Time Management Obstacles

Time Management Obstacles

Overcoming Time Management Obstacles in Easy Steps Time management can be the single biggest challenge to working from home and being successful. Learning to overcome these obstacles can be the key to managing and running a successful small business. What are time management obstacles and what causes them? Many things cause time management obstacles including: 1. Perfectionism - Many people use perfectionism as an excuse; a way to stay busy doing what they know how to do and to let the less tantalising tasks slide. As an example, you’re a skilled writer but…Read more
8 Benefits of using Cloud-Based Services as Virtual Assistants

8 Benefits of using Cloud-Based Services as Virtual Assistants

The Many Benefits of using Cloud-Based Services Cloud-Based Services or 'the Cloud' as we know it today was originally known as "software as a service," or SaaS. Cloud-based services are a business model that uses licensing and monthly fees to allow its users to have access to software on the owners' own servers. Users have access to the software using a unique URL, username, and password. As long as the user pays their monthly fee, they keep their access to the software. Why I use Cloud-Based Services There are so many benefits to…Read more
How to Acquire Virtual Assistant Clients

How to Acquire Virtual Assistant Clients

One of the most often asked questions I’ve received over the past four and a half years of running my virtual assistant business is, “How do you get virtual assistant clients?” Unfortunately there is no one stop fits all answer. It’s not easy, but, nobody has ever said it was. If you’ve heard from someone that it’s easy. It’s a scam, and you’ve been told a porky. Walk away from it now, save your money and take note of this article. I started my VA business back in 2012 with a client on…Read more
Seven Bookkeeping Mistakes Made by Sole Traders

Seven Bookkeeping Mistakes Made by Sole Traders

Bookkeeping Mistakes Made by Sole Traders and Small Businesses   According to the smallbusiness.co.uk, six in ten small businesses fail within the first five years of opening their doors. Two key factors for this are poor financial management and lack of proper bookkeeping. The following seven bookkeeping mistakes are among the most common errors that cause small businesses to fail due to poor financial management. A few of them may surprise you   1. Combining Business and Personal Finances One of the golden rules of small business finance is to never combine business…Read more
Virtual Assistant Data Protection Procedures

Virtual Assistant Data Protection Procedures

Virtuoso-PA | Virtual Assistant Data Protection Procedures   With the imminent arrival of the GDPR data protection is in the news and on social media daily. Any personal data held by a business which could be used to identify an individual, needs to come under the data protection umbrella.  As an example; your client list & CRM will contain contact details, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses. Everyone in business, no matter the size, holds this type of information. To comply with the Data Protection Act even before GDPR comes into effect you must…Read more
St Thomas Festival, Exeter

St Thomas Festival, Exeter

St Thomas Festival, Exeter is almost here! The St Thomas Festival, Exeter is a celebration of our diverse, creative community. We hold our event annually in the west side of Exeter in St Thomas. This year our festival weekend is being held on 2nd and 3rd September. History of the St Thomas Festival, Exeter We’ve been holding the St Thomas Festival, since September 2013 and thankfully it’s been growing every year since. Our festival began initially as a way to build social cohesion. Our founders wanted to bring together the diverse residents of…Read more
Virtual Assistant offering Bookkeeping Services?

Virtual Assistant offering Bookkeeping Services?

Money Laundering Photo courtesy of TaxRebate.org.uk There are regulations you need to know if you're a Virtual Assistant offering Bookkeeping Services   If you’re a Virtual Assistant offering a bookkeeping services without a correct HMRC MLR license, do you realise that you are making your Clients’ insurance null and void? Yes that’s right. You are not only compromising yourself, with the prospect of hefty fines from HMRC. You are also putting your clients business in jeopardy. If you are not a member of a recognised professional body, you are required by law to…Read more
What does it take to be a Freelance Virtual Assistant

What does it take to be a Freelance Virtual Assistant

Being a Freelance Virtual Assistant Is Not for Everyone As wonderful as being a freelance virtual assistant is and may appear to others, it really isn't for everyone. There are those who are really cut out for freelance work and all that it entails. While others simply are not suited to the freelance lifestyle. When I tell people that I am a virtual assistant, I estimate that 75% say “Oh, I’d love to do that. How do I go about setting up my own VA business?” I’m always happy to give those who…Read more
Why and how to have a Friday routine

Why and how to have a Friday routine

Setting up a Friday routine will allow you to forget work at 5 pm on the Friday and start the following new week at 9 am on Monday, knowing what work you have to do and when. You’ll be able to really enjoy your weekend and have peaceful sleep on your days off work; not waking in the early hours by the dreaded mind midges which gnaw away at the ‘did I do’… areas of our brain. How I set up my Friday routine Fridays tend to be less busy for me –…Read more
Correct Petty Cash Procedures

Correct Petty Cash Procedures

How to use petty cash correctly When business owners have to purchase small items for their business, such as stamps or to reimburse a member of staff for small purchases or travel costs. The chances are they will use petty cash. The word petty means (minor or small). It's used world wide by most small business on a weekly basis, but, is it used correctly? I've worked for a fare few businesses over the years' where they have no clue how to use correct procedures. Even when it is a key element of…Read more