Is your business starting to grow? Are you finding yourself in a position where you need help managing all of your tasks and projects?

You are faced with the challenges of hiring a full time employee vs virtual assistant. It's not an easy decision to make for a variety of reasons. One big one is the cost comparison of a full time employee vs a virtual assistant.

Whether you are just launching or have been in business for a while, hiring the right person can be tough. Making a poor decision can cost you a lot of time, energy and money.

Let's look at the cost comparison to help you make an informed decision about a full time employee or a virtual assistant.

What is a Virtual Assistant

It has become more common in today's cloud-based, connected world for entrepreneurs and small business owners to have at least one virtual assistant. A virtual assistant is an individual who works remotely to provide specific needs to the entrepreneur or small business owner.

It’s not a secret anymore- if you want your business to grow rapidly, outsourcing part of your workload to a virtual assistant is a smart move.

Today, virtual assistants go well beyond typical administrative secretaries. There are VA's that do admin work such as answering emails and managing your calendar, but some get much more specialized.  Among Upwork’s top-rated virtual assistants, you can find workers who are experts in Social Media Marketing, Content Writers, Video editors and even Search Engine Optimization experts.

For this reason, it's important to think outside the administrative box when it comes to what a VA can do.

Full Time Employee vs Virtual Assistant Cost Comparison

We are going to keep this simple and focus on a social media manager. On average, according to Glassdoor, a full time administrative assistant can earn $49,418. However, their actual cost to an employer is closer to $70,000. On the other hand, a virtual assistant may only cost a business owner $25,000 per year.

Why?

When hiring a full-time employee, there are other expenses you must pay in addition to their actual salary.

Information updated 11/2020

Hard Costs

As an employer of a full time individual, you are responsible for the following additional expenses:

• Healthcare
• Taxes
• Worker's Compensation
• Paid vacations
• Paid sick time
• Payroll costs
• Life Insurance
• Office expenses
• Office equipment

When you hire a virtual assistant, you are only responsible for paying for the actual hours worked and/or the project rate agreed upon. Virtual assistants typically provide tracking for hours they work.

Because virtual assistants work from a remote location, they provide their own equipment. In addition, they are typically considered independent contractors and cover their own taxes and expenses. Be sure to check with your accountant to verify your virtual assistant does not qualify as an employee for tax purposes.

In addition, you aren't required to fill a certain number of hours with a virtual assistant. Many VA's will only bill you for the hours they work each week. If you don't have a project or task for them, then you don't pay. (Please note, some VA's do require minimum weekly or monthly packages with a use-it-or-lose-it requirement.)

Can you afford to outsource? Use our handy calculator to find out.

If you happen to have a big project or launch coming up, then a virtual assistant can step in for a short time. This is also a great option for seasonal businesses.

Soft Costs

Then there are the soft costs of having a full time employee vs virtual assistant. The soft costs are more difficult to quantify.

• Your time spent finding, hiring, training and managing an employee.
• Water cooler time (that time employees are being paid but not working).
• Retaining employees longer than they are needed.

Training Costs

Full time employees may require a few weeks of training to get up to speed. Virtual assistants, on the other hand, are typically hired only for that specific skill set and will get up to speed much more quickly.

If an employer wants their employees to learn new skills, it is up to the employer to pay for ongoing education and training. Virtual assistants, on the other hand, understand they can increase their own value by upgrading their knowledge on their own. There's a lot more competition for virtual assistants so it is in their best interest to keep learning and growing. And they do this without cost to the employer.

Full Time vs Virtual Assistant Productivity and Efficiency

It's also not unusual for an employer to use a full time employee for tasks or projects they aren't adequately trained to do. This is a result of having someone on the payroll and needing to fill their hours. Unfortunately, this can result in a higher project cost as the employee needs to learn how to do the new task. Or worse, it can result in poor quality work that needs to be done over or leaves a bad customer impression.

Because virtual assistants are only paid on work they perform, an employer is less likely to ask them to complete tasks or projects for which the VA isn't qualified to do. This is a huge savings to the employer and allows the virtual assistant to work using their best skill set.

Water cooler time is that time when employees are away from their desks, taking breaks or just catching up on office gossip. While an employee is still on the clock for these hours, they are not getting any work done for their employer.

Virtual assistants, on the other hand, obtain their income by being highly productive and delivering value to their employers. What virtual assistants quickly realize is that their revenue depends on positive execution and efficiency, therefore, they are not lazy, and they do not prolong work.

Separate Ways

Cost isn't the only benefit to consider when hiring a full time employee vs virtual assistant. Many employers have a hard time firing someone that works for them. For this reason, a full time employee may stay on long past their usefulness. This results in significant financial losses as they continue to collect paychecks without providing value.

On the other hand, a virtual assistant is, by nature, hired on a temporary basis. While the length of the contract may vary, there is no obligation to keeping them on longer than is comfortable or useful.

What About Part Time?

You may be thinking that you wouldn't need a full time employee so these figures don't relate. It may be true that you can save much of the costs of benefits if you hire a part time vs full time employee. However, there are still the costs of taxes, equipment, etc...

In addition, there are very few highly talented individuals in your local area willing to work part time. Therefore, you may be sacrificing quality for reduced hours. On the other hand, a virtual assistant can be hired anywhere in the country or even the world. This dramatically improves the talent pool. Virtual assistants also typically work with more than one client making it possible to get a skilled worker on a part time basis. Try them out for a while and add more hours if your business needs increase!

What's Next?

We have several great articles on helping you find, hire, train, and manage your virtual team. Check some of them out here:

How to Know When Its Time to Hire a Virtual Assistant

Virtual Assistant or Online Business Manager?

How to Hire a Virtual Assistant

What to Expect When Working with a VA

Training Your VA

Tools You Need to Manage Your Virtual Teams

Final Words

There are certainly times when it makes sense to hire a full time employee vs virtual assistant. However, be sure to analyze all the pros and cons before making your decision. With the most recent expansion of virtual assistant services and skilled freelancers, it's now easier than ever to expand your business at your own pace.

If you are ready to expand your team and looking to work with a virtual assistant or two, give us a call!

Note: This article was originally published on August, 26th, 2017 and updated November 1, 2020.

Are you a procrastinator? If so, it's ok. We're here to help you ensure that you have the tools you need to avoid hiring an ineffective virtual team.

Meet Jan, she’s a self-professed procrastinator. She’s well aware that it’s her biggest challenge. 

She’ll tell you herself that she ALWAYS waits until the last minute; always.

In her defense, it’s often because she’s working on other projects that she’s procrastinated completing. Her procrastination is a vicious cycle. 

Jan’s procrastination makes sense when you hear her story. As a student in high school, she never felt the need to get anything done right away. She’s brilliant. 

She could slide by without studying, complete projects overnight, and still get A’s and B’s in all her classes.

It wasn’t until Jan went to college that she started to notice how her procrastination was beginning to affect her performance. But she still ‘got by’.

Once Jan started her coaching business, things did NOT get any better. She was still in the habit of just waiting, knowing that she could pull an all-nighter to get the things done.

Fortunately, her business didn’t suffer, at first. She brought in several new clients and was beginning to build some group programs. But then she got super busy. 

Jan quickly realized that her procrastinator style had little effect on outcomes when she wasn’t busy but things started snowballing on her when busy times hit.

Download our Ultimate Guide to Delegating for More Tips & Tools on How to Delegate as a Solopreneur

You may have guessed by now that our friend Jan isn’t a real person. 

She’s merely the personification of many of our dearly-loved procrastinator clients that we’ve worked with over the years; talented and well intended but perpetually in over their head.

The Great And Wonderful Idea

Back to client “Jan”. 

Jan started hearing about Virtual Assistants in some of her online groups. She decided hiring one could take a lot of the work off her plate. 

They could help her be less of a procrastinator and she could get back to focusing on the things she loved to do.

