Virtual Assistant Forums > Store Home > Product: Become a Virtual Assistant - The Virtual Assistant Forums Guide to Success

Invaluable! By: Tamara Keck @ Tamara Keck Virtual Assistance
This is by far the best purchase I have made in starting my business. It is a very clear, step-by-step book that breaks everything down for you. Thank you Tess for producing such a great, informative document for those of us who are just starting out. This has become my VA-Bible. You Rock!

Worth it's weight in gold! By: Alana D @ Awakened Keynote Marketing
I took a VA training class and served as an intern. But I also had to figure everything out and write my own contract. This will become my handbook moving forward for running my business and contract with clients. Thank you for this awesome resource. It would save anyone starting over a year of spinning their own wheels.

Find your answers here! By: Lesley Fischer @ Exclusive 25th Hour Temp Services
This book is a fantastic tool to not only set up your VA business but also to maintain it. The resources provided eliminate hours of research, direct the reader to find answers to their questions quickly and help navigate the Virtual assistant’s forum. Thank you Tess for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

Wonderful Resource By: Heidi Coleman @ Virtual Moneypenny
I found this book to be an excellent resource from the very first chapter. I laughed out loud when I read about the myths of becoming a VA because some were very real for me. I am working through the worksheets and often take time to go back to the VA Forums website to research what others have done. This book provides a lot of thought provoking questions and ideas so I can build a strong foundation. I also really appreciate the sample contracts provided. I will agree with others that the return on investment for this book is high! I'm very happy with my purchase and would recommend this book to anyone thinking about starting a VA business or wants a great resource to refer to. Thank you Tess!

My business would have grown faster if I had read this before starting By: Michelle Mangen @ Your Virtual Assistant
Dec 1, 2012 will be my fourth year in business however I didn't realize this ebook existed until a few short weeks ago. I really came across it by chance, primarily, because a good number of people have recently been asking me how to get started as a VA and I decided to see what was out here on Amazon. Before I recommended the book to those who have been asking me for guidance I thought I should buy and read it myself to see if it was "worth it". I haven't even reviewed all of the worksheets,forms, etc. that are included with the package - I have only read the ebook itself....and without a doubt it's worth every penny. I wish I had known about it many years ago. Over the course of the past four years I've made a lot of mistakes, many that would have possibly been avoided had I read the book before starting. Here are just a few examples of things I would have done differently: *I would have chosen a different business name and URL *Using contracts for everyone and including some type of penalty for late payments - while I've gotten much better there are still a number of long-term clients that are still without a contract *Identifying what I really love doing and ONLY working with those types of clients *Built in wording on annual increases into my contract *Set up different pricing structures/packages for different types of clients Of course, as they say, hindsight is always 20/20. My first year of business was challenging, to say the very least, I probably could have spent my time in a much better way knowing some of what I know now. By year three I hit 6 figures and could have very well accomplished that by year two, if I had known and implemented some of the items addressed in the ebook. I take my business very seriously because I'm a single mom and full support for my child rests on my shoulders. Whether you decide you want to pursue being a Virtual Assistant on a full time or part time basis I'd highly recommend you invest in this book and read it several times to absorb all there is within it.

Better Not Miss This One! By: CEdgar
Tess Strand has written an amazingly comprehensive text for getting started in your own business as a Virtual Assistant. With clarity, her information-packed eBook addresses the details you will need to know and includes planning, tips, loads of resources (with web links), and guidelines for the new VA. From the initial stages of writing out a business goal to planning where you will set up your office to creating your brand and naming your business, on into the chapters about establishing the legal structure of your business and handling finances and taxes, and loads more, Tess covers every inch of getting your business launched. She also works through some of the finer points of maintaining your venture once you've got it up and running. But she doesn't let you off there! "...don't let yourself be content to the point of complacency," she writes. "As a virtual assistant, you're expected to have the most up-to-date understanding and working knowledge of new technologies and resources relative to your niche or specialty..." Stellar advice from an industry expert and founder of the Virtual Assistant Forums, online at [...]. With bonus worksheets, business documents, and sample contracts and agreements, this no-nonsense, resource-filled guide is an indispensable handbook for starting out as a Virtual Assistant. Great for referring to again and again. Make no mistake, ROI with this one is high!

A must-have for anyone thinking of starting a Virtual Assistant business By: Kristy Schnabel @ It's Virtually Done
This book is a comprehensive how-to manual and workbook to get your virtual assistant business off the ground and to help your business to thrive over time. I've been a VA for 9 years and have taught a community college course (over 3 years) on how to create a virtual assistant business plan. "Become a Virtual Assistant - The Virtual Assistant Forums Guide to Success" covers the nuts and bolts of creating an entrepreneurship. It has exercises to help you think about the tough questions that need answering before starting a business. It discusses legal, ethical, tax, and contractual issues that you need to know as well as practical issues like invoicing and business policies. Moreover, it touches on how to have a great relationship with clients. Thankfully, marketing is a large portion of the book to help VAs figure out the essential aspects of "how to get clients." The book comes with a plethora of worksheets, business documents, and sample contracts too. The only other component necessary for a successful VA practice is a place where you can go for support on your VA journey, and the Virtual Assistant Forums website is an ideal place for that. I highly recommend this book.

