Join Now | Sign In | Shopping Cart
UniversalClass™ - Why not learn something new today?

Class Syllabus: Starting a Virtual Assisting Business

Request More Information
Tell a Friend
 

Course Description

A virtual assistant works from his or her own office, offering administrative and office support services, to other companies over the Internet. A virtual assistant can make from $25-$50 per hour performing tasks such as word processing, database management, desktop publishing, and email services. Moreover, because virtual assistants work from their homes, for customers they often never meet, they do not need to be located in the same city or even the same state. Students in this course will learn how to establish and successfully grow a virtual assistant business including learning how to locate customers, set fees, and develop client contracts.

Course Requirements

Textbook Required in Course:

How to Start a Home-Based Desktop Publishing Business by Louise Kursmark. (c) 2002 ISBN 0-7627-2250-9

Available at Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc., Publisher's Retail: $17.95.

A note on your textbook: As of 2003, there is scant literature available for the virtual assisting business, aside from expensive proprietary training materials. Thus, we will be using a book dealing with the kin of virtual assisting, the desktop publishing business. Nearly all of the material contained in the text will be visibly applicable to the virtual assisting practice. Where specifics about virtual assisting are lacking, the gaps will be filled-in within the course.

 

Course Goals

Upon completion of this course the student should be able to... 1. Describe an overview of starting a growing a virtual assistant business 2. Perform online and offline marketing to attract clients 3. Develop contracts appropriate for services offered 4. Set fees for services provided 5. Describe the legal and tax issues related to running a virtual assisting business from home 6. Handle funamental book keeping

Course Outline

I. What is a virtual assistant? II. History of the virtual assistant III. Benefits of owning a VA business IV. Traits of successful VA s V. What services to offer VI. Setting up shop VII. Communicating with clients VIII. Pricing and billing IX. Marketing your services (part 1, Your market) X. Marketing your services (part 2, Target marketing) XI. Record keeping and taxes XII. Getting further help

Course Content

  • An overview of the nature, history, and duties of virtual assistants
  • Benefits afforded to virtual assistants and their clients
  • Necessary traits to be successful as a virtual assistant
  • A summary of the kinds of services virtual assistants offer
  • Details of setting up a virtual assisting practice
  • Particulars of communicating with clients locally and remotely
  • Pricing and billing practices of virtual assistants
  • Marketing and advertising the virtual assisting practice
  • Record keeping and tax issues
  • Resources for support

 

Methods

The course will include...

1. Assigned readings 2. Email correspondence with the instructor and interactions on the classroom discussion boards 3. An entrepreneurial self-assessment exercise 4. A market research exercise studying the competition 5. A goal setting exercise for the business 6. A skills assessment exercise designed to help the student pinpoint what services to offer 7. Development of a micro-business plan for the firm 8. Development of preliminary literature (cards, brochure, etc) for the company 9. Creation of a pricing menu 10. A market survey exercise searching for potential clients 11. A target marketing exercise

Course Links

Associations

International Virtual Assistant Association

http://www.ivaa.org/

StaffCentrix

http://staffcentrix.com

Virtual Assistant Chamber of Commerce

http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/

Training Programs:
AssistU
http://www.assistu.com
 
Virtual Tools:
Efax
http://www.efax.com
Yahoo s Online Address Book, Calendar, Message Boards, etc. For virtual communication)
http://Yahoo.com
PayPal (for accepting credit card payments
http://www.paypal.com
 
Request Information
Have a question? Contact us for more information regarding this course.

Your Name:

Your Email:
Comments:
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Lesson 1 - What is a Virtual Assistant
  • Lesson 2 - History of the Virtual Assistant
  • Lesson 3 - Benefits of the Virtual Assistant
  • Lesson 4 - Necessary Skills for a Virtual Assistant
  • Lesson 5 - What Services to Offer
  • Lesson 6 - Setting Up Shop
  • Lesson 7 - Communication
  • Lesson 8 - Pricing, Billing, and Collections
  • Lesson 9 - Marketing
  • Lesson 10 - Record Keeping
  • Lesson 11 - Basics of Taxes
  • Lesson 12 - Resources for Suppor, and
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
We're sorry, this course is not open for enrollment.

