Hello all,

I think I might have asked the question before. Please forgive me if I did..

I've been browsing employment ads and contemplating answering a few and offering VA services. A lot of administrative positions require answering phones and screening calls. How could this task be managed from a home office?

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Rhonda M. Manning, VA
Agape Business Solutions
Bridging the gap between your business and the solution!

I don't know because I wouldn't want to do it. Do you want to be tied to your home office from 9 to 5? I wouldn't want to be. I refer these requests to places like the Intelligent Office.

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Julia

Originally Posted by JuliaW

I don't know because I wouldn't want to do it. Do you want to be tied to your home office from 9 to 5? I wouldn't want to be. I refer these requests to places like the Intelligent Office.

What's the intelligent office?

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Rhonda M. Manning, VA
Agape Business Solutions
Bridging the gap between your business and the solution!

Originally Posted by rhonmanning

What's the intelligent office?

http://www.intelligentoffice.com/

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Jeanne
NowAssistingYou.com
Virtual Assistant :: Web/Blog Design & Hosting :: Writer

Oh okay, I see. So do you contract out answering phones to the answering service and pass the cost onto the client?

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Rhonda M. Manning, VA
Agape Business Solutions
Bridging the gap between your business and the solution!

Originally Posted by rhonmanning

Oh okay, I see. So do you contract out answering phones to the answering service and pass the cost onto the client?

No, I just refer them to them. In return, I've asked them if they would refer people to me who need my services that they don't provide.

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Julia

Answering phones can be a very dicey service to offer. Depending on the volume of calls, you could very well find a lot of your time monopolized by the phone, not leaving much time for other client work. However, if it's a matter of a client forwarding their phone will they are out of the office or on vacation, that may be a different story. It really depends on how you have structured your business. I work with VA that offers that type of service and does quite well with it, but it will require you to be in your office during normal business hours everyday. If you need a business that is flexible, that may not be a good option; but again it's definitely something to sit down and think through. Let us know what you decide!

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Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

It may also be an option in a an office that doesn't necissarily require and instant response. I answer phones for the realtor I support but I am not required to answer live. I have a VOIP phone proided by the client and I am asked to respond within 4 hours of the call coming in. If I am at my desk when it rings I answer it. If not, it goes to vmail and I call them back later. If the client doesn't need a live response, then you don't have to worry about being "chained" down.

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Administrative Support Group
Jenifer D

Hi Rhonda,

I am currently in the process of implementing a phone system so that I can answer my clients' calls. I do have an associate lined up to assist me, so that I can concentrate on my client's work and have a somewhat flexible schedule. I do realize however, in the beginning, I am going to be chained to my office, but for me, I would rather be chained to my in-home office than to a 9-5 job elsewhere.

There are definately many things to consider when deciding to provide this type of service, like: what phone system will you utilize (VOIP, Virtual or regular PBX,if at all, how many additional lines will you need so on and so forth). Will you offer answering phones during regular business hours or like Jenifer, be able to return calls within a specified time frame? I am going to be using VOIP with a virtual PBX, this way my associate and myself can share the phone answering duties.

There are many administrative ads out there looking for someone to answer their phones. However, always bear in mind...this is your business...you offer the services you want to offer! If phone services is one of them, great, if not, that is fine too!

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Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

You were given many great resources in this thread to help you really think about it. Would be be something YOU want? Would you be comfortable with it?

As Darlene mentioned - if it's a 9 to 5 job, at least it'd be in your home office instead of elsewhere which can be a positive.

Another option you may consider is - if you end up answering phones for your client from 9 to 5 which eventually keeps you from your other projects - you can always look into sub-contracting other VA to help you out.