 What
makes Goutiere Professional Business Services different from all those other companies
providing business assistance?
GPBS works away from your office, managing and delivering its services to you
using computers and communications technology. We're part of an advanced new industry
known as “virtual assistance” that gives business assistance a whole new spin.
Bronwyn Robertson of The Arts
VA puts it this way: “Virtual
Assistance describes the way I work, not the work I do.” GPBS agrees. We
provide traditional administrative and management support, but we use the power of the Internet to deliver that support.
Virtual assistance is a new concept to many people. Following are
frequently asked questions about the profession and about working with GPBS.
Just what is a virtual assistant?
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A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who works with clients from an off-site location.
As a small business owner, the VA operates out of his or her own office and supplies
all the necessary equipment and software. The VA communicates with clients using
e-mail, instant messaging, telephone and fax. Virtual entrepreneurs come from nearly every service industry or occupation.
Examples include writers, administrative assistants, graphic artists, software
developers, business consultants, marketing specialists, association managers and bookkeepers. Your VA can be around the corner—or around the world. Distance is no longer an obstacle, and it can even be an advantage.
Who uses virtual assistants?
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Business owners, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, and independent
professionals all use virtual services. Why do they choose VAs? For a variety of
reasons. They may only have temporary work, they may not have space for employees,
or they may want specialized expertise for a one-time project. Others prefer VAs because they provide significant cost savings over regular employees.
So how can a VA save me money?
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Unlike employees, VAs are productive 100 percent of the time they’re
working for you. You pay only for the work you need when you need it. And since VAs are independent contractors, you don’t pay
for
- Workers’ compensation
- Unemployment compensation
- Social Security and Medicare taxes
- Health, life, disability and accidental death insurance
- Retirement plans
- Paid holidays, paid vacation time and paid sick days
- Office equipment, computer equipment and software
- Office space and utilities
- Training expenses
- Supervisory time
- Breaks, personal phone calls and “chat” time
- Periods of slow or no work
The International Virtual Assistants Association reports that full-time employees
can cost up to 2.5 times times their salaries. So that administrative
assistant making $30,000 per year may really be costing you up to $75,000 per year in total support! And
that assistant will never be 100 percent efficient.
Still not convinced? Visit compensation Web sites like Salary.com. Check employee salary and benefit numbers for specific jobs in your geographic area.
Keep in mind that these figures don’t include overhead expenses like office space and equipment. They also don’t factor out nonproductive employee time. You’ll discover that an experienced VA charging $35 per productive hour for administrative assistance is a tremendous bargain. You save by hiring an independent contractor rather than an employee. And administrative support is just one example of how a qualified VA can trim your business costs.
When is your “office” open, and how do I communicate with
you?
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The GPBS office is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET) Monday through Thursday
and from 8 a.m. to 12 noon Friday (excluding U.S. holidays). Feel free to phone,
e-mail, instant message and fax during these hours. If this schedule proves unworkable
for you just let us know. We’ll try to make reasonable accommodations for
you outside normal business hours.
How does GPBS bill for its services, and how do I pay you?
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Before work begