For example:

You charge $75 per hour for your services ime. You spend a total of 5 hours trying to catch up on your correspondence…entering information into a database, typing and re-typing your letters and preparing them to be mailed.

$75/hr X 5 hours = $375.00 of your valuable time and profit

If it would cost you less to outsource, why not do it? Why not allow a professional to handle some of your tasks leaving you with more time to generate revenue?

$25/hr (sample cost to outsource) X 5 hours = $125.00

$375 - $125 = $250 + $ of contract you signed while a professional took care of non-revenue generating tasks.

Although you are spending some of your hard earned money, you are gaining so much more. Outsourcing gives you professional assistance, which in turn saves you both time and money...the two things that most small business owners need more of.

A VA’s rates, comparatively, help to upgrade equipment, software and skills. This, in turn, allows for more and better services to be available for client. It also means that client doesn’t need to worry about providing space and maintaining equipment that a temp would need, which can get quite costly when in hands of an inexperienced employee.

5.The next difference is to look at types of clients that temps and VAs are most likely to be contracted by. Medium to large companies generally would call in a temp when they have enough work to keep them busy for an extended period of time or when work involves specific duties that need to be handled in-house (ie. reception). However, these companies may also have a need for services of a VA when they have an occasional project that requires immediate, experienced attention or when they do not have training time or equipment available for a temp.

Small business owners and SOHOs (Sole Owner Home Office) are most likely to need and utilize services of a VA as opposed to bringing in a temp. The projects are usually varied and may be far between or not enough to keep an employee busy in-house. The completion of project may also be hampered by lack of space and equipment that would be necessary if a temp is brought in. It is unlikely they will ever use services of a temp and they are more receptive to idea of contracting a secretarial service.

6.VAs charge for actual work they do, hour for hour, whereas a temp is paid for time worked and any time they sit idle, waiting for more work or another project to do.

7.And, unlike a temp who has loyalty to agency they are contracted through, a VA is usually an entrepreneur and works with and for client. As a fellow small business owner, a VA has a vested interest in success of their client’s business.

Although temporary agencies are more visible to public, due to their increased size and marketing budgets, they are not only answer to help alleviate administrative overflow for both small and large businesses.