Your business is growing and that once small start up has turned into a solid, reputable, and stable small business. While you grow your business, you may also find yourself considering the idea of hiring a virtual assistant: someone to tackle the day-to-day scheduling of work tasks or business meetings, and handling administrative duties to help you take your business to the next level. You may even ask yourself where, when, or how to go about hiring a virtual assistant. In this post we will tackle the 4 key factors to consider when you’re considering bringing on a virtual assistant. Let’s jump in!
You’re ready to hire a virtual assistant:
When you lose track of keeping track
One of the simplest yet most important factors to consider when hiring a virtual assistant is knowing the right timing. If you find it hard to stay on top of simple day-to-day tasks, and you find your attention is being pulled away from the important roles you have, it may be time to bring an assistant on board. When your systems such as Evernote, Slack, Trello Boards and beyond start becoming overwhelming to keep organized by yourself, an assistant may be the solution. When you see it’s hard to keep track of things, don’t lose track anymore-bring on an assistant.
When you have the business down to a science
When your business starts becoming a well-oiled machine and the products, services, and business model you run can be set to “cruise control,” you may be able to bring on an assistant. Your business is now solid, so bringing on an assistant may free up some of your mental energy and allow you to tackle the next steps for growth. Think about building a house: If your foundation is solid and in place, you can start tackling the framing of the walls. Allow an assistant to keep things running while you move on to framing up your next big project.
When finances make sense
Before you dive into hiring an assistant, be sure to consider the cost to do so. Virtual assistants are not minimum wage jobs, they can be costly if you’re hiring top talent. Make sure your business can justify and support an assistant. The intention is to bring in more business by hiring an assistant, so ensure the financial pros/cons are considered. You may not be able to pay a full year salary today, but can you justify the initial cost by allowing it to add revenue elsewhere?
When it feels right
There is something to be said for “trusting your gut” when you run a small business. It was that very gut that lead you to start the business in the first place right? Do not leave out the internal thought process for bringing on an assistant. Ask yourself if it feels like the right time, seems like the moment to enter that phase, and do “the cards just fall in place” leading to the perfect fit for your company? If your gut is saying go for it, then it should be worth the thought.
By now you have considered hiring a virtual assistant for your company and ruling out the various pros/cons for when and if that moment is right. Hiring a virtual assistant can be a vital asset to any small business, however the timing, need, and role in your company all need to be considered. By reflecting on the top 4 factors when hiring a virtual assistant, one can better prepare themselves for striking at the right place and the right time.
Need a little extra working capital to hire a virtual assistant? IOU Financial is here to fuel the growth of small business. We can provide a small business loan of up to $150,000 in as little as 48 hours. Contact us today!
