Members, please answer this poll on RFPs [which we should publish, which we should toss]

[VAF Admin]

We're all aware that $9 or $12 an hour is not a living wage for a business owner, but we still get plenty of RFPs from companies and individuals [even from VAs themselves at times which is another issue in and of itself]
Up until this point we've been deleting the RFPs that come in at less than $15 an hour [which is still pretty darn low] and replying politely to the potential client letting them know a bit about VAs and what our minimum rate for posting RFPs is... however, it's YOUR community and so we'd like to take an informal poll to find out:

Do you want to see ALL of the incoming RFPs published, or just the ones that meet a certain hourly rate criteria?

Please answer the poll and reply here to let us know what your thoughts are - thanks!

And do feel free to tweet this to other VAF members, we want as wide a response net as possible - thank you

[Business-Bytes]

Boy Tess, this is a tough one. I vote for posting them all and letting the VAs decide.

My thinking on this is that over time one could perhaps increase the rates charged, or when replying to a RFP maybe state for x amount of time x rate will be acceptable, but after revisiting after the time interval an increase will be expected. Also, this could lead to referrals maybe? But then again, with the referrals, they might expect the same low rate. Told ya it was a tough one, and I have myself totally confused.

I have a question with regards to rates - What are these PCs thinking on why so low? Do you ever get any feedback on this, Tess?

I'm curious to see what others think...

[Action Jackson VA]

This is a tough one, because on one hand, a lower RFP would likely get a new VA's feet wet, and then a higher RFP would likely require a more experienced VA. But, am I on the wrong track with that statement? I dunno. Thank you for allowing the community to vote on this. I look forward to all of the responses.

[Action Jackson VA]

I can answer that one lol I know that some clients have a certain budget and cant go over that budget. So, they would do a per project rate. Where as an hourly rate would not work for them as that would make them go over budget.

Hope I helped with that question

I have a question with regards to rates - What are these PCs thinking on why so low? Do you ever get any feedback on this, Tess?

[JoCarole]

Thank you for posting this Tess!

I have seen these type of Rfps on the Internet and some are really bad. One in particular (that I remember clearly) posted a rate less than $5/hour and then went on to say that was a firm rate and don't bother bidding on it if you wanted a higher rate. There is a place for these types of Rfps and it's those bidding sites. People know when they go to these sites what the rates are and if they want to take on the work for experience, etc. than they do. I have nothing against these sites, they do benefit people, especially when you are starting out.

On the other hand, I definitely feel that these Rfps should be rejected when they are submitted to VAF ( a non-bid site)..... and the people posting them given some background information on the VA industry. I think it is a waste of time to review an Rfp and then find out later what they want to pay. It is just a big waste of time IMHO for everyone involved in the whole Rfp process. It also is another way to educate the public as you said. Maybe if they keep getting rejected, they will finally 'get it'.

I don't think the people offering these rates would accept that kind of rate for themselves. So my vote is "no".

[Business-Bytes]

I can answer that one lol I know that some clients have a certain budget and cant go over that budget. So, they would do a per project rate. Where as an hourly rate would not work for them as that would make them go over budget.

Hope I helped with that question

Well, duh...that makes sense, Andrea! I'll tell you, this has been a day of "duhs" for me. I'm ready to go back to bed and start over.

Thank you!

[Business-Bytes]

Thank you for posting this Tess!
I have seen these type of Rfps on the Internet and some are really bad. One in particular (that I remember clearly) posted a rate less than $5/hour and then went on to say that was a firm rate and don't bother bidding on it if you wanted a higher rate. There is a place for these types of Rfps and it's those bidding sites.
...On the other hand, I definitely feel that these Rfps should be rejected when they are submitted to VAF ( a non-bid site).....
... It is just a big waste of time IMHO for everyone involved in the whole Rfp process. It also is another way to educate the public as you said. Maybe if they keep getting rejected, they will finally 'get it'.
...I don't think the people offering these rates would accept that kind of rate for themselves. So my vote is "no".

Oy. Now maybe I wish I could change my vote...or not. Talk about the "duh" day I've been having.

One thing though, doesn't Tess, etc. screen these PCs? Could that make a difference between here and the dumb bid sites?

[Balancing Act]

Yes, this is definitely a tough one!
I think for a VA who is just starting out, $15 per hour isn't so bad, but we all have a responsibility to our industry to educate people on our true value.

Is there a happy middle? Letting them know of the industry standards, but they'll post the information for a "Junior VA" or something like that? I don't know the right answer, I just remember how frustrating it is when you're starting out to pick up decent work.

[Your Virtual Wizard]

This is an excellent question. Thank you for posting this.

There are places to bid for VA work for less than the reasonable $35 an hour rate as we all know. Virtual staffing agencies and the bidding sites are such places.

However, I do recognize that some newer VAs would feel more comfortable bidding for say, $25 or so and this does give them a chance to 'get their feet wet' and gain more experience.

I also think that if a rate of $25 (or less) is given here as a minimum, potential clients might think they can find an experienced VA for that rate, which may not be the case. "If $25 is the minimum here, then $25 must be a good rate so I shouldn't consider paying a VA a higher rate," says fictious client looking to post an rfp on VAF.

I voted not to have rfps less than $35 because it sets a standard...something that the 'other' bidding sites do not do. I am torn, though, between $25 and $35 to help newer VAs out.

Janine

[barnes4hire]

Excellent, thought-provoking poll.

I believe that a value should be placed on the services of a VA, for if we as VA's don't value our worth, who else will. I agree that $15 is very low but I think that even that amount should only be allowed on light assignments that a VA with less experience would be comfortable with taking. Some of the things that clients ask, for little money, can be ridiculously low but at the same time they probably don't believe themselves that it would be accepted. The plain and simple truth is most people want value for their money with the best service possible and they are willing to pay what is necessary to get that.

Sheila Barnes
Virtual Contact Group