Hi All,

I'm new to the industry, but I'm trying to think ahead on a couple of things...

It'll be interesting to know who has actual employees in their practice and who go with contracting other VA's to help with the demand they have. I'm aware of the IRS implications toward both, but wanted to know what other VA's are doing and their thoughts about it.

Thanks in advance!

Hey there!

I have an assistant, who comes in each day after school to help me with my own personal work log. Since I have a travel business as well, mainly to serve my clients, I have other people who seek to book travel with me that I need help with and I have her handle that directly.

It is in our agreement that she is a consultant of sorts, and that she is responsible to pay her own taxes. I am hoping to get to the point where I bring in other VA's, but I have primarily thought of using people that I am familiar with their work ethic and skill set. However, in a place like this, the resource is limitless!

I work with other VAs and not employees. Personally, in order for me to effectively communciate the value of VAs, I am able to personally attest to that versus trying to attest to using or being a VA with hired employees. The message I try and bring to the table is the value of working with a VA versus an employee, so for my practice, it would be contradictory to do otherwise!

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

Quote:

Personally, in order for me to effectively communciate the value of VAs, I am able to personally attest to that versus trying to attest to using or being a VA with hired employees. The message I try and bring to the table is the value of working with a VA versus an employee, so for my practice, it would be contradictory to do otherwise!

Very well put, and if and when the time comes, I will definately go the VA route as well.

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

Hi there!

I would like to share what I have been doing and it works great for everyone involved.

I have had my real estate virtual assistant business for over 8 years and have been working with VA contractors for about 4. I love this since I can bring on the best in their field to enhance the services we offer our clients.

Each one of the team members offer something original and I match up their knowledge and experience.

The VAs love it since they do not have to deal with the BS from the clients. I work with the client sub it to the VA and the VA and I collaborate on the project/tasks.

I have to tell you that I have the best team on earth and it is not only due to the fact that they each offer a unique talent, but they only get to do what they doing. But, we work as a team. I make very sure I tell my team how much they are appreciated and brag to my clients and in return the clients brag to their network which results in leads.

By having a well ran business, with everyone working together - I am truly blessed.

I contract other VAs as well. I think it helps to build the industry, which is very important. And like kimhughes said, by choosing the very best to team with, it greatly benefits my clients as well.

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Rosanna Tussey
OfficeSupportNow.com
The Virtual Assistant Connection - A blog for VAs

Thanks all for the comments.

While doing research on the industry I've ran across a couple of sites that are Virtual Assistants 'Companies' and I wanted to see if that was an "ultimate" goal for a VA Practice.

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Perfecting Assistance Services
www.perfectingassistance.com
Allowing you time to PERFECT your Business!

It's not an ultimate goal for me. Not that I wouldn't contract with other VA's but I'm such an anal retentative, perfectionist, control freak that it's just easier on my sanity for me to do things myself.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

I've used sub-contractors of other persuasions (such as web designers, graphic designers, PR people, etc) as well as VAs. Using a VA vs. an employee is really based on your business model - it may serve you better to have an employee working solely on your projects.

The ultimate goal for my company is to have a VA team with each team member bringing original skills to the table. In that way, the company will be a one stop shop for clients. I would work with the clients and sub out the services needed to my team of VAs. My aim is to be able to provide total back office support to small business clients and even companies.

This is why my husband and I chose to work with BlueTie (www.bluetie.com) and Basecamp (www.basecamphq.com)from the start because of the direction that we want to go with the company.