Tell us a little about your small business (+URL).
A Virtual Assistant outsourcing firm that provides virtual assistants to busy business owners -- we assist them in the tasks that they do not know how to do or do not want to do: web design, blogging, social media, accounting/bookkeeping, administrative, etc. http://www.virtualassistusa.com
How long have you been running your small business?
2 years
How did you get into starting a small business?
Young, fearless and laid off, I was 23 years old and about to venture out on my own. Every year, nearly a million people start their own business, and only 50,000 make it. The odds were against me, but I have never been one to listen to the odds. It was the middle of the Great Recession, and even the most experienced of workers were unable to find a position – it is even hard if you are 23. So, I decided that if I couldn't find a way to gainful employment, I would make my own way.
Describe your starting a small business experience.
Tapping into the mad enthusiasm and passion of business owners, I knew they were exactly who I wanted to target. I connect best with people who are passionate, driven and do-what-it-takes. I was never one to like those who simply sit idle. Business owners spent $500 billion in outsourcing last year, and yet no one was capitalizing on that – except for very large corporations run by people with much more experience than me. I was prompted to look at the outsourcing industry because of several requisites: 1) Portability – I decided that if I was going to have my own business, I wanted to work either at home, in an office or on the beach. 2) Growth – I dreamt big and saw the huge potential to scale the company in this growing industry. 3) Passion – I could focus on working with business owners who shared the same hard-working ideals that I did.
My parents never missed a chance to work. They are both brilliant in their own right, and they worked very hard to find their little place and their contentment in life. They taught me that you cannot be a very brave or successful person if only good things happen to you. Often times, I met those who comment that they love my combination of a young age and old soul work ethic and truly, much of that is my parents' spirit they are loving. When I feel overwhelmed, I can hear my parents saying "Kiddo, welcome to the real world."
My company, Virtual Assist USA merges a high-tech approach with personal attention by using specialists who facilitate customized support solutions for business owners – we provide virtual assistants for every back-office task that they may need including accounting, social media, public relations, administration and web design. Perhaps the most noticeable difference between Virtual Assist USA and more traditional outsourcing industry counterparts is the absence of costly overhead and paying expensive downtime, meaning paying for your employees' time, even while they are having coffee breaks or socializing. My company halves typical traditional employment fees by using independent contractors and eliminating employee benefits, paid vacation and payroll taxes.
Virtual Assist USA managed to sign large Fortune 500 clients such as US Steel, and smaller businesses as well: 95% driven through word-of-mouth referrals. I went to every possible networking event that I could make it to and used my car as my mobile office. I worked until 4 am. And I loved every second of it!
Lessons learned
- If you are creative enough and innovative enough, success will come to you, I promise
