Think Maids is my personal cleaning business, which I started back in mid-2016. Initially, I managed everything myself, from taking calls and responding to emails to cleaning homes. But as the business grew, I realized I needed help to manage my time effectively and focus on growing the business. That’s when I began outsourcing some of the tasks to a virtual assistant (VA) so that I could concentrate on more important aspects of the business.
At first, I had a hard time trusting a virtual assistant with important tasks like answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, and responding to emails. However, once I found a VA who could speak fluent English and had a good work ethic, I began to slowly delegate more and more tasks to her. I also started documenting my processes and creating templates for how I like to respond to customers, so that my VA could use them as a guide.
As time went on, my VA proved herself to be an invaluable member of my team. I was able to step back and let her handle the day-to-day operations of the business, while I focused on growing the business and expanding into new markets. I chose to look only in the US and find someone who could speak fluent English so there were no language barriers with customers. I also ensured that my VA was trained to handle customer inquiries and complaints in a professional and courteous manner.
With my VA taking care of the administrative tasks, I was able to focus on scaling my business. I expanded my cleaning services from one to three states, and I was able to take on more customers without worrying about the increased workload. Thanks to the extra help from my VA, I was able to save thousands of dollars every year in overhead costs by avoiding the need for an in-house assistant.
Since outsourcing tasks to my VA, I have also been able to spend more time traveling the world. I am able to do so with the peace of mind knowing that my business is secure, stable, and in good hands. I spend at most 10 minutes a day on it, and some days I don’t spend any time at all. These days I live full-time with my wife in Japan, though we also spend long stretches of time in the UK with family.
The success of my business has inspired me to help other local business owners achieve the same level of freedom and success. Thus, I founded InoVA Local to provide virtual assistant services to other entrepreneurs. Since then, I have helped more than 100 local business owners take their businesses remote and enjoy the benefits of a virtual assistant.
Overall, outsourcing tasks to a virtual assistant has been a game-changer for my business. It has allowed me to focus on growing the business, expanding into new markets, and enjoying the freedom to travel while still running my business effectively. I hope my experience inspires other business owners to consider using virtual assistants to help grow their own businesses.