The ONLY Resource a Virtual Assistant will ever need to start a virtual assistant business, REALLY! By: Janine Gregor
The Become a Virtual Assistant - The Virtual Assistant Forums Guide to Success is a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate, easy-to-read eBook that is 'chock full' of the most relevant information a virtual assistant will ever need to get started. Interestingly, the e-Book is not simply a 'how-to'. While reading the e-Book, I felt as if a seasoned VA was leaning over my shoulder offering sage advice and tips to successfully grow the business after start-up. It is THAT well-written! Every conceivable scenario, I can think of, which a VA will confront in the up-start stage is discussed in this e-Book. No stone is left unturned. Opening a virtual assistant business can be 'scary'...not knowing what documents to use, how to market, how to find clients, etc. "Become a Virtual Assistant" is written by a seasoned virtual assistant who is a leader in the industry. Ms. Alipour, a successful entrepreneur-partner herself, operates and leads Virtual Assistant Forums. She knows first hand what VAs NEED to know and has put this knowledge to pen in this fantastic e-Book. As a VA myself, I only wish I had this reference available when I first opened my business. I can only imagine the many hours, no, the days, I would have saved if this material had been in one place. If you are a VA...I highly encourage you to make the investment in this e-Book. I'm in business now 6 years and I still refer to this e-Book for the exceptional reference materials offered. Janine Gregor

Perfect book to help you get started as a Virtual Assistant! By: Rhonda Holscher @ Rhonda's Virtual Office, LLC
If you are a new virtual assistant or considering starting your own virtual assistant business this eBook and all the documents included is definitely a great place to start. Even if you are an old hat you will still find valuable information and resources that you can apply to how you are currently running your business. I highly recommend this ebook to any virtual assistant!

A Remarkable Contribution to the World of Virtual Assistance By: Fawn Perry
Perhaps more so than any other virtual assistant book in the market, Become a Virtual Assistant is the ultimate guide for prospective virtual assistants and established VAs alike. Created by Virtual Assistant Forums/Codehead, LLP, this guide is a remarkable contribution to the world of virtual assistance. BAVA isn't just a "read-this-do-that" approach to educate prospective VAs on how to prepare for and launch a new business. It is a practical guide which provides valuable worksheets, up-to-date information and direct links to necessary resources relevant to the success of one's business. Moreover, it sheds light upon the downside of the Industry in addition to the perks; it includes 16 tenets of ethics by which a business should operate; and it highlights the importance of a business plan to the livelihood of a VA business. BAVA touches upon every possible aspect of managing a VA business from taxes to DBAs to working with clients to online/offline marketing. It is a pleasure to read and is current with information of trends and technology relevant to the success of a VA business. Become a Virtual Assistant is a major forerunner among the top virtual assistant guides available anywhere.

Book Review: Become a Virtual Assistant By: Anonymous
Let me say right now, my expectations were far exceeded. This is the information I truly wish was available when I was forming my business. There are other systems and books created with the same theme in mind. However, none that I've read come close to the value provided in this e-book. One of the things I found really impressive about the book is the way the information is provided. You can read a small section of the book and take a few days to implement these practices into your business. Then read another section and implement that process. The information is clear, concise & comprehensive. The worksheets & sample contracts are incredibly useful. Take the documentation and add your logo & brand information to it for a great start. Work through the worksheets like "Success Plan Worksheet" and create a successful plan. I remember documentation being one of my biggest questions when I was starting out. If you have any legal concerns, I would definitely recommend running the contract by your lawyer. The resource list included with the e-book is very comprehensive. It includes links to training sites, graphics, file sending, social media, time management, website creation, video resources and much more. In fact, this list is probably one of the best features of the e-book. This book provides potential virtual assistants with a blueprint for what is actually needed to start their business. It's the perfect resource to help you create a viable business and helps you anticipate any problems or issues. If you are considering a long-term career as a virtual assistant, please invest in yourself and take advantage of this opportunity! I'd even say it is a good idea for anybody starting an online service business to read this well thought-out book. Some of my miss-steps and uncertainty could have been avoided if this resource had been available when I started out. The Smart VA for You says this is a Smart Buy.

