NFIB

Help From Afar
03/ 28/ 2002

by Shannon Scully

Karen Duester admits she couldn't survive without her assistant, who not only helps the Del Mar, Calif., business owner with purchasing, client communication and IT problems, but even handles mundane tasks like sending a fax and making trips to the post office.

Funny thing is, Duester's assistant does all of this without ever coming to the office. By communicating every day for the past two years through email, fax and an occasional phone call, Duester and her "virtual assistant" have established a routine that works well for both. Today's technology allows employers to look for help beyond the local talent pool.

"Two years into my home-based business, I realized I needed help," says Duester, who in 1993 founded The Food Consulting Company to perform food analysis and labeling services for the food industry (www.foodlabels.com). "But I enjoyed the privacy and convenience of working from home and didn't want someone coming to my house everyday."

Through the referral company AssistU, Duester found the virtual assistant (VA) set-up a perfect fit, giving her needed help, while still allowing her to work at home.

Most referral services are free to the employer, and the average billing rate for VAs starts at about $35 an hour. Most business owners who use the service aren't looking for a 40-hour-a-week employee. VAs work best for someone who needs help on specific projects for about 15 hours a week.

"Virtual assistants aren't for people who micromanage," says Stacy Brice, president of AssistU. "You must be able to delegate for this to work."

Many clients prefer to find an assistant who lives in the same time zone, but Brice says finding one on the opposite coast might help you work more efficiently.

"If you live on the West coast and your VA is on the East coast, he or she will have a jump start on your day. When you arrive at the office, you could have an inbox full of completed work," says Brice.

Because VAs are considered contractual employees, employers aren't responsible for administrative costs associated with a full-time employee, such as payroll taxes, insurance and benefits. Employers also don't have to worry about providing their VAs with computers or finding additional space in their offices.

Any concern that the flexible arrangement might allow a VA to waste time on your dollar is quickly dissipated when you understand the process, says Duester.

"A VA works as a consultant," she explains. "If I ever felt I wasn't getting my money's worth, I'd terminate the relationship."

Finding a Virtual Assistant

These groups can put you in touch with a qualified VA.

AssistU
www.assistu.com
(866) 829-6757

International Virtual
Assistant Association (IVAA)
www.ivaa.org
(877) 440-2750

StaffCentrix
www.staffcentrix.com
(860) 974-3521

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This article originally appeared in the February/March 2002 issue of MyBUSINESS Magazine.

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