Do you advertise your office hours? Or do you just spell that out in policies when you sign a client.

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Angie
Blue Water Business Services

I haven't. Generally my hours are fexible to a point. When I initially discuss the job with the future client I let them know what hours that I am available and what hours I have blocked off for family time.

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Helen
H & L Bookkeeping & VA Services

I don't advertise, but I do think its an idea to state it somewhere in your agreement. I typically have two shifts... 8-5 and then 9-11p EDT. The 9-11, I try to keep for one off projects and my own market needs, etc.

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

My preference is to work on projects late at night. I tell clients I'm available by phone "during extended West Coast business hours".

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Cheryl O'Neil
Southern Orange County

I don't have office hours. I prefer to work late at night as well. I have in my contract that I'm only available for phone calls between 9-5pm unless scheduled, but the preferred method is email.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

I really like the 9-5pm available by phone with email being the preference of choice. Love everyone's responses.

Elisabeth Hernandez-Madrigal
Aztlan Dreams Executive Solutions
"Helping your Business be as efficient as you Dream it should be.."

Thanks for the ideas on this. I have wondered on the best way to address this.

I don't advertise office hours as I work around my 9-5 schedule and on weekends. I also tell clients up front that I NEVER answer my phone and to leave me a message as it has been scientifically proven that each interruption in concentration takes 10 minutes to get back up to speed once the interruption is done and it could be THEIR project I was working on when I was interrupted.

I also tell my clients that I prefer to use email as this limits miscommunication and confusion. I DON'T tell them that it also gives me a backup when they say 'that's not what I told you' but I have it in black/white and can send them back a copy of their email.

I return phone calls/emails within 2 hours of the message during 'normal' working hours MST.

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