Do you need a VA in your region?

One of the great things about VA Directories that are international is the ability to seek a VA in your own country or region.

Recent posts I’ve written have been about sourcing a VA in Australia (because that’s where I live) but what about in your own country, if you are elsewhere?  While it is true that a lot of work can be done by a VA anywhere in the world, there are also some good reasons why you might want to consider a VA in your own region.  And they include the following:

• Being aware of the geographies of your country.
  If you need the VA to research venues, plan an itinerary, or answer calls that relate to districts and locations, then having a local VA makes a lot of sense.
• The work needs to be done while you’re in your own office.
  Having a VA on the some timezone as you is ideal.
• Anything relating to a legal nature, e.g. your IP.
  Sometimes it makes sense engaging a VA in your own country to protect your business and to ensure they are covered by the same legal structure as you.
• Communication challenges
  There are just some things that need to be communicated in your own language and each country has its own nuances that can make the meanings of words quite different in other countries.
• Understanding of how your tax system works
  If you need your bookkeeping done or other things relating to finances, it makes sense to have someone local look after it.

And I’m sure there are others as well. Such as cultural differences, or even an understanding of moral ethics can differ. Just sometimes the way you do things could be viewed in a very different way by someone in another country and it can generate a difficulty in communicating what you need or mean.  And the time differences, while it theoretically means that someone is working while you’re sleeping, can open the way to longer delivery times while waiting for answers or more direction on jobs being done.

When you are planning to engage a VA often it is the cost that seems to be most important to people, especially if they’re just starting out, or funds are tight, however, there are a number of other things to consider and it makes sense to think about these before making your choice.  And if you already do have a VA engaged, would you like to do this short survey for us please? We (the industry here in Australia) are seeking to learn more about how people source their VAs and the reasons for the decisions they make.