I received an e-mail from Melinda in Boston today. After visiting my website and weblog she asked some questions about Starting her own VA Business. (It’s so nice to know someone is reading my blog besides my husband and I – Thanks Melinda!) Today, I will address Melinda’s questions about starting up a business.

I think the first thing I would like to tell Melinda and anyone else considering to start a VA business is to visit the Small Business Administration’s website. Their “Starting A Business” section explains in more detail some of the things I will discuss here. The SBA also goes into legal issues such as licensing and laws about business names, corporations, etc. (Now that I have covered my backside I will continue with this post.)

First of all, you need to have a service or a product that people want. What is your niche? I didn’t think I could do much of anything until I saw Amy Sarai’s article, "101 Plus Ways to use a VA." As I was reading I found myself saying, “Hey! I can do this!”

The second thing you need to do is make a plan. How are you going to provide your service? You may not necessarily need all the equipment up front, but the basics would make your life easier. Minimal equipment/software needs would include a computer, fax machine, telephone, Internet service, Microsoft Office, and any other programs that you specialize in, i.e. Quickbooks, Flash, etc. (Note: your Internet service does not need to be high-speed, but it certainly helps if you are transferring large data files to and from your clients.)

The third very important part of starting a business is money. How are you going to feed yourself while you wait for that first check? Personally, I had some student loan money leftover from Sallie Mae that came in very handy. I also had a part-time job and a husband who works. Many, many VAs start working full-time jobs during the day and work on their businesses at night. It’s not uncommon to put in 18-hour days to get a business up and running. So, keep the coffee brewing!

The fourth part of starting a business is networking. Actually, I did this part first because I was unsure of myself and wanted to learn more about the business. Like many first-time business owners, I was afraid to take that first step. I joined a GREAT group - the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA). I highly recommend this organization to any aspiring VAs. Their membership benefits include not only VA forums, but also online chats with experts, a library of commonly used forms, and a request for proposal system that works very well.

Well, there you are, Melinda. I hope I have answered your questions thoroughly. Thanks again for the e-mail and I hope to be visiting your VA website soon!