Does anyone know where I can get free, legitimate information for a Virtual Assistant business in my home?

Answer 1

Yes. You may want to read the article "How to Start Your Own Virtual Assistant Business" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol40/virtual.htm . The article gives you a good startup information about this business.

Other sources of free information on how to start a VA business include:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,316200,00.html
http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/tightrope/2001-03-07-tightrope-howtova.htm

To give you more ideas on how to become a VA, I suggest you read the following books http://www.powerhomebiz.com/bookstore/va.htm

- Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA (Author: Diana Ennen)
- The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants (Author: Christine Durst)
- Up Close & Virtual: A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own Virtual Assistant Business, Second Edition (Authors: Diana Ennen, Kelly Poelker)
- The Virtual Assistant's Guide to Marketing (Author: Michelle Jamison)

I recently interviewed a VA named Kimberly Mann of BehindtheScenesVA.com on how she got started in the VA business, how she markets the business and gets her clients, what are the tasks she accepts, and how to succeed in this business. You can learn a lot from her experience starting in this business and you can read the interview at http://www.womenhomebusiness.com/startup/kmann.htm

You may also want to check other Industry Information:

Virtual Nation http://www.thevirtualnation.com/
Virtual World Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/
Work the Web http://www.work-the-web.com/
Reva Network for Virtual Assistants specializing in Real Estate. http://www.revanetwork.com/
Virtual Assistant certification program. http://www.vacertification.com/
VA network for Canada http://www.canadianva.net/
Virtual Assistant Source http://www.virtualassistantsource.com/
Complete Time Tracking Software http://www.complete-time-tracking.com/

Trade Associations:

International Association of Virtual Office Assistants http://www.iavoa.com/
International Virtual Assistants Association http://www.ivaa.org/
Virtual Business Group, directory of VAs. http://www.virtualbizgroup.com/

Answer 2

Associations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

If you find out, let me know...I have long been interested in this type of work. It is ideal for stay-at-home mothers etc.

http://www.ivaa.org/
http://www.virtualassistanceu.com/
http://www.entrepreneur.com/Magazines/MA_SegArticle/0,1539,285985----1-,00.html

Try these websites...the last one is the best, tons of information.

Seriously if you find out any info about this type of work or companies who are hiring for this position please contact me through yahoo answers. I have read a great deal on the subject and am qualified (if not over qualified), however finding companies who are actually looking to hire a virtual assistant is next to impossible.

Answer 4

http://www.bizymoms.com/cart/careers/index.html
On this page there is a place to buy a kit to put you into the VA business. Hope this helps.