There comes a time in everyone’s business where you have to take the leap and make your first hire. One of the first hires I would suggest (apart from hiring a bookkeeper and accountant) is a Virtual Assistant (VA).

As a business owner, your time is very valuable and you shouldn’t be getting distracted with things you can pass on to an assistant to do.

Get into the mind space that your time is valuable and paying a VA will help you free up that valuable time to work on your business instead of working in your business.

A virtual assistant usually divides their time between a few different clients which makes having one very economical for small business owners who may only need help for 5-10 hours a week.

Here are some things a Virtual Assistant can help you with in your business:

• Basic bookkeeping
• Managing your email
• Databasing/updating CRM
• Invoicing
• Online research
• Presentations/Powerpoint
• Scheduling and setting up meetings
• Editing of blogs and proposals
• Keeping you on task
• Writing content
• Social Media updates

Before hiring a VA, it is important to make a list of the tasks you would like them to do and once hired give them details on the processes you wish implemented to accomplish those tasks. One of the pitfalls we see happening with clients is that they assume the VA will do things the way they do and don’t have a step-by-step process for them to follow which leads to wasted time redoing tasks, missed appointments, and the like.

To help with this particular part of hiring a VA, we discovered a great programme called Process St  that will help you set out the tasks and the processes that go with each.

By documenting all your processes with each staff member you will save hours and money in the long run. Writing down the processes for your email alone makes a huge difference in efficiency. (One little trick is to set up folders in your email for your VA to put emails in so that your email stays clear [folders like URGENT,  email subscriptions,  invoices,  receipts, etc.].)

Our advice at Breakthrough Business Solutions is start small, hire a VA for 2-3 hours a week and give them tasks that are simple like managing your calendar, booking appointments, or helping you write content for your Social Media.