5 Myths About Being a VA

There are a few myths about being a VA that I hear over and over. Here are a few of the top ones:

1. Being a VA is an Easy Side Hustle

This one is my pet hate!!

It’s not... anyone that tells you that if you buy their course you can work two hours a day and earn a million pounds a month is lying. Being a VA is hard work it takes a lot of time and effort to manage and run your own business.

But it’s totally worth it because you will be able to schedule your working day around you, earn a decent income while working with clients you love on projects that you are fabulous at. Hard work and dedication pay off and you’ll soon be reaping the rewards.

2. VAs Just Do a Bit of Admin

Virtual Assistants do a lot more than simply typing a letter or popping a meeting in the diary.

The tasks we actually do varies from VA to VA but there is so much great talent in the VA community, anything from bookkeeping to web design, HR to podcast management, event management to Social Media - the list is endless

I love chatting to so many amazing VAs about their skills and seeing how much value their diverse talents add to their client’s businesses.

3. £30 an hour is too expensive

You have to remember when setting your own rates that running your own business isn’t like being employed.

You have to cover the cost of all of the things associated with being a business owner including:

• Tax - Corporate Tax too if you are a limited company

• Insurance

• Legal expenses

• Computer Equipment

• Software

• Phone bills and internet

• Training

• Networking

• Stationary

• Travel

You’ll also spend unpaid hours working on your own business admin and marketing.

It’s really important that you remember this when deciding on what to charge your clients. The right client for you will appreciate your value and pay you what you are worth.

4. The Market is Saturated

Yes, there are a lot of us and many more who are currently starting their businesses. However, lots of VAs have totally different skill sets and ideal clients.

The world is moving more to a virtual model thanks to Covid companies that wouldn’t normally have hired a VA now can appreciate the benefit and how it will work.

The VA community is about collaborating and not competition there is plenty of room for everyone.

5. I’m not good enough to be a VA

Don’t let that little voice in your head hold you back, we all suffer from imposter syndrome from time to time.

Write yourself a list of things you’ve done in your career that you are super proud of - look at these and remember how amazing you are.