Virtual assistants can do virtually anything

Have you ever wished you could delegate some of those dull or awkward tasks that seem to get in the way of running your business? Those frustratingly necessary, time-consuming yet non-productive jobs, such as sorting through all your expense receipts or filing that growing heap of letters, flyers and scribbled notes.

That’s where a virtual assistant could come in handy. You’re probably familiar with the concept - someone who provides admin support as and when you need it, often working remotely.

To find out a little more about what a virtual assistant actually does, Bizoh spoke to a couple. The first was Andrea Osborne of Cushion the Impact, based in London. Founded 12 years ago, it comprises a core team of four and now also has an office in Scotland.

Andrea said that when they founded the firm, they thought they would largely be running errands for busy people. But the range of tasks they’ve taken on is much wider than that and ranges from writing blog posts through to managing the delivery of domestic appliances to clients’ homes.

Virtual assistants can get their hands dirty

While much of the work is carried out in their office, they do go onsite from time to time. One client needed someone to create order from the chaos of their paperwork, which had spread from their home office into the rest of the house.

Much of the firm’s new business is acquired through word of mouth from satisfied clients, many of whom are now spread across the globe.

Many virtual assistants work alone. That’s how Tracy Swindale of Super-Secretary.com operates. Tracy began by providing virtual assistant services in the evenings and weekends. It went so well that in 2010 she gave up her job to work for herself.

Variety is not optional

Tracy's background as a PA at board level provides the skills and experience she needs to take on a wide variety of tasks from clients. There is no such thing as a typical week for Tracy. When we spoke to her she’d been spending a lot of time debt chasing on behalf of clients, but had also designed a new logo for someone.

Unlike many virtual service businesses, Tracy lists her prices on her website, charging £20 per hour for most of her work. As with Andrea’s firm, she also does some work onsite, although this is in the Darlington area where she’s based.

If you’re tempted to consider using a virtual assistant, it’s worth asking for recommendations. Some are specialists with particular skills and while most are flexible, the best will know their limitations. However, because their job is to make your life easier, if they can’t do something themselves, they will know how to find someone who can.