Featured Courses in Small Business

Excel 2007

1. Excel 2007

($65.00) Microsoft Excel 2007 is a very popular business productivity application for the management and manipulation of data. more
  Computer Basics 101

2. Computer Basics 101

($60.00) Do you find yourself intimidated by computer jargon?. more
     
Event Planning 101

3. Event Planning 101

($75.00) Event planning is one of the hottest new fields available to people from all walks of life today. more
  Typing and Keyboarding 101

4. Typing and Keyboarding 101

($60.00) Today, knowing how to type fast is almost a necessity in the business world. more

Other Related Classes in Small Business

  • Excel 2007 Microsoft Excel 2007 is a very popular business productivity application for the management and manipulation of data. Microsoft Excel is often packaged as part of Microsoft Office that includes other applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPo...
  • Computer Basics 101 Do you find yourself intimidated by computer jargon? Would you like to have a clearer understanding (in non-jargon language) of how your computer works? Computer Basics 101 will both demonstrate and explain how your computer works in an easy-to-follow, ...
  • Event Planning 101 Event planning is one of the hottest new fields available to people from all walks of life today. Although some event planners may possess a college degree in business or a related field of study, a college degree is not required to be an event planner,...
  • Typing and Keyboarding 101 Today, knowing how to type fast is almost a necessity in the business world. More and more corporate-world employees are being asked to create reports, sales letters, business plans, blogs, web content, forecasts and more. Knowing how to type can sav...
  • Professional Organizer Training If you have a talent for organizing and want to find out how to set up your own Professional Organizing business, then this course is where you need to begin. Not only will answers be provided on what a professional organizer is, potential earnings and...
  • Interior Decorating Made Easy Have you always wanted to learn the basic decorating principles and techniques without having to attend an interior design school? Interior Decorating Made Easy will give you a quick and easy overview of the design process. You'll learn the principl...
  • How to Create Web Pages These days, everyone can benefit from an online presence, and that means developing a website. This course covers a basic introduction of how to create your own website page-by-page using HTML, a common website coding process. From basic HTML defin...
  • Wedding Planning 101 You won't find a more comprehensive of a wedding course online that isn't offered by a bridal association! This eleven-lesson course teaches you all that you need to know to become a well paid, successful wedding planner – starting the day after ...
  • MS Office 2007: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook MS Office 2007 will provide a comprehensive tutorial of these programs- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. MS Word 2007 It doesn't matter if you're new to MS Word or an experienced user, this comprehensive course teaches the most basic features as w...
  • Effective Communication 101 Communication influences all factors of your life. From daily interactions with strangers on the street to the way you present yourself in the board room, the way you communicate is a reflection of who you are and the way you establish relationships with...
  • Etiquette 101 Etiquette 101 is an overview of today's etiquette rules, updated for today's fast-paced lifestyles and ever-changing codes of conduct for work and leisure. The role of etiquette has changed over the years. At one time, it served as an indicator of each p...
  • Time Management 101 Managing time effectively is fundamental to success. It also factors into achieving balance in our lives. Today, we're busier than ever--at work and at home. Having enough time for things that are important, things we want or need to do, or even to have ...
  • Business Writing Basics We live in world where communication is paramount to survival. In a work environment where communication is equated with the professionalism and efficiency of an individual, would you jeopardize your career because of bad writing? Do you want the embarra...
  • Adobe Photoshop 101 Adobe Photoshop is a complex graphics and image editing software and paint program. Chances are, you've heard of Photoshop frequently in the past even if this will be the very first time that you use the program. Adobe's Photoshop program has become a ...
  • Quickbooks 101 QuickBooks 101 is a course geared for the small business and the small business owner. It contains the features that you loved in Quicken, then goes a step further to give small businesses the accounting software they need to take their numbers from an e...
  • Dealing With Difficult People Dealing with a difficult or toxic personality can be damaging both emotionally and physically, particularly if the person is your boss or sitting in the cubicle right next to you. Confronting those who compromise your comfort and job security can be very...
  • MS Word 2007 This Microsoft Word 2007 course is not only designed to give the experienced MS Word user a tour of the new version of Word, but to also introduce new MS Word users to a comprehensive look at the features and utilities that this word processing software...
  • Photoshop Elements Version 7.0 (or earlier) The Photoshop Elements software package is a condensed version of the popular Adobe Photoshop. Lesser priced, it contains all the features of Photoshop, but contains fewer options that are much easier to understand. Elements was designed with the consum...
  • Intro to PC Troubleshooting and Repair There is no question that computers offer many benefits to their users. Whether they are used for pleasure or business, computers enable us to connect to the world in ways never thought possible. And to get the most out of them, computers need to be set ...
