3 Things I'd avoid when starting a virtual assistant business

3 Things I'd avoid when starting a virtual assistant business

If you’re looking to become a virtual assistant, start simple.

I know it can feel overwhelming, and like you need to offer every skill you have in order to bring in your first client. But that will only lead to a confusing marketing message for clients, and burnout for you.

As disabled, neurodivergent and chronically ill people, our time and energy is a limited resource. I know the feeling of having all these ideas and wanting to execute them immediately, but over the years I’ve worked as a VA I’ve learned my limits, and I’ve learned that starting simple wins more value-based clients than trying to be it all.

Those clients grow with you. They start to explore your other skills the longer you work together. Almost every client I've taken on for one service has expanded into two or three over time; inbox management that grows into social media, email campaigns, blog writing. It happens almost every time, because offering one thing done well builds trust. They learn what you're capable of, how you work, and then they want more.

Here are three things I'd avoid when starting out, and what I'd do instead.

Don't try to learn every system at once

Pick one task tracker, one time tracker, one project management tool and become genuinely comfortable in it. You will absolutely encounter clients who already have their own systems in place, and that's when you'll naturally start to expand your toolkit. It's completely normal, and it's part of their onboarding process to show you how their systems work. You'll quickly find that most platforms are similar in function, it's really just a matter of finding where the button for X or Y lives.

You don't need to know every system before you start. You just need to be willing to learn.

Don't offer too many services at once

Offering a wide range of services from the start leads to a wide range of potential clients which sounds good, but actually makes it harder to market yourself effectively and nearly impossible to niche down.

The most successful VAs tend to become known for something specific. I'm known in disability-led entrepreneurial spaces as a VA who supports disabled business owners with administration and marketing. That reputation came from time, consistency, and doing what I do well.

Pick one service package and execute it with care. For example:

• An executive assistant package covering inbox management, calendar management, and client enquiries

• A social media management package covering content creation, scheduling, engagement, and analytics

One clear offering. One clear client. That's a much stronger starting point than ten services and a vague idea of who you're talking to.

Don't go it alone

Community is everything in this industry. Working from home can be isolating, and having other VAs to talk to, share the hard days with, ask advice from, and learn alongside, makes a real difference.

Find your people. Seek out online communities, local co-working opportunities, or other VAs in your niche who you can connect with genuinely. And if you're looking for a more structured community as you build your VA business, course participants in the ADAPT VA foundational course get access to a private Discord community: a space to ask questions, share wins, and navigate the early days alongside people who get it.

The takeaway here

Start with one thing you know. Shape it into a service package. Do it well.

The rest will follow, trust me!

Curious what services you could offer as a VA? Download the free 65 Most Common VA Tasks resource and start exploring what's possible.