Administrative Consultant“Virtual Assistance At Your Fingertips”

• Take-aways– What is an Administrative Consultant?– What are the benefits of Hiring a Consultant.– What kind of work and services do consultants do?– What do Administrative Consultants typically charge?– Final Thoughts

What You Will Learn

Jobs That Won’t Return

• Many unemployed will find the types of jobs they once had simply don't exist anymore. – This is particularly true of secretaries and mailroom clerks that advances in

information technology have made less necessary – The ranks of people doing office and administrative work have fallen 10.1%

since the recession began," says Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist David Autor.1

• Automation of office and administrative tasks and elimination of secretaries in the office has led many in that field to apply their skills ‘virtually’ by starting their own virtual home-based business.

• However, day-to-day tasks still need to be done. – More time spent on daily tasks means less time is spent on growing and

expanding businesses.

1read more at http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/108558/even-in-a-recovery-some-jobs-wont-return

What is an Administrative Consultant?

• Administrative Consultants are THE Administrative Experts! – They specialize in providing you with the right-hand

administrative support and guidance you need to keep your business organized, humming along smoothly and moving forward. They are agents of your success!

Used with permission from the Administrative Consultants Association

What is an Administrative Consultant? (cont)

• Highly skilled, professional, independent contractors • A person who supports a client, across the board, administratively

and personally without being geographically present in the client's location.

• Help small businesses expand their business instead of dealing with administration duties.

• A cost-effective alternative because you only pay them when they work.

• And – services are tax deductible– ( Please refer to http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/ch01.html for more information

about tax deductions).

Who Are They?

• Entrepreneurs who own and operate solo businesses (also known as a solopreneur).

• Micro-business owners who provide administrative and personal support while working in long-term collaborative relationships with only a handful of terrific clients.

• Offer additional creative or technical services for additional fees.

• Using phone, fax and email, they support clients without having to step foot inside the clients' offices.

Where do AC’s Work?

• From their own offices – anywhere in the world - that's one of the reasons their service is so convenient. – Because they are running their own businesses,

• Furnish their own equipment, software and tools. • Most of your work together won't require anything more

complicated than simply emailing or faxing each other.

Who Hires an AC?

• The simple answer:– Consultants (marketing, sales,

management, corporate, etc.),

– coaches, – professional speakers, – CPA's, – attorneys, – writers, – photographers, – authors, – professional athletes,

• What professions can you think of where a small business owner would need support? The list is limitless!

Is an AC Right For You?

• Your success is dependent upon your clients’ satisfaction. Can you deliver fast enough?

• Demand is growing, but do you have the support system to handle it?– Ask yourself if you:

• Skip appointments because you run out of time?• Have lots of projects, but, aren’t sure where to begin?• Find producing superior quality in high quantity

burdensome?• Find details are getting you down?• Falling further behind as each day passes?• Want to get your old life back, but can’t because

of the paperwork? – These are all signs to help you identify if you need an

Administrative Consultant.

Why Hire an AC?

• A few of the best reasons business owners choose to work with Administrative Consultants:– Want skilled administrative support, but don't have the space or

equipment for an in-house assistant; – Prefer to work alone and don't want another person in their "space;” – The administrative workload isn't large enough to justify the expense

of an in-house assistant.

What’s so Great About Hiring an AC? (cont)

• You only pay for time on task.• No office space, equipment, furniture, supplies, or training is required.• Your Administrative Consultant is always available to handle your seasonal

or special, one-time projects.• Knows your business and brings that knowledge to each and every

assignment (temporary staffing solutions can’t provide that kind of consistency and reliability).

• Self-employed so you don’t have the burden of employer social security taxes, FICA taxes, worker’s compensation insurance, and unemployment taxes.

Benefits of Hiring an ACBy Getting the Right Help

More Time

More Focus Stronger Foundation

Less Stress

Faster Progress

More Energy

Increased Profits

Benefits (cont.)• You won’t have to pay a secretary to actually be in your physical office location.

• You won’t have to pay benefits• You will not need to place only one area of responsibility on your

secretary—virtual assistants are experts in multiple areas.• You’ll be able to utilize all forms of digital services, including social media

and websites, blogs, etc. Some virtual assistants can set these up and manage them for you.

• You’ll ultimately save a lot of money because you will be free to focus on your company affairs, rather than babysitting everyday tasks.

Benefits of Hiring an AC (cont)

What Kind of Work do ACs do?

• An Administrative Consultant's core practice consists of administrative or clerical tasks. – However, many Administrative Consultants offer additional specialties

that fall under various other categories, such as marketing, website development or maintenance, creative and technical services, etc.

• They do the administrative work that would normally take your time, energy and attention away from the work that makes you money. – You get a higher caliber of administrative

knowledge, expertise and service than you would generally find in a temp, or even an employee in many cases.

What Services are Available?

• Services can include, but are not limited to:

Writing, Editing, and Proofreading Correspondence Mail Merge & mass mailings Excel Spreadsheets, Data Entry & Database Management Forms Development PowerPoint Presentations Transcription Special Project Coordination Executive & Personal Assistant Services

(local only)

Simple Desktop Publishing Brochure & Flyer Design Bookkeeping /Quickbooks Simple Newsletter Design Business Card Design Event Planning Travel Arrangements Travel & Expense Reporting Internet Research Scheduling

Do AC’s Do Other Things?

• Every Administrative Consultant brings unique talents to the table.

• Many Administrative Consultants offer additional services that complement their core administrative support services. – Virtual Assistance is, first and foremost, administrative in nature.– Not all Administrative Consultants can/will do web design,

bookkeeping, copywriting, or graphic design. (These services should be discussed with your Administrative Consultant during your initial consultation.)

What do AC’s charge?

• Rates are set independently. • Hourly rates can range from $15 up to $70

an hour (sometimes more), depending upon the expertise and services required.

• Consultants can work on individual projects, (Pay-as-you-Go); or monthly retainer.– Your Consultant may also offer other types of

discounted packages which can be discussed during your initial consultation.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

• Statistics show that employees actually cost 2 to 2-1/2 times their rate of pay when one factors in the following costs:– recruitment – base salary– employment taxes– mandatory insurance– benefits– space– Equipment

• Variables are more difficult to price: – time lost on socializing, – the risk of lawsuits, – personality conflicts.

Why Do Rates Seem High?

How Can Consultants Save You Money?

• By hiring an Administrative Consultant, you pay considerably less and eliminate the expense of hiring an employee.

• Contracting out (or outsourcing) is a cost-effective way to handle office and administrative tasks.

Final Thoughts

• In today’s economy, Administrative Consultant’s are the wave of the future

• You’ll pay considerably less for an Administrative Consultant, thereby saving you money in the long run

• When you outsource, you eliminate the expense of office space, equipment expense, employee oversight, payroll and employee benefits.

• Your Consultant works with you as your 'partner‘ - helping your business succeed.

• Overall, a Consultant is the professional you call when you need skilled administrative support and hiring an employee is not an option.

“Virtual Assistance - At Your Fingertips”

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