Why Do I Need A Virtual Assistant?

You are already a success in your business and you are becoming overwhelmed with administrative tasks that can be so easily outsourced. Or you are a motivated entrepreneur who is just starting up a venture. You require excellent administrative assistance and need guidance on technology and social media to spread awareness of your brand, yet you don’t want to hire a full time contractor or employee.

Is a Virtual Assistant the same as an employee?

Not at all. We, as Virtual Assistant’s,  are specialists in outsourced and virtual administrative support and consulting. Many years of intensive skill building have gone into our careers. We are entrepreneurs/business owners/contractors. We don’t report to our clients in the same way an employee would report to a boss, i.e.: punching time clocks, requests for days off, etc. We as Virtual Assistants are in control of our own hours, vacations, and policies and procedures. You can think of the client/VA relationship in a similar fashion as you view your relationship with a CPA, Physician or Architect. Please read this for more information.

How Do I Contact You?

Fill out our online form and request your free 30-minute consultation. Need more than 30 minutes? You can book a 60-minute consultation for $50.00 USD (payment required in advance).

What are the fee’s for your virtual assistant services?

We exclusively offer ongoing support packages from 5 hours a month for $250.00 USD on up to 40 hours a month for $1,400.00 USD.

What is a retainer?

A virtual assistance retainer is a contract that purchases monthly hours in advance in exchange for a lower hourly fee. It guarantees a certain amount of our business management time during the course of the month as well as entitles the client to priority scheduling over any hourly or project based clients. Retainer clients can think ahead as far as what their administrative needs might be and plan accordingly.

Can retainer hours be carried over to the next month?

Retainer hours must be utilized within the month and are non-transferable from month to month. The reason is that our retainer hours are a fraction of what our standard hourly rate is. The client gets the  benefit of a reduced rate in exchange for their ability to pre-schedule and make full use of their hours.

How will I know how to best use my hours?

As our client, it is always your responsibility to determine how many hours you need on a monthly basis. We can offer suggestions if you ask, of course, but the onus is on the client to make the best use of the hours that they purchase. Only you can know if you can generate enough work for your Virtual Assistant.

Do you provide immediate turnaround?

Since our relationship with our client is entrepreneur/professional, versus boss/employee, our services are not designed for those who need instant responses and feedback. The scenario of working with a virtual assistant is vastly different to hiring an employee and expecting instant turnaround. Our services are designed more for the entrepreneur who has a steady range of tasks and projects that can be carried out over time.

What operating systems do you use?

Currently we work mainly on the Mac platform.

Can you help me switch from my PC to a Mac?

Yes!  We would be honored to be your virtual assistant guide to the world of Mac OS X. We can provide advice on what type of Mac to get, how to equip it, advise you on care and maintenance of your new Mac, and advice on what types of Mac software to get. Then, as your new Mac Virtual Assistant, we work with you virtually and collaboratively so you can make the most of your new hardware and software.

What software do you utilize?

We have  software in both Mac and PC versions that the vast majority of our clients require. If you need a program that we don’t have, we can more than likely obtain it.

Is a contract required to use your offsite support services?

Yes, a contract and privacy agreement is required for all clients.

Where does the work get administered and how?

All work is done from our offices and is accomplished by email, internet FTP transfer, and fax (either standard or electronic). We have a digital scanner and are virtually “paperless”. Most clients email or scan us .pdf versions of their files and documents. Some clients also utilize overnight mail services and CD/DVD exchange. For many of our clients we utilize www.logmein.com or various webinar services like Yugma, to facilitate communication both with them and between them and their own clients. As Professional Virtual Assistants and business owners, we are in full control of how the work is performed and what processes and procedures we use to get to the point of a finished project or result. We communicate with our clients exclusively via email. Phonecalls are a rare occurrence and must be pre-scheduled far in advance. The time utilized for the phonecall is deducted from your retainer hours.

Can you provide references?

References are what bosses require from potential employees. Since we are entrepreneurs, we can provide client testimonials for you. In some cases, a phonecall with one of our current clients can be arranged, subject to their approval.

As a Virtual Assistant, what are your credentials?

Virtual Assistant Taryn Merrick has over 20 years of experience as an administrative professional. She has worked for Fortune 500 companies in the capacity of Executive Assistant to CEO’s, Sr. VP’s and Chairmen.

Our company has many years of experience working with corporate executives, interior designers, interior decorators, contractors, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, retail merchandisers and buyers. Principal Taryn Merrick is certified by the National Association of Realtors (NAR®), as a Real Estate Professional Assistant. She is also certified by IVAA as a Certified Real Estate Support Specialist. The design experience is due to administrative background at the corporate offices of the Home Depot and EXPO Design Center. Her real estate background is due to working for several Commercial Real Estate Developers over the years. Taryn was the EXPO Interior Design Center Award Winner of Administrative Excellence in 2000.

Our company has extensive background in providing relocation assistant services for large corporations and have assisted in the relocation for many interior designers and people in the home improvement field; as well as organizing large relocation’s for corporate executives and business managers.