  • Business Math 101 This course takes you through an overview of the wonderful world of business mathematics. The course is designed for a person of any age and anywhere in the world. All that is required of the learner are a computer, a connection to the internet, a c...
  • How to Write a Grant Proposal Did you realize that you are most probably an experienced grant writer already? NO , you say, I've never written a grant in my life before -- but you have. Most people out there have asked somebody, at some time, for something in writing (one way ...
  • Leadership and Supervision 101 The idea of leadership is one that seems to constantly change. What was once valued in a leader in past centuries, is no longer valued in our modern era. So then, how do we define leadership? And is leadership the same as supervision ? In this Lead...
  • PowerPoint 2007 The purpose of this course is to help you understand what PowerPoint 2007 can do for you, whether you are familiar with PowerPoint 2003 or new to the application altogether. One of the most noticeable changes is the new user interface called the Microsof...
  • Feng Shui 101 Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art that is designed to help you improve your life personally and professionally. The Chinese believe that your environment has a large effect on you mentally and your physical well-being. When you are unbalanced in yo...
  • Windows 7 Welcome to Windows 7, the latest operating system introduced by Microsoft. Chances are, you were just getting used to Vista when this came out. And, most likely, some of you are still bound to the old and familiar (now) XP. We know that the though...
  • Dreamweaver 101 Whether this is your first time using Dreamweaver or you've used it in the past, this course will walk you through the program step-by-step and teach you how to use its many features and options to create professional web pages with little more than ...
  • Advertising, Marketing and Sales Writing There you are, cold-calling yet another sales prospect. Your verbal pitch is pure gold; your prospect is attentive--interested--and seems ready to buy. But just as you're about to close the deal, you hear that eternal refrain: Send me something ...
  • Business Management 101 Introduction to Business Management The world of business management offers an array of career opportunities unparalleled among income earning possibilities. Industries from mining to waste disposal have management-level positions in many companies. ...
  • Conflict Resolution 101 Conflict Resolution: In the Workplace and Beyond Did you know that a little conflict in your office today can shut down your entire operation tomorrow? That is no exaggeration! Workplace conflict costs. It starts by reducing productivity and employee h...
  • Internet Marketing Basics Today's business marketing efforts require an internet presence, an active campaign and a steady attention to the details of your company's internet marketing efforts. Don't let your company get left behind in the marketplace of ideas and sales. Universa...
  • ABC's of Technical Writing Technical writing is the art and science of translating technical information into readable, accessible writing usable by a wide audience. If you have ever read the user's manual for a piece of software or equipment you've purchased, you've seen technica...
  • Electronics 101 Whether performing a minor repair, such as your phone or DVD player, or applying for a new and technology focused career, an understanding of the principles directing basic electronics will prove helpful throughout life. This course in basic electronics ...
  • Freelance Writing 101 If you have ever dreamed of being a freelance writer this course is for you. Get started today learning about this exciting field and in no time you can be on your way to earning a living, extra income, and more, by doing something that you love – ...
  • Resume Writing 101 One of the most important and intimidating steps in the job search process is writing a solid resume that gets the attention you want and need. Unfortunately, many job seekers get overwhelmed before they even get started. The result is poorly-written res...
  • MS Office 2003: Word, Excel, PowerPoint This all in one training course will provide comprehensive instruction on three popular MS Office programs: MS Word 2003, MS Excel 2003, PowerPoint 2003. MS Word 2003 T his course teaches you all the basics of MS Word, from doing simply functions like ...
  • Special Events Planning 101 Think back to the last time you went to a convention, a wedding, or an off-site business meeting. Everything you saw--from the sign-up posts, to the table decorations, to the folders you've been handed--had to be created by someone. That someone would ...
  • How to Write a Business Plan 101 Most CPAs will tell you that the number one mistake people make in starting a new business is that they fail to write a business plan. Without a written set of plans and directions, a new business will struggle on many levels. You may start out doing wel...
  • MS Office 2010: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook This all-in-one training course provides comprehensive instruction on four popular MS Office programs: MS Word 2010, MS Excel 2010, MS PowerPoint 2010 and MS Outlook 2010. MS Word 2010 Microsoft Word 2010 is the newest update to their popular word pro...
  • Microsoft Publisher 2007 Microsoft Publisher can be an amazing tool. It can help us complete impressive tasks in a fraction of the time, and help to accomplish things that we could never have done on our own. But you have to know how to use this program. This course will sho...
  • Public Relations 101 Public relations can contribute immensely to the success of a business large or small. In short, it is a message, an image, a story or a brand, that is vital to communicate and can grow a business. A solid and well thought out public relations plan can...
