Well the simple answer to this question is yes. Yes, you could pay me by the hour, but it’s not the best use of your time or my time. I use (as do many virtual assistants) retainers for the simple reason of time management and for our clients it makes budgeting clearer and simpler.

As a virtual assistant and online business manager I choose to use a retainer system with my clients so that I have the ability to plan my time effectively and I can be really clear with my clients ensuring clear communication. Working on a retainer basis gives my clients the...Click here to read the rest of this post at Redhead VA's Biz Bits.

The Redhead VA's Biz Bits Blog is authored by VAF member Renee of Redhead VA.


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Great post and resource for clients to learn the "why's" of our business.

I love the layout of your site and particularly like the tabs on the far right side - the Appointment and Contact Tabs. They really jump out and in a unique way!

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Crystal Coleman, The Northern Edge

Great article! One of my business advisers was just telling me the other day that people often have a hard time getting clients to pay retainers. Now I have more fuel if I run in to this issue.

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Perfect Balance Virtual Services

Thanks! It's always nice to get positive feedback from others in the industry.

The tabs are actually offered as part of two different systems I use one is called Setster and the other is VisitorContact (I think that's how it spelled)....

I like them because they don't take up extra real estate on my pages.

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Renee Shupe, Become a Techie Virtual Assistant
eMail Marketing & Aweber Training Starts May 15! - Save 50% using VAFAweber

My response is along the lines that as a busy VA, a retainer guarantees that I am available for AT LEAST that set amount of time during the month, no matter how busy i get...

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

I am, as ever , very much in the minority on this one... I still prefer hourly rates to retainers but I also like the freedom that affords me when it comes time to travel or take time off.

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I prefer hourly rates as well, although I'm looking at charging by the audio minute. And I have one per-page client. With the type of work I do--transcription--and my client base, a retainer would not work and my clients wouldn't do it. Some of them actually can't because they're county and state government entities.

Pam

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Pam Deyerle - Transcriptionist in the Richmond, Virginia area
The Perfect Word Transcription Services

Originally Posted by VAF Newsbot

Well the simple answer to this question is yes. Yes, you could pay me by the hour, but it’s not the best use of your time or my time. I use (as do many virtual assistants) retainers for the simple reason of time management and for our clients it makes budgeting clearer and simpler. As a virtual assistant and online business manager I choose to use a retainer system with my clients so that I have the ability to plan my time effectively and I can be really clear with my clients ensuring clear communication. Working on a retainer basis gives my clients the...Click here to read the rest of this post at Redhead VA's Biz Bits. The Redhead VA's Biz Bits Blog is authored by VAF member Renee of Redhead VA. (Would you like to see YOUR blog posts on Virtual Assistant Forums? Click here to submit your RSS feed now.)

I love it, great way to handle an objection to hourly rates.

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Sierra Davis
Airra Virtual

Thanks for this post. I have not set up retainer rates yet, but this information is good to have when considering this further.