{"id":1641,"date":"2025-09-27T11:41:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T11:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/igorsplayground.com\/appcheckr\/how-to-start-a-virtual-assistant-business-from-someone-whos-done-it\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T11:41:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T11:41:53","slug":"how-to-start-a-virtual-assistant-business-from-someone-whos-done-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/igorsplayground.com\/appcheckr\/how-to-start-a-virtual-assistant-business-from-someone-whos-done-it\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Start a Virtual Assistant Business (From Someone Who\u2019s Done It)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Are you looking for a flexible way to work from home and earn a full-time income? Becoming a virtual assistant might be exactly what you need. Today, I\u2019m excited to share an interview with Laura Nicholls from Fully Booked<\/a>. Laura started her work-from-home career in 2017 after leaving her day job and has since built a thriving online business<\/a> that allowed her to support her family, design her ideal schedule, and work with clients she loves.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019ve been thinking about becoming a virtual assistant but aren\u2019t sure where to start, this interview is a great guide that will help you take your first step.<\/p>\n

How I Make Money as a Virtual Assistant<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you want to learn how to start a virtual assistant business and work from home, this interview is a great place to get started!<\/p>\n

Recommended reading:<\/em> How To Find Beginner Virtual Assistant Jobs<\/a><\/p>\n

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1. Tell me your story. Who are you, and what do you do?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I started my business eight years ago in 2017. Before that, I worked in mental health for 14 years \u2013 most of that time as a therapist \u2013 and I\u2019ve always had the skill set of writing. Writing played a huge role in my work as a therapist and mental health worker, so it was a skill I had cultivated in my \u201c9-5 career.\u201d When I found myself needing to generate income and wanting to stay home with my then-infant daughter, I took inventory of what I could do from home.<\/p>\n

I had just come out of a women\u2019s shelter and was in crisis, rebuilding my life after losing my home and all my possessions. I had nowhere to go but up. I had tried network marketing in previous years, but I knew that wasn\u2019t a viable model for me. I needed something legitimate that would allow me to support us full-time as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

I started as a freelance writer and quickly began working as a virtual assistant, focusing on content services. Working with a variety of businesses helped me learn how different businesses function and gave me insight into marketing, operations, and so much more. Offering more diverse services outside of content also allowed me to grow my income faster than writing alone.<\/p>\n

Over the years, my work evolved. Now I specialize as a copywriter, content marketing strategist, and book coach. I\u2019ve shaped my services to align with the kind of clients I want to work with and the rates I want to charge. I was able to support us financially from the start, and about three years in, I was earning enough to pay rent on a three-bedroom home and send my daughter to private school.<\/p>\n

While I don\u2019t share specific numbers, I\u2019ve earned a full-time income for the last six years.<\/p>\n

2. What exactly does a virtual assistant do?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A virtual assistant can do almost anything a business needs to operate. It\u2019s someone who provides services from a distance in exchange for payment. That can include administrative support, customer service, content writing, marketing help, tech support \u2013 really anything a business owner might want to outsource.<\/p>\n

3. Why did you decide to become a virtual assistant? How did you get started?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I touched on this in my first answer, but I got started as a freelance writer. Then I received coaching that encouraged me to expand into virtual assistant services so I could work with clients in more ways. I always focused on content services, but I needed something legitimate, flexible, and fully on my terms.<\/p>\n

As a single parent, I knew I wasn\u2019t going to leave my daughter to return to the traditional workforce \u2013 and I didn\u2019t want to. I needed a way to earn stable, consistent income that supported our life.<\/p>\n

I started by taking inventory of what I could do and what I enjoyed. I reached out to people I knew in the writing and freelancing world, although not everyone was encouraging. Some family and friends discouraged me, but I went for it anyway.<\/p>\n

Having spent time in network marketing and online marketing, I knew there was potential in working online \u2013 I just hadn\u2019t found the right model. The aggressive sales tactics and constant marketing didn\u2019t suit me and didn\u2019t feel sustainable or trustworthy.<\/p>\n

Then I found what was then called Horkey Handbook (later Fully Booked VA, now Fully Booked<\/a>). I scraped together the money to take my first course and immediately started taking action, implementing everything I learned step-by-step.<\/p>\n

4. How did you find your first client? Any tips on finding initial clients or what worked well for you?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

My first clients came around the same time. One was someone from my existing network \u2013 someone I hadn\u2019t spoken to in years. I wrote a blog post that referenced him, shared it with him, and we reconnected. He ended up hiring me, and we worked together for almost three years. We still occasionally work together now. That relationship brought in other referrals and helped me build confidence.<\/p>\n

The second client came from the Fully Booked client leads. The leads program was new at the time, and I responded to one of the very first leads they posted. It was for a project I hadn\u2019t done before, but I knew I had the skills to figure it out. I sent a video pitch and landed the job.<\/p>\n

After the project ended, he continued to pay me for a few months, even though there wasn\u2019t much left to do. I realized he valued me as a person \u2013 my support, belief in him, and encouragement \u2013 more than just the specific task I performed. We only communicated by phone and email, never in person or via video, but it was incredibly validating.<\/p>\n

People often think they don\u2019t have a network, but they do. You just have to reach out. My biggest tip is to lean into your existing network. People who know and care about you often want to support you \u2013 and you don\u2019t need to be in crisis for that to be true. Most people in the Fully Booked community find their first clients this way.<\/p>\n

Reaching out to that old contact was uncomfortable, but it laid the foundation of my business. That one action led to referrals, financial growth, and the confidence to keep going.<\/p>\n

