I had someone contact me last week about doing some work for them. Here's a portion of his e-mail:

Quote:

I’ve been thinking about finding a VA to help with occasional miscellaneous tasks. The services you list on your site seem to fit what I need but could you please tell me what your rates are?

The rest was just how he found me and what his business is.

I responded asking him for information on what types of tasks he's interested in getting assistance with. I mentioned that I focus mainly on bookkeeping assistance but do provide some administrative tasks. I also said that if his tasks weren't something I could provide I would be happy to refer him to someone I knew who could help him.

He responded back with:

Quote:

While I could offload bookkeeping work to a VA. It would likely not amount to much at this time. My needs are more varied in nature. Basically, I need to off load misc tasks to help keep me focused on customer calls.

I'm struggling with how to respond to this. On one hand, I'm tempted to just quote him an hourly rate and be done because he seems a little difficult. On the other hand I know people who could probably help him if he really needs more administrative help than I'm able to provide. But, how do you get something out of him as to what he's looking for. I've already asked him straight out and he won't answer.

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Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.

I would quote him an hourly rate but let him know that you would be glad to refer him to someone who handles more administrative-type tasks. I've done that several times myself 'cuz I charge bookkeeping rates for admin work

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

Can you tell him more specifically what the scope of your admin services are and quote him a price? You could then add that if those services don't fall in line with what he is looking for that if he could give you more specific details of his wants that you could refer him to someone.

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Sarah
Accurate Office Help

I agree with Sarah. I would quote him my hourly rate for general administrative tasks and then list those tasks. If what he is asking for doesn't fall within what you've shared maybe this will prompt him to be more specific.

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Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

It sounds like he doesn't exactly know what he needs help with. "Offload misc. tasks" could encompass all manner of task, some of which you may not be willing to handle. Rather than difficult, he's probably overwhelmed and doesn't know where to start.

Perhaps you already did this: If your fee structure is such that you bill x for bookkeeping, y for general administrative tasks, and z for more advanced services such as copywriting, editing, design, etc., I would go back to him one more time and tell him just that. Ask him what his typical day looks like, focusing on tasks that he could 'offload' to a VA. Explain that you could give him a more accurate quote if you had an idea of what it was he needed assistance with. This way you both could determine if working together would be a good fit.

How I respond when someone shoots an email wanting my rates is that I have several different options available to meet the needs of my clients. I suggest setting up a time to speak with them so that they can get to know about me, my services, etc., and I can get to know more about their situation to see if we will be fit and if I can help them.

I don't go back and forth with emails. It is a time waster IMO. Get him on the phone, and see how it goes. You already have a gut feeling he will be difficult so listen to that feeling as well when you decide on your next move!

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Dawn Riley
A Virtual Assistant in Paradise
Our business is about making yours better

I would request a phone consultation with him to get a better idea of what he's looking for and tell him the more you know about his needs the more accurate your quote can be.

Maybe you can find a different approach. Ask him what tasks are preventing him from working with more clients and see if maybe you and him can form a strategy, and come up with a list of taks he would be willing to have you handle and then give a price. You can also see about formulating a policy for off the cuff stuff that he may want to outsource to you.

I agree with Dawn, get him on the phone to clarify his needs. I would send a final email letting him know that to better quote his needs we need to schedule a phone consultation.

And just let him know your not comfortable giving an arbitrary number for services that you may or may not provide. And leave it to him to schedule.

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Monique Terrell, CEO
Sparkle Professional Office Services, LLC
www.sparkleofficeservices.com

HI

I'm having a similar sort of problem, I've just asked exactly what he wants so that I can be sure I can / cannot provide and then state my rate for those services.

seemed to work

good luck X