Making The Transition to Virtual Assistant

According to Stacy Brice, Founder of the Virtual Assistance industry and AssistU (the PREMIER training company for Virtual Assistance, there are only five ways to transition from your corporate job to self-employed business owner:

1. Quit your job cold, and work full-time in your practice.

Although this is not recommended, this is exactly what I did. I worked on starting my business for about 4 months before I quit my job, moved across the country and started doing actual work as a VA.

2. Keep your current job, change your lifestyle, put away the money you save until you have some reserves.

This means you need to completely rework your household budget and monthly expenses. It may mean moving to less expensive area, selling your home, moving to a cheaper apartment, etc. Whatever you need to do to start freeing up some extra money to set aside to start your business.

3. Keep your current lifestyle, get a better paying job, put away the extra money until you have some reserves.

This will require determined diligence on your part, to actually save the extra money you earn and not get excited an spend it. If you live in a metropolitan area, it may be easy for you to get a new higher paying job, so this may be just the ticket for you.

4. Keep your current job, keep your lifestyle, get another job, and put all that income away until you have some reserves.

If you have the space in your life and stamina to handle this, it could be a great temporary solution. Keep in mind that you can also work as a VA a few hours per month (perhaps 10-20) to earn the money you need. You may be able to work as a subcontractor for established VAs or get a couple of clients on your own. You’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of either decision and set some boundaries for yourself so that you don’t burn out.

Lastly — and the one that may make the most sense, depending on how much income you need:

5. Quit your job. Temp three days per week so that you have some steady income, and work in your VA practice two full days per week.

This way, you have some steady, predictable income, and you have time built into your schedule to work on your new business. You’ll build your business much faster by dedicating specific time to working on it and you’ll be able to work with clients on a consistent schedule.

If you are truly committed to becoming a Virtual Assistant, you WILL find a solution that works for you. You will have to push yourself and you may have to tighten your belt financially, but the challenges you overcome will be well worth it as you create a thriving sustainable business. Just be careful not to push yourself too much or to put your family at risk. It’s not worth it if you burn out or put unnecessary strain on your family relationships.

Whichever transition method you choose, map out a specific, detailed plan and stay focused on your goals. Your success as a Virtual Assistant depends on it!