From businesses and not-for-profit organisations to individuals and families, everyone is trying to save money more than usual right now due to the cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n
However, whilst it\u2019s tempting for sole traders, company directors and business owners to cut out as many expenses as possible from their regular outgoings, there are some that are actually designed to save you money. As an added bonus, they can even help you to run a more profitable business and improve your bottom line. A prime example is a virtual personal assistant \u2013 read on to discover how this unique service can save you cash each month.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve been thinking about taking on a personal assistant who\u2019s on the payroll, you probably already realise that this can prove quite expensive. As well as their salary, you also have to cover an employee\u2019s pension contributions, allotted holidays and sick pay, not to mention any time during work hours that isn\u2019t really used to full effect.<\/p>\n
In fact, a recent study found that an in-house personal assistant\u2019s salary in the UK ranges from \u00a323,100 to \u00a338,000 per year, and that\u2019s not even taking into account how much they cost in London. If your industry is more technical or fast-paced, this figure can be even larger, making it a significant ongoing cost.<\/p>\n
With a virtual personal assistant it\u2019s different, as you only pay for the hours required and nothing else. Forget about paying their wage whilst they\u2019re grabbing a cuppa or popping to the loo, as your monthly bill will only include the number of hours spent productively, which can be agreed in advance to fit your budget.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When you hire an in-house PA, there\u2019s a risk that they may not be very experienced. This can be rectified with training and continuous professional development activities, yet these come with a heavy cost in terms of both time and money. An inexperienced PA also means that it will be a while before they deliver their best work and they may even make mistakes that can damage your productivity, cash flow and company reputation.<\/p>\n
The solution is to hire a virtual PA \u2013 a self-employed professional who already has the knowledge, skills, training and software required to hit the ground running. Whether it\u2019s a few bits of admin here and there, booking your business travel and accommodation on an ad hoc basis, providing transcription when required or fulfilling a wide range of duties on a weekly basis, you can trust a virtual PA to get the job done well with minimal input required.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Last but not least, handing over tasks that you find time-consuming, difficult, too technical or just plain frustrating means that you can focus on more important things. It could be a case of attending more meetings with prospective clients, delivering greater levels of customer service, or enjoying more quality time with friends and family. Let your virtual PA complete your to-do list and invest your time more wisely.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n