“This is going to be so great!”, Jan thought. 

She quickly hired a virtual assistant that had been recommended to her by one of her friends. 

The virtual assistant and Jan got on a Zoom call and outlined the tasks that Jan needed to have done. 

After the hour-long call, the VA had a long list of tasks to complete; once Jan got her all of the access to programs she’d need. 

However, since the call ran a little late, and Jan had another call immediately after, she didn’t get the VA her access right away. 

And then other things came up.

And then days went by. 

Little did Jan know, follow-up wasn’t her new VA’s strong suit. She was great at doing what you told her to do, but she wasn’t strong in managing her client’s disorganization.

So, more days went by. And deadlines were missed. 

And, that was just the beginning. 

How Procrastinators Sabotage Virtual Assistants

Before we move on, we want you to understand that being a procrastinator doesn’t mean you can’t be successful.

And it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t delegate. 

It simply means you need to be aware that ‘it’s a thing’ for you. 

Being aware of your procrastinator work style means you will change the things you look for in a candidate. 

And it means you will need to take a look at how being a procrastinator can make it harder for a VA to really help you. 

And you will closely watch your own behaviors and how they are affecting the overall team performance. Because having a team is what will take your business to the next level.

Here are some key ways you may be sabotaging what a virtual assistant can do for you.

Not Providing Enough Details

If you are a procrastinator who is working on a big project, you may be the kind of person who works out the details at the last minute. 

Not working out the details ahead of time doesn’t allow you to pass the baton on tasks. 

Virtual assistants are skilled but they aren’t mind readers. 

If all the VA has is a big picture overview of the project, the details will be missed and it isn’t going to help you complete your project.

• Sketch out the timeline of what needs to be done, or at least the general project flow, before you present the project to your VA. 
• Make sure you highlight for both of you, pertinent deadlines even if you haven’t thought all the way through the minor details.

Not Giving Keys to the Kingdom (or at Least the Guard Tower)

Odds are you have many different programs you use in your business. 

From appointment scheduling tools to email management systems and even website dashboards. 

The more tasks you want your VA to perform for you, the more passwords he or she will need to have to independently get the job done. 

Ensuring that your VA has access upfront ensures that they can make progress on their own. 

Don’t procrastinate making sure your VA has access to all the programs you will ask them to use. 

Tools like Lastpass can make sharing and revoking password details easy!

Not Leaving Room for Review

A second set of eyes to review something is invaluable. , especially when the first set isn’t you. 

Virtual assistants do their best for you but we’re all human. Even the most talented assistants still miss things. 

Let’s say your VA is tasked to write your social media posts or articles, create newsletter emails, or many other things that will be seen by clients and prospects. 

You will want to review that before it’s published. Remember, it’s still your brand. Everything that is published is a reflection of your brand.

For this reason, we highly recommend you review any public-facing project. 

You will sabotage yourself and your VA’s success if you wait until the last minute to check things over. 

• Leave enough time between the due date you provide your VA to allow for revisions and final review. 
• Let your VA know when you will get the review/revision back to her for changes. 
• Give your VA permission to follow up with you if she has not received it by that date. 

There may come a time when you gain confidence that your VA and trust her outcomes. If so,  you can slack off a bit. 

But if you are still in the review stage and your VA gets something back to you by the due date, you may be tempted to wait till the last minute to check it over. This won’t leave any time for a second draft and you’ll end up having to make the changes yourself.

How Virtual Assistants Sabotage Procrastinators

Like we said, being a procrastinator doesn’t mean you are determined to be perpetually overwhelmed. 

And you certainly aren’t going to change your procrastinator ways overnight. 

For that reason, it’s also important to know what red flags to look for when hiring a VA. And if you already have a VA, learning how certain tendencies on their side can present problems when paired with your natural procrastinator style.

Virtual assistants are typically well trained in the tasks you have them do. But often, managing people, including you, is not typically their strong suit; or their desire. 

Since most VAs aren’t used to challenging their bosses, they are more likely to sit back and wait to hear from you. 

For procrastinator coaches this is a recipe for disaster. 

If you’re a natural procrastinator, you will need a little more personal management and accountability in addition to the tasks you want to have done. 

** At the very least, you'll need someone who can be aggressive enough to follow up on needed tasks and push you a little when they aren’t getting what they need to do an excellent job for you.

In addition, if a VA doesn’t recognize that you are a procrastinator, they may also wait till the last minute, a deadline you agreed to, in order to get a task done. 

Don’t Throw in the Towel

Being a procrastinator does not mean you can’t benefit from delegating. It just means you may need to look for someone that has a slightly different set of skills than you originally thought.

Sure, you still want someone who has the organization and marketing skills you are looking for but you will also need someone who isn’t just a SELF-starter but someone who can hold you accountable. You need someone who can press you for more information when necessary and not wait for a response. 

A great VA will recognize that you are a procrastinator and will help you identify realistic deadlines and set them.

These qualifications tend to be rare in virtual assistants though. It’s like hiring an administrative assistant when you need an executive assistant.

What can you do then? What’s above a VA? 

We are SOOO glad you asked! 

Introducing the Online Business Manager

The next step in virtual services after a virtual assistant is an Online Business Manager; sometimes also called a Virtual Business Manager. 

An Online Business Manager is someone who can do more for you and your business. 

This person is going to have more leadership and project management skills than a traditional VA. 

While he or she may still do some of the admin tasks, they may also outsource those on your behalf to other VAs. 

The best part, though, is that THEY manage the team for you. 

An Online Business Manager is going to be that person who holds you accountable. 

She’s going to push back when you need more accountability. 

She’s going to dig in to get the details rather than wait around for you to share them. They are going to find the answers rather than wait for you to provide them. 

If you want to read more about Online Business Managers, check out some of these great articles:

Virtual Assistant or Online Business Manager - What’s the Difference?

How to Choose the Right Online Business Manager for YOU 

Online Business Manager Interview Questions You Need to Ask

What You Can Do Right Now

An OBM sounds great but what if you have a virtual assistant right now and you need to get things moving in the right direction. Here are some tips that may help:

Plan Ahead

One of the number one things you can do to help your VAs is to plan WAY ahead. 

Solopreneurs tend to fly by the seat of their pants. But that doesn’t work well when you have others on the team trying to help you reach your goals. 

• Create a plan at least 3 to 6 months in advance and work from that plan. 
• Make sure you discuss changes with your VA as soon as you know about them.

Work Backward from Deadlines

Most procrastinators don’t think about deadlines. They work at the last minute. 

If you plan out your deadlines in advance, it can help you determine a better time frame for getting things done.

Build in a Cushion 

It's easy to anticipate how long it will take YOU to do something but working with others requires additional time. 

Unless you have a VA full time, 40 hours a week, she has other things she is doing. 

She’s not always going to be able to drop everything to work on your last-minute project. Sending her a revision at 7pm in the evening and asking her to send the email to your list at 10am the next morning isn’t realistic. 

Give your VA a longer turnaround time than you think is necessary. Negotiate realistic expectations in advance.

Encourage Accountability

Empower your VA to follow up with you as needed. Tell her it’s OK to email you or call if you haven’t gotten something to her by a certain date. 

For some VAs, this is a skill they can adapt to when they are encouraged to do so by their “boss”. 

For others, it’s just way outside of their comfort zone and they won’t do it no matter how much you encourage them.

Work with a Coach

Even coaches need coaches. 

If procrastination is preventing your business success, consider working with a coach that can help you overcome some of these traits. It may just be one of the best investments you make.

You Can Do It!

Being a procrastinator doesn’t mean you can’t be successful and it doesn’t mean you can’t delegate. 

It simply means you change the things you look for in a candidate and closely watch your own behaviors and how they are affecting the overall team performance. 

