A Virtual Assistant business can be the perfect way for a mom to stay at home with her kids but feel like she is providing to the family finances. A VA business is often times the easiest way for a mom to become a work at home mom. And I don’t mean easiest as in an easy way to make a buck because it’s going to require a lot of patience, hard work, determination and perseverance. There’s no such thing as a quick buck.

Chances are that if you have been working outside the home in Corporate America in an office setting of some sort, you probably have some skill(s) that you can offer virtually or at least a skill(s) that will be beneficial in starting your own Virtual Assistant business.

Confused by that statement? Let’s look at it a little deeper, for example let’s say you worked as a bookkeeper. Bookkeeping is a highly specialized skill that many people are willing to pay someone to do for them. Many small businesses or work at home moms are in need of bookkeepers and it’s a skill they are willing to pay for to not have to deal with it themselves. This would be the perfect opportunity for you to offer your services as a Virtual Assistant.

Another example could be if you worked as a medical transcriptionist or legal transcriptionist. Again these are specialized skills that can provide you the foot in the door you need to start your own VA business.

What about the mom that hasn’t been working in a long time but is interested in starting her own VA business? The old saying where there’s a will there’s a way comes to mind. There are some basic type skills you can start out offering such as customer service. More than likely you know how to check email, reply to emails, make phone calls, etc. That’s pretty basic stuff and not surprisingly many small business owners outsource this stuff because it’s so time consuming.

Another option would be to look for an internship opportunity so that you can have someone take you under their wing and train in an area of specialty so that you can offer that as a service to your customers.

You’ll need to keep in mind that although a Virtual Assistant business is a great way for a mom to work from home, even possibly one of the easier ways; it’s time consuming and will require a lot of sweat equity on your part. It’s not something you can just throw up a website and expect the money to come rolling in tomorrow. It doesn’t work that way.

Instantly access your guide to starting a VA business.

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Our monthly shopping event is scheduled and boy do we have specials and prizes for you!

We are running this event slightly different in that some of our vendors have agreed to give some of their sales to charities. Each of our vendors has donated 25% of the vendor fee to Chief Packer’s fund. My family lost our Fire Chief on July 26th. Lauren and I both thought it was appropriate to hold an event on Sept. 11th and commemorate all of those that have given their lives to help save others while raising money for charities!

When: Thursday Sept. 11, 2008
Where: Vendor Fair chat room
Time: 10am – ??pm EST

Help out charities and get those Christmas presents purchased at the same time. All while shopping from other Mom’s!

Always Remember Shopping Event Schedule

9-10 – Chat in the Lounge while we get ready to shop!

10-10:30 – Lucia OConnor – Bagolitas – Many of the Spring/Summer bags are on sale 10-20% off. New Winter collection is now available.New items include belts, koozies and sets for little girls and their American Girl dolls.

10:30-11 – Peggy Gimbel – Peg’s Pleasures Adult Novelties – Party Prize; Creature Fun Massager: This adorable ladybug, turtle or frog (your choice) is actually a great massager and because it is so cute your little ones will need no coaxing to give mommy a much needed back massage with it! Comes with batteries so you are ready to go! Retail Price: $12.00 Shopping Special: Now, you MUST order directly thru me NOT on my website to take advantage of this special…$25 + product total = 1 free Super Mini ($13 retail)
$50 + product total= anything else you want, as much as you want at 50% off retail price. WOW! I know, right?? Tell your friends! Offer expires Sunday, 9/14/08 4pm EST

You can help us to race for the cure! I am so proud to say that a portion of all proceeds will go to our company charity the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

11-11:30 – open

11:30-12 – Heather Magallaens – Gold Canyon – Customers – Buy One, Get One FREE! When customers buy the EMERGE™ Start Fresh™ Hand Soap, they get one FREE! New Demonstrators – FREE Sampler Kit The Sampler Kit is FREE when new Demonstrators achieve sales of $500 in their first 30 days. 15% of sales to go to charity.

12-12:30 – open

12:30-1 – Val Selby – The Scented Tub – Two choices in the special tub, each is $15 with shipping. Special #1 Pick it up in Milk Oat & Honey 1-2oz Jar Whipped Body Creme – Great for night time use. 1-2oz Bottle Body Bliss Lotion 1-2oz Bottle Body Mist 1-Shot Tube of Milk Spa Bath Salt 1-Oat Ergo Massage Bar Special #2 1-8oz Jojoba Bead Body Wash 1-8oz Body Bliss Lotion 1 Shower Puff. Your Choice of Love Spell or Tommy 30% of all sales on 9/11/08 will be donated to our Fire Chief’s fund.

1-1:30 – open

1:30-2 – Lauren Haugh – Send Out Cards – Learn about this incredible life tool that will keep you in touch with family and friends. Have all of your Christmas cards ready to go weeks in advance! Everyone who attends will be given a free gift account to send out 2 cards at no charge. Plus, enter a drawing for a box of four decadent Chocolate Brownies! YUM!

2-2:30 – Tammy Pollard – Tastefully Simple – New Fall Products are now available! Hear about new products and recipe ideas. All participants ordering through the website on 9/11/2008 will be entered into a drawing for free products. There will be atleast 3 winners!

2:30-3 – Kristen Stemple – Arbonne – FREE Samples will be given out at random during the presentation…

3-3:30 – open

3:30-4 – Amy Guenther – Kele & Co. – Sterling silver jewelry. Buy 3 items at least $30 each, and get the 4th most expensive item free. Gorgeous matching necklace and bracelet are 20% off. New reps can start for only $50!

4-4:30 – open

4:30-5 – Bonnie Shierts – Cookie Lee Jewelry – Various items will be highlighted on sale and will hold a drawing for everyone who purchases for our new jewelry box filled with FREE jewelry (my choice). 25% of sales will go to Chief Packer’s fund!

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Some benefits of an online party, for Reps. and guests alike…

-An online party saves time and money for everyone involved – hostess and guests.  Travel time is really as long as it takes to get to your computer and into the online party room.  In this time of rising gas prices – it may add up into more of a turn out because no one has to get in their car and drive anywhere!

-You can invite more than you normally could for an in-home party and reach a broader audience – the internet world!  An online chatroom can accommodate more people than an in-home party might.  Therefore, the presentation of your products or business opportunity reaches more people.

-When you host an online party, you don’t have to provide snacks, or a clean house, or even be dressed for that matter! LOL!

-Child care is not as much of an issue an issue, because you’re not leaving home, but  you might want to have little ones busy with an activity or DVD to allow you to party.

-An online party allows you to communicate with your customer base, especailly those out of state.  You can use an online party as another tool for selling to your regular customers. It also offers them an opportunity to interact with you, ask questions etc. in more of an immediate way than email, or a monthly newsletter could offer.  Also, less costly than a long distance call.

-For most direct sales consultants, instead of handling the orders and payments, credit card issues, etc. themselves, the company takes care of that as customers order through their website.  Commission is earned via the online ordering system and added to your check. For customers – they order through a secure website, and their order is shipped to them directly from the company.

-A free online party chat room, such as MomChats.com allows you to schedule your online party that is most convenient for you and your guests.

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