A Blog about Business, Personal and the Occasional Mommy Rant.

Most of the news reports say it, “Experts say the economy is showing signs of a recession.”  With the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the inflated price of gas, the ridiculously high prices of staple food items, and not to mention the stock market.  It seems logical to make that assertion right?  However, for every expert that says it’s shaping up to be a recession, there is an expert to refute that other expert’s claim.  So which is it people…recession or no recession?  As a result of all that is taking place, people are spending less.  However, in my case, at the grocery store, I’m spending MORE and getting LESS.  So, with everything that is going on, I say, “It sure feels like a recession!”

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I’m not one of those people that become paranoid about everything and triple-guess each decision I make.  However, in this economic climate, you have to be a lot more conservative about the amount of money you spend, and you have to be oh so wise about making good decisions.  What has struck me the most is the amount of businesses that are going under or folding from all the pressure.  As a business owner myself I do have to weigh my options more than I did in the past…I do have to consider whether that next purchase is a want or a need.  At the end of the day I do have to conserve my spending so that my business can remain afloat.

Unfortunately, most businesses are suffering simply because of the amount of expenses that they incur each month.  When you calculate operational costs, employee costs, and other overhead expenses, most businesses just can’t manage to stay in business.  Oftentimes, the decision to stay or fold has everything to do with the operational costs.  They are just too high.  What business owners and entrepreneurs should know is that a virtual assistant can help you remain in business.

Below I’ve listed five reasons why partnering with a virtual assistant can help entrepreneurs and small business owners keep their business from going under…

1. For just about every business need, there is a virtual assistant that fits the bill.  Whether your need is marketing, accounting, personal assistance, etc. there is/are virtual assistants out there that can provide the support you need.  As opposed to a conventional marketing director or an accountant that requires upwards of a $70,000 salary, a virtual assistant would cost you at least 50% less and you save yourself all the additional expenses that come with having a conventional employee.

2. Save money on office space!  A virtual assistant works offsite.  Therefore, you don’t have to worry about keeping your doors open by paying a high amount in rent each month, which, when you do the math, costs your business thousands of dollars each year.  You and your virtual assistant communicate electronically, and can come up with a method that works best for you. 

3. Outsource!  Having a full staff is just too costly when you’re trying to pinch pennies and cut business spending.  You need to focus on what you do best, and outsource the rest.  Instead of laying off all of your staff and trying to do it all yourself, hire a virtual assistant who can take care of the duties that you simply don’t have the time for.  Bottom line: you cannot do it all yourself.

4. Cut your spending.  As mentioned above, partnering with a virtual assistant will save you money.  Not only do you not have to pay a virtual assistant 40 hours per week whether you have work for them or not, a virtual assistant covers all of his/her expenses.  That means there are no overhead expenses for you…no paid vacation, sick/personal time, paid lunches and the ever-increasing price of health insurance.

5.  No headaches.  Once you’ve communicated your needs to your virtual assistant, he/she will do all that is necessary to take the burden away from you and execute your tasks efficiently.  Unlike a conventional employee who is most times not vested in the growth and success of your company, a virtual assistant understands the importance of seeing you succeed.  He/she is a business owner, and know the importance of doing an excellent job.

So, if you are an entrepreneur or business owner and like me is saying to yourself, “this sure feels like a recession,” don’t wait until it is too late to find the necessary support for your business.  Hire a virtual assistant and cut all of your overhead expenses.

Bye for now.  The next time you hear from me I’ll be writing about Jill Scott coming to perform in Brooklyn…for FREE!

Anastacia