Are you thinking about working with an Online Business Manager but you aren’t sure what it’s all about? A little planning and understanding will help you choose the right Online Business Manager for you. 

Working with an Online Business Manager can be business changing.

Making sure you choose the right Online Business Manager for you helps to avoid turnover. And will get you the most out of your OBM partnership.

Meet Tish. She's a coach who works with families to help them through the world of Special Needs services.

Most of her coaching programs are offered online. She’s grown a very steady pace over the last couple of years.

She's hired a VA and someone to produce her podcast.

She even has a go-to graphics designer.

Unfortunately, she’s starting to find herself spending a lot of time working with each of her team members. She is often frustrated by helping them understand what she wants. 

Recently, Tish attended a Mastermind group, virtually - of course. She heard from several different members about their experiences working with online business managers.

She was intrigued by the possibilities. But after listening to the varied experiences of her peers, she left feeling confused and overwhelmed. 

It seemed like a great solution but she didn't trust that it wouldn't be another bad outsourcing experience.

Download our Ultimate Guide to Delegating for More Tips & Tools on How to Delegate as a Solopreneur

Know What YOU Need

Online business managers are a really great way to help coaches build and grow their coaching business without adding extra hours to their workload.

In fact, OBMs usually relieve you of work so you have more time to do the things that you choose to do.

But not all online business managers are created equal. If you don’t know what you are looking for, you may end up with more of a mess than you bargained for.

Let’s explore a little more about what you need to know to find the right online business manager for you. 

What IS An Online Business Manager Anyway?

You’ve heard the term but you may not have a good understanding of what an Online Business Manager, aka OBM, is or what he or she does. 

OBMs are a category of freelancers typically known as Virtual Business Managers.

The terms Virtual Business Manager and Online Business Manager are often synonymous. However, there is a slight difference between the two.

While both can help manage businesses remotely.

Online Business Managers focus on managing online businesses. 

An online business could be an e-commerce site, affiliate marketing, vlogs or blogs, SaaS (software as a solution) companies, or digital products, just to name a few.

With this large variety of online businesses, it’s easy to see how the world of Online Business Managers is growing at exponential rates!

Know What To Expect

What does an online business manager, um, well, manage?

There is often some confusion regarding the role and responsibilities of an OBM.

A great OBM is best utilized to manage projects and teams, not to perform most of the tasks.

While there may be some tasks that an OBM will perform simply because they can, many of the tasks will be outsourced to other experts.

Currently, Tish is acting as the business manager.

She’s in charge of making sure each person knows what to do, how to do it, and that they get it done. 

And this is where you start to see that not all OBMs are created equal.

One of the reasons that different people have different experiences with their OBMs is because they have different expectations than the OBM does. 

What Do You Do Well?

Part of the problem is that OBMs vary greatly in their expertise.

Many OBMs will come to you with prior management experience in specific key areas such as social media, content creation, or administration, for example. 

There’s a reason that traditional businesses have specialized positions. They have Office Managers, Production Managers, Marketing Managers, HR managers, etc…

It’s because each area of business has its own set of skills and challenges.

But, typically, there is one main general manager who handles the management of the entire company. 

Most often, an MBA is the ideal candidate for the general manager position.

Master of Business

Let’s look at it in terms of the MBA, from Wikipedia: 

The Master of Business Administration (MBA or M.B.A.) degree originated in the United States in the early 20th century when the country industrialized and companies sought scientific management.[1] The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounting, applied statistics, human resources, business communication, business ethics, business law, business strategy, finance, managerial economics, management, entrepreneurship, marketing, supply-chain management, and operations management in a manner most relevant to management analysis and strategy.

If your business is exclusively online, your online business manager can serve as your general manager. 

While you may not require your OBM to have an MBA degree, you are looking for someone with equivalent work experience.

Choose What to Delegate

If you work with both online and offline aspects of your business, your online business manager may only manage one part.

Good OBMs have a wide base of knowledge without going deep into any one area.

This varied experience allows them to help with the overall management of the online elements of your business.

If you simply need someone who is great at social media and can manage social media marketing for you, then you’d want to hire a social media manager, not an online business manager. 

Clarify Your Expectations

But those expectations should be made clear in the interview process and discussed when things change.

Trouble may also happen when a business owner expects their online business manager to manage things outside of his or her areas of expertise.

Think of asking an HR manager to manage production.

Often, the OBM is not upfront with their client to let them know the request is not a good fit.

Matching Expertise With Projects

Having conversations early, and often, will help to make sure everyone is having the best possible experience with the greatest possible results.

As a business owner, your job is to guide your team and focus your time on doing the things that only you can do.

When you hire a virtual assistant, you are choosing to delegate tasks.

When you work with an OBM, you are delegating projects.

Which projects you delegate will be determined by your OBMs areas of expertise.

Choosing The Right OBM For YOUR Needs

With there being such a huge discrepancy in the quality of online business managers, how do you hire the right one? 

How do you choose the right online business manager?

How do you ensure their experience is well-suited for your particular project management needs?

Write a clear job description

Depending on how you do your hiring, you may or may not be posting an actual job description somewhere.

But even if you don’t, a well-written job description will help you to have a clear idea of what your needs and desires are. 

Workable.com offers some great tips on writing a good job description.

For example, they suggest clearly describing tasks without using jargon or vague descriptions.  

Interview Several Candidates

Hiring well takes time.

Don’t look at the first few resumes, have one interview, and offer the job on the spot.

From our experience, the first candidate usually looks pretty good until you interview several more!

Take your time. Make a list to help you evaluate the prospects, and check out our article on online business manager interview questions you can ask.

Ask for Referrals

Referrals are generally going to provide glowing reports about your potential candidates.

It can be tricky to know what questions you can and can’t ask.

However, when you’ve nailed down a few key questions, you can get the 'inside scoop' on what your candidate may not share with you.  

Check Social Media 

We hate to admit this but checking what your candidate is posting on is such an important step these days.

There are stories everywhere of employees who said or did something, shared on social media, and ultimately damaged the reputation of the company.

While we can’t avoid ALL of these situations, we can minimize them by reviewing social media profiles before hiring.

Do a Careful Review

Hopefully, you took some great notes on each candidate up to this point.

Virtual A Team potential candidate ranking system.

We've identified the skills and traits that are most important and rate them throughout each step.

This helps take the guesswork out of hiring and makes the process less subjective.

That being said, gut instinct is something we measure but it's only one part of the overall candidate rating. 

Interview Again

That’s right. The best companies will tell you to conduct more than one interview with your top-pick candidates.

The second interview is an opportunity for you to chat with a candidate when they are more relaxed.

It gives you the opportunity to clarify their answers to any outstanding questions you might have.

It also gives you another chance to ask more granular 'pocket questions' to further evaluate if this is the right Online Business Manager for you. 

Red Flags

If you’ve never hired an Online Business Manager before, you may not know what to look out for.

Here are some red flags that may signal a less than ideal candidate:

• A Yes Ma’amer - This is the person who agrees with everything you say all the time. While an OBM isn’t a coach, he or she should be able to give you ideas or call you out when something doesn’t fit with your goals. They are there to help you grow your business and sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know.

• Negativity. It’s rare to see this in an interview when prospects are on their best behavior so if it does come out, you know it will only get worse. 

• Short Answers - While not everyone is going to be thoroughly expressive in an interview, someone who is able to talk through ideas and concepts with you will likely be a better long term fit.

• REALLLLLLLLYYYY LONG Answers - on the flip side, if someone is extremely long-winded, that may use up a lot of your time.

• Someone who is JUST LIKE YOU!  - One huge trap coaches fall into is getting along so well with someone because they are just like them and then hiring them. You don’t want or need a clone (as much as you think you do). You need someone who compliments your abilities and can pick up slack in areas you aren’t great in.

That’s a Wrap!

The right Online Business Manager can help to relieve a lot of the overwhelm of managing the online areas of your business.

