As I mentioned in the "brag" forum, I am anticipating taking on quite a few clients in the next few weeks. This will mean I will need to hire quite a few subcontractors.

What I want to know from my fellow VAs who are subcontractors is:

1. Do you enjoy working as a subcontractor? If so, what is the VA you working with doing that makes this a good fit for you?

2. What would you like the VA you are working with to do differently that could make the subcontracting position more enjoyable?

3. Training: Were you paid for training on specific systems, if applicable? If not, do you feel you should have been?

I need to start drawing up some agreements and figuring out how to structure my business with subcontractors as a major part of it. I think I actually need to revisit my business plan as this aspect was not addressed when I wrote my plan about 6 months ago. So any input regarding your working relationships would be great. If you don't feel comfortable providing this information in the open forum, please feel free to send me a private message or an email (you don't have to include specific VA names).

Thanks in advance.
tj

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

Originally Posted by tamikarjohnson

1. Do you enjoy working as a subcontractor? If so, what is the VA you working with doing that makes this a good fit for you?

Yes. I look at my subcontract work as the same as any of my other client work. It all comes down to how much I like the individual client and the person I subcontract for I like and respect a lot. I've worked for a few different people as a subcontractor over the years. One I didn't enjoy the work so much for one reason, she was very disorganized and I was having to teach her how to do things for the clients. She got all the praise from the clients and without me there was absolutely NO way she would have been able to stay in business and do what she was doing. The one I like the most allows me to have contact with her clients (after a time) and even though she ultimately gets the praise from them she very often will publicly acknowledge me to the client's I work with.

Originally Posted by tamikarjohnson

2. What would you like the VA you are working with to do differently that could make the subcontracting position more enjoyable?

Nothing.

Originally Posted by tamikarjohnson

3. Training: Were you paid for training on specific systems, if applicable? If not, do you feel you should have been?

This is not applicable to me. My feeling is that the person should already know their stuff before they get the job. If it's a very specific program/task (specific to that one project) then they should be paid for their training otherwise no. I do feel it's reasonable for a VA to spend a little more time on a project at the beginning (and that may be specific to bookkeeping) as they get to know the client.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

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

1. Do you enjoy working as a subcontractor? If so, what is the VA you working with doing that makes this a good fit for you?
The flexibility of schedules seems to be the most valuable part of this job.

2. What would you like the VA you are working with to do differently that could make the subcontracting position more enjoyable?
More specific instructions when needed; appreciate work well done both w/verbal kudos and occasional small 'thank you' gifts (starbucks gift cards, $20 bill in thank you card, etc.)

3. Training: Were you paid for training on specific systems, if applicable? If not, do you feel you should have been?
We always verify if training is needed and, if so, pay for 'on-the-job' training. We prefer, when possible, to hire personnel who already know the software/systems.

[COLOR="Blue"]Depending on what type of subcontracting you need done, be sure and verify through IRS rules that your folks CAN be paid as subcontractors - that can be a little touchy when it comes to office work; we had an incident here because a 'subcontractor' didn't pay their income taxes and then filed a complaint w/the IRS that he should have been an employee. We had a good lawyer that got us out of this but it really reinforced verifying IRS rules for future 'hires.'

PM me w/your email address and I will send you a copy of our subcontractor agreement. Note that you will also need to 1099 your subs at the end of January.