  • Assertiveness Training 101 The ability to be assertive is difficult. Because most people do not want to be perceived as selfish, demanding, hostile, stubborn or just plain hard to get along with, they allow others to take advantage of them or they do more than is necessary or requ...
  • Mediation 101 The individual who pursues a career as a mediator can look forward to a job that is personally satisfying and financially rewarding. With its emphasis on fairness and cooperation, this career is an ideal choice for those who are empathetic and want to ...
  • Small Business Guide Starting and operating a business is a minefield of rules and regulations. The regulations set in the moment you decide to start your own business. You need to get licenses and permits from the authorities. There are restrictions on the type of business ...
  • Confidence Building 101 This course on building self-confidence reaches beyond the standard self-help program by addressing the core issues surrounding confidence problems and exploring how to reprogram our brain‘s negative self-talk. Based on the concept that we come int...
  • Business Analysis 101 How can you make a significant difference in your organization? One way is to be part of a project that improves the company's performance or launches it in a new direction. The business analyst (BA) plays a key role in the development and execution of ...
  • Quicken Deluxe 2010 Quicken Deluxe is a personal finance management tool that provides features that we all need to keep track of where our money is going. However, this software gives you more than just the power to log your finances and manage your bills. It can also ...
  • Interior Design 101 Interior design is an exciting profession that not only requires designers to be able to think creatively, but also to problem-solve. Interior designers are responsible for creating an environment for a structure, which may include a single-family home, ...
  • Writing Effective Persuasion 101 Do you hear stirring speeches that inspire to go out and take to heart what the speaker was talking about? Do you wonder how some people can sell nearly anything simply by how they talk? If you do, then chances are you are wondering about being persuasiv...
  • Team Management 101 Team Management Is -- Designing & Developing a Team Committed to a Common Purpose No man will ever make a great leader who wants to do it all by himself or to get all the credit for doing it. (Andrew Carnegie) 'Managing' used to be just tellin...
  • Virus Removal and Protection 101 It's amazing how many of us own personal computers at home, belong to Internet networking systems in work environments, and yet don't understand the very basics regarding Internet Security. While we've all heard terms like worms, spyware and Trojan horse...
  • Effective Presentations Speaking in front of a group of people is one of the most common fears people experience. In fact, it may be more feared than death...or even spiders . Yet being able to present ourselves, our companies, our ideas and products to others is one of the mos...
  • Party Planning 101 Looking for a way to throw a children's birthday party on a budget? Easy crafting and good old creativity can balance the budget and still bring joy to all the little party guests. In the party planning business, there is no right or wrong, only a desir...
  • How to Start and Run an Online Business How to Start and Run an Online Business is an online course that is organized into 16 different sections to help you understand how to create an online business, even if you don't have any online business experience. From the basics of learning how to ...
  • Internet Specialist 101 The role of an Internet Specialist in today's business marketplace is in exceptionally high demand. The Internet is a global web of interconnected networks that contains an immense amount of information. It has transformed how businesses conduct commer...
  • Marketing Outreach Marketing a company's products and services to potential and existing customers is not only necessary, but a key ingredient to growing sales. Outreach marketing is the facet of marketing in which a company representative actively seeks out potential lead...
  • Fashion Design 101: An Introduction Fashion Design 101 explains the qualities and skills necessary to become a fashion designer. You'll learn about the many related career opportunities available besides that of fashion design and gain an inside look into today's fashion business. A fashi...
  • Outlook 2007 The purpose of this course is to help you understand what Outlook 2007 can do for you, whether you are familiar with Outlook 2003 or new to the application altogether. This course has been developed to be of benefit to new users of Outlook, individuals ...
  • Photoshop Elements 101 The Photoshop Elements software package is a condensed version of the popular Adobe Photoshop. As the lesser priced version of Adobe's Photoshop, Elements offers all the same features, but just with less options. However, don't let that scare you away fr...
  • Customer Relationship Management 101 Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the client or customer gets out of it. (Peter Drucker) We are exposed to customer service (of one kind or another) at least once a day, every day of the week, fifty-two wee...
  • Internet Fundamentals 101 Are you in the dark about how the Internet works? Do you wonder how in the world it is possible to communicate with someone on another continent in the blink of an eye? This straightforward course clearly and plainly lays out the basics of the Internet i...
  • Microsoft Project 2007 Microsoft Project 2007 is a project management software that helps project managers better structure, organize, and plan for all their projects. This includes budgets, tasks, resources, assignments, and everything in between. It can create critical pat...
