Reasons for engaging an Australian VA

This post is directed at the Australian business community, but if you’re in another country, then simply insert your own country where relevant.

I get asked from time to time, why should someone engage the services of an Australian VA instead of looking offshore?  Those answers, to me, are quite straightforward and cover important things for each business owner to think about.

• Intellectual Property, IP – do you have something that you want/need to protect? Would you feel uncomfortable with it being used/known offshore? Engaging a local VA makes sense.
• Understanding of the lay of the land – does your VA need to have geographical knowledge relating to the work they’ll be doing for you?
• Local/real time – do they need to be working in the same hours you’re working?
• Do they need to be covered by the same laws as you?
• Is local taxation a consideration – do they need to be covered by the same tax laws as you?
• Speaks/reads/writes (Australian) English
• Understands the same terminology/lingo
• Works with the same currency
• Has the same cultural understanding

Not all virtual jobs need to be done locally but many do. And if IP, legalities and taxation are of concern to you, then it makes sense you engage the services of a local VA, versus engaging someone offshore. Likewise, if you need them to be working similar times to you, i.e. you need to be able to speak to them during your business hours, again, it makes sense to engage a VA in your own country.  Remember, outsourcing does not have to mean off-shoring. You can outsource to someone local to you.  Who knows? There may even be a VA down the road from you… although it’s not necessary for you to actually meet face-to-face.  If you’re looking for a local VA, why not check our directory today?