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

Originally Posted by Office Goddess

1. Do you enjoy working as a subcontractor? If so, what is the VA you working with doing that makes this a good fit for you? The flexibility of schedules seems to be the most valuable part of this job. 2. What would you like the VA you are working with to do differently that could make the subcontracting position more enjoyable? More specific instructions when needed; appreciate work well done both w/verbal kudos and occasional small 'thank you' gifts (starbucks gift cards, $20 bill in thank you card, etc.) 3. Training: Were you paid for training on specific systems, if applicable? If not, do you feel you should have been? We always verify if training is needed and, if so, pay for 'on-the-job' training. We prefer, when possible, to hire personnel who already know the software/systems. [COLOR="Blue"]Depending on what type of subcontracting you need done, be sure and verify through IRS rules that your folks CAN be paid as subcontractors - that can be a little touchy when it comes to office work; we had an incident here because a 'subcontractor' didn't pay their income taxes and then filed a complaint w/the IRS that he should have been an employee. We had a good lawyer that got us out of this but it really reinforced verifying IRS rules for future 'hires.' PM me w/your email address and I will send you a copy of our subcontractor agreement. Note that you will also need to 1099 your subs at the end of January.

Can I also get a copy of your subcontractor agreement? I was thinking about using subcontractors and the info in the thread helps alot, can I PM you with my email address? Thanks alot!

Sure! Always glad to help... I will also ask Tess to add this to the library.

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

Originally Posted by Office Goddess

Sure! Always glad to help... I will also ask Tess to add this to the library.

The subcontractor agreement look great! Thanks alot, This is a great guide to go by for my subcontractor agreement.

1. Do you enjoy working as a subcontractor?

Yes, I love working as a subcontractor. Why you ask? Because I do not enjoy the marketing aspect of business. But I love working as a Virtual Assistant so this is a perfect fit for me. To me, the VAs that I work with ARE my clients and are treated as such.

If so, what is the VA you working with doing that makes this a good fit for you?
I enjoy the work that I'm given. The VAs that I work for have interesting clients. Our personalities go well together. Good communication is a key to a successful working relationship. Clear instructions are also given.

2. What would you like the VA you are working with to do differently that could make the subcontracting position more enjoyable?

Nothing, Everything is great!

3. Training: Were you paid for training on specific systems, if applicable? If not, do you feel you should have been?

No, I feel that it is my responsibility to make sure I know how to do what I'm contracted to do. On another note...if there is a time when I'm not sure how to do a particular task, or if it takes longer than it should, I only charge 1/2 time. If the VA wants me to do something and doesn't mind teaching me how to do it, I'm always ready to learn something new and do not charge for this time either.


Deirdre

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Deirdre's Virtual Office

I'm struggling with the training aspect of this. Since this is training specialized for this particular organization, I personally have to go to the headquarters and be trained but plan to come back and and train the subcontractors. I can't say exactly how long this training will take, but the issue is before they can work for the clients they have to be trained in these systems.

However, its not training that they will use elsewhere and I feel that I need to take that into consideration.

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

Originally Posted by tamikarjohnson

However, its not training that they will use elsewhere and I feel that I need to take that into consideration.

If the training is not a skill they can use with another client, then they should be paid for their time during the training. It's not like teaching someone to use Word or Excel where they can use it again.

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Julia

Tamika,

Congratulations on your new project! It seems like an exciting one.

I suppose I am in the minority on this one regarding training.

First, I imagine you would screen potential subcontractors to a point where you feel they would be competent and potentially a good match for the project. With that presumption behind us, lets move on to the training aspect.

I do training for a client who has very specific requirements. Because of this, the training is rather lengthy, with written and verbal instruction. Depending on how quickly someone grasps the material, it can be as little as 5-6 hours, and as many as 10-12 hours, all unpaid. Unfair you ask? Not really. The virtual assistant has the opportunity to work as many as 42 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. It is an investment in their future earning capability. Whether they ever use the actual system again for another client, they are gaining valuable skills - skills that would translate to other clients.

Only about 1/2 to 2/3 of the people who start training ever make it through to the end and log hours. Why is that? Not everyone is suited for this kind of work. They don't get it, don't like it, decided it's not for them, or whatever. The point here is, the client, if paying for training, would have wasted a huge amount of their training budget training people who would never produce revenue for them.

The VA agrees to this before accepting the position.

If you want further details, PM me and we can talk it through in email or by phone if you'd like.

--Kathy