Become A Successful Virtual Assistant: Learn the Business Side & Ditch 9 to 5

In “Becoming a Successful Virtual Assistant,” Melissa Smith explains eight steps you should take as you transition from your traditional office job to working as a virtual assistant. Melissa also offers some “bonus” tips you should follow before you start your own VA business. Besides publishing a book chock-full of information and advice, Melissa also offers a workbook where you can complete assignments for each chapter and journal your thoughts and progress. The workbook is a source of encouragement and accountability as you work through Melissa’s eight steps to starting your own VA business.Melissa speaks with authority from a “been there, done that” perspective. Her practical advice offers steps I could take immediately to improve the processes and goals for my own virtual assistant business right now. Plus she presents so many tried and true ideas that I will be sure to apply in the future as my business grows. Her advice even confirmed that some of the decisions I've made recently for my own business have been the right ones.The best part of this book is the real-world insights Melissa shared through her personal and professional experiences. Melissa openly reveals her own successes and failures as well as fascinating stories from her global travels. And she ties them all together with realistic advice that can benefit every entrepreneur.Melissa’s book is full of valuable information that every new or wannabe VA should read. I'm so glad she wrote this book!

For the past several months I've thought about becoming a VA on the side. I've even done some training. So I feel like I came to this book with some background.I LOVED this book! First of all, it's written in a conversational, down-to-earth style that's easy to follow and understand. Don't let that fool you, though. It's as full of facts and important points as any college textbook. There is so much in here about so many stages of business, this book will be a great reference for years to come. Secondly, it's laid out in a very organized way that touches on all aspects of establishing, growing, and maintaining a successful business. It's awesome! But what I appreciated most was the practicality. Never does the author paint the world of the VA as a perfect place. She addresses the pitfalls and challenges as honestly as she addresses the positive. To me, that makes the book a far better preparation for the real world since it lets you know what might be coming and what you could possibly avoid with some planning. The reference section at the end is amazing, too.I highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about becoming - or who has recently become- a virtual assistant. Even if you have had other training, you will find a lot of practical tips and advice in this book.

This is a stunning book, well written and very relevant for people seeking a location independent work life.The reason I say buyer beware is simple. The author offers pricey training programs for aspiring virtual assistants. Based my experience in attending one of these, I consider them a complete rip off. Apologies, Melissa Smith, but to have an hour of chat once a week for eight weeks does not represent value.

When I decided to come out of early retirement I knew that I wanted to do something different than work the traditional 9-5. Back then, I didn’t know what a virtual assistant was, or even that it was possible to work from home for a traditional company. Then a friend pointed me to an online article about the changing nature of the workforce and I knew right then and there that working remotely was right for me.If you’ve ever wondered about working from home and being your own boss, you should read this book. Ms. Smith lays out the “action steps” you’ll need to take in order to set yourself up as a VA and grow your business in a sane and steady way. This is not a dry “how to” book. The author shares her own experiences and revelations as she built her remote business successfully. The book is structured into chapters that flow seamlessly into each other and are concise and informative. The resource section at the end of the book is especially valuable, and I will return to it again and again.

As a bonus, Melissa has also written a free companion workbook which can be downloaded from her website and used side-by-side with this book. I look forward to trying some of her suggestions to improve my own business, and if you’re just starting that journey, I can highly recommend this book.

This is more than learning the biz side of biz. This is like an internship in a book. The author provides specific examples of what to do, what not to do and why in every single aspect of working as a VA. Things I never would’ve dreamed to even ask a mentor about, she included in his book. Big tricks. Small tricks. Things that will make or break a biz and the person who runs it.Right down to every detail, the author nails it with this one. She provides specific examples to bring home every point from how to find your ideal client, establish firm boundaries, on-board new clients, avoid burnout, price your services, grow your business, network and everything in between. So often when I try something new I don’t even know what questions to ask. This book was full of answers I didn’t even know I needed.Practical enough to use as a guidebook and business manual, this book covers everything you'll need. The author gets to the point quickly and drives it home with examples that make for one 'aha moment' after another.By the end of this book-or maybe even after the first few chapters—you’ll know for sure whether or not you can make it as a VA and how to run your business.

This book is a game changer for someone who is just jumping in the VA world. It shows exactly the steps to build a business. It was really helpful, my perspective of the process to become a VA its completely different than when I started.

That book provides guidelines to new vertual assistant how to manage things of business as AV.Step by step procedure how to become good vertual assistant.

Love it!! Every page of this book exudes the passion the author has for her field. This is definitely a must read for all Virtual Assistants looking to build a business and take it to the next level. The insights shared by Melissa, highlight some of the fundamental principles relevant to all industries. As such, this is also a great guide for business owners in general.

Melissa Smith is digging deep, and makes you to do the same. If you are a novice VA, I highly recommend her book. It makes so much easier to jump into the unknown. Her dedication and professionalism is so empowering. I’m telling you, you need to read this book!

A great guide for all current and aspiring VAs. Clear step-by-step guidelines liberally interspersed with real-life experience make this a highly engaging read.