How I Work With Clients

I work with only a few select clients who pay a set fee each month for a block of my time. My minimum is 20 hours per month; I have found that at least this much time is necessary for me to get to know your business to a meaningful degree, and to work closely enough with you to produce significant benefits.

My rates and terms are based upon the assumption that you will be using my services steadily on a month-to-month basis. I only work with a few select clients, and this consistency is important in order to be sure I have the necessary time in my schedule. In return, I commit to you to be be available each month for the amount of hours we've agreed upon.

You and I together will work out what tasks and projects I will handle. Of course you are the boss, but in keeping with what is typical of the Virtual Assistant industry, I think of myself as a member of your business team, and bring to the table my skills, expertise and judgment in making your business prosper.

You and I will communicate by email, phone, fax, and via an online file-sharing and collaboration system. I'll handle the work you delegate to me from my office, using my own equipment, and send any deliverables to you by the above methods, or via U.S. Mail, UPS or FedEx.

About Working Virtually

So just how do we work together from two separate geographical locations? It's really pretty simple. We communicate regularly by email and telephone. You provide me with the information and files I need, usually via the Internet, but of course using our fax machines and U.S. Mail, UPS or FedEx when necessary. I carry out the tasks you've entrusted to me, and deliver the finished work to you.

A software package called Backpack has become a very helpful tool in my business. Backpack is software for collaboration, and provides tools specifically designed to facilitate communication between people working together on a project from separate locations, such as a calendar and an organized system for sharing files with one another. Backpack is an online application, so you can access the files you and I are working on from your own Internet-connected computer, or from any Internet-connected computer anywhere in the world. It's simple to use, and the monthly cost is reasonable.

There are very few types of administrative work which can't be handled with these methods. Using a virtual assistant has become a common and sensible solution for literally thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs, and almost certainly can work for you too.