Regardless of what business you are running, there’s always an element of administration that comes with it – whether that’s bookkeeping, invoicing, dealing with customer enquires or managing appointments. With the rise of messaging and emails, it’s become easier to do some tasks without admin support, which might have necessitated a letter in the past. Even so, while business owners might still require some level of admin support, this may only be for a few hours a week or during particularly busy periods.
It’s not surprising then to see the rise of virtual assistants (VAs), there to provide vital support as and when needed. These people typically work from home or might pop into an office when required – maybe once a month to help with payroll or invoicing.
The Society of Virtual Assistants (SVA) has 6,000 members across the UK but, of course, there will be many more VAs than that. It’s an industry which is likely to grow as businesses are opting for flexible admin support over hiring full-time members of team – which comes with all manner of HR obligations, as well as National Insurance contributions etc.
The flexible nature of the role also means clients can buy more time when they need it due, perhaps, to seasonal fluctuations in business.
Most VAs work for a variety of businesses – either on a regular basis or on an ad hoc basis.
Here at Lewis & Co, we support several people who provide VA services and they offer different sets of skills, including diary management – taking calls or proactively pursuing potential clients – chasing invoices or helping with bookkeeping etc.
We support virtual VAs with all the accountancy support they need from advising on what they can and can’t claim for and whether to register for VAT etc. Sometimes, a VA might be asked to support a business ‘in real life’ perhaps representing the company on a stand at an exhibition and we can advise on what to claim in this instance etc.
If you’re a VA who needs support with their accountancy needs or you’re considering launching a business in that sector, do call us on: 01892 513515.