The benefits of a freelance PA/VA to any small business …

Small businesses, and especially solopreneurs, might be wondering whether hiring a freelance PA/Virtual Assistant is the right road to follow. When you set up your own business it is 'your baby' and it is definitely hard to let go of some of the tasks that need to be done ... but if you want to grow your business you have to let go someday!

Another concern is whether it would be expensive BUT when you consider what you could be doing instead then outsourcing your time-consuming admin tasks to freelance PA/VA will, in the long term, definitely be cost-effective and worth it.

So what are the benefits?

1. Flexibility: a freelance PA/VA works flexibly to meet your requirements, will often be available out of normal office hours and will be right there to support you and your business when you need them. Whether it is data entry, updating records, typing up transcripts, online research, copywriting, proofreading or social media support, your freelance PA/VA can get on with a wide range of time-consuming tasks while you have more time to do what you do best ... working on growing your business.
2. Office space: a freelance PA/VA works from their own office so you don't need to provide office space or equipment for them ... this can be a substantial financial saving and be very beneficial if you also work from home or small office space and like to work alone.
3. Expertise: a freelance PA/VA is often a highly-skilled professional who has chosen to work remotely ... it doesn’t make them any less efficient; in my opinion, it actually makes them more efficient as they are able to get on with the task in hand without office distractions! You will find that work will be completed on time, perhaps even ahead of schedule, and your clients do not need to be aware that it wasn’t completed in-house if you don't want them to!
4. Costs: A huge benefit for small businesses working with a freelance PA/VA is that there are no HR headaches such as tax, national insurance or employee benefits.
5. Vested interest: a freelance PA/VA will, without a doubt have a vested interest in the success of your business; if your business is a success there is likely to be more work for them. Furthermore, if they do a good job for you, you a more likely to recommend them to colleagues/other business associates! They are also likely to treat your business more like an extension of their own and client confidentiality will be paramount.
6. Time off: Yes ... do you remember what that is? If you outsource tasks to a freelance PA/VA you could have some much needed time off. A freelance PA can really help improve your work/life balance by tackling those time-consuming admin tasks that you may be doing late in the evening or at weekends after you have done everything else!
7. The boring bits: well I should really say the tasks that many people find boring and tedious ... but a freelance PA just loves admin so why not give them the boring tasks and you can get on with the interesting ones that you enjoy?
8. Taxable expense: now this is huge!! Yes a freelance PA, so long as they are contracted not employed, is an expense BUT make sure you have all their invoices showing how much you have paid them.

So, after reading the above benefits of working with a freelance PA/VA, how likely are you to consider it? Do comment below, do you have any other questions, is there is anything else I can help with?