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The internet has made being a virtual assistant one of the hottest new work at home businesses. The low startup cost and great income potential make being a virtual assistant one of the easiest home business to break into.

A virtual assistant is someone that works out of their home to do work for their clients. They use the internet, email, fax, snail mail, and the phone to communicate with clients and to do business.

The work might involve administrative tasks, medical or legal transcription, writing and editing such items as reports and business correspondence, web design and maintenance, answering email, data entry, research, setting appointments, making travel arrangements, bookkeeping, and desktop publishing. A virtual assistant might also design business cards, brochures, letterheads, and flyers.

Virtual assistants typically earn from $20 to $40 an hour, but can earn up to $100 an hour or even more, depending on the experience and task. Those who have clients on retainer often give the client a discount and set a monthly fee for work done.

A person doesn't need any formal training to become a virtual assistant, although there are companies online that will provide training. Anyone that has been a secretary or administrative assistant would have little difficulty in starting a virtual assistant business at home. With the available word processing software programs that are available today, even someone who hasn't been a secretary or administrative assistant would be able to begin this work at home business with minimal effort.

The basic equipment for getting started is a computer with internet access, preferably high speed, a fax machine, and of course a phone. Optional equipment would be a printer, copier, and scanner. Since most people already have a computer, phone, and printer, that leaves little is anything to purchase, hence the low startup cost.

There are a few things that one needs to do at the beginning of starting a home business as a virtual assistant. First, get a website set up. This means getting a domain name and hosting. Godaddy.com offers very inexpensive domain names and hosting. Once your site is set up, you will want to decide on what services you will provide and list them, along with prices, on your website, and a contact email address or phone. You might want to list your qualifications also.

Next, you will need to draw up a contract for clients. The contract is for your safety and that of your client, to insure that there will be no misunderstanding as to what services you are providing and how much your client is paying for your services. The contract should always be presented and taken care of before you begin a project for a client.

You will also need to decide how you will be paid for your service as a virtual assistant. You can opt for payment by check or through online services such as PayPal.

Now it's time to start advertising your service. There are several ways to do this. You can promote your website listing your services by word of mouth, family, and friends. You can take out ads in newspapers and magazines. One of the joys of being a virtual assistant is that you can have clients from anywhere in the country and even internationally.

As you get business from clients, your business will flourish not only by word of mouth but by your reputation as someone who does their job well. This will gain you repeat business from clients and help to establish new clients for your virtual assistant home business.

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