Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Virtual Assistant?
A Virtual Assistant (typically abbreviated to VA) is generally self-employed and provides professional administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients remotely from a home office. Virtual Assistants usually work for other small businesses or entrepreneurs.
How does it work?
Your new assistant starts working on the
delegated task
You get in touch by email or through the website
We arrange a phone call to discuss your requirements
You can now sit back and focus on what matters most
You will receive your usage report and invoice once a month
Who can use a Virtual Assistant?
As using a VA is a flexible solution many businesses and individuals might find it suitable. These can include start-ups who do not have the funding or workload to be able to employ someone the usual way, or large businesses looking to outsource certain activities. As a Virtual Assistant only works when there is something to do this can be a much more cost-effective and efficient solution than having an "old school" employee.
What are the benefits of using a Virtual Assistant?
Some key benefits are:
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You do not have to deal with time consuming admin tasks and can concentrate on more cruicial jobs and duties
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As this is a very flexible solution it can help during busy periods
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You can always determine how much or how little you want your VA to do for you
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There is no need to employ a permanent member of staff, which means you do not have to spend money on recruitment etc.
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There is no need to provide office space or equipment as a Virtual Assistant has his / her own
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You can forget about sickness, absence, holidays and PAYE.
What can I outsource to a Virtual Assistant?
Generally, you can outsource a wide range of tasks and duties to a Virtual Assistant, but here at Proficient VA we mainly focus on administrative and PA duties as these are what we do best. As a few examples, you can think about outsourcing email management, diary management, travel arrangements, customer care and many others. You can find out more about the possible jobs to outsource on the Services page.
Am I required to purchase a minimum number of hours?
No, as the aim of this service is to be as flexible as possible. You can use your VA on an ad-hoc basis by the hour, which is a good low budget option or a chance to try this kind of solution. Besides, if you choose one of our packages these also allow you to use hours as and when needed, without having to discuss invoicing every time you require some support.
How do I pay?
You can pay by bank transfer or via PayPal, or in case you sign up to one of our packages we can also arrange a monthly direct debit and can automate the monthly payments if you wish (whilst you retain full control and can cancel that anytime).
I would like some support, what do I do next?
Please contact me, and we will be pleased to help you.