Good Morning!

I need to pick a direction and I need honest feedback about whether it's feasible.

Even though I am new to the industry and business ownership, I am exploring whether I should start as a multi-va business. There are a lot of things I am interested in, but don't do myself or don't do well. And there are a LOT of VAs here who have so much talent. I think there's more potential and it expands what I can offer prospective clients.

I know that most VAs don't start as a multi-practice; rather their workload grows to a point where it just goes there.

But I've wrestling with this for days, and I think should start as a multi and establish relationship with VAs who are willing to sub align a partnership.

I would want to start talking to other VAs VERY soon, so what sayest thou?

Thanks, everyone!

Caroline

Hello Caroline,

I started as a multi-va practice because my family are all apart of the practice. Our combined experience in the services we offer is 85 years.

If you have a background in office management, project management and can be a good manager of multiple tasks and projects at once, not just your own, but of the other sub-contractors as well, then yes go right ahead and start it from the get go.

But, if you are not use to managing people and multiple deadlines, tasks and projects then I would say no do not start as a multi-va practice.

Just because other VA's have skills you want to offer on your site does not mean they are use to being managed.

You want to look for VA's who are primarily sub-contractors. These VA's are more experienced and know how to meet deadlines, work as a team with you, have the equipment and software to assist you and usually do not have a website for offering services nor do they have advertisements to promote their services. If they do have a website it is targeted toward other virtual assistants. They do contact other VA's for work or place ads in the Services Offered section of the VAF.

If you are going to go through with it, you will want to create a form for your potential sub-contractors to fill out. This form should have questions on it that you desire of your sub-contractors.

A good way to learn more about sub-contracting and hiring a sub-contractor would be to get in touch with Collete Shultz right here on the VAF.

Wishing you much success!
Andrea~

Andrea:

I needed to make just that distinction, which is why I asked the question. I thought working with subcontractors but not as a multi-practice could be an option, but I wanted to explore them both. Ideally what I want are subcontractors who would be willing to take certain on tasks or projects that are out of my scope.

Thank you so much and I will indeed contact Collete!

Caroline

Excellent response Andrea! This gives me lots to consider as I start my own business!
Thanks,
Barbara

You can do whatever it is you want to do. If want your business structure to be multi-faceted as you described then go for it. I'm sure you're reviewed the pro and cons. A clear pro that I see is that it can make you more marketable immediately, because you can offer things outside of your expertise.

I'm sure you'll make the right decision for your business. All the best,

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

Thanks Tamika:

And of course you're right, the end decision is mine but I want to make sure it's the right one. And from what Andrea stated and my understanding a multi-va is NOT where I want to go; I want to establish relationships with subcontractors and grow my business that way, at least for now.

Caroline

I just sent you an email with my contact and groups information. We wish the best of luck to you and people with a skill set of project/team management is what subcontractor thrive on.

Has anyone hired non-va administrative professionals (independant contractors) to work with their company?

Originally Posted by MrsIngram

Has anyone hired non-va administrative professionals (independant contractors) to work with their company?

From time to time I hire non-VA transaction coordinators when I'm not in a position to handle the closing myself.

__________________
April Sullivan
The REVA Academy

I have not "hired" but I have contracted with non-VA admin professionals from time to time. If their skill set matched what I was looking for that is.

__________________
Dawn Riley
A Virtual Assistant in Paradise
Our business is about making yours better