There's a trend out there that some business owners are running their business completely online - meaning they access all of their business applications from their web browser. I'm just wondering if there are any VA's doing this, what you use to do it, and how it's working for you. Just curious!!

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Virtual Assistant 3.0

I'm not completely online. I sometimes go to clients' offices and I do not use online applications - I just don't trust the security aspect of it. My clients and I exchange files via email, they are comfortable with it. I've tried to get them into using a collaboration system, but they prefer not to.

I'm also not entirely paperless either. I know there are VAs who prefer not to print stuff and work from online, but I feel that you can't properly proofread something on the screen. It just looks different on paper. I also print emailed instructions out so I can check off completed tasks as they go.

I'm actually getting a locked shredding box delivered by a shredding company this week. I'm so sick of these crappy little shredders that Staples or Costco sell. They just don't do the job and stop too often. It's a waste of my time. Effectively dealing with confidential paper is a very important thing (in my opinion).

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Julia

I am not totally on-line as well. There are some programs that I do use on-line applications for. Some free, some paid but it depends on the program and the service. For the most part I use licensed software that I purchased for security reasons.

I use OneNote for most of my notes and organization. However I am only about 95% paperless and still like to have a printed or written to-do list so I can cross things of my list.

I also shred everything as well as burn after shredding. This is the one luxury of living in the country.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I was hoping to be completely or mostly online, though it seems that a lot of VAs are hesitant about it. Many have told me that clients are more trusting when they can talk to or see you.

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Angie, I think I understand what you mean by "running their business completely online." You mean the software or applications they use to run their business, or the saving and receiving of files online. Though some in those businesses probably do print some items, but what they don't do is keep a paper filing system. Everything is filed electronically. Those businesses who have all their applications online are setting themselves up so that employees don't have to work in an office setting and can work from anywhere.

At my last job we were testing such a software so that travelers could access our POS ordering system as they walked around the call center. Payroll depts have started scanning all documents instead of keeping a paper trail. The trail would be filed online.

Many companies are using online applications via secure sources because the company themselves control the security. I don't think paperless means "paperless" instead it means not keeping and storing paper for future access. They print the document to read, but the document is actually saved online for future access. The printed document is probably trashed or shredded.

Insurance companies at one point considered this method. As you can imagine they get a lot of paper documents and have huge rooms filled with paper files. When I left that business that was the talk. I'm not sure it was every initiated due to the volume of paper they receive.

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Jessica Nix
www.virtuallylinkedva.com

For the most part, I am completely online. I do store some things on my desktop but I'm able to log-in to my desktop from anywhere to access those things. The majority of my work is done on-line though through access to remote computers set-up to be accessible.

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

I admire those of you who are able to do it all online, even when I have had access to all programs and files online, I still found it necessary to occasionally meet face to face with clients. I work with an event planner and although we send a infinite number of e-mails we still try to get together and have lunch.

As I build my business back up I am sure there will be clients I will never meet, but it has not happened to me yet.

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Bernice
Energy Virtual Assistant

I just came across this post and I'm really interested in it! Anyone have any more advice or insight into running an online-only VA business?

I'm starting up a new business that I need to keep entirely online because I hope to relocate halfway around the world, but still retain US customers. (or customers from other countries, too, if they want me!)

thanks!
Liz

Hi Angie, great question! I use so many software applications that are desktop-accessible in their nature and I don't think I could find everything I need in an online version... but as far as phone and fax goes, those are completely online for me, I have very little hardware; aside from my laptops it's really just the external hard drive.

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I do about 95% online, I do not like to bog down my computer. I am fortunate that my real estate agents are on a server so I can access that from home, and save things on their server.

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Melissa- Owner The Invisible Assistant
"When you can no longer do it all"