Released on = November 1, 2006, 10:15 pm

Press Release Author = Danielle Keister

Industry = Small Business

Press Release Summary = Lack of smart business planning can leave Virtual Assistant
business owners sitting in the carseat

Press Release Body = Ever considered the idea that a business is like a parent and
employees like its children?

Think about it. Employers must nurture and supervise their businesses and employees
like parents must do with their children. The "family unit" thrives on strong
direction, fair but firm discipline, and solid structure. The employer "parent" is
responsible for instilling this foundation, and making determinations that affect
the health and well-being of the "family unit," the business itself.

Its "children," the employees, have only to do what is asked of them and collect
their "allowance" in the form of wages. They don't get to decide how much they will
be paid. They don't have to deal with administration and taxes, profits or losses.
And the success or failure of the business affects them only to the extent that they
continue to have a job.

When making the decision to become self-employed, a Virtual Assistant goes from
employee "child" to business owner "parent." There's much more at stake now, and
they have a keen interest in the success and profitable operation of their Virtual
Assistant business.

However, this is often a role that Virtual Assistants don't readily adjust to. They
may not realize as new business owners that there's more to creating and running a
self-sustaining business than simply performing services for clients. Often, they
will even charge professional service rates equal to their former hourly wage--and
end up earning less because they haven't accounted for operating costs, capital
outlay and profit margins, much less the Social Security, Medicare, unemployment,
disability and other benefits they used to receive as employees!

The good news is that all it takes to go from employee "child," who has never had to
be responsible for the success of a business, to strong, intelligent Virtual
Assistant business owner is some intentional thought and smart planning.

There's even a business tool for this-it's called the business plan.

The business plan gets Virtual Assistants to consciously and methodically decide
where they want to go in their Virtual Assistant business and how they will get
there. It forces them to think through all the details of their business, and
creates a roadmap for their Virtual Assistant business success. But what many
Virtual Assistants struggle with is where to even begin.

The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce offers an excellent starting point with
the Virtual Assistant Business Plan Template here:
http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/virtual-assistant-business-forms.htm

This creative plan for the imaginary company Superlative Virtual Assistant Services,
owned by the fictional Suzy P. DeQue, is written with proper format and outline. It
consists of 14 pages of example text, spreadsheets and figures so Virtual Assistants
can get an idea of what kind of information to develop for their own Virtual
Assistant business, and includes four Excel financial worksheets and a free service
rate calculation tool.

As a Virtual Assistant, are you passively sitting in the carseat of your business,
or commanding at the steering wheel? Be in control of your fortune! A business plan
is the one document your Virtual Assistant business should not be without.

--END--

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Danielle Keister is founder of the Virtual Assistance Chamber of
Commerce, a professional association of Virtual Assistants worldwide dedicated to
helping Virtual Assistants build smarter, more successful businesses, and providing
tools and resources for business owners to connect with qualified, professional
Virtual Assistants. Visit the Virtual Assistant Business Forms store at
http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/virtual-assistant-business-forms.htm


Web Site =
http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/virtual-assistant-business-forms.htm

Contact Details = Danielle Keister
Founder, Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 7101, Tacoma WA 98417
253.238.1368