Take your time in finding the right fit.

Experience the greatest return on your investment by determining your exact needs. And investing time to find the 'right-fit' OBM who will compliment your skills and can help you manage your online business needs 

Online business owners are superheros. Turn on your laptop, monitor your website and social media pages, deal with client work or online transactions, create lead generating material, interact with online freelancers...so much to do, so little time. They don't even have time to think about why they need to hire an online business manager!

Are you tired of being a superhero for your business? Your passion is limitless and you spend every waking moment pouring your heart into making your business successful. Batman is your alter ego. (Ladies, bear with me, it works better if I use Batman instead of an awesome female superhero like Wonder Woman).

You put on your cape daily and conquer the challenges for your business like a boss. But you transform into some semblance of Bruce Wayne (minus the wealth and fame) in the few moments when you’re able to catch a breath so that you can live a little. 

You dream of the day when you can strike a balance. You dream of the day when that freedom you set out to achieve by becoming an entrepreneur is finally yours. If this is you, then it may be time to hire an online business manager. 

There’s good news! An online business manager can be your own personal Alfred Pennyworth and help you achieve this seemingly impossible feat.

Courtesy: https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Quotes-By-Alfred-Pennyworth/

What are the benefits when you hire an online business manager?

When you know what an online business manager does, it’s easy to understand how you can benefit. There are five main benefits of hiring an online business manager:

• Saving money
• Saving time
• Getting unique insights
• Avoiding a human resource nightmare
• Increased chances for business success

An online business manager can help you save money.

How much money and time are you wasting trying to perfect areas of your business that you know very little about? Hire an online business manager to help you get things right from the get-go. The money you invest in paying your online business manager pales in comparison with the money you’ll lose due to your inexperience.

Save time and hire an online business manager.

Time never seems to be on your side as a busy online entrepreneur. And it’s the one thing we never get more of. An online business manager can help you find more time to pursue growth opportunities by:

• Being the middle-man between you and the online freelancers you hire. Heck, you don’t even need to be involved in the hiring process if it isn’t absolutely necessary. It can be time consuming to onboard online freelancers and monitor their work, especially when you’re working with multiple freelancers across numerous teams.
• You will have someone who you can trust to keep the business’ best interests at heart. So, you can focus on growth opportunities and leave the finer details to your online business manager.

An online business manager’s experience provides useful insights. 

Experience teaches wisdom. When you hire an online business manager, you get and individual who's experience provides a unique, current and relevant perspective that can help your business thrive. You will be amazed by the interesting ideas he or she presents. Your business will only get better.

The human resource requirements of a full-time employee are unnecessary.

Typically you hire an online business manager on a contractual basis. Therefore, you won’t be responsible for employment taxes, benefits and other human resource concerns. This is quite different from hiring a full-time manager.

The main goal is to help your business thrive.

An online business manager has the best interests of your business at heart. Consistent communication, transparency and leadership are second-nature for an effective online business manager. You will get a highly valuable team member who will help you take your business to the next level. 

Who is an online business manager?

An online business manager helps virtual entrepreneurs govern and monitor the daily operations of a business. This person plays a critical role for a small business in many ways.

Managing teams

If you know that building a team is important to your business goals but managing people isn’t your strong suit, you absolutely NEED to hire an online business manager. Your OBM can help you work with your other team members. From graphic designers, website developers, copy writers and more. If you are building a sizable team, it helps to have someone manage all of the different members for you.

Managing Operations

From accounting to customer service, there are a lot of things to manage in a growing online business. These are the “weeds” of your business. They need to be taken care of but it’s not the best use of your time if you plan to continue to grow. 

Hire an online business manager to help you manage the details so you can focus on the big picture.

Download our Insider's Guide to Outsourcing for More Tips & Tools on How to Delegate as a Solopreneur

Monitoring Goals and Keep you Accountable

Were you excited about not having a boss to report to when you chose to become an entrepreneur? Is not having a boss leaving you without the accountability you need to succeed?

You have goals for your business but how good are you at monitoring those goals? Are you keeping up on the metrics you need to so that you can see the progress your business is making? 

Are you easily distracted by other ideas and shiny objects?

Your online business manager can help you track your goals and make recommendations when those goals are getting off track. Your OBM can serve as your accountability partner helping to keep you focused. It’s like having the best benefits of a boss without getting yelled at for not performing!

Give you a Break

Have you ever wanted to go on a month long vacation to Thailand or Bali but you knew that your business couldn’t last a week without you? An online business manager can help you totally unplug from your business so that you come back with brilliant new ideas and are ready to hit the ground running.

How do you know when you need an online business manager?

There are many things that you are asked to invest in as a business owner. How do you know if now is the right time to invest in an online business manager? This one is a lot easier than you might think. Hiring an OBM can free you up to make even more money to invest in those other opportunities. 

Ask yourself:

• Have I started to resent my business because of all the things I don’t love to do?
• Am I constantly feeling overwhelmed and need some help?
• Do I feel more like an employee that a business owner?
• Am I inexperienced in a particular business area that will help my business grow?
• Am I missing out on growth opportunities because I’m focused on day-to-day operations? 

Look closely at how you feel when you answer those questions. The answers will reveal to you whether it's time to hire an OBM or if you can wait it out.

What is the difference between an online business manager and a virtual assistant?

Virtual Assistants are often hired to do the work of an online business manager but the roles are very different. Hiring the wrong type of person for the job can lead to frustration and disappointment.

A virtual assistant’s role is specific to the tasks you assign. However, an online business manager is responsible for overseeing your business. Therefore, they have a lot more on their plates. The table below summarizes the main differences between an online business manager and a virtual assistant.

Is an online business manager expensive? Remember, though, these are just titles. You may get lucky and find a virtual assistant that can perform the work of an online business manager. 

An online business manager brings a greater set of skills to the table than a virtual assistant. Therefore, their rates are typically higher than that of a virtual assistant.

Some OBM’s will only work on a fixed monthly rate, similar to a salary. They generally will only work with two or three clients at a time while giving much more time and attention to those clients.

Other OBM’s will work on an hourly rate. Those rates tend to be around $60 to $75 an hour. 

You can check out Virtual A Team’s Online Business Manager packages here.

What are the qualities of an effective online business manager?

An effective online business manager is:

• Experienced
• A leader (experience leading remote teams is helpful)
• An effective communicator
• Driven by results instead of emotions
• A good multi-tasker
• Able to pay keen attention to details
• Loyal
• Trustworthy
• Committed to helping your business succeed

How can you find an online business manager?

Virtual A Team has a team of effective online business managers who can help your business coaching or life coaching business succeed. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Putting It All Together

Courtesy https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Quotes-By-Alfred-Pennyworth/

Batman couldn’t save Gotham City without Alfred hanging out behind the scenes and successful business owners don’t do it on their own either. An online business manager is essential for any online business owner serious about business growth. You will get someone who you can trust to oversee elements of your business so that you can get the time you need to pursue growth opportunities and establish a healthy work-life balance. Hire an effective online business manager today by contacting Virtual A Team. 

When you decide to hire interns, you have to weigh the pros and cons of adding young inexperienced workers to your professional environment. Finding new team members or freelancers for your business can be stressful but it doesn't need to be that way. Each intern arrives with a distinct set of skills, knowledge and ideas. There are many options and you can never be 100 percent sure about who will be the right pick.

Internship was created as a way to solve this dilemma. The history of internship dates as far back as the 11th century when apprentices were hired to learn various trades such as carpentry, masonry and agriculture. Internship as we know it today began in the 20th century when students were given opportunities to gain hands-on experience in their chosen professions. The idea to hire interns was developed as a way to bring practical experience into the curriculum.

Learning by doing is the foundation of internship. Interns have no experience beyond what they learned in textbooks. They enter with bright eyes and bushy tails but also with a sense of timidity. With this in mind, what should you do if you are considering an internship program for your business?

