What is a Virtual Assistant?

If the term Virtual Assistant is new to you, read on for the lowdown on what a VA is, what services they provide, and how to engage with one.

What does a Virtual Assistant do?

A Virtual Assistant is a self-employed PA who provides remote business support to entrepreneurs, business owners and consultants. VAs offer a flexible solution to the perennial problem of not having enough hours in the day.

Depending on the services they offer, your VA could help you with any number of administrative, marketing, financial and personal tasks – everything from documents to diaries, and from social media posting to present-buying.

How do VAs charge?

Most VAs charge by the hour, by the project, or a combination of both, meaning you only pay for the time and services you use. There are none of the headaches or costs involved with hiring an employee, and you don’t need to pay your VA’s tax, NI, pension contributions, sick pay or holidays, because they are a self-employed business owner.

What should I look for in a VA?

There are some key things which you should ensure your VA has before you engage with them:

• Professional indemnity insurance
• Public liability insurance, if they will visit your offices
• ICO registration
• Anti-Money Laundering registration (if they will be handling finance-related tasks or accessing your financial information)
• Great communication skills
• A contract for their services (which you can both sign)

Where can you find out more?

If you want to spend more time on the things that matter to you, you can get in touch using the contact form here, call +44(0)7854 107 527 or email reception@portfoliopa.com.