I'm in a position where my husband is happy to be the income earner, but I get soooooo bored easily! When I started I kept a spreadsheet on my billings and time taken to work out my average hours per week. Even though it felt like I was working full time, I was only working up to 10 hours a week billable. Like Pat, I can't keep away from the darn computer! I find I will have busy periods where I might work up to 25 hours and then I might have a week or two with nothing. It all seems to balance and I can still afford my wine (the priority reason for me working at all!). I gave up my two retainer clients as they were becoming a bit demanding and expecting me to do things without asking me if I even knew how to use the programs! My husband pointed out the idea of being a VA was to keep me a happy, stress free person and so when he sees me getting up tight, he points out that I need to review my client. Ah - the voice of reason.
I'm working about 55/70 hours per week at the moment. About 15-30 of them are billable at the moment. These are the hours I would expect to put in when starting up a new venture. The kids raise their eyebrows on occasions but the balance will get better!
Right now, I only have about 6-10 hours which I bill my clients, but I am on my computer it seems 24/7. I had one project that for 4 days I actually did stay up the whole 4 days to complete, it was much more than I had expected when the client explained it to me. I will never do that again.
I am beginning a project where I will have 30-40 hours per week to get paid for... yippy! I love my job Stay home and get paid lol. I do have to work though.
Thanks,
Heavenlea
I'm billing about 20 hours per week but work about 35 to 40. I don't think people realize how much time is spent not billing in this business. Just the maintenance of the business can be time consuming but I also respond to questions people have and offer advice and suggestions. Of course, that effort is based upon the hope that I'll be able to turn those suggestions into billable work but that is not always the case.
For straight billable work, I am working 20-25 hours a week. But I am still putting in 40+ hours a week overall when you include all the non-billable stuff. I have been doing this for 4 years, and still need to learn to balance this better. I am slowly getting my subcontracting and things worked out though. But that 4 hour work week sounds so nice.
I better get my act together soon though. I have a baby on the way and I'll really need to figure out how to balance it all much better by May. Time is running out. LOL
Right now, I'm only billing 5 -10 hours per week. I also have a "client" whom I've been working with for ten years and he likes me to come to his office once a week. I do this because I've worked with him for so long and he is like family to me.
However, like Heavenlea said... it seems like I am on the computer 24/7 as well. I just love my laptop!!
Just starting out and getting everything set up, I avg about 40-50 hours a week. None are billable lol.
I agree lots of people don't realize how much work it takes behind the scene. When I tell people the kind of work I do and actually explain to them what it is, I see the looks like ok that is not work..... But I am here to tell you it takes alot. But I believe the amount of work, blood, sweat and tears you put into it that is what you are going to get out of it.
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Sheena M Cooper, VAA
Sheena's Virtual Solutions
You guys are giving me hope. I am aiming for 30 hours. Since I am just starting out, I would be happy with just 1 billable hour in the next couple of weeks!!! Congrats on your success!
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Angie
Blue Water Business Services
Its good to see everyone doing so well ... since the "recession" I've had the most wishy washy clients lol so I have no idea from one week to the next what the hell is going on. Which is why with the relaunch I'm pushing clients toward retainers -
As for the business ... I'm always working that - non billable of course.
I've been working for a client (document & data management company) for very minimal billable hours. But that is prior to my decision to put up my VA business.
I am on a fresh start with my VA business (with the original client as my sole client at the moment, and I am seeking for more clients) I would want to work 10-20 Billable hours per week. Maybe people here at this forum can help me achieve that goal?
Right now I am working/billing 20 hrs/week. This is my first client and like Marlon this was also before I decided to officially start my VA business. I'd like to increase that to approx. 30 hours.
I have about 10 billable hours right now...but I want about 30-35 billable per week...I am reading Get Clients Now! so I am hoping it can help me fill my pipeline as she calls it.
Re: How many hours do you work a week?
Stay home and get paid lol. I do have to work though.
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