How can you grow your list of virtual assistant services by hiring subcontractors?
All thriving home based virtual assistants ultimately find there just aren’t enough hours in the day for all of the work they have. You also may have found that you don’t have the skills required to accomplish every project your clients – or possible clients – require.
You may have already lost some projects or had to turn down possible clients because you were too busy or didn’t have the skills they were wanting. Have no worries, it’s happened to all of us, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with too much work, not enough time and there is a better option.
The following are three great ways hiring subcontractors can increase your business.
1. Subcontractors Can Complete the Extra Work
By hiring subcontractors, you can significantly increase the amount of work you can take on. For instance, if 2 clients brings you twenty hours of work per week, you can double that by hiring a subcontractor to handle the other 20 hours of work per week.
Your subcontractor will charge you a smaller amount than what your client is compensating, as a result you can make a profit on the work your subcontractor completes for you. In other words, you hand out assignments, inspect the work to make sure it’s up to standards and communicate with the client and with the subcontractor.
2. Subcontractors Have Different Skills
You can grow your business by increasing your list of virtual assistant services when you use a subcontractor with skills that complement your skills. For example, if you are a virtual assistant specializing in writing blog posts for your clients, you could use a web design subcontractor to help those same clients set up new sites or change the design of existing websites. This method allows your client to stay with you, the Virtual Assistant they trust, while allowing you to meet more of your client’s needs. Everyone wins…you keep your client and obtain more work, your subcontractor makes money and your client receives the best possible service from you.
3. Using Subcontractors Mean Less Paperwork
Subcontractors also come with a particular set of benefits that you wouldn’t get from using employees. Subcontractors provide their own equipment, office and are already well trained in their services. Subcontractors also handle their own expenses and taxes which saves you a lot of time and hassles. You also save money because you only pay for the time and service you need. You can usually count on a good subcontractor to provide high quality work because, like you, they are also a business owner and want to look after their reputation…as well as yours.
You do need to be sure you are using a proper legal contract with a subcontractor.
An employee, on the other hand, will require office space, equipment and training. They will not pay for expenses or payroll taxes. While there are wonderful employees, there are also plenty who are not nearly as motivated as you to expand your business and protect your reputation.. You will need to pay your employee for all hours at work whether there is sufficient work for them at that time or not. Unfortunately employees can also come with additional hassles such as training, discipline, and time consuming paperwork for payroll and taxes.
These are just 3 key reasons you should consider using subcontractors to expand your virtual assistant services and grow your business.
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