What is a Virtual Assistant

Wilderness Business Solutions

Helping You Get Back To The Business At Hand

A Virtual Assistant is an individual formerly known as an administrative, executive or personal Assistant, a typists, clerical worker or secretary. Most Virtual Assistants work from their own remote offices with their own equipment and charge a reasonable fee for premium services. Virtual Assistants are independent contractors providing quality services to businesses, locally, nationally and internationally.

Ethics of a Virtual Assistant (VA)

* As a Virtual Assistant, I will maintain the highest ethics and honesty in all dealings with clients, colleagues and the general public.

* I will seek to deal with colleagues, suppliers and employees in a fair and equitable manner, and maintain the highest standards of personal conduct to bring credit to the Virtual Assistant profession.

* As a highly ethical Virtual Assistant, I will only take on projects that are within my abilities.

* If a project is not within my ability, the client will be notified immediately and I will provide recommendations for other highly skilled Virtual Assistants.

* Client information will be held in the strictest of confidence and will not be shared with others or used for personal gain.

* I highly value each client relationship and will not place one client above another.

* I will make a commitment to possess and increase the required knowledge, skills and training to be proficient and relevant in the provision of services.

* I will be honest about my intentions and never misrepresent my skills, peers, or my profession as a whole, whether to networks or to prospects, clients, and the community at large (virtual or otherwise).

* I will not knowingly be a part of any illegal or unethical activity.

* I will promote the Virtual Assistance industry with the utmost professionalism and give of my knowledge freely to new and existing VAs and the general public.

Benefits of hiring a VA:

There are many benefits to hiring a virtual assistant, some which include:

* No need to hire full time employees *No need to acquire office space, equipment or supplies

* No overhead costs *No overtime or downtime

* No training costs *No hiring expenses such as advertising and interviewing

* No need to pay for vacation time or sick days

* No "office hours". I work 7 days a week so am always available for my clients.

* No need to pay for employee benefits such as workers compensation, EI or health benefits. As an independent contractor I pay for my own taxes and business expenses.

Employee vs. VA

Employee            VA
@ 40 hrs/wk        @ 20 hrs/wk $15/hr                     $20/hr
Wage    $31,200.00   $20,800.00
Vacation   1,200.00
Insurance 3,350.00
PR Taxes   4,608.00
Office Exp  3,750.00

Total Yearly
Cost
            $41,108.00 $20,800.00

As you can see, there is a difference of $20,308.00, without the additional work associated with an employee.

No need for

* insurance
* payroll taxes
* workers comp
* un-employment insurance
* no office to supply and maintain.

A VA can do the same amount of work in 3-4 hours vs an employee that takes 8 hours a day. A VA handles all their own taxes and use their own equipment and supplies.

example shown is with local figures (WY)