Hello to all!

I was asked a very important and interesting question which I think everyone should be able to answer... How do your services compare to the Oversea VA Services?
We often see the overseas VAs advertise their services for very low rates (I've seen as low as $2/hr). How can you compete with those rates? If someone asks what is the difference between your services and theirs...are you ready to answer? I would love to hear your take on this!

Thank you for sharing.

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Genevieve Lachance
VA Simple Services

To be honest, I don't think there is much of a comparison between my business and an oversees worker. It's almost apples and oranges, and both exist for a reason. I have a client who also works with "VA's" overseas who do tasks that I don't have time for, or my client isn't willing to pay my full rate for and I don't have a problem with that. Everyone has their comfort level on payment, and not everyone views the work done by an assistant the same.

My clients ask my opinion on marketing and what I think is the best way of doing things. I act as a consultant, and even if the relationship doesn't start out like that, it ends up that way. Hiring someone overseas, at least in our industry (meaning real estate va), doesn't work like that. They aren't going to know the most effective marketing tools for American or Canadian homes, just like I don't know how to market a home in, let's say, Japan.

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April Sullivan
The REVA Academy

As a bookkeeper, I need to be aware of US tax/employment requirements in order to best serve my clients. In addition, the clients would have to allow non-US access to their accounting systems, banks, credit cards, etc. which would concern me as a consumer.

Yes, they CAN hire an off-shore bookkeeper to do their data entry for considerably less than I charge but, as is often the case, they mostly get what they pay for! I'm sure that there are some off-shore firms that offer quality bookkeeping services, but i am not familiar with any of them and have not actually heard of any, either.

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

I agree with Lily working with someone off shore will work for in an expsensive rate but you don't get the quality bookkeeping services.

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Lori Fasciano
Your Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor

That is a great question that we should always be ready to answer. Yes, clients can always hire off-shore for less. However, can worker's in other countries really comprehend US systems, laws, methods of doing business etc? I would also worry about communication issues. I agree with Lily - you get what you pay for.

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Joyce Peterson, ReJoyce VA Solutions
www.rejoycenow.com

It's not about how do my services compare. It's about money and why am I charging so much more. My explanation is that I'm the convenient option to hiring an employee not the cheap option.

I post my rates on my site so clients can know in advance whether or not I fit in their budget.

This really has to do with having confidence in your rate and your worth and when you present that way, then you avoid these conversations all together.

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Kimberly
Facebook Marketing Magic!

I really like the "I'm the convenient option, not the cheap option" approach...I think having a 30 second commercial (ie, practiced) response such as this one, to this question will be key for each of us. In thinking about it more, I know I may have fumbled around for an answer if caught off guard and appreciate someone raising the question and giving us all the opportunity to think about what the right response is and be prepared for it should the conversation arise. Thanks all!

Great answers everybody! I love hearing all the different perspectives. Here's what I think, Kimberly has a point about being confident about the rate you charge and I think that comes with time and experience. Also, I think that whether you're being compared to a $2/hr VA shouldn't matter in your answer. The answer should be how YOU are different than any other VA's and focus on what makes you stand out. Like April said they exist for a reason and not every client will be willing to pay our prices and that's ok. But it's easy to be caught off guard with money questions so being prepared is important.

Thanks again!

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Genevieve Lachance
VA Simple Services

I think JKVirtual Office summed it up. Convenience is the pulse for everyone in this busy time.

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Elvia Abdussamadi
PROVA Administrative Services

Another thing to keep in mind with overseas VAs is the language factor. While I know it's not always the case, hiring someone to work when English is their second language has been another commonly heard complaint with overseas VAs. Language can prove to be a barrier when dispensing simple instructions and lead to projects written in poorly-constructed English and riddled with basic grammar and spelling mistakes.

Personally, I don't consider comparing myself to an overseas VA and never have. I offer services based on my experience and skills and have an entirely different target market. If I had a potential client who came to me and asked me to justify why they should hire me instead of someone who works for $2/hr, I would try to illuminate all the reasons we've gone through here, but if that's where their mindset is, they are definitely not the client for me. Next.

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Kate V. Kerans
Kerans Virtual Assistance