personal cell phone as my business phone. It works out extremely well. I don't do any "phone work" but I have received a couple of calls inquiring about services. It's the perfect solution with built in voice mail and caller ID.

Rebecka Melson · #5 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

A reliable computer is all you will need for most administrative work, but some of the other things just depends on the type of work you will do. I have a multi-function machine, but I mainly just use the scanner function. I also use MyFax for sending and receiving faxes because I like receiving faxes electronically. I have only used the fax function from the multi-function machine a handful of times.

In addition to the multi-function I also have an inkjet printer that I've had for a long time, and will be upgrading it to a laser printer soon. I do bookkeeping so I tend to print a lot of reports.

Most of my communication with clients is via email, but I do have a cell phone that I use as my business number. I do have phone meetings with clients to discuss their bookkeeping and I also do consulting, but those calls are usually pre-scheduled.

I would start out with the basics and then "buy as you need". I spent a lot of money buying things I "thought" I would need and still haven't needed them. Start setting aside some "just in case" money. You never know when you will get a client who will request something and you need to go out and buy something to accomodate their request at the last minute.

Tricia · #6 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

I have a laptop and a desktop computer.

I have a printer, scanner, and copier. I did not have a fax machine at first but then started getting alot of request to fax things to me so I picked one up pretty reasonable. And do tend to use it alot.

Monique · #7 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008

I have a laptop and multi-function machine; high speed Internet connection and I use my cell phone as my business line.

Lastly I use fax.com for Internet based faxing. Good luck with your VA business.

Lia-VSS · #8 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008

Can I ask about this Fax thing everyone keeps going on about - is it free?? and do you need another phone line?? (I'm confused - sorry!!!)

I have my own laptop and a business cell-phone which is Pay-as-you-go (it currently works well with my business as I only pay for calls that I make; plus I don't want clients knowing my personal cell-phone number). Most of the things that I use are online, i.e. accounting/CRM package.

Rebecka Melson · #9 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008

Julia, The services Tess mentioned are free, but I think there is a limit to how many you can send, this would be the way to go if you don't send or receive a lot of faxes. I use MyFax and I pay an annual fee.

You don't need a phone line, it is an online software, you just need Internet.