As the VA industry evolves and more people become aware of this excellent way of working, it is only natural that there are going to be companies developing who have a staff of virtual workers. We’ve been seeing this in India for sometime but now it’s expanding to other parts of the world, with at least one that I know of in the US and I became aware of another in the Philippines recently. I’m sure there are others too. And that’s not to mention the agencies that tap into the VA market – there are many of these also.
There is a very real difference between these companies and the Virtual Assistant networks which I want to share here. And I’ll add a comparison for you too.
My husband is an IT consultant who is employed by a sub-contracting company. They pay his wage, his holiday leave, his superannuation, taxes and any other entitlements. They also do the advertising, gain the clients and then advise my husband when he needs to do work for another client. He receives regular payslips from them but very rarely visits their office or has direct contact with the employer company. He actually does the work for one of their clients on the client premises or occasionally works here in our home office. My husband is an employee of that firm and it is that firm that gets paid by the client – not my husband. His wage is drawn from those funds.
Me – I’m a Virtual Assistant. I work for myself and have several clients. I invoice them on a regular basis for work that I’ve carried out. I belong to several Virtual Assistant networks and pay annual subscription fees to some and benefit from their joint advertising and promotions but must be pro-active in responding to job requests and securing the work, i.e. liaising with the client. I do not have an employer and I am responsible for my own taxes, insurances, superannuation, and whether I put anything away for annual leave. I’m also responsible for my own advertising and promotion and if something goes awry I really don’t have anyone else I can lean on for back up support – although I can post help! messages to VA forums for advice.
I see the Virtual Staffing companies in much the same light as my husband’s employment mentioned above. People who work for these companies are virtual workers but they are not Virtual Assistants, and I know that there have been discussions about this. Virtual Assistants are self-employed business operators, they are not employees of virtual staffing agencies.
I know that there are groups and agencies out there looking to develop in this area and they will be wanting to connect with existing Virtual Assistant networks so that they have a ready source of workers who are already well versed with working in this way, however there is still much work and discussion to be made in this area. VAs are used to setting their own rates and whilst some will take on sub-contract work (which is always at a somewhat lower rate) not all VAs will do this. It is a great idea for those just starting out, wanting to get experience and some regular income, but ultimately it could tie up their time from gaining clients of their own at a more reasonable rate, i.e. what the client will pay direct to the VA, not what the virtual worker receives from the agency.
If you’re looking to join the VA industry, do your homework and get connected with some of the VA networks out there. It is really worthwhile learning from those who are already working in this way and you’ll find that if you follow their footsteps you will achieve also. But, if you’re looking for the security of regular income and you don’t want to negotiate with clients for the work and pay, then joining the virtual workforce of a staffing agency might be the best option for you. KMT
virtual assistants, virtual staffing, virtual assistant network, regular income, virtual workforce
Karen Del'Marmol says
Thank you, Kathie, for drawing such a clear distinction between Virtual Assistants and remote workers. I know this has become a heated discussion at times, and remote workers believe they are virtual assistants. But believing something doesn’t make it true.
Rita Cartwright says
Kathy,
As a virtual assistant I agree with you. Thanks for the clarity. The key distinction is we are entrepreneurs, business owners, self-employed. Whatever you want to call it, we are totally on our own. Honestly speaking, the staffing agencies make me a little uncomfortable. Especially, those in India or Phillipines or anywhere where the rates are substantially lower than ours. I think it makes our sale approach that much more difficult. Once again, thank you.
ALLAN says
Virtual Assistants are not very popular in Kenya. I have already set up a business as a virtual assistant and I am hiring people in various professions to work on part time basis.
I am interested in Networking with VAs from other parts of the world as cost of labor here is much lower than other parts of the world and there are many unemployed but well educated people.
Anyone interested?
I hope to hear from you.
REGARDS,
ALLAN
Kathie Thomas, A Claytons Secretary says
Allan, why not go and join some of the VA networks that have been mentioned on this blog? That way you will get to network with other VAs and learn from them and perhaps even pick up work in the way of jobs that are shared or outsourced. Then when you pick up projects yourself you’ll have others you can also outsource to.