Pros and Cons to consider when you hire interns

Internships provide several benefits for both the intern and the employer. But there are also disadvantages. Here are a few that you should consider when you hire interns.

1. Enthusiasm - or not

Pro: Interns tend to have a high level of energy and enthusiasm. They are eager to learn and want to get the most out of the experience.

Con: Not all interns have this level of enthusiasm. Some can be sullen and eventually become a drain on regular staff. They aren’t there to learn but to get the credits so they can move on to their “real” jobs. They can also put your business in a negative light. Not exactly what you had in mind when you had the idea to hire interns.

 2. Cost

 Pro: Some interns are willing to work for free so that they can list the work experience on their resumes.

Con: Some interns won’t work without some form of stipend. If they realize they are doing a lot of work for no pay, they might not be an asset to your business.

3. Knowledge

 Pro: Interns come with up-to-date knowledge. When you hire interns, you're hiring a digital natives, which could be a huge advantage to your business!

Con: While they have the knowledge, they don’t have the skills. Interns are inexperienced so you will spend a lot of time and money on training.

4. Experience - or lack of

Pro: Hiring an intern costs less than hiring someone with more experience and education.

Con: You get what you pay for. An intern’s lack of experience means that you have to be very careful about the tasks assigned. You may not necessarily get the quality you desire and may have to coach the intern so that the right quality of work is produced. Be willing to put in a lot of extra training time when you decide to hire interns. 

5. ROI

Pro: You can gain a loyal employee. All the training and time you put into honing an intern’s skills can pay off in the long-term if you decide to hire him or her full time. This is one of the lesser thought of pros when you hire interns. 

Con: You may not get a good Return on Investment (ROI) because the intern may never work with your company.

6. Availability Issues

Pro: Interns are in school and learning some new strategies that you can use in your business.

Con: An intern probably does not have a very flexible schedule. If the internship is during the semester, there are some hours or entire days when the intern will have classes.

7. Area of Expertise

Pro: Interns tend to do one area really well. They are specialists.

Con: Interns lose interest if you want them to do everything and more. An intern isn’t there to do everything from getting your coffee to picking up your dry cleaning.

8. Inside knowledge

Pro: Interns come from your local area. This can work to your advantage if you are a local based business since they would have first-hand knowledge about the unique characteristics of your area.

Con: Hiring interns can be awkward if your office is your home.

An Intern or a Freelancer, Which is the Better Deal?

There’s a good chance you are considering hiring an intern because you want to avoid hiring full-time employees. Interns aren’t the only solution to this problem. Online freelancers can help you get the job done for a fraction of the cost. In fact, Virtual A Team has a team of highly experienced freelancers in various industries who can help you with a wide range of business processes. Here are 5 benefits of hiring an online freelancer versus an intern.

Download our Ultimate Guide to Delegating for More Tips & Tools on How to Delegate as a Solopreneur

Experience

There are several freelancer platforms that feature some of the best and most experienced freelancers in their respective industries. These freelancers understand industry standards and know how to elevate your project so that you get the high-quality output you need. You don’t have to waste time training an inexperienced person.

Not sure where to find the best freelancers? Virtual A Team already has a highly experienced team of social media marketers, writers, web developers, executive administrators, graphic designers, project managers, virtual assistants and video producers who are eager to fulfill your needs.

Flexibility

Freelancers have more flexible schedules. Some even work on weekends. This flexibility can help them finish your projects within a reasonable timeframe. It also makes it possible for you to schedule progress report meetings and consultations that suit your schedule.

Fair Payment

A freelancer’s rate will be less than a full-time employee’s rate. The freelancer may charge more than an intern, but that increased cost is worth every penny because you gain someone with experience. You also will spend little or no time training this person to fit in with your company’s routines and practices.

Remote Work 

Online freelancers can work from anywhere in the world. Therefore, you don’t have to make accommodations for them at your company’s location like you would if you had hired an intern.  You don’t have to worry about them eating out the food in the lunch area or sending your utility bills through the roof.

A Wider Pool

Your pick of interns will be limited to what the colleges and universities in your area can provide. Online freelancing tears down international borders. You can hire the best talent from anywhere in the world. Let’s say that you need a software programmer to create an app. India is known to have some of the best software programmers in the world. Virtual A Team can help you find an online freelancer with the right experience to help you create this app.  There are no limits on where an online freelancer is located.

How do you know the best choice?

 The answer to this question ultimately lies with you. Interns are better suited for people who:

• Are passionate about helping others grown and excel.
• Would like to onboard full-time employees in the long-term but want to train and select the best before doing this.
• Know what they need done and are willing to spend the time mentoring

Online freelancers are better for people who:

• Want to cut through the crap and get quality output from someone with more experience
• Are not sure about exactly what they need and would benefit from someone with experience who can provide guidance
• Have neither the time nor the patience for mentorship

How to Create a Stellar Internship Program

You may have decided that hiring interns is your best option. The next step is creating a stellar internship program that is mutually beneficial to your company and the intern. Here are the steps that can help you make this happen.

Step #1: Have a clearly defined goal for the program.

Think carefully about what you want to achieve. Here are some questions that can help you narrow down your objective:

• Is it your way of giving back to the community to support your corporate social responsibility goals?
• Are you looking to hire the best talent from the program full time? Does this mean that the internship will become more like a competition?
• Do you need some fresh ideas to take your business to the next level?

Your objective will shape what the internship program looks like.

Step #2: Ensure that you are following all the labor laws.

There are some clear guidelines that you should follow if you want to offer an unpaid internship. Review these guidelines and determine whether your should offer a paid or unpaid internship.

Step #3: Create a job description.

No one should be working for your business without a clear understanding of what is expected. Don’t leave it to a verbal agreement; a clear job description should be prepared in black and white. Both you (or your human resource representative) and the intern should sign it so there is evidence of a mutual agreement.

Step #4: Assign each intern to a mentor.

Remember that internship is primarily about creating a hands-on experience that puts theory into practice. Leaving your interns to fend for themselves makes it harder to create this learning experience. It can even cause them to become frustrated. Ensure that each intern has a mentor within your company who can be their go-to for advice. A mentor should ideally not be assigned to more than 3 interns.

Step #5: Give the interns work to do.

This point may be obvious from steps 3 and 4. However, it is so important that we had to discuss it separately. Interns aren’t there to hang around idly and chit-chat at the water cooler. They are eager to learn and want to apply their knowledge. Create opportunities for them to do this. Of course, you aren’t going to give the intern major projects to work on. However, you can:

• Invite the intern to planning sessions
• Include your top interns in client meetings
• Assign interns to tasks that they can complete based on their present skills
• Help the intern collaborate with your team and find the best place to use his or her skills

Step #6: Show appreciation.

Reward sweetens labor. In fact, workers are more motivated when they feel appreciated. Any intern should leave your program feeling empowered and ready to face the challenges of working in the real world. Some ways to show appreciation include:

• Congratulating (in an encouraging way) the intern when something is done right.
• Having an awards ceremony at the end of the program.
• Providing cash incentives to interns who meet certain targets.

Putting It All Together

Companies can benefit from hiring interns or hiring online freelancers. Your choice depends on the amount of time both you and your staff can commit to helping interns grow and learn from the experience.

Only consider hiring interns if you:

• Can create a stellar internship program.
• Believe that your business can benefit from local talent.
• Have the time and resources to support the intern’s learning curve.
• Are committed to community development.

Online freelancers provide an easier way to get the work done faster and at the right quality, especially if it’s a freelancer hired by Virtual A Team.

I am so happy to write today’s post! After I describe who a content creator is and how they help businesses and bloggers grow their online presence via content marketing, the expression will be “Hey, I need a content creator!”

Why is a Content Creator Critical for Success?