  • MS Outlook 2010 Outlook 2010 is a personal information software program that's available with the Microsoft Office Suite. Although it's mostly used as an email client, it can also be used for managing tasks, keeping your calendar, managing contacts, taking notes, journa...
  • Travel Writing 101 Travel writing is a fun, interesting and fulfilling career. If your goal is to become a full-time travel writer who is able to live off your income from writing alone, it is important to understand that travel writing, like any other career, requires you...
  • Employment Law Fundamentals 101 Learn the basics of Employment Law , the potential pitfalls, and ways to keep yourself out of court so that you can grow your business by hiring, evaluating, and managing employees. This course will discuss all the necessary information you need to kno...
  • Business Ethics 101 Business ethics is an important part of any industry. Students or managers, unfamiliar with many ethical challenges, behaviors, or regulations will find themselves struggling in business industries that include finance, accounting or human resource manag...
  • Motivational and Public Speaking 101 Public and Motivational speaking is often a cause for anxiety for millions of people, and it need not be. With the proper preparation, knowledge, and mindset, you can become an extremely effective public speaker. Public and motivational speakers are in...
  • Business Consulting 101 Do you have strong business skills? Can you analyze information and construct a recommendation on a course of action? Do you have good communication, observation and character analysis abilities? Then you could be a good candidate to provide business con...
  • Introduction to Six Sigma Six Sigma is a methodology of implementing a highly successful project, or producing a high quality product or service, using techniques and principles that ensure excellence. The Six Sigma methodology incorporates many years of studying best practices i...
  • Managerial Accounting 101 Managerial accounting is not as widely used as other forms of accounting, nor is it as known. While companies concern themselves with financial accounting methods like audits, budgets and financial statements, they often completely ignore the forward-thi...
  • Marketing for Small Business 101 Marketing for the 21 st century small business is more dynamic and more challenging than ever before in the course of history. The world has simultaneously opened up and yet niched closed in many ways. Today's businesses are challenged by a couple of ...
  • Workers' Compensation 101 Since as far back as Ancient Greece and Rome, there has been a system in place in all civilized societies to compensate those individuals who have become injured or disabled due to a work-related accident. The laws and regulations governing what is known...
  • Digital Scrapbooking 101 Scrapbooks have been part of the American way of life for generations. Most of us were raised with scrapbooks and probably even helped make them as children next to our mother's or grandmother's sides. However, with the advent of the home computer and ea...
  • MS Publisher 2010 Microsoft Publisher 2010 is a desktop publishing software program that comes with the Microsoft Office suite. While Microsoft Word is a word processing program, Microsoft Publisher is used for page layout and design. You can use Publisher to create brochu...
  • Retail Business 101 The idea of running one's own business is the dream of hundreds of thousands of Americans. The reasons for opening your own business are myriad; to be your own boss, to set your own hours, to do what you want to do, to provide a product or service where ...
  • Catering 101 If you are the kind of person who... thrives on cooking for your friends, wants everyone to come to your house for dinner, feels like you have more party food ideas than you could ever possibly execute in your own home ...then you might want to start you...
  • Understanding Business Administration 101 Whether you are already running a business, have yet to start one or have been hired to support a business owner, it is important to know the basics of the business administrative process. This course will trace a path through the inception, setup a...
  • Adobe Flash 101 Adobe Flash CS4 can be a complex program to use and understand, even if you already have basic knowledge. It's very easy to get lost in the interface and confused by the many features it offers. This course was designed to solve the mysteries of Adob...
  • Workplace Safety 101 This course focuses on workplace safety, health, and inspection. Throughout this course you will learn what workplace safety is, why it is important and how it affects a business. Common areas of workplace safety are discussed, including office safety...
  • Traditional Scrapbooking 101 More people every year are discovering the joy of scrapbooking to capture memories and create unique family and friend albums to keep and share. In this comprehensive course, the beginner scrapbooker will learn how to start his/her scrapbooking hobby wit...
  • Business Credit 101 Business Credit 101 provides potential and current business owners with the necessary knowledge to successfully use credit within their business. There are many reasons why business operators rely on credit to maximize their business potential, but it ...
  • Crisis Management 101 Unexpected events occur frequently in all aspects of our daily environment. Whether on a school playground, a university campus, a factory, a post office or a major corporation headquarters, understanding the importance and challenges to individuals when...
  • Creating an Effective Sales Team Every small business owner or new entrepreneur knows that the success of their company will depend largely on the effectiveness of their sales team. After all, if you are not selling something, then you can hardly call yourself in business since business...
 
Request More Information   Tell a Friend