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How to Become a Virtual Assistant and Make $3,000+ a Month

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Virtual assistant to promote how to become a virtual assistant

Who?
You! What’s amazing about the growing demand for this role is that anyone can learn how to become a virtual assistant and be a total success.

As mentioned above, you may have to take a class or do some discounted work in order to gain the education and experience you need for certain services but there is no hard barrier to entry.

You don’t have to go to school for 8 years or have 10 years of experience. You don’t have to have $50,000 to get off the ground. All you need to get started is:

  • Basic office skills
  • A phone
  • A functional computer
  • A reliable Internet connection

However, while the list above does contain the bare minimum you will require when discovering how to become a virtual assistant, you will probably find more success if you are also:

  • Motivated – you need to be able to get work and get it done!
  • Detail oriented – you need to be able to check your own work.
  • Organized – if your office looks like the scene of a violent crime we have a problem.
  • Reliable – clients need to know they can depend on you.
  • Good at communication (verbal and written) – you’re going to need to be able to deal with people in some capacity.

Clock to promote how to become a virtual assistant

When?

Now! As mentioned above, there are no real concrete barriers to becoming a virtual assistant. With very little investment (none if you already have a computer, telephone, and Internet connection) you can launch your new part time or full time endeavor. While I’m sure you can think of plenty of reasons not to learn how to become a virtual assistant and get started today, those are just excuses.

There is no true reason you can’t become a virtual assistant now.

Here are 4 common “reasons” (a.k.a. excuses) people give for not trying their hand at being a VA:

  1. Money – I don’t have the money to launch a new business.
  2. Support – My mother/father/brother/sister/husband/wife (insert person here) doesn’t support this idea.
  3. Time – I don’t have time to launch a new business.
  4. Clients – I don’t know where to find clients.

Allow me to answer each of these in turn.

  1. Money – You really don’t need much if any money to launch your VA career. Most cell phone plans allow for unlimited minutes so you shouldn’t need a new plan. If yours doesn’t, use services like Google Hangouts or Skype to connect with clients. While a private Internet connection is best, you can always piggyback on free wifi spots such as at Starbucks, Panera, or your local library.
  2. Support – Ask your “(insert person here)” why he or she doesn’t think this is a good idea. Weigh the answer carefully for any truth. If there is truth to his or her objection, talk it over openly and honestly. If there is no truth to the objection, look for support elsewhere from other family members, friends, or VA groups online.
  3. Time – You don’t have to go full time immediately. Take on small projects or clients that only need a few hours of your time to get your feet wet.
  4. Clients – We’ll go over this a little more in-depth in the following section of How to Become a Virtual Assistant and Make $3,000+ a Month, but clients can be found everywhere from online job boards to college bulletin boards.

I’m not advocating you go in and quit your job first thing tomorrow before you secure some clients, but stop making excuses as to why you can’t start your new career as a virtual assistant.

About Kelli

Kelli Bhattacharjee is the owner of Freebie Finding Mom. When she's not goofing around with her son, she's busy blogging, or just hanging out with the family which usually involves listening to music too loud and having dance parties.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Josh says

    Very helpful article. This is something I am looking into for at least a little period of time as I take a (hopefully) permanent sabbatical from Corporate. Thanks and I will be referring back to this info again.

  3. Diana Palmentiero says

    I have been a virtual assistant for a little over a year now. One way to start is to find people that have businesses that they run from their homes. I now have 3 clients and all run their businesses from their home. You would be surprised how many people are doing that these days. As their businesses have grown, they realize that they don’t have time for the administrative tasks like researching projects, answering basic client emails and writing copy for their newly created websites. I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me at support@illuminarellc.com.

  6. Samie says

    This is well written and has all the required information. I think there is lots of future in VA and more and more people and organizations will start using services from VA. The only requirement is that VAs start marketing their services, mostly through social media campaigns.

