Theoretically, a VA can do anything any other support staff does, except bring the coffee (although, when home-delivery coffee is created, the VA will be able to do that too). However, virtual support duties are not limited to clerical work. Many VAs provide marketing, web design, bookkeeping, and other services.Some virtual assistants specialize in a specific skill set.

The first step in hiring a virtual assistant is to make a list of the tasks you want to outsource. Make a complete list, prioritizing the activities you want to delegate first. For example, if managing email is time-consuming and tedious, put that at the top of your list. Or maybe tech issues are taking too much time, and you can outsource website management.

While virtual support is a great home business idea, getting virtual help is crucial for home business owners to maximize income and facilitate growth. As a home business owner, there comes a time at which it’s impossible to do everything oneself, at least well enough to be efficient and effective. Hiring a virtual assistant frees up your time so you can focus on the work that will make money.

The first step is to determine the type of service you want to offer and two whom. Will you specialize in a specific task, such as graphic design or bookkeeping? Will you focus on a niche market, such as online entrepreneurs or realtors? Once you know what you’re offering, you’ll want to set up your price for services, which can be per hour or you can sell packages to recruit long-term clients.

You’ll want to check with your city or county regarding a business license, but if you’re fully equipped to provide virtual support services, that could be your only start-up expense.Once you’re all set up, you can begin finding clients by contacting your network online and off to let them know about your service. Consider setting up a LinkedIn page or a website.