WHAT IS A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT . . .

• A virtual assistant is a remote administrative assistant who works for a company or individual on a self-employed, or contract basis;
• Virtual assistants specialise in services such as e-mail management, diary/calendar management, various administrative tasks, data capturing, social media, web site design, graphic design, bookkeeping, invoicing/collections and much more;
• A virtual assistant typically operates from an off-site office, but can access the necessary planning documents, such as shared calendars and e-mails, remotely;
• There is no need for a desk or other workspace at the company’s office. A virtual assistant pays for and provides their own computer equipment, commonly used software programs and high-speed internet service;
• Virtual assistants have become prominent as small businesses and startups rely on virtual offices to keep costs down. Businesses of all sizes increase their use of the internet for daily operations;
• Because a virtual assistant is an independent contractor, a business does not have to provide the same benefits that it would to a full-time employee eg. no employee benefits, UIF, sick leave, paid leave;
• For small business owners and individuals, hiring a virtual assistant can help them free up valuable hours to focus on growing the business and generating revenue. It can be easier and more cost effective to outsource tasks that are time-consuming, to someone who is skilled at them.