Anyone that knows me knows that numbers are NOT my thing. I tell my clients that upfront. I can easily rattle off the right amount to tip at a restaurant, or what 40% off a $70 pair of shoes is, and that type of thing….but start throwing any bookkeeping or accounting terms at me and I’ll give you a blank look. I really wish I had taken basic accounting in college. As it was, for my Communications/Journalism major at Shippensburg University, I was only required to take one math class. I took Precalculus and waited until my junior year when I could “get in” to Dr. Gracy’s class. He was rumored to be the best math teacher on campus. I passed with a C. I was happy.
So, enough reminiscing. As a business owner, even though I work with words, I also have to handle invoicing, deposits, withdrawals, transfers from my business to personal bank accounts, Paypal transfers, reconciling, budgeting, etc. And let’s just say that my record-keeping has been, uh, less than optimal.
Since my business is now doing really well and I have more clients and thus more accounting needs, I hired a VA! Candy Beauchamp of OffAssist.com is my new VA bookkeeper. I’m lucky she hasn’t fired me yet. She is a sweet person and great bookkeeper. I met her at the IVAA conference in Houston as we had “Dinner with Strangers.”
She is setting up a system for me in Quickbooks where I can just enter all the info I need and I’ll be able to generate all the accounting reports I know nothing about. Plus, I can hire her periodically to go over my books and alert me to any errors I’m making. Couldn’t I have done this myself, you ask? Sure, I’m sure I could have, and it would have taken me 3 times as long and given me a headache. Doesn’t make sense.
It’s amazing how much better I feel. I feel like a load has been lifted off my shoulders. Now I just have to be diligent about entering everything and I’ll be in good shape. Now, if you’re a numbers person, and having to write is the same weight on your shoulders that accounting is to me, then you need The Hidden Helper!
If you’re someone like me who needs some help coming up with a good bookkeeping system for your business, or if you want to turn over all your bookkeeping to her (on my wishlist for my business someday!), visit Candy.
I wish I could find the statistic of how many times it takes someone seeing your business name before they remember it? 8 maybe? I don’t know. But I’ve been working hard at my business for about a year and a half, took it full-time in September and it is now REALLY taking off. I finally feel I have a good niche established and the clients just keep coming.
One of the interesting places they are coming from are other VAs. I just signed a contract with a new client after receiving a referral from a VA I met at the IVAA Summit in Houston last October. She works with this client in another niche and, when her client asked for editorial help, she thought of me.
I had the fortune of meeting this VA when we did “Dinner with Strangers” one night in Houston. So I got to know her a bit better than some of the other VAs there. She had also probably been reminded of my name through my IVAAcast columns, Expert of the Month announcements and who knows where else.
Then, I got another lead on a possible client from a VA I met only very briefly at an IVAA conference once, but she was referred to me from another VA who recommended me. So it’s a friend of a friend type of thing. Being connected and volunteering in the VA community has a ripple effect. Each person you know knows other people. But sometimes it takes a while to see it actually working, but once it does, watch out!
I’m glad I have a unique niche and have had the opportunity to meet so many VAs, either online or in person at the IVAA summits. They’re definitely worth the investment!
Business is getting busy, which is a good thing. I can see the day coming soon where I may need to use some subcontractors.
This is always a tricky and scary step for a business as I need to find people who have an impeccable work ethic, ambition and can produce quality work. I also need to find people who are willing to work for subcontractors wages.
If you are a new VA, or considering becoming a VA and have experience with either transcription or writing/editing business or promotional materials, pitch me. Send me an email (lauren@hiddenhelper.com), and tell me your experience, your hourly rate and a little about yourself. I don’t have any projects right now but I expect to soon.
I just got a call from my doctor’s office reminding me of an appointment on Friday. The woman was nice, but the whole way of doing business seems unreasonable today. This was what she said, “I’m calling to remind you of your appointment. You’ll need to bring your insurance card and, if you have a copay, you’ll need to pay it at the time of your appointment.”
What if I ran my business this way? I can see it now:
“Hi (insert client’s name). I’ll be finished with your project tomorrow, but before it is allowed to leave my computer, I’ll need to have a down payment and last year’s tax return so I can be sure you’ll be able to cover the bill.”
Ha! I’m sure that would go over well!
On the other hand, my dentist is great. I have to get my teeth cleaned more often than my insurance allows due to some hereditary gum disease, and if you pay cash, he gives you a 10% discount. He’s also accomodating if you have some special issues.
Now, who do you think I’m going to recommend to more people? This doctor or my dentist?
Last week I hosted the DVVAA chat as their “expert of the month.” It was great fun to give my two cents on everything from contracts to marketing to niches. I think the chat lasted almost an hour and a half.
Yesterday I got a hand-written thank you note from Carla Wilson, thanking me for the chat. Carla is a real estate VA based out of Downingtown, and she is a true professional and a really friendly and energetic person. If you need a real estate VA, she’s your woman!
Today I was having my weekly phone consult with one of my clients. He’s one of my “A-level entrepreneurs” I provide editorial support for. He is smart as a whip, too. He always has a tip to make me more efficient at what I do and I’ve learned a lot from him.
I remember when we first start working together, he said that even if he was thrilled with the services I provided, he could never give me an endorsement. As his ghostwriter/ghost editor, the work I’m doing for him has to be kept confidential. That’s not a problem for me. I’ve done a lot of work for people that are “famous” (at least within their professional field) and I don’t need tons of “glory” for what I do.
When I was talking to him today though he said he was pleased with my work and if I did as good a job for other clients as I do for him, my business will be “full” in no time.
What a great way to end a workweek.
As I look back over the last 2 years or so, I reflect on the fact that originally, I was going to do just about anything I could for anyone. (Meaning I had a list of skills, and as long as a client needed something on my list done, I’d take the work). Specifically, I wanted to work with public speakers, but wasn’t too choosy. Then I decided to drop the generalist VA-type stuff, and just do editorial support for professional speakers, authors and entrepreneurs. Now I’ve dropped the professional speakers off my list of desired clients. The few I’ve worked for I haven’t been able to “click” with. Working with authors, on the other hand, has been a much better fit for me. Probably because I am one myself.
I was telling my husband the other night that my business would have been successful a lot sooner if I had nailed my niche of work and niche of clients right off the bat! He reminded me though that I needed to get there on my own. Some of finding your niche is trial and error. I guess initially, I was going for a horizontal niche, or doing the same work across a bunch of industries. Then I moved to a vertical niche, in some respects, with authors I can do most administrative support. With my “guru” clients in a variety of fields, I solely do my horizontal, editorial niche. Hmm, I’m envisioning a “T” on its left side.
Since my niche has changed so much in the last two years, I wonder where it will be in another two years. I expect it will be much the same, but business is dynamic, not stagnant, so stay tuned…
This morning I went to a CPAFE (Central Pennsylvania Association for Female Executives) meeting. It required some logistical planning to be downtown by 7:45 a.m. when my 3.5 year old isn’t usually dropped off at preschool until 8:30. but I arranged for some creative childcare. As I was getting his shoes on, I saw him looking at me with a strange expression. (My kids are not used to seeing me wear “business clothes”) and I said, “How does Mommy look today?” He says, “Not good.” I said, “Not good, why?” He said, “You look like Star Wars.” I had on a red tank and black pants and mandarin-type jacket. I guess I looked like Darth Vader. I couldn’t stop laughing. Oh well, laughing is good for your health.