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Home Office Basics: Stuff
Filed Under Home Office Basics, Virtual Assistance
Are you still waiting to start your Virtual Assistance business because you don’t have all of the stuff (furniture, supplies, hardware, and software) that you think you’ll need? Well, you won’t know what you’re going to need until you have clients. And those clients are each going to have their own special needs.
Home Office Basics: Stuff
There are some basics that you can’t be without if you’re going to be a VA.
Computer:
- Desktop or laptop? Choose a computer that will complement your work style. If you’re planning on traveling while you’re working, or you want to take your work with you to the local coffee shop, get a laptop. To be honest, I can’t think of a reason to buy a desktop over a laptop these days.
- PC or Mac? I don’t mean to start a fight over this, but, this really doesn’t matter anymore. I have both a Mac and a PC, but you really just need a Mac where you can also run Windows programs. Might as well have the best of both worlds!
- High speed Internet access is a must!
Printer:
- An inkjet printer will work just fine. Most of the time you’ll be emailing documents.
Software:
- Microsoft Office is almost a requirement. Not because it is the best or easiest to use, but because this is what your clients will use and they will expect you to be comfortable with Word at the very least. Excel is another Office program I’ve found to be useful for most clients.
- Outlook is a program that many of my clients (and I) use. It’s also good to be familiar with online mail programs such as Yahoo! mail, which are very popular.
- Niche software. If you’re going into be providing specialized services, there may be some software that you will need for your niche.
Furniture:
- Somewhere to put your laptop. That could be a desk, kitchen table, or even your lap! You’ll be on your computer A LOT, so it helps if you’re comfortable while you’re working.
- A chair to sit on is helpful
Supplies:
- Paper and ink for your printer, writing pens and paper, stapler, staple remover, and chocolate.
That’s it! This stuff will get you started, and you can add on more stuff when you find out what your clients need from you.
Oh, yeah. I forgot one thing…
Money:
- One year’s worth of earnings and a nice stash that can be used to buy that special software that a client will want you to have. Nothing will stop your business in its tracks faster than underfunding.
And don’t forget – being knowledgeable, enthusiastic, approachable, and willing to learn will get you further than all that stuff!
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A Virtual Assistant Perk
Filed Under Virtual Assistance
There are lots of perks when you’re a Virtual Assistant. You are:
- Working from home;
- Assisting awesome clients who respect your talents;
- Playing your music really loud if you want to;
- Able to go to a doctor’s appointment during the day without asking anyone’s permission;
- And learning something new every day.
My favorite perk at the moment is helping out a local client when she and her husband need to go out of town for a week. Since she has a home office and a cat, I assist her by staying at her house taking care of her home, business, and Bud. Did I mention that they live on a beautiful lake? Oh, yes. It’s a definite perk! I love watching the lake as it changes almost minute by minute in our variable Wisconsin weather.
Since I’ve never had a pet, it took me a while to figure out what to do with the Budster. Luckily, cats apparently don’t need much – a little food to eat, water to drink, and a mangy furry stuffed mouse to torment. And a daily shower. At least Bud-Bud likes to take a daily shower. As soon as I start running the water in the tub – here comes the Budmeister. He jumps up on the tub edge and sticks his head around the shower curtain, sticking his face into the shower spray and licking the water that he gets on his paw. Once in a while, he’ll hide himself completely behind the shower curtain, pushing the curtain rhythmically into the spray to hear the sound it makes. (Like listening to the rain hitting a tin roof.)
When I was considering becoming a Virtual Assistant, I thought mainly about defining my niche, finding clients, and making sure I had the software I would need. It never occurred to me that one of the perks of this business would be taking a shower with a Pixie-Bob
What’s your favorite Virtual Assistant perk?
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