Content creation is closely involved in every part of the Internet and data. Think about it; the Internet contains a vast catalog of content. Content is what we save, tag, share, and consume. Also, it's what we consume on social media.

Quality content turns potential audience members and resolute purchasers. As the saying goes — behind all viral content is a talented content creator.

If we want good content for marketing goals, we need a good ‘content creator.’ 

The Importance of Quality Content

Brands and businesses have witnessed better Return of Investment (ROI) using quality content creation as an approach. 

When we say content, we're referring to all visual and written material we use to interact with our target audience.

Content includes written materials like articles, landing pages, blog posts, email newsletters, instructional videos, Instagram stories, and so much more.

It's vital for most businesses, irrespective of offerings and scale. Content can help our businesses rank higher in Google search result pages.  It also lets us reach potential audiences regularly. That said, here are some key reasons why content is vital for our brands.

• It's Important for Branding

Content creation is a good way to market our brand and our business values. Social media content marketing (blink) can allow us to be less formal and playful. Great, right?  This connects potential clients and our brand.

Social media contents can highlight the tender side of our business. On the other hand, long-form articles allow potential customers to know how our products can solve their issues.

• Content Helps Us Target Potential Clients

The essential step in digital content creation is knowing who our audience is. Professional content creators understand the consumer's persona. They know their pain points, who they are, and the kind of content they want.

Producing good content frequently can help us reach our target audience. Good content provides solutions and helps rank our content on Google's result page. 

Content helps us reach our target audience and create a relationship with them. Further, sharing user reviews and guest posts can help boost our credibility and build trust.

Hiring a technical writer to craft a comprehensive guide to our products shows our audience that we care. It shows that we want to help them learn how to use our products before they buy any.

Download our Ultimate Guide to Delegating for More Tips & Tools on How to Delegate as a Solopreneur

• Boosts Traffic and Visibility

It's no news that content is a great way to maximize the number of visitors to our site. Yes, visual marketing adds a human touch to our marketing tactics. But written content also helps rank high in search engines.

By carrying out keyword research in a niche, we can write articles that boost our visibility. We advise starting with tools like Ahrefs to perfect the keywords that work well in a niche. After getting the keywords, plug them into Buzzsumo or Clearscope to make most of the content performance.

•  It Can Save Time and Money

Professional content writers can create new content effectively and faster than most business owners.

They can build products in a particular context. Also, they can accent how specific offerings can ease pain points and provide solutions for customers. By saving us time, we can concentrate on building our business.

• Better Return on Investment (ROI)

A content creator can help ensure that the material we develop delivers the highest ROI. Remember, content creators are not equal. So we may employ many writers to meet our company's needs like:

• A social media content writer for creating viral or appealing content
• A web designer for designing infographics
• A digital media for using the information developed by a content writer

What is a Content Creator?

A content creator contributes information to digital media or any other media (link). They target a specific audience in particular contexts. Additionally, a content creator provides the following:

•       Email newsletters
•       Blog posts
•       Video marketing
•       Social media copy
•       Graphic design
•       eBooks...and so much more!

Further, they build offline content like client packets, brochures, and so much more.

Their goal is to take our opinions and turn them into valuable content for our business. All we need to do is send them a project brief and ask them to complete it.

We can give them complete control and trust them to develop content for our business.

Why Hire a Content Creator?

To many, hiring a content creator is irrelevant. Why hire a content creator when we can write our own content?

It's simple! Content creators specialize in creating content regularly.

If we don't want to manage two job roles simultaneously, it's best to hire a professional content writer. Meeting a complete content strategy requires full attention.

If we want to reap the benefits of creating content, it shouldn’t be a box to check on our list. We need someone enthusiastic about developing our brand.

We also need someone that can produce working strategies and carry out those strategies.

Still not satisfied? Read on to learn why hiring a content creator is important:

• It’s Cost-Effective

We don't  often come across ways to save money and grow our business. But hiring a content creation agency or a freelance writer will save us training cost and time. Content creation has the largest percentage of outsourced content marketing.

Some content creators may be expensive, but you can devise a strategy before hiring them. The strategy includes the type of content we want and what we’re willing to pay. Remember that behind a successful content marketing strategy, is quality content.

We can get an affordable deal on Upwork or Fiverr. But never compromise quality for affordability. You’ll end up doing more damage than good.

• It Saves us Time

Content writing goes beyond producing blogs at our convenience. It requires time to craft high-quality content since it involves a whole lot more than just sitting down and writing.

It's is a blend of research, proofreading, editing, and formatting to create high-ranking content important to our business.

If we don’t have the time to learn the latest SEO techniques for 2019, a content writer can take care of that.

• Quality Content Preserves our Brand

Hiring a content writer to give our brand a voice will provide audiences with a unique perspective.

Content creators will learn about our company, and what it's about. They'll learn the intricate details of our business identity. Next, they'll transform it into a conversational piece to pass to our audience.

Furthermore, regular content will keep our online presence current. Uploading new material on all platforms will help rank our website high on Google search.

Convinced yet? If yes, that's great! But before we employ a content creator, we need to know what we want. We must define our goals so that we can relate them:

What kind of content do we need and how do we want to sell our brand?

Do we have a budget?

Do we want to outsource?

If we can answer these questions, it will point us in the right direction.

Creating quality content is more than an article or blog. What happens when we spend a few minutes scanning through articles? It's possible that we'll soak in vital information.

In essence, good content speaks directly to our target audience. A content writer knows what's essential to our audience.

Their words reach past the time we use reading their content. Sometimes we don't even know it.

Expert content creators search for things that are at the core of what they're selling and highlight that.

The Dos Equis example...

Dos Equis wasn't linked with anything interesting until a daring mascot came in. If we place creativity at the top of a content strategy, we'll reach buyers without over-promoting our brand.

Nanette Burstein (a content creator) changed the negative meaning of “like a girl” in the Always marketing campaign. The content she developed linked Always with female empowerment. She used it to empower women while selling a lot of feminine products.

Metro Trains had a straight forward message for travelers. It says: don’t mess around on trains. Their content creator designed a video portraying “Dumb Ways to Die” with an appealing jingle and matching attractive characters.

The outcome? About 160 million views (if not more) on YouTube. They had successfully communicated their message.

Content doesn't have to be connected with what we're selling. It involves creating content that interests our target audience. Indeed, creating relevant content reaches beyond our products and services. In the end, we’re developing a relationship between our brand and audience.

Picking a Content Creator

We often prioritize content creators with expertise in a specific industry. It's simpler to teach a writer branding style and voice. But it's hard to bring them up to speed on expertise if they don't know the subject.

We advise using writers with experience in your niche. If a company specializes in advanced technology, get a writer with a college degree in technology. For other businesses, a college degree may be an extra benefit, not a prerequisite. Draft a list of essential qualifications. Remove writers without these qualifications.

Don’t Underrate the Value of Marketing

Yes, content marketing is that important, don’t underestimate it!  Content creation concerning inbound marketing, SEO, and brand awareness can help grow our business. Likewise, don’t trivialize the value of hiring a content creator to manage it all.

A content creator can craft about 5000 words of content daily. And even more!

That's not all...

The content will be suited for SEO and written for consumers to engage with. If we want to reap the benefits of inbound marketing strategy and achieve brand awareness, we need a content creator!

It's that simple.

Related Articles

Wondering about the difference between a content writer and a copywriter? Find out right here.

Read using a video marketing assistant here and what you need to know before hiring a writer here.

Here are my top tips for knowing when you’re ready to hire your first freelancer

1. You’re turning down work.

    If you’re so busy that you're actually turning down work, then you need someone to take some of that work off your plate so you can focus on your clients

2. Your clients, customers or suppliers can’t reach you.

    If you’re having trouble keeping up with emails, returning calls, placing orders or scheduling appointments, it’s time to hire a VA!