5. What do you enjoy most about being a virtual assistant?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although I no longer call myself a virtual assistant, what I loved most was the people I worked with. I supported solopreneurs who had built their own businesses. It felt like an honor to step in and help bring their vision to life.<\/p>\n

The work was energizing \u2013 but more than that, I loved the lifestyle it allowed me to create. When I realized it would just be me and my daughter after the crisis we went through, I committed to building the best life I could for us. That meant being present, working from home, and living on our terms. I\u2019ve been able to do exactly that.<\/p>\n

6. How much money can someone realistically earn as a virtual assistant?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve seen virtual assistants earn into the six figures. It depends on how they apply themselves and what path they take. I recently interviewed someone who started just over a year ago. Within eight months, she was fully booked. Less than a year in, she started an agency and hired five people from our community.<\/p>\n

Some people undervalue themselves in the beginning, but the truth is it\u2019s possible to earn a full-time income as a virtual assistant. For some, it\u2019s a long-term career. For others, it\u2019s a stepping stone into something else. Being a VA gives you the opportunity to learn while you earn, which opens up many possibilities you might not have imagined when you first started.<\/p>\n

7. What skills or qualifications are needed to succeed as a virtual assistant?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

That\u2019s one of my favorite questions. Being a virtual assistant is about taking what you already know \u2013 skills from your previous jobs or life experience \u2013 and applying them to help business owners.<\/p>\n

The most essential skills are perseverance, belief in yourself, and the willingness to take consistent action. You also need to communicate well, be professional and reliable, and have integrity.<\/p>\n

This work is relational. People hire people more than they hire skill sets. I\u2019ve been hired just because someone wanted to work with me. We didn\u2019t even define the role upfront \u2013 we figured it out together. That happens more often than you\u2019d think.<\/p>\n

8. What kind of equipment does someone need to get started as a virtual assistant?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A computer and a reliable internet connection. That\u2019s really all you need. You can get started with free tools: Calendly for scheduling, PayPal or Wave for invoicing, and Google Docs for sharing files. As your business grows, you can invest in software, but the entry point is very accessible.<\/p>\n

9. What is your typical work schedule? How many hours do you work each week, and how flexible is your schedule?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

These days, I take my daughter to school in the morning, walk my dogs in the woods, and sit down to work around 9 or 9:30. I wrap up around 2 p.m. when it\u2019s time to pick her up. During summer or before vacations, I work longer days to get ahead.<\/p>\n

I earn a full-time income working 20 to 30 hours per week \u2013 usually closer to 20. My schedule is extremely flexible because I\u2019ve designed it that way. I\u2019ve never worked with clients who expected me to be available at set times outside of scheduled meetings.<\/p>\n

At one point, I could only work at night when my daughter was asleep. I also lived on a 40-acre horse ranch, caring for 30 horses. I needed a business that fit my life, not the other way around. And that\u2019s what I created.<\/p>\n

10. Is there room for new virtual assistants in the industry?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Absolutely. More than ever. The demand for freelance and remote services has only increased, especially since the pandemic showed us there are better ways to work. Businesses continue to outsource services, and virtual assistants are a big part of that shift. We see people come into Fully Booked all the time and find clients. That hasn\u2019t changed in over a decade; it\u2019s only increased.<\/p>\n

11. Can you list the steps to get started as a virtual assistant?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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  1. Decide and commit.<\/li>\n
  2. Identify what you can offer \u2013 your skills, interests, and experiences.<\/li>\n
  3. Start talking to people. Your network is more powerful than you think.<\/li>\n
  4. Set up a basic way to invoice clients.<\/li>\n
  5. Begin taking action \u2013 bit by bit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If you want to build something long-term, I recommend learning how to run a sustainable business. Otherwise, you risk recreating the same burnout you had in a traditional job, just from home.<\/p>\n

    12. What are your best tips for someone who wants to become a virtual assistant?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Just start. That\u2019s the biggest thing. Don\u2019t spend years thinking about it \u2013 many people do. The demand isn\u2019t going away.<\/p>\n

    Take consistent action. Don\u2019t get stuck in research mode. Try something, see how it works, and adjust. Stay curious instead of judgmental. If something doesn\u2019t work, do something different.<\/p>\n

    And surround yourself with support. Fully Booked was a huge resource for me \u2013 not just the courses, but the coaching and community. Sometimes we need someone else\u2019s perspective to help us see the next step.<\/p>\n

    13. What can a person learn from your course? Can you tell us about some of the people who have successfully taken your course?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    In Fully Booked<\/a>, you\u2019ll learn the core components of starting a successful service-based business as a virtual assistant. That includes setting up infrastructure (like contracts and invoicing), learning how to find and land clients, and developing the right mindset.<\/p>\n

    You\u2019ll also learn best practices for working with clients: onboarding, handling feedback, navigating tricky situations, structuring meetings \u2013 things you might not know to think about yet. The course takes the guesswork out of those early steps.<\/p>\n

    One of our recent members joined to earn some side income and be more available to her kids. Within eight months, she was fully booked. Within a year, she\u2019d started an agency and hired five other Fully Booked members. She\u2019s not the only one \u2013 we\u2019ve seen so many people come in just wanting something different from the 9-5 and end up building thriving businesses. Some build agencies. Others specialize like I did and grow into high-level, high-income work. There\u2019s no one right path \u2013 just the one that works for you.<\/p>\n

    Are you interested in starting a virtual assistant business? What other questions do you have?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Recommended reading:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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