What does it all really cost?
Do the Sums
With a Virtual Assistant you pay only for the hours worked and you receive 100% productivity 100% of the time.
| 40 Hour Week @ $20.00 per hour (46 working weeks) | $36,800.00 |
| 4 weeks Annual Leave | $3,200.00 |
| 10 Days Sick Leave | $1,600.00 |
| Temp During Annual Leave @ $35.00 per hour | $5,600.00 |
| Workers Compensation | $550.00 |
| Office Space for PA (100 square feet @ $25.00/sf) | $2,500.00 |
| Annual Bonus (2 weeks salary) | $1,600.00 |
| Superannuation (9% of earnings) | $3,300.00 |
| Other Intangible Costs (furniture, training, family leave etc.) | $1,200.00 (minimum) |
| Total Yearly Salary for Permanent Staff Member | $56,350.00 |
| Total Effective Hourly Rate | $27.00 per hour |
| 50% Productivity Level (average) for Permanent Staff | $54.00 per hour |
| 100% Productivity for a Virtual PA | $40.00 per hour |
Please note that some of these figures may be outdated but the savings remain the same.
Joining VYVA FAQs – please read before contacting us
So you are thinking about joining VYVA?
Here are some of our more FAQs!
Will I get jobs?
This is the most common question we get asked, and to be honest, it’s the one we really cannot answer. We will provide you with information about jobs which are posted to us via our site or via phone and after that, it is up to you to convince the potential client that you are the one for the job.
We generally have fairly regular jobleads (sometimes lots, sometimes none), but they are not always going to be matched to your skills, location or rates. And sometimes, when you speak to the client, you just won’t feel like you are a good match.
Other times the job sounds perfect for you, the client thinks you sound perfect for them, and you have a wonderful business match!
When this is the case, the client relationship is in your hands from then on – you need to ensure you have an agreement in place, any insurances you might need, an invoicing system etc, so that you can provide that service to that client.
While we are happy to help if you have any issues, at the end of the day, they are your client, not ours.
How do I get support from VYVA?
The VYVA forums are simply amazing. The wealth of knowledge, support, humour and honesty is absolutely incredible. This is a tool that money can’t buy and you get out of it what you put in.
Networking in business is vital, and in this industry, it’s vital that you also network with your peers. They will make you stronger, connect you with more businesses and be that shoulder you may need as you ride the roller coaster of business ownership!
The forums are run through Yahoo Groups and this means that once registered to the groups, you won’t need to log into Yahoo Groups as the emails will be sent directly to your chosen email address and you can send messages to the forum straight from your own email! Fantastic!
What else do I get?
Once registered and logged into this website, you will see a large navigation open up to you on the right hand side of this page.
This includes access to
- Training opportunities and recordings
- Articles about working from home and working with other VAs etc
- Access to useful documents/files
- Skill testing
- And the VYVA Loves You! Section where we include some more fun tips and ideas.
You get lots of support from not only VYVA members, but from the VYVA Manager, Rosie Shilo, who is always happy to respond to your questions.
Is this just for new VAs? Or just for experienced VAs?
No this forum is for ALL VAs and all VAs will see the benefits of their membership.
Running a business can be very hard and with technology evolving as it does, you will always have questions, new things to learn, whether you are new or well established.
We also have a separate forum for new or struggling VAs to ask questions they might feel more embarrassed about (even though there is no need to feel embarrassed!) – this forum is the newbie cheer squad called VYVA Plus and that’s where you can really ask the base level business questions to get you off the ground.
Our workshops are run regularly and are aimed at all VAs. They have included sessions about business insurance, VOIP systems, using Dreamweaver, setting up businesses, writing resumes etc.
How much does it cost?
Membership is monthly and costs AU$15 per month payable via paypal subscription.
There are no other costs unless you want to take advantage of special training events or workshops, which cost anywhere from $10 to $400 each depending on what they are for.
Benefits of using a VA

What is a Virtual Assistant?
A term for home-based secretary, administrative support, and others who supply remote or virtual assistance. No need to provide office space, equipment or software – we have our own! Work is carried out ‘virtually’ from our offices, no matter where you are!
A Virtual Assistant is an Independent Contractor, therefore, you do not pay payroll taxes or benefits.
A Virtual Assistant is convenient! A VA is available when you have work that needs to be done yesterday. A VA can ensure that business people working in a home office have access to all of the support benefits enjoyed by a business person in the corner office of a major corporation – without having to hire any employees!
What are the benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) as opposed to an employee?
There are numerous benefits:
- Access to a professional and highly trained Executive Assistant.
- No need to provide office equipment and space.
- No need for ongoing training of administration staff.
- No need to advertise for and interview administration staff.
- Less costs associated to projects – pay for time used only!
- Fresh ideas and perspectives on administration management for your organisation.
Who can use Virtual Assistants?
Almost any type of business industry can benefit from working with a VA. Some industries have embraced the concept and are widely using VAs while others are bound by “tradition”. Industries or businesses that truly work well with VAs are:
- Contractors.
- Entertainment Industry.
- Independent Professionals.
- Real Estate Agents/Realtors.
- Marketing Consultants.
- Attorneys.
- Executives.
- Physicians.
- New Small Businesses.
- Telecommuters.
- Web Based Businesses.
Virtual Assistant vs. Employee
- No employee-related taxes, paperwork, insurance, or benefits.
- No extra office space or equipment costs.
- You only pay for “Time on Task” or by project.
- The ability to stay on schedule.
- Extra staff during seasonal or peak activity time.
- Support on as needed basis, with fast turn around time.
- Weekend and evening assistance.
Resources
Take the ATO test here.
Sites we love 
www.runyourbusinesslife.com.au
Handy Sites 
- Exit Strategy article -
http://www.e-myth.com/cs/user/print/post/exit-your-company-the-right-way
- Converting colours from RGB to CMYK
http://www.goffgrafix.com/pantone-rgb-100.php
- Converting image files
http://www.coolutils.com/Online-Image-Converter.php
- Setting up a 1300 or 1800 phone number -
http://www.alltel.com.au/
- If you want to check if a particular website is down or if it’s just you having issues with it, this is a good bookmark to keep handy…
http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/
- The Small Business Hub – Great online resource for businesses.
http://www.thesbhub.com.au/
- Adobe eSeminars- BLISS! For any Adobe junkie out there, this site is a must-bookmark.
http://www.adobeeseminars.com.au/
- What’s your Elevatory Speech? 30 second infomercial? How do you simply explain what it is you actually do? This can help you -
http://www.15secondpitch.com/
- This is a fabulous site when you work on websites – see how the site looks in a variety of browsers-
http://www.browsershots.com
- If you offer proofreading services you might want to subscribe to the grammar tips e-newsletter or download the ‘common grammar rules’ document. ProofReadNow.
http://www.proofreadnow.com/
- International Social Media Association-
http://www.ismaconnects.org/
- Online Tech- this page shows how to manage email rules -
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/ms-office-tips/outlook-tip-2-how-to-use-email-rules-to-automatically-move-incoming-emails-into-folders/
- Website Gear - breadcrumbs for your website nav.
http://content.websitegear.com/article/breadcrumb_navigation.htm
- Association for the Protection of Internet Copyright! -
http://www.a-w.org/index.html
- Check to see what was hosted on your domain address in the past! This is FABULOUS especially when you have a new site to develop for a client who ‘used to have something up’ – now you can find it!
Waybackmachine





