I am trying to start a Girl Friday business I need suggestions on how to begin?

Answer 1

go to http://www.score.org/ and find your nearest SCORE chapter. Call and arrange for a one on one meeting with a SCORE consulor

SCORE is a nonprofit organization. They provide a public service by offering small business advice and training.

SCORE's 10,500 volunteers have more than 600 business skills. Volunteers share their wisdom and lessons learned in business. The volunteers are working/retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders.

Answer 2

The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. 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.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA by Diana Ennen, Kelly Poelker
* Start Your Own Business Support Service (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Entrepreneur Press
* The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants by Christine Durst
* The Virtual Office Survival Handbook: What Telecommuters and Entrepreneurs Need to Succeed in Today's Nontraditional Workplace by Alice Bredin

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

To begin, go to http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/index.html

Develop a business plan - follow the structure provided by the Small Business Administration. It is the standard. The exercise will insure that you develop your idea into a working plan of action.
Then, all you need to do, is STICK TO IT!



Now,
I need a better description of "Girl Friday"? I'm a Virtual Assistant - we may be meaning the same thing.

What is a Virtual Assistant?

“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."

"The virtual assistant takes the role of the temp and elevates it to the status of entrepreneur. Because the virtual assistant is self-employed, bills only the hours work or by tasks completed, and is dependent on referrals and steady work flow from existing clients, s/he can be the perfect solution for a busy agent.

A virtual assistant offers several advantages over a paid employee. When you hire a virtual assistant you get all the benefits of outsourcing - no employee tax and benefits issues, coupled with the loyalty and steadiness of a company employee. "

If this is you - there is a wealth of information and help available on the web.

I even joined half a dozen "Virtual Assistant" groups on Yahoo Groups to learn the ropes.

This "VA community" is a group of truly helpful people. Tap into the resources and you'll be fine!

Best Wishes.