Robert U. Craven has been the CEO of large companies and led teams of employees working from corporate offices. But, when he scaled back to launch ScalePassion LLC, a professional coaching company, Craven found he needed one part-time employee: an administrative assistant to take on much of his day-to-day planning, organizational and technology needs.
It didn’t matter whether the employee was on site or remote. So, Craven hired a virtual assistant to handle tasks that otherwise would have consumed his time and focus.
“My biggest need was someone to handle my calendar, book my travel and manage my schedule,” said Craven, principal of the North Palm Beach-based firm.
Virtual assistants (VAs) are finding favor across the business and professional landscape. From small or closely held companies that need tasks handled – but not necessarily by a full-time employee – to individuals who need a “personal concierge” to oversee errands and other personal errands, VAs provide services that free up clients to pursue profitability – in money or time.
VAs often include stay-at-home moms and seasoned administrators who were laid off during the recession. Most are looking for income or balance – and have a skill to sell, said Stephanie Goldberg Glazer, owner of Your Personal Manager. The business, which debuted in 2006, today helps about 20 tri-county area businesses and individuals “organize your life, free your time.”
Using little more than a broadband Internet connection from her Hollywood home office, Goldberg Glazer taps tools like LogMeIn or GoToMyPC to access client computers and manage their own customer databases.
Doing tasks others prefer not to
Goldberg Glazer sees some clients each quarter, and some no more than once a month. She generally does tasks they’d prefer not to, like package a direct mail campaign or update their social media status. With about 40 percent of her clientele being individuals with non-business tasks, some quirky requests come in – like dog sitting.
“I don’t do pets,” Goldberg Glazer said. “You have to know your limits. The most important thing I can provide is service.”
The cost: about $60 an hour. Money well spent, said Paula Holland De Long. She has used Goldberg Glazer since late 2009. Today, she attributes a 10 percent increase in income at What’s Next For My Life?, a cancer survivor coaching firm in Wilton Manors, to being able to focus on the 80 percent of her business that makes her money.
“When you’re growing a business, there’s only so much you can do,” she said. “Stephanie helped me clear stuff off my desk so I could focus on things that will make me money.”
That includes handling uploading events to Holland De Long’s Web site, updating her social media, and entering new contacts into her database. What else? When Holland De Long’s printer died, Glazer Goldberg handled the repair. And she sliced her workweek from 60 hours to about 40 hours. Holland De Long had to learn to delegate, as well as use her newly found hours wisely.
“To make this profitable, you have to reinvest your freed hours in something that will be profitable,” she said.
Not a problem for Craven. His assistant – from her home and using little more than a laptop computer and an e-mail account branded with Craven’s ScalePassion.com address – arranges appointments and interviews with prospective clients and other coaches.
Looking to hire a VA? Know your needs. Craven needed someone comfortable with e-mail, some technology and juggling of various tasks, but bookkeeping wasn’t important.
Though he currently pays about $15 to $20 an hour, Craven is looking to embrace even more “labor arbitrage” by hiring VAs from the Philippines, he said. Then, his VA will manage a team of offshore VAs, who can cost about $6 an hour, he said.
“I feel proud that I’m reaching into a community that’s used to making minimum wage,” said Craven, whose business often serves “change the world” entrepreneurs in socially responsible businesses and causes. “It’s important to find someone who’s very talented and cultivating her talent.”
