This lets you give an answer to question (instead of just ignoring them), but doesn’t reveal any information you might charge for.

Honesty Is Best Policy

Next, be honest. Explain that designing Web sites is what you do for a living. It’s how you earn your income. Let person know that you would be more than happy to offer consulting services or full-fledge design and maintenance services, but these would come at a cost. Outline your pricing structure for people so they’ll know exactly what each service costs.

This action gets you “off hook” (so to speak) and frees you from having to answer any future questions.

Provide Alternative Resources

Go one final step further and find some alternative, free resources person might check into for additional information. By offering a list of design forums, free ebooks, or information-packed sites, you’re getting yourself out of picture in a kind and professional way.

Nine times out of ten, “moochers” either don’t have money to pay, or they are unwilling to pay for products and services. In either case, you’re unlikely to make a paying client out of such people. By using steps above, you gain your freedom, and at same time provide helpful resources where moocher can get free information.

Diane C. Hughes * ProBizTips.com

With modern day communication, projects can be accomplished without ever having to meet client face to face. With growing ease of Internet, finding a VA almost anywhere in world is quite simple to accomplish. More so in developed nations like USA, Canada, Australia, UK and many other European countries VA industry is highly organized. The potential of developing countries like India can too be exploited to provide skilled VA services.