  7. Jane says

    This is what I’ve had in mind for years, but didn’t know it already existed. I am going to research more and see what happens. Thanks for this article and the advice.

  8. Tiffany Daniels says

    Great article!
    If this is something I’m interested in, where do I go to get proper training?

  13. Brenda says

    Hi Diana, I just came across this article and this seems very interesting. I’m currently a graphic and web designer for a corporate company but not making nearly as much as $3,000! I consider myself a pretty confident tech savvy person. I do a lot of web and vector work, write on the side (could brush up on it a little bit) social media assistance, etc. I do a wide variety at work here but not entirely happy with what I am making. Could you possibly email me more information about your position and what you do from home? Perhaps where I could start, etc? Thanks! my email is brendango77@gmail.com

  14. Jamile says

    Can you share how I how do I start the process please? Do I reach out the business owners I know or is there a site that advertises for them? Please share whatever you can. Thank you in advance.

  16. Nicole says

    I have been working on human resources/customer service handling administrative tasks for 10 plus years. Where I have administered benefits of all kinds with employees. How can I find out how to become a VA. Is there a website?

  20. Jasmin Henriquez says

    Hello, I’d like to start VA in California, could you please email me info how to get started, I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

  22. Ada says

    Brenda,
    I am very interested in something like this. I have my own art business and I’m an art teacher full time, but need extra income! And let’s face it, art teaching jobs are the first to get cut, so I’m in dire need of something I can fall back on. I need to still be creative but also make money to support my son and I. Let me know how I can get this going.

    Thanks,
    Ada

  24. Stacey says

    Hi Diana – unable to contact you thru link given but am looking to invest some money in starting up a healthcare/assistance company aiding Individuals and seniors with dementia that either for various reasons does not qualify for state assistance and/or only needing minimal guidance or help with ADLs, safety training and/or planning and any other assistance that may be needed to allow a senior citizen to remain in their home and stay as independent for as long as they can avoiding the hard and sometimes the horrible demise alot endure by transitioning into a nursing facility or home , and need help with research in doing so if you could provide any information towards my goal in helping our golden ones of our time please email me at Staceybaker41@gmail.com. Thank you and God bless

  25. Rimah says

    I have a question about the attorney and figuring out the whole taxes. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, but I don’t know where to start.

  27. Stefan Ciancio says

    A lot of people spend hundreds of hours over the internet to know how to earn money online. I agree with you in monetizing skills. You can really do a lot to earn money online. I would say if any new individual who would like to make many online starts to reads this informative article I am sure he is heading to get to to a big position since he save hours in research. Very Informative:)

  29. Erica says

    Hi,

    I lost my full-time job as an admin assistant in 2011. I have not been able to find full-time work since then and can barely find part-time work that will pay good here in NYC. Also because I have no college degree(despite having over 25 years of hands-on experience)I cannot find anything worthwhile. All of that being said, what is the best way to contract yourself to businesses as a VA? I have been considering doing this for quite some time, but I have no time for nonsense and want to do it right. Thanks so much for the great article!

  31. Jennifer Buchholtz says

    Hi my name is Jennifer and I am a mom to a 6 year old and 30 month old. I worked as an Engineering Assistant for both a Telecommunications company and a trailer manufacturer. I have an Associates degree in Office Technology and Computer Systems Technology. I currently am a Patient Account Rep for a healthcare company. Looking for something where I can be home.

  32. Eva North says

    Good morning all, I’ve just found this site and this post off of pinterest. I too am looking to do VA work, I live in Michigan, but I’m looking for work I can perform as a VA whether kids are in school or not and whether hubby is home, such as internet resesarch, patient advocate, stuff like that. I’m currently a stay at home mom and would greatly appreciate any suggestions, help, advice. I can be reached at haskids2009@gmail.com.

  34. Kelli says

    Hi Taysha, There are lots of online resources for virtual assistant positions and freelance work. I like fiverr and upwork. Hope that helps! 🙂 Kelli

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