I am finding that new potential clients contacting me for VA work are only asking for 'sometimes' work instead of adhering to a two-hour minimum per week that I have set-up. I hate to turn folks away because sometimes these turn into steady clients and, I know that there is someone else out there that will do the 'sometimes' work.

But being a VA, for me is not about being a 'sometimes' assistant. It's about being a right-hand person involved in the client business on a higher level than doing 'sometimes' task work.

So I obviously, like most of us, prefer steady clients that can be billed weekly.

One client I have now, who is on two-hours minimum, and who has been with me for a year and a half, is not looking for a minimum anymore. So it seems for me, that both new clients and my steadies want to change over to no minimum.

What do you think?

Janine

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Hi Janine:

I haven't personally experienced this. Most of my clients who needed project work done eventually returned with more projects. I have had a few short assignments but again, they have returned with other tasks on an as needed basis. I actually never had a "minimum" because the issue never came up. I actually don't mind short jobs because I can easily fit them in amongst the other projects I am working on. They are usually easy and take little time.

Perhaps this is a trend with businesses because of the economic turn?

Diane L. Coville
ALTERNATIVE OFFICE ASSISTANCE

I think it is just the times and rather than lose you they would rather scale back. I do per projects for a women in renovations and I will go without months hearing from her when business is bad but when business is great she gets everything done. I would not think of turning her away since she is one who refers the most.

I also like the short jobs amongst the retainers since it differs it up a bit.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I would rather do 'short' projects than turn clients away. I BILL a minimum of 1 hour for a project, but I don't require that the project TAKE an hour...

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

I just find that I'm coming into more short projects than steadies (at least lately), which I know is due to the economy. I can't run a business on short projects.

I do take the short projects and I have never turned anyone away but I'm finding that my steadies want to reduce down to no minimum. I just so happened to have signed a new client yesterday for a 2-hour minimum but for every steady I sign, I have 2 or 3 that just want a short project every 3 or 4 months.


Janine

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Originally Posted by Your Virtual Wizard

I just find that I'm coming into more short projects than steadies (at least lately), which I know is due to the economy. I can't run a business on short projects.Janine

Which is part of the reason why I am still at my 9-5 and working Goddess p-t

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

Most, if not all of my clients are on a project base, even though I am working with four of them concurrently on a weekly basis because the projects are so big. I understand your concern with being a sometimes assistant, but I think the silver lining in all of this is the ability to take on more clients, line up their projects and build your hours to full time.

I would hang on to your clients (and accept new ones) because when the economy turns, and it will (we hope!), you want to be in place to hit the ground running!

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

All of my clients but one started out as 'occasional' clients.

I support their businesses by sending them tips, ideas and suggestions that pertain to their industry and usually get a few more projects to do. I don't have a minimum number of hours, bill in 15 minute increments, the first hour on the first invoice is free and so far I'm so busy, I'm hiring a part-time assistant!

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