3. You need someone with specific skills.

    Want to up your SEO game or have new headshots?  That’s the perfect time to hire someone to help you in your business.

4. Your business isn’t growing.

    It may seem counterintuitive, but if your business isn’t growing, it’s probably because you simply have too much on your plate and can’t put your full focus where you need it.

5. You don’t like Mondays!

    (Or any other day anymore!)  If you’re stuck doing administrative tasks, or things you hate doing, pretty soon, you’re going to start dreading working every day!  Remember the spark and excitement of your business when you first launched? I still feel that, every day! If you don’t, it’s probably because you’re too busy doing things you hate, instead of focusing on what you’re good at and you love doing.

6. You’re launching a new product, service or online course.

    If you can afford it, hire a great copywriter!  It really will make all the difference to your launch, the number of conversions you get and the sales you make.  Seriously, it’s all in the copy!

7. You want to be the CEO of your business, not the Employee.

    If you wanted to be the Employee, you’d go get a 9-5, right?  Being the CEO means working smarter, not working every hour possible!

8. You don’t have time to spend with your loved ones.

    Why did you start your business?  I bet it wasn’t so you could work more, restless and see your family and friends less was it?!  Remember, this is YOUR business, design it in a way that works FOR you.

9. Your freelancer costs less per hour than you charge.

    Let’s say you charge $200 per hour for your time with a client.  You’re unsure whether or not to hire a virtual assistant to help you with the day to day running if your business.  Your potential VA costs you $20 per hour. If you book a client in for an hour, you’ve made yourself a profit of $180.  Worth it? Absolutely! Any time you can get paid MORE than your freelancer costs, you’re winning!

Conclusion

Hiring your first freelancer or outsourcing a project to someone can seem scary!  But there are many occasions, opportunities and real reasons why hiring a freelancer is actually the better option.  

For me, it has given me time back in my day, let me focus on doing what I love the most (helping my clients to succeed online and creating valuable content!) and it's one of the best things I ever did!

If you’re still unsure, just start speaking to a freelancer and see how you feel about it then.  Have a rough idea of what you want them to do and just have a chat! Ask for references or testimonials, see examples of their work and always keep a great line of communication open while you work together.

Finding the perfect VA or freelancer for your business will change your life - and your business!

As a business owner, do you understand the difference between an independent contractor and an employee?  You may be saying to yourself- “The individual is getting paid. What difference does it make how they are classified?   Does it really matter?” The answer is YES! It absolutely matters.

So …. why does it matter?  

It matters because your business is your dream and your passion.  You’ve committed endless hours and resources into fulfilling this dream.  And you want to do things right.

Classifying an individual correctly will help protect your business and save you from unnecessary legal and financial expenses.  This knowledge and understanding are critical in protecting your business.

So … how do you know if you have classified someone correctly?  

Well- it depends! and the answer can be tricky.  I know, I know. Not exactly the answer you wanted to hear.  But it truly depends on who you are asking.

The Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and state agencies regulate independent contractors, and may each look at them differently.  In fact, the courts also aren’t always in agreement!

Classifying an individual correctly will determine HOW the person is paid.  As an employer, you are required to withhold income taxes, withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, and pay unemployment tax on wages paid to an employee.  Payments made to independent contractors generally do not require business owners to withhold or pay taxes on these amounts. Classification as an employee or an independent contractor also plays a role in determining if an injury or accident is classified as falling under worker’s compensation or even if someone is eligible for unemployment payments.  

I know that this may sound overwhelming.  But pause for a moment and take a deep breath.  You don’t have to worry alone.

Today you are being provided with resources and take-aways to help ease your mind.  Following the Control Test will give you the confidence and reassurance that you are classifying individuals correctly.

The Difference between an Employee and Independent Contractor

There are three areas of control that need to be considered when classifying an individual as an employee or independent contractor.

Download our Ultimate Guide to Delegating Here for More Tips & Tools on How to Delegate as a Solopreneur

Behavior Control

• Independent contractors have the ability to choose when and where they work.  They may be given a deadline as agreed upon within a contract as to when work needs to be completed by.  However, controlling the location of where they complete work or the specific hours work is to be completed in puts you at risk of misclassifying the individual.

• You hire an independent contractor because they already know how to do the job and you do not need to invest time or resources training them.  Independent contractors are responsible for maintaining their skillset and professional development on their own time with their own financial commitment.

• Independent contractors have the autonomy to choose their own jobs.  They may be working for several organizations at the same time and have the ability to hire others to complete the contracted work for your business.  You pay them for a result or service they have promised you. For example, let’s take a look at photographers. You pay them for the pictures they promise you.  They choose their own jobs, hours, and where they choose to work from. Their income is generated based on the results they provide, consumer demand, and the number of clients they choose to take on.  They have the autonomy to decide if they would like to accept or decline a request for services.

Financial Control

• Independent contractors will use their own equipment to complete the assignment.  Using the above example, the photographer will provide their own camera, props, assistants, lighting sources, and editing equipment.

• Independent contractors are paid for results and earn their income based on the contracts they enter into.  They may be paid at predetermined times as specified within the contract. The independent contractor takes on all financial risks of their business expenses.  This includes clerical, software, equipment and travel that may be needed to complete the assignment. They are responsible for their income for they risk not being paid if the results are not produced as the contract specifies.

• Independent contractors are running a stand-alone business and have their own Employee Identification Number (EIN).  They are responsible for carrying and paying for their own workers compensation insurance as well as for marketing their services to the general public.

Relationship Control

• Independent contractors are typically meant to complete a short-term need.  These assignments are usually less than six months and are based on results, not time worked.  Be careful. Requesting independent contractors to provide regular updates or reports may shift the relationship to that of an employee.

• The relationship with an independent contractor is ended once the contract is complete.  An independent contract how quits before the assignment is complete may be at risk of a breach of contract lawsuit.  Firing an independent contractor may also put you at risk of a breach of contract lawsuit.

• Independent contractors typically do not perform work that is necessary for the primary and essential functions of the business.  If independent contractors are performing this work and if 51% or more of your workforce are classified as independent contractors, you may be at risk of misclassification.

The ABC Test

Still unsure if you are classifying correctly and looking for a little more reassurance?  Currently, several states, such as California, Massachusetts and New Jersey are adopting the ABC Test.  The adoption of this test is also on the rise in other states. The ABC test is a three-part checklist in which business owners must be able to answer ‘yes’ to each bullet point to classify the individual as an independent contractor.

• The worker is free from control and direction of the hiring business as it relates to the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of the work AND in fact;
• the work being performed is outside the usual course of the hiring business services; AND
• the worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed.

Final Thoughts

Classifying individuals correctly as an employee or independent contractor is an important piece of business management.  Although the task may seem daunting, you now have the tools you need to confidently evaluate your working relationships. By focusing on the behavior, financial, and relationship control, you’ll be able to sleep better at night knowing you’re in compliance.

Ants are typically viewed as pests. They bite, crawl and consume any bit of food that has been left out for too long.  We often ignore, however, how well ants work together as a unit. According to askabiologist.com, an ant colony is a closely knit family consisting of the queen, workers and brood.

Worker ants play a crucial role. Younger worker ants take care of the queen inside the nest; older worker ants are the hunters, gathers and protectors. The queen creates the family, but the worker ants help keep that brood alive.

All entrepreneurs work with at least one other person to form something analogous to an ant colony. A virtual assistant tends to be a pivotal part of this team. Anyone who has worked with a good virtual assistant knows that this crucial team member is a godsend.

Entrepreneurs rave about how their virtual assistants have changed their lives. Chief among these changes is the increase in time to do what they must do for their business.  It’s like they’ve found the best worker ant in the bunch. If you’re one of these entrepreneurs, it’s important for you to express your gratitude for this crucial team member.

