5 Things I Learned Launching a Virtual Assistant Business in 2021

Nothing has been scarier in my life than taking the leap into becoming a small business owner. But my time as a contributing member of society was a real love/hate relationship. The closest I ever got to being content working for “The Man” was during my time at Trader Joes. But like many jobs, as much as there were parts of my role as a crew member that I loved, the pandemic showed me an ugly capitalistic side of the company I couldn’t ignore.

And like a lot of people, the pandemic also forced me to explore new ways to entertain myself… mainly TikTok. One fateful day, as I fell deeper and deeper into the consumer blackhole, I stumbled upon a video about becoming a virtual assistant.

It was new, glamorous, and seemed like the Cinderella slipper for my non-conformist personality. It promised income I never even dreamed of, and hours and freedom I knew I’d never get at a regular job. So I took a course, absorbed as much information as I could, and launched my business late 2020, early 2021. But as anyone who’s embarked on an entrepreneurial path will tell you: it’s not easy.

So here is my hot take, in the form of 5 crucial lessons I learned about becoming a virtual assistant in 2021.

get all the business details down

You can’t convince me this isn’t the most important part of creating any business. If you don’t understand taxes, licensing fees, business expenses—learn. No one wants to make the big bucks just to get slammed by the IRS come tax season. There are so many ways to leverage your expenses, and write-offs you may never have considered.

Educate yourself so that you don’t get blind-sided by the cost of running a freelance business.

network, network , network

I know. Schmoozing is the worst. But this is less about kissing feet (that’s why you left your corporate job in the first place) and more about building a community. When you build connections with fellow online service providers (OSPs) you’re creating future opportunities for clients and referrals. If your strength lies in writing like moi, you may get hit up by a mutual who doesn’t offer that service i.e. a web developer, graphic designer, etc. I’m not saying make nice with every person you see online, but try to make authentic connections when you can. You may be surprised by where your next job comes from.

create boundaries, even with yourself

Let me paint you a picture—you find a new skill, interest, whatever, and suddenly you are consumed by a desire to learn everything about it. Thoughts of mastering this new potential “offering” take over your day-to-day life, and grandiose dreams of branching out in 100 new ways fill your mind (and time).

Or a client asks if you do X, and you could do X, but you don’t have a lot of time, or don’t really want to. Just because you could doesn’t mean you should.

You need to get brutally honest and clear about what you’re capable of, and how you’re going to build space for yourself outside your business. For me, it’s no work on the weekends, and keeping my clients down to a manageable number.

advocate for yourself

Whether you choose to be a virtual assistant or a business owner in another industry, are your boss and employee. (This is what a Sole Proprietorship is.) There is no HR, no higher up, no one to protect your interests other than yourself. And I know—in a new business you want to wow every new client. You want to go above and beyond to show that you’re capable and attract more work. But bending over backwards, working crazy hours, saying “yes” to work you don’t even like? Is not how you get there.

Back to boundaries, learn to say “no.” Get comfortable with it. And come to terms with the fact that some people are not meant to work with you.

stop diminishing your wins, and celebrate even the smallest victories

Once you’re in the thick of it, it’s easy to get swept up in comparing your progress to others. You follow a coach or other OSPer in your space who’s celebrating double your income, or painting this glamorized picture of their business. Suddenly that project you just finished seems incredibly… small. You despair at how “little” you’re making compared to the big names, and envious of those who seem to be drowning in work and money.

Every dollar you make, every client you leave happy, is a huge success. Celebrate every moment because you picked a career that would leave most people quaking.

At the end of the day, this journey has no finish line. I learn new things all the time, and encounter new experiences and dilemmas on the daily. I’ve pivoted more times than I can count, and I know that I’ll probably pivot again in the future.

Being a virtual assistant is not for the faint of heart—but if you are determined, competent, and consistent, the online world is full of niches you can tap into, even now.