How can I become a VA ?

[Mridula]

I would like to start a reverse thread. How can I become a virtual Assisstant. Sounds like a great way to do something. Where can I apply or find out more about it?
I am good at organising, love my computer and the Internet - have a few other qualifications also !!

[Lori]

A Virtual Assistant business is one of the best ways I know to work from home.

I started finding clients at elance (http://www.elance.com/c/splash/main/publish.pl?rid=AAGT&f=sellerfunnel1). A lot of work comes into the Administrative section there. Then we (the providers) bid on the work. It's really fun actually!

Lori

[OffAssist]

I opened my own bookkeeping/admin firm in 2002, while pregnant with my 2nd child. I just didn't want to go back to corporate. I called myself "a bookkeeper who can also do administrative type stuff too if you need it." Then I stumbled upon a home secretaries message board and saw someone was having a "Virtual Assistant Connection". The rest is history. I joined IVAA (ivaa.org) and we have grown by leaps and bounds since! In wanting to give back to the VA industry, I volunteered with IVAA (they are non-profit) and found a great niche for myself in bookkeeping there. I am now President-Elect of that association.

It was originally going to be just something to do on the side, but I have been very fortunate. My first client was a referral, who then referred another, then another, etc etc. The vast majority of my clients are referrals; although we get a lot of "cold" clients these days as well. OffAssist has grown beyond my biggest dreams (actually not, I've always wanted to own a large company and I gradually steered it in that direction, it's just been a wild ride!) about 13 months ago, my husband joined me full time and we now have a small team that we work with.

I absolutely, 100% love what I do. I wouldn't change a thing!