Hiring A Foreign Virtual Assistant For Your Small Business
There is only so much that can be done in a workday. If you, or your employees do not have the time, consider hiring a virtual assistant. With improved global internet infrastructure, it has never been easier to hire a virtual assistant. They can help accomplish many of the tasks you do not have time to do and ensure that you have the time necessary to help with the growth of your small business.
What Is A Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant (VA) is someone who provides remote administrative, technical, or creative support to you and your clients. They are similar to personal assistants, but are independent contractors who work from anywhere in the world. Many virtual assistants work as freelancers, while others are employed by agencies. Virtual assistants can offer over 100 different services that are tailored to help your small business grow.
Why Hire A Virtual Assistant?
Virtual assistants are there to help you with tasks you simply cannot, or do not have the time to do yourself. Hiring a virtual assistant allows you to delegate less important tasks such as sending emails, internet research, technical support, scheduling meetings and data entry. Employing a team of virtual assistants can allow you to offer 24/7 customer support to your clients, allowing your business to service any timezone.
Many virtual assistants come with a wealth of experience, and many already support multiple businesses. This experience can allow you to get a unique insight into the best industry practices, providing you the opportunity to further improve and grow your small business. Because VA’s work remotely and are generally independent contractors, you can save on costs such as holiday/sick days, recruitment and training costs, and office modification costs for a new employee.
It is important to prioritize your time wisely and maintain an effective work-life balance. Hiring a virtual assistant can allow more time for you to focus on important work while also allowing you more time to focus on friends and family.
Why Hire A Foreign Virtual Assistant?
There are plenty of virtual assistants you can hire in the U.S., but one of the most common places to hire a VA from is the Philippines. Employee turnover is the enemy of any business, and countless sources credit Filipino workers as some of the most loyal in the world. With the Philippines being thirteen hours ahead, you are able to assign your VA work at the end of the day, and come back in the morning to a completed task.
Another benefit to outsourcing your VA to the Philippines is that most applicants have an advanced degree, computers and reliable internet making it easy to work remotely. With VA’s working from home, you can substantially save on salary and overhead costs. The average cost of a General Virtual Assistant (GVA) from the Philippines is anywhere from $500-$800 a month. In the US, the average cost of a GVA is $10-$20/hr, saving an average of $1,100-$2,400 a month.
In the Philippines, having an foreign boss can be seen as a way to elevate your social status. The Philippines is considered an “emerging economy”, but it can be hard for many there to find a job. By employing a Filipino worker, you can help them have a steady job and support their family. If you are concerned about a possible language barrier, most Filipinos speak American English. There is a website specifically designed for hiring Filipino workers, which can help you find the perfect candidate for your small business.
By outsourcing your VA to a foreign country like the Philippines, you can save on costs for your business while simultaneously finding a hard worker who wants to do their best to help your small business grow.
How To Communicate With Your Virtual Assistant
Your virtual assistant will be working remotely, which means communication could be more difficult when compared to having an in-office assistant. Fortunately, there are numerous virtual assistant software tools built specifically to help you communicate and work with your small business team.
Emailing has long been the traditional method for people to communicate in business, but it is a slow process and can waste time. One of the most popular intraoffice communication tools is Slack. Over 750,000 businesses use Slack, and it uses “channels” which are essentially group conversations that revolve around a set topic. These channels give your VA, and other people on your team an easy, organized way to communicate. By adding a VA to your company, you can use Slack to contact them directly, and if you’re out of the office, someone from your team can contact them directly as well.
It is hard to meet face-to-face with a foreign virtual assistant. Using tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, can allow you to conduct “face-to-face” interviews with potential applicants as well as continue to communicate with them as employees.
When deciding what software tools are best for your small business, considering hiring a small business consulting firm to assist you in your decision.
In Conclusion
Hiring a foreign virtual assistant can be a force multiplier for your company, at a fraction of the cost. If you are unsure whether hiring a foreign, or US based virtual assistant is right for your small business, or have any other questions, please CONTACT US at North Consulting Services.
