07/01/2020
What are the benefits of having a virtual assistant?
There are more benefits of hiring a virtual office assistant than we could possibly list here.
Here are just a few examples to consider:
1. Reduced labour costs
If you hire another full-time employee, you’ll not only have to pay his salary but also:
Taxes
Sick days
Holiday leave
Worker’s compensation
Medical/dental benefits
On the other hand, virtual assistants work as independent contractors. This means they handle all their own expenses, including taxes and insurance.
You simply hire them to perform a specific job, pay them for their time, and that’s it. Think of all the money you’ll save that can be better used elsewhere!
2. Increased productivity
In a standard 8-hour workday, the average UK office worker does a little less than 3 hours of actual “productive” work.
Why pay one more employee to surf the internet and chat at the coffee station?
Virtual assistants work differently. Without the distractions of an office environment, they’re able to focus and dedicate their time to getting tasks done.
Because they’re self-employed, their number one goal is client satisfaction. If they start slacking off and missing deadlines, it’s unlikely the company will hire them for future work.
For this reason, virtual assistants are a highly motivated bunch!
3. Increased flexibility
With a VA, you’re not saddled to a 9-5 workday. They work around your schedule and are there when you need them.
If you’re in different time zones, that can work to your advantage, too. Rather than assigning eight-hour shifts, you can develop a schedule that maximizes output while keeping costs in check.
And, in the unlikely event that you’re dissatisfied with your VA, you can simply end the contract and hire a different assistant.
It’s not always that simple with a full-time employee!
4. Improved work quality
How much time do you spend every day on “busy” work like checking emails, answering phone calls, or managing your website?
How much more productive could you be if someone was there to handle all those nonessential tasks for you? Then you’d be able to dedicate more time to growing and marketing your business.
You’ll also save the time and hassle of constantly re-training your employees. Rather than educating them on every new technology that comes along, why not hire a professional VA who already has all those skills?
5. Reduced risk in scaling operations
Maybe you’re at a point with your business when you’re not entirely sure what’s going to happen next.
The numbers are pointing towards growth, but you don’t know when or how quickly that will happen.
This is another situation where a virtual office assistant could be the perfect solution.
Rather than taking on new employees, hiring a VA would help you manage your work volume without breaking your budget. If business picks up and you need more help, simply hire another VA to see you through the transition.
6. Skills your business needs
Whether your business is large or small, it’s unlikely that you and your staff have every single skill you need to run it.
What if you need to create a professional website, but you don’t have a web developer on staff?
What if you need a new company logo, but none of your employees are graphic designers?
What if you need your marketing materials translated into a foreign language, but none of your staff is bilingual?
Again, this is where a VA comes in. No matter what job needs completing, you can find a qualified virtual assistant who has the skill set you’re looking for.
