Earn more from home as a freelance Virtual Assistant

Are you an admin wizard, but have no workplace in which to work your magic? If so, consider forging your own path as a remote, freelance Virtual Assistant for an average rate of $20/hr! Not only is the pay worth the effort, but you can also do this job while taking care of small children, or perhaps even working another full time job. The choice is yours, but the career path could offer great earnings opportunities...

What does a Virtual Assistant do?

Virtual Assistants are freelancers who offer remote administrative services to businesses and individuals who need them. If you’re a VA, that doesn’t mean that your VA services and someone else’s VA services will be the same. So what types of things do Virtual Assistants typically do?

Virtual Assistants can do any of the following tasks remotely:

• Screen and manage incoming calls and emails
• Provide customer service via email or phone
• Set and manage appointments and meetings
• Book and manage travel
• Transcribe live meetings or recordings
• Take minutes (detailed notes) during meetings
• Complete bookkeeping and accounting tasks
• Maintain newsletters or periodicals
• And more…

As you can see, the VA field is as flexible as you are. As long as you have a skill you can do remotely, and a business or individual has a need for your services, you can make money as a Virtual Assistant. And you don’t have to commit to knowing how to do all of the above tasks, either! Many Virtual Assistants only provide one to two of the above services, and are well paid for what they do!

Am I qualified?

When considering a new field or career path, you may have a voice in the back of your head wondering if you’re really qualified (even if you’ve done some of the above tasks before!) The main barrier to being qualified for any freelance job is the ability to be self-motivated.

You may have all the skills you need, but if you’re not motivated to market yourself as a Virtual Assistant to business owners, you’re not likely to succeed in the field. So are you ready to be your own boss? If your answer is yes, I would consider the VA path!

How much do Virtual Assistants make?

The rate of pay for virtual assistants varies, but can start at around $20 per hour and go all the way up to $60, depending on your skillset, your client’s budget and your ability to effectively market yourself.

Yes, you read that right, your income depends squarely on you and your ability to find potential clients and convince them to pay you well. Does the idea of selling yourself make your stomach turn? Then maybe this isn’t the path for you. But if you’re a natural salesperson with a knack for negotiating you could thrive as a freelance Virtual Assistant.

How do I find Virtual Assistant (VA) jobs?

The best places to get started marketing your skills as a VA are freelancer hiring websites. These websites offer freelancers and potential clients to connect with each other and can help you manage the financial aspect of your VA business. I’ve found some of the best sites for VA’s and linked them below for you to explore.

In order to start your VA business, you will have to click the links below to explore. Once you've explored your options, create profiles on your favorites of these sites to market your skills and get hired by clients.

1. TaskRabbit

2. Upwork

3. PeoplePerHour

4. Freelancer

5. FlexJobs

Side note: Watch out for scams!

Whenever you’re looking for remote work online, you’ll want to be careful about the types of opportunities you say yes to. If someone ever asks you for money in order to work for them or wants to hire you right away “no questions asked”, it’s surely a scam!

So please keep your thinking cap on when you’re browsing for remote work. As long as you’re careful, scams shouldn’t affect you, but if it sounds too good to be true (or at all fishy) trust your gut! A bit of income lost today because of a bad feeling is so much better than being scammed!

What services would you offer as a Virtual Assistant?