What Can a Virtual Assistant Actually Help a Small Business With?

If you run a small business, chances are you didn't start it because you love keeping on top of emails, updating spreadsheets or sorting out your filing system.

But somehow, all of those little admin jobs still need doing.

And when you're the person doing everything, they have a habit of creeping into evenings, weekends and the time you actually need to spend running your business.

That's where a virtual assistant can help.

So, what does a virtual assistant actually do?

The simple answer is: the admin you don't have the time, capacity or desire to keep doing yourself.

Every business is different, so the support you need might look completely different from somebody else's.

It could be keeping on top of your inbox, organising documents and folders, updating spreadsheets, formatting documents, carrying out data entry or helping you get through a backlog of admin that's been sitting on your list for far too long.

You might need regular support each month, or you might simply need an extra pair of hands when things get busy.

"But I can do all of that myself..."

You probably can.

The question is whether you need to be the person doing it.

When you run a small business, your time is limited. An hour spent sorting files or updating a spreadsheet is an hour you can't spend with a customer, working on your actual service or simply finishing work on time.

Outsourcing doesn't have to mean handing over huge parts of your business.

Sometimes it's just taking a few of those repetitive, time-consuming jobs off your plate.

What could you hand over?

Some of the tasks I can support small businesses with include:

• Inbox and email organisation
• Data entry
• Spreadsheet creation and updates
• Document formatting
• File and folder organisation
• General administrative support
• Research
• Creating and updating simple business documents
• Tackling admin backlogs

And if you're looking at that list thinking, "I don't even know what I need help with — I just know I'm drowning in admin," that's okay too.

Sometimes figuring out what can be handed over is the first step.

You don't need to be a big business to get support

There's a misconception that outsourcing admin is something you do once your business reaches a certain size.

It doesn't have to be.

You don't need enough work to employ somebody. You don't need to hand over your whole business. And you certainly don't need to have everything perfectly organised before asking for help.

You might just need a few hours back.

And sometimes, a few hours can make a very big difference.

Need an extra pair of hands with your business admin?

That Norfolk Admin provides flexible virtual admin support for small businesses. Get in touch and tell me what's currently taking up your time — we can work out what I could take off your plate.