Great Tool & Reference Guide By: Wendy @ Wendy Works
Become a Virtual Assistant is a must read for anyone considering working in this field. There are so many decisions to make when starting out that you could end up wasting time, money and your enthusiasm. I needed a step by step guide on everything from constructing a website to client relations and from naming my company to what to do when things go wrong. An easy to follow layout that leads you through the many stages of creating, planning and the necessary day to day tasks of running a virtual assistant business. Great tool and reference guide.

Great investment for your virtual assistant business! By: T Smith @ A Virtual Blessing
The number one question on the minds of new or aspiring virtual assistant is where or how do I start? You can spend countless hours researching information on your own as I did which can be tedious and tiresome. You could also purchase one of the many start-up guides that clutter the internet which can be overwhelming and expensive. Or you can purchase Become A Virtual Assistant: The Virtual Assistant Forums Guide to Success as a great starting point and your first solid investment in your business. Become A Virtual Assistant eBook is comprehensive guide to establishing your virtual assistant business. It is an honest and practical guideline to jump start your VA business. I wish I would have had this eBook available to me when I opened my virtual doors. As an established virtual assistant - I highly recommend it.

THE Comprehensive Guide to Launching a Virtual Assistant Business By: Mary Ruth @ Virtual Writing and Communication Solutions
I've been serving as a VA for going on five years, and a great deal of that time has been spent as a student: learning coding, photo manipulation, marketing, virtual assisting, social media, and content creation. I've paid a hunk of money for these courses. Most have been enlightening; a few were disappointing. But I have never before run across a more comprehensive training in one simple download than is available in this book. The information you'll get in the Become a Virtual Assistant book amounts to everything you need to know to launch a business online. What's more, the specific, relevant details are presented with clarity and seamless ease of access. The text is composed skillfully; the research is simply superlative. You get soup to nuts on the setup, operation, and growth of your online business. The book is aimed towards virtual assistants, and many specifics are relevant to that industry. Yet it strikes me that, without a doubt, its lessons are eminently useful to any startup online endeavor. I'm thinking of recommending this product to all my clients who are on the web, as its information reaches across all small business online enterprises. Not only does the book cover every step in establishing and moving ahead with your internet business, it also includes a full 35 free worksheets, documents, contracts and agreements. In other words, buy the book and get your business structure in the package as well.

Want to become a Virtual Assistant? This is the book you need By: Hilde @ Van den Braak and Assoc.
This book is the perfect resource for when you want to become a Virtual Assistant or for when you are trying to find out if it is something you want. There are more resources for VAs, but what is so special about this book is that it clearly is written by someone who has your best interests at heart. The clear language Tess uses to describe everything you need, the problems you will encounter, but also the solutions to these problems is a real treat. Everything, from setting up your home office, to finding the best legal structure, to branding, to dealing with clients (including valuable templates for contracts, time writing etc), to filing your taxes, is included in the book. If you are starting out and don't have much money to spend, you might think 40$ is too much for a book, but believe me, it will be the best money you ever spend on your business. The step-by-step plan to success is realistic, written by someone who knows what she is talking about. Her eye for detail truly is invaluable. I am a successful VA and I wish I had read the book when I first started out. It is a comprehensive guide which will remain valuable long after you established your business.

A great blueprint for Virtual Assistants By: LTJ
Although there are numerous of books, courses, etc. that are big on promises, many fail to make good on them--this is not one of those books. This eBook provides you with practical advice that will allow you the opportunity to take a shortcut in launching your virtual assistant business. This book will help you get to where you need to be much faster. The Virtual Assistant Forums did not sugar coat anything about what it takes to become a virtual assistant. They dispel rampant myths such as, "All you need to be a virtual assistant is an Internet connection and a computer" or "You don't need special skills to be a virtual assistant." This e-book will help set the record straight by providing you with exercises throughout the book to help you determine if you are up for the challenge. This book literally helps you to develop and implement methods that will enable you to embrace your new responsibility. Unlike many of the virtual assistant books currently on the market, Become a Virtual Assistant--The Virtual Assistant Forums Guide to Success is the perfect road map to use in your journey to becoming the virtual assistant that every entrepreneur dreams about having on their team.

From A to Z, it's in here By: Ruth Martin @ Maplewood Virtual
Become a Virtual Assistant: The Virtual Assistant Forums Guide to Success - 2nd Edition is the total package when it comes to leading a new or aspiring virtual assistant through the steps of this type of business start-up. I've never come across another book with so many resources and links between two covers. The book takes the reader through the whole processes of exploring this career choice, to defining a target market, to legalizing a business, to building a marketing presence, to matching resources to specific needs and outcomes, and establishing systems and procedures for optimal success. From A to Z, it's in here. (Gosh, that sounds a bit like a spaghetti sauce commercial but there's simply no other way to describe it. Every ingredient needed for a virtual assistant's business start up success can be found.) The wisdoms and resources shared are solid leading the way to building strong foundations to grow your business and maximize your success. For example, the section on `Website Dos and Don'ts' contains many gems to showcase a website to its fullest. The insights in the section `You Know It's Time to Fire a Client When' will get your thought wheels turning when as a start up you're focused on getting clients and often overlook exit strategies. As someone who's been a virtual professional for many years I found nuggets tucked in this book that were new to me or a resource I wasn't familiar with. I've added some additional links to my bookmarked favorites after reading this book. I hope you'll be able to say the same after you read it, too.

