SVA Forum

sallymahers · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 16

Hi Everyone, my name is Sally and I am in the process of setting up my own VA business whilst working full time! I am 32 years old and have been working for another business for 10 years and have been researching and wanting to set this company up for the last 3 or 4!

I have finalised my list of services, completed market research, have registered name, domain, email address and have almost finished branding. Website is next! I am lucky to have made many contacts over the years in my currently role and it was two of these contacts who made me realise I could actually do this and there is definitely potential work and clients for my particular VA business.

The main thing i'm finding is in order to leave my role I obviously need income and the time to really drive the business forward.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend some ways/companies to pick up smaller pieces of work to tide me over whilst I try and pick up any larger monthly retainer type contracts.

I am completely bemused over taxes and registering business. But I need to sit down and work through that.

If anyone has any advice, tips, pearls of wisdom I would really appreciate it! Especially in terms of earning income in those first tricky months/year.

Thank you :)

amber_missy · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:08 pm Post subject:

If it's a remote possibility, I would recommend asking your employer if they would consider a part-time role, to enable you to set up whilst still having that permanent (albeit reduced) income...?

If that's not an option, I've joined a temp-agency on the theory that, although there'll be a contract in place saying there's no poaching of clients for 6-months after temp employment, it doesn't stop you finding potential clients for "the future", or, possibly more importantly, getting testimonials from them (ideally on Linked In that you can copy onto websites/promotional material, etc.,)?

Best wishes and good luck in getting those final steps in place for your launch! :)

sallymahers · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 16

Thanks Amber Missy! I didn't know about that clause regards temping agencies so that helps! Unfortunately i've had to return full time after two years part time with my daughter as the business needed me in a full time roll.

What exactly does a temp contract state then?

Thanks again :-)

amber_missy · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:42 pm Post subject:

It's just a disclosure agreement the temp agencies normally have to say that, because they have sourced the person working for the company, the company won't then drop the temp agency and hire the person directly (as a way of getting around using a recruitment agency and paying their fees). There's a 6-month "cooling off" period, so after that time, the company could hire someone they'd had as a temp. Or, they can negotiate with the agency to hire the person, but pay a finder's fee if it's within the 6-month time frame.

If they've asked to re-increase your hours, you could ask them to consider a job-share (2/3 days or 2.5/2.5?) with a new employee?

SnapdragonVA · Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Posts: 7

Hello and welcome!

I can't imagine how scary it must be taking the plunge from full-time employment.

Wishing you the very best of luck :-)
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Charlotte xx

Twitter: @Snapdragon_VA

sallymahers · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 16

Thanks for the replies. It is all very scary! Unfortunately my business is a very male dominated world (sport) and any such requests would not go down well. It's one of the reasons I want to leave but rather than just try and find a new job I think now is the time to be brave and attempt to go for it!

I have a million questions running round my head! It's so nice to find somewhere like this where people are so supportive of each other and so knowledgeable in this field

JTVA · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Sally,

Best of luck!

Jo

caroline · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:45 am Post subject:

You'd be surprised - is there a way you can dress up the part-time request so it would be advantageous to the business, rather than to you? My old boss said "You know I could fire you and find someone who actually wants to do your job in a heartbeat?" when I asked to go part-time... For a horrible moment I thought I'd be picking up my P45 that afternoon! Thankfully he was just testing the waters to see how serious I was about making the part-time arrangement work - and it worked really well for 2.5 years, until he needed a full-time PA and I needed more time with the business!

Otherwise, there's lots of ways of making your business run full-time whilst you work out-of-hours on it.... Call answering services, business networking before/after work, smartphones which you checked during breaks etc.
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