Administrative Professionals Day, which will be celebrated on April 24 this year, is one of the best opportunities for you to show how much you appreciate your virtual assistant.  Businesses across the world will celebrate the work of the administrative professionals who hold things together each work day.

You may be thinking that it’s easier to celebrate Administrative Professionals Day with people who work on site.  Think again! Here’re some simple and budget-friendly ways for you to thank your virtual assistant on April 24.

Sign her up for an Executive Assistant Conference.

Professional development increases the chances of success in any field.  Gifting an all-access pass to one of the best Executive Assistant Conferences of 2019 is a gift that will last a lifetime. Your virtual assistant will learn new skills and return with strategies for helping your business grow.

Additional conference options include:

• IVAA Live Summit
• The Future Assistant 2019 Conference
• Online International Virtual Assistants Convention
• Virtual Assistants Summit
• Annual PA Conference
• Australian Virtual Assistants Conference

One of the reasons this gift option is at the top of our list is that it’s an investment in your virtual assistant’s growth. As Parth Misra puts it, “The best companies have always understood that [they] need to go above and beyond to find what their employees are looking for and deliver it.” Each team member appreciates a leader who cares about their professional development.

Download our Ultimate Guide to Delegating Here for More Tips & Tools on How to Delegate as a Solopreneur

Amazon gift cards are a safe go-to.

There are 300 million Amazon.com users and chances are your virtual assistant is a part of this number. Amazon is the behemoth of online shopping, the place where shoppers can find any product from A to Z.  An Amazon gift card removes the stress of trying to find the right gift for your virtual assistant. Instead, she can use it to buy anything she desires.

Another benefit of Amazon gift cards is that they can be sent as electronic gifts. You can purchase an e-gift card and send it instantly to your virtual assistant’s email address. It’s a quick and simple transaction that allows your virtual assistant to use her gift instantly.

Purchase a magazine subscription.

Virtual assistants are often avid readers. A Pro Magazine and Virtual Assistant Life Magazine are two of the top magazines related to virtual assistants. Other possible magazine options include:

1. Fast Company
2. Entrepreneur
3. The New Yorker

These magazines provide useful tips and information for your virtual assistant to succeed. Each magazine has either a monthly or annual subscription option. Therefore, you can choose to give your virtual assistant one month free or surprise her with a full year. Regardless of your choice, she’ll appreciate this thoughtful gift.

Host a virtual pizza party.

Does your virtual assistant love pizza? Distance separates you from her so hosting an on-site pizza party would be impractical. Thankfully, there’s a solution that bridges the gap…a virtual pizza party.

A virtual pizza party is a nifty way to treat your virtual assistant to something fun. Here’s how it works.

1. Pay for a pizza to be delivered to your virtual assistant.
2. Order your favorite pizza and take it to your office space.
3. Call your virtual assistant using your preferred medium (Skype, What’s App, Face Time and so on).
4. Crank up the music and have fun eating pizza and laughing together.

Your interactions with your virtual assistant don’t have to focus solely on business. Use a virtual party to throw some fun in the mix while expressing how grateful you are for all she does.

Send a Greetabl.

Thank you cards are so old school! Greetabl disrupted the greeting card industry by creating a personalized gift that serves as a greeting card, gift box and photo experience. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Pictures of your virtual assistant (pictures of both of you together would be ideal).
2. A specially crafted message.
3. An idea of the types of treats she likes so that you can choose from Greetabl’s diverse selection.

The cost of the Greetabl depends on the type of box you choose, the gift you choose to include in the box and the message and pictures you include. However, it shouldn’t cost you more than 25 bucks.

Purchase a month or more of Spotify or Pandora.

Music streaming is a great way to stay focused while doing virtual assistant duties.  However, subscriptions to these services can become costly in the long-term. If your virtual assistant likes music, you can purchase either a monthly or annual Spotify or Pandora subscription for her.

She can use her subscription to stream music from her favorite artists, share music with friends and fall in love with new music. Keep your virtual assistant grooving with one of these useful subscriptions. She’ll appreciate the gift.

Praise her on social media.

Public praise is a good way to show appreciation to team members. Some team members are extrinsically motivated and need that public display of approval to maintain their mojo. However, public praise shouldn’t be done in isolation; it should be accompanied by good leadership practices.

Praising your virtual assistant on social media is simple. Here’re the steps:

1. Create a stunning graphic using Canva or hire a graphic designer to create one.  Link the graphic to Administrative Professionals Day and make specific reference to your virtual assistant.
2. Use the caption of the post to write a glowing referral about your virtual assistant.
3. Tag her in the post and prompt your followers to hire her if they need her services.

Not only have you publicly shown appreciation for what she has done, but you’ve also potentially referred new clients to her. This can make a huge difference in her professional growth. What a powerful way to show gratitude!

Treat her to a night out at the movies.

The old adage, “All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl,” is applicable to your virtual assistant. She works tirelessly to ensure that your professional needs are met. A gift that allows her to relax and unwind is one way to help your virtual assistant achieve that balance.

A movie ticket voucher is one such gift. Your virtual assistant may not be a person who watches movies often, but she’ll visit the movies if given the opportunity. Sweeten the deal by buying tickets for her and her loved one and she’ll be even more appreciative.

If she’s into fitness, purchase a gym membership.

Regular exercise positively impacts mental and physical wellness. Your virtual assistant may be one of those persons who appreciates this fact and regularly goes to the gym. Treat her to a 3-month, 6 month or one-year membership at her local gym. It’s an investment in her overall health that will help her continue to be the awesome virtual assistant you love.

Purchase a gift voucher for a meal at her favorite restaurant.

Business Insider cites research from the Pew Research Center showing that eating food away from home contributes to a larger share of total spending. For some, it’s much easier to purchase a quick meal than spend 30 minutes or several hours cooking. Your virtual assistant may be someone who falls into that category.

Treat her to a meal at her favorite restaurant. Some restaurants facilitate the purchase of e-vouchers which can be emailed to the recipient. Find one of the best restaurants in your virtual assistant’s area, purchase a gifts card and send that gift card to her.

Hold up! What can you do if you don’t have the right virtual assistant on your team?

A big assumption was made when writing this article. We assumed that you already have a virtual assistant who you’re excited to have as a part of your team. After all, you wouldn’t be searching for ways to show gratitude if that wasn’t the case.

However, there could be a flip side to this. You could be a part of the 1 percent who’re searching for ways to show appreciation to their virtual assistants because they’re hoping that this will improve the virtual assistants’ performance. That’s your first mistake.

The real problem may be one of the following:

1. You may not understand what to expect when working with a virtual assistant. Read this article to find out.
2. Your hiring process may be flawed. We’ve got the solution! Read this article to learn how to hire a virtual assistant.
3. Cost has been the sole determinant when hiring a virtual assistant. Remember, cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better. Learn more about the cost of hiring a virtual assistant versus a full time employee by reading this article.

The gifts you purchase on Administrative Professionals Day should be a genuine show of appreciation for the work your virtual assistant does. If it’s a desperate attempt for you to get more out of her, forget it! You may need to find a new virtual assistant using the tips we outline in the articles mentioned above.

Showing gratitude on Administrative Professionals Day doesn’t have to be hard.

Administrative Professionals Day is a way to applaud the efforts of one of your key team players…your virtual assistant. Sure, you want to give her a nice gift without breaking the bank. That doesn’t mean that you must spend countless hours trying to figure out the best gift for your virtual assistant.

We’ve simplified the process for you by providing 10 cost-effective ways to thank your virtual assistant. You can use one or a combination of these suggestions. Feel free to share other unique ways that you show appreciation to your virtual assistant.

Finally, don’t use Administrative Professionals Day as a desperate attempt to con your virtual assistant into doing what you want. If you’re one of the people who falls into this boat, think carefully about who you’ve hired. You may need to go back to the drawing board using the knowledge you’ve gained from our virtual assistant articles.