Informative and so much more By: Lee Drozak @ Lee Drozak
If you are considering becoming a virtual professional then this book is for you. A step-by-step guide to getting your business up and running while providing you with a checklist as you are on your way. Besides the chapters on getting set-up and running, creating your brand and choosing services and rates there is information on getting and keeping clients. The amount of templates that are included will certainly save you loads of time now and down the road. "Becoming A Virtual Assistant" touches on the personal side of making some crucial business decisions. Straightforward information will not overwhelm you in the least and does not gloss over any step that needs to be taken. A must have for new and aspiring business owners.

Become a Virtual Assistant is 160 pages of AWESOME! By: Christina Nelson
Aspiring Virtual Assistants will find very informative and helpful sections on deciding if being a VA is the right direction for them, setting up a home office, creating your branding, bookkeeping basics, taxes, choosing services/rates as well as getting and keeping clients. It is chock full of information for the small price of $39 PLUS you get a bonus of over 35 worksheets, sample forms & templates you'll need to get going AND a list of 100 bonus resources for your new VA business. There are many other books and courses for VA's (much more expensive and not as complete) out there but I wish this was around when I started. Understanding the "business" as well as the "personal" behind a business is crucial to making your endeavor a success. This book handles that well and doesn't try to gloss anything over. You get straight answers to all those questions you didn't even know you had. I have been in business for some time now but I walked away with some new information and have been reviewing some of my processes because of it.

Extremely thorough By: Bobbi Jackowski
This is the most comprehensive book I have found about becoming a virtual assistant. A lot of hard work was put in to this. It's worth more than the cost! It will save hours and hours of work with the fillable documents alone. You really should not attempt to start a VA business without this comprehensive guide.

Great Info! By: John
I purchased this book along with training materials from 713training to help build my business as a Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant. I would highly recommend this book to others seeking the same field.

Lots of great tips & tools By: Ann C.
Highly recommend this book to anyone thinking of working virtually or who has just started this career. Covers many aspects of this method of working and it includes examples of forms, agreements, and contracts. A bit pricey but I feel that it was worth it!

Create a successful business from the start By: Dina E. @ The Client Whisperer
Being a virtual assistant means you run a business. If you want it to be successful from the start, then you will purchase this book. Well organized and brimming with useful information, the book reads like the ultimate 'to-do' list. Strand offers not only suggests which actions to take but also puts the resources and websites right at your fingertips.

Full of references and valuable info! By: Loretta
This is a great book full of references and valuable information. I recommend this book to anyone starting a home-based business.

Great Resource for becoming a Virtual Assistant By: Amanda
Become a Virtual Assistant - The Virtual Assistant Forums Guide to Success for new and aspiring Virtual Assistants, is a great handy source in particular for new and aspiring Virtual Assistants (VA) but will prove to be a useful reminder for already practicing VA's. Although a couple of Chapters are predominantly written with the US market in mind, the majority of the book is generalist enough that it does not matter where the Reader originates from and so this book is not wasted on the UK market - in fact some of the sample contracts do have both a UK and a Canadian version included. The book is written in a friendly, helpful style as if a friend was talking / coaching you through the highs, low and reality of the VA profession - you can really feel the benefit of the collaborations from the VA Forums talking to you. The book walks you through step by step, what you need to do to establish your business, from planning to implementation right through to the potential pitfalls of a fully operational business and even what to do when a relationship with a client breaks down (which some books are too scared to mention). What is really worthwhile are the documents, worksheets and sample contracts that you can work through at your own pace or when you want to review a specific area of the business and the list of advantageous VA resources (including their links). A useful read and a resource that I am sure I will dip in and out of as time goes on - I am pleased to have read it.

Virtual Assistant Bible By: Sharon
This could serve as a "Bible" to the Virtual Assistant industry, covers methods, ethics, set up of office, marketing, etc.

Even my attorney was impressed by the contract templates By: Margaret Salmond @ DVA Virtual Assistance
I purchased the ebook with the contracts over the weekend and I was thoroughly impressed. It has everything that a someone starting in this business will need to get a solid foundation for their business. Even my attorney was impressed with the thoroughness of the contract templates. Do your business a great favor and get this book.