Right-Hand-Man Virtual Assistant Services says
Great post Kathie. Thanks for explaining the difference btween us virtual assistants and those that work at home for someone else. Telecommuters and virtual employees are not virtual assistants and this does not diminish their importance, just clarifies the difference.
maying says
I am so glad that I chanced upon your site kathie. This is the best answer so far in all my questions lately on how to to position and market the services that I give. Up until I read your post, I honestly believed that I am a Virtual Assistant giving VA services to my clients. After reading your post, I fell like rushing to overhaul my website and to plan how I should position my services through my website. I am from the Philippines and I understand exactly your point. I have been calling myself a VA not for the simple reason that I provide virtual services but primarily because I have always wanted to become a certified VA as the VA industry would like it to be. 3 years ago, I started out as a freelancing work-at-home website content writer and transcriptionist. But prior to that, I have had very good administrative, executive secretarial and research job experience spanning 10 years. 3 years ago I did content writing, but since then I felt that there is much more that I can do online using what my years of experience and skills from working for the broadcast industry, for the government, and for an NGO. That’s when I started to research and found out about the Virtual Assistant/Secretarial business, and from that I knew that this is the perfect online business for a work at home mom like me. I listed myself in one VA network and soon after I got inquiries. Right now, I am working on several projects with 4 clients and our arrangement is covered by an Independent Contractor’s Agreement. But recent trends in outsourcing have made me think more about the importance of setting myself from the rest by getting the proper training and certification as a Virtual Assistant. You are right in your observation that business owners are all over the place looking for “Virtual Assistants”, setting their own arrangements, requirements and rate of pay unilaterally that those interested in taking on the job would have nothing to do but agree to them. So what should be done? People should be getting the right information. Those VA’s with years of experience and who are from countries that have no active VA networking groups should find ways to affiliate with international VA associations. They can be the source of right information about the VA industry, help spread the word, help maintain the VA industry standards. But then again, that’s easier said than done.
Kathie Thomas says
It is for people like you, and for clients learning about our industry, that this blog was first established and continues to be maintained Maying. It is so important that people get the facts from those who are already involved in the industry and have the knowledge and experience. Make sure you join some of the VA chat forums to help keep you in the loop with the industry.
Letetia says
Thank you for the post and your blog. I have been interested and looking for ways to transistion from traditional onsite employee to a work from home, virtual, entrepreneur etc (you get the point). The reasons for my desire to make this transition vary from being underpaid and overworked, needing more time to attend to my household/family needs, wanting to utilize my best skills that are currently being buried under mountains of others’s work. However, I am not ready to begin my own VA business and have been solicted by a Virtual firm. But before I entertain this possible offer, I want to try to get the positive and negative aspects of this down. Please offer your professional opinions:
I still need a steady paycheck: Positive for Firm
I do not have the opportunity at the moment to Market:
Positive for Firm
I do not want to deal with taxes now: Positive for Firm
Questions: Will #of hours be guranteed?
Will health insurance be provided?
Can I choose my clients/projects?
What else haven’t I thought of?
Thanks in advance
Kathie Thomas says
To be an entrepreneur means to be in business Letetia – you mention you want to transition to that, but then you say you want to be an employee in the next. You could choose to work part-time for an employer and gradually build up a VA business – many do. You won’t build an instant client base and it does take time, so if you need the security of regular income, seek out something that will allow you to have income but time to start building your VA business. Make sure you join some VA networks so that you can mix and mingle with those already doing it.
I can’t answer the questions that relate to being an employee – I haven’t been one for quite sometime and therefore am used to organising my own insurances and needs and marketing and so on. But it sounds like you have the right questions to ask and I’m sure you’ll think of more as the need arises. Good luck!
A Virtual Assistant says
Great Post. It’s a good article for differentiating a virtual assistant from a virtual worker. I guess my question becomes, would the client really care if you are a virtual worker working for a virtual company or if you are a self-employed virtual assistant? I guess it will all boils down to the quality of the work.
Kathie Thomas says
Virtual Worker versus Virtual Assistant? Let’s look at temp worker versus VA. One stays with you long-term (you would hope) and get to know how you work and operate and are able to provide you the support you need. The other is available for as long as the temping agency wants to keep them there, or for as long as the temp worker wants to keep temping. You are usually paying the temp office direct and not the worker.
With a VA you have that VA as your VA for as long as you want them. They become your personal virtual PA. They invoice you direct and you deal with them direct – you both discuss how things will operate without a 3rd party involvement. The VA also has a sense of ownership because it is their business they are operating – they are not working for someone else.
These are just a couple of reasons.