Start Up VAs
Sole Trader vs Limited Company
“Should I be a sole trader or a limited company as a virtual assistant?” We get asked this a lot from start-up virtual assistants or those thinking of becoming a virtual assistant. Certainly the vast majority of VAs are sole traders (81% of UK VAs are sole traders*). But then the majority of VAs are…
Read MoreVAT Registration – for VAs!
It is very unlikely that you will have to register for VAT, at least initially, as a virtual assistant. You only have to register if: Your turnover (the amount you invoice your clients) for the previous 12 months is more than £85,000, the threshold at the time of writing, OR You expect to go over…
Read MoreDo I need an office address as a virtual assistant?
We had a few people recently asking why they need their full mailing address as part of the SVA Approved process… There’s quite a few legal obligations which mean you MUST have a contact mailing address on your website: Why virtual assistants NEED a proper mailing address https://www.gov.uk/online-and-distance-selling-for-businesses – so if you are selling products/services…
Read MoreTackling Late Payments
The Small Business Commissioner, Paul Uppal, has been tasked with tackling late payments for small businesses… We all know the pain of juggling cashflow because a client has been late to pay. The knock on effect means you can’t pay your own suppliers – or maybe it means you are late paying household bills? Getting…
Read MoreOIVAC earlybird offer!
Every year international virtual assistant veteran Sharon Williams (The 24 Hour Secretary) pulls in favours from her little black book of virtual assistant contacts and gets everyone online for 3 days in May at the Online International Virtual Assistant Convention (OIVAC). OIVAC Virtual Assistant Conference – what you get: You’ll learn a variety of skills,…
Read MoreLinkedIn Profile Success
LinkedIn is the most effective social media platform for marketing virtual assistant businesses*. So beyond connecting with everyone you’ve ever worked with, how do you attract more business? LinkedIn Profile Success Tips Well, your profile will pop up when someone searches for specific phrases. How do you make sure that you are using the right…
Read MoreVirtual Assistant Insurance
Virtual Assistant Insurance Over the years we’ve done a variety of articles on why virtual assistant insurance is needed: Virtual Assistant Insurance Claims – what can go wrong? VA Nightmares Policy Bee – our recommended insurer And we included professional indemnity insurance in our VA Standards for Approved VAs who appear on our FIND A…
Read MoreVirtual Assistant Training Standards
At the UK Virtual Assistant Conference this year, I shared with you the rising numbers of complaints which I’ve had about Virtual Assistant Courses or start up training. In the background over the past year or so, I’ve been working with industry leaders to discuss this issue. Why are virtual assistant training standards needed? It…
Read MoreVirtual assistant training scams
From the 2019 Virtual Assistant Conference – Caroline’s session “Skill or Scam” showing how virtual assistant training scams are on the rise and how you can help stop them. I’m very aware “virtual assistant training scams” isn’t the most positive title! However the objective is to point out how important collaboration is to the UK…
Read MoreVirtual Assistant Directory Advertising – is it worth it?
We’ve had a few virtual assistant directory sites pop up offering advertising recently. I typed out a long response on whether I thought it was was using these on one of the Facebook groups and thought it was worth posting here too: Why not use a Virtual Assistant Directory? Over the years we’ve had VA…
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