Newsletters - June Edition

What Exactly IS a Virtual Assistant?

According to IVAA (International Virtual Assistants Association), “A Virtual Assistant (VA,) is an independent entrepreneur providing administrative, creative and/or technical services. Utilizing advanced technological modes of communication and data delivery, a professional VA assists clients in his/her area of expertise from his/her own office on a contractual basis."

Okay, so there’s the ‘official’ definition of what the term VA stands for but what does this mean to you, the prospective client? Basically by hiring a Virtual Assistant it boils down to our clients realizing two very cost-saving methods:

• By hiring a Virtual Assistant, there are no additional CPP, EIC, employee benefits or expensive Worker’s Comp. payments to pay. Just imagine – no additional payroll taxes AND no monthly government remittances to file.
• There is no need to provide a Virtual Assistant with dedicated office space in your business. There are no desks/chairs to purchase; no computer terminals/monitors, printers or fax machines needed; and no additional peripherals such as stationery, pens, paper, etc. are required. We work out of our own offices and are connected to your business through the wonders of modern technology.

Virtual Assistants are capable, self-employed Administrative Assistants who provide all the regular skills that a traditional in-house Administrative Assistant can (and sometimes more!). We can remotely answer your emails and respond to customer inquiries in a prompt, courteous manner; produce well-written letters of proposal or general correspondence; design templates/letterhead to help brand your business; take care of excess paperwork such as sorting your accounts payables/receivables; prepare and mail invoices to your customers; and much more. We can even provide receptionist duties remotely through various methods to ensure you never miss an important client call. The only thing that Virtual Assistants can’t do is make your coffee… but we’re working on it!

Why Hiring A VA Makes "Cents"

The Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection (CVAC) has done a very interesting Cost Comparison showing the difference between hiring a Traditional Employee versus hiring a Virtual Assistant. For example, did you know that out of a 40 hour work week, a traditional employee only actually works 24.96 hours? These "lost" (but still payable), hours are accounted for as follows:

1. Lunch/coffee breaks = 7.50 hours weekly
2. Personal calls (2 per day x 10 min. each) = 2.00 hours weekly
3. Washroom breaks (2 per day x 10 min. each) = 2.00 hours weekly
4. Casual Conversations (2 per day x 10 min. each) = 2.00 hours weekly
5. Training (2 weeks first year period priced over 1 year) = 1.54 hours weekly
6. In addition by hiring a Virtual Assistant, there are no CPP, EIC, tax deductions to pay; no employee benefits or Worker's Compensation premiums to pay; no statutory vacation pay and, most importantly...
7. no remittances to file!

Or let me put it this way - if you take the sum of $ 313.28 and multiply it by 12 weeks only (= $ 3,759.36), that equates to the cost of a wonderful winter getaway to the sunny south for a much needed vacation from the stress of your business.

Definitely makes "cents" doesn't it?

To read other past articles by Marlene,
visit the Newsletter Archive Page