We’ve all seen the posts. You know, the ones I am talking about, the ones that say you can launch your VA biz in 60 minutes! Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the 60-minute launch is a myth, lie, or figment of someone’s imagination. Harsh but true, you can’t believe half the stuff others put out there to get your hard-earned dollar.

In truth, it is nothing more than a sales tactic to get you to sign up, sign on, pay or subscribe. It is that simple. Keep reading or check out the video below and I’ll share exactly why Launching your VA biz in 60 minutes is impossible.

Don’t have time to watch the video or read the blog, you can listen to The VA Project BlogCast below.

While you can begin to take steps to launch your business within a one-hour timeframe, building a successful and sustainable business requires much more than signing up for a program. It takes careful planning, preparation, and execution. Below are my main reasons why launching a virtual assistant business in such a short time is impossible.

You need to plan

Some of us are fly by the seat of our pants type of people, while others are planners and love nothing more than getting out the old pen and paper and nut out what we need. I’m afraid when it comes to planning your business; you can’t fly by the seat of your pants. You need to establish a solid foundation for your business. So whether that is with pen and paper or an online program, it doesn’t matter. If you rush through the planning stage of your business, you’ll make some awful decisions (guaranteed) that will not help you achieve your long-term goals. Planning takes hours and days – not an hour. Below are a few things to think about when planning your business.

  • Who it is you want to work with
  • Do you have a specialty area or niche that you want to focus on
  • What services will you provide?
  • How will you price your services?
  • What are your business goals, and how what needs to happen for you to achieve them

Don’t break the law

You can’t operate a business in Australia without being registered. This alone can take almost an hour to organise if you are unfamiliar with the process. There are also other considerations, such as:

  • Getting legal and financial advice from those who are qualified to give it
  • Checking with your local council or shire whether you need permits
  • Setting up a business bank account 
  • Keep financial records 
  • Organise the insurance you need
  • Contracts/agreements/service documents

Create your brand

Are you going to be the professional identity for your business? Branding is an essential part of your business identity, and I’m not talking about wearing only turtle neck jumpers like Steve Jobs or a grey t-shirt like Mark Zuckerberg; I’m asking you if you have a trading name or use your name. For example, my trading name is JMJ – EA for a Day, with several different business entities underneath it. The VA Project is one of them, but my brand is built around me, my capabilities, and my worth, so everything is linked to Jacqui James as I am the one doing the hard yards, not JMJ – EA for a Day. Researching which is best for your type of VA business is a must. 

People constantly reinvent themselves, so don’t think whatever you choose now will be with you forever. You can change your brand identity anytime to suit your business model. Below are a few considerations when it comes to creating your brand.

  • What is going to set you apart from all the other VAs – what makes you unique?
  • Know your personality type 
  • Create a style guide 
  • Logo and business name
  • Website – all VAs should have one! – it gives credibility and is the only 24/7 advertising tool you’ll ever have. 
  • Social Media accounts – where your target audience hangs out

How will you find a client

To do this right, you need to undertake a client persona. Especially if you are going to work within a niche. How can you find clients if you don’t know who you want to work with? Finding clients can involve some of the below points:

  • Work out what it is you love doing
  • Then find clients that will love what you do
  • Create a client persona
  • Where do they hang out?
  • What commonalities do you share?
  • Can they afford to pay your price for their service

There are so many things you need to put into place when it comes to planning your business. Visit the We’ve Gone Rogue section on The VA Project to get access to the modules that will help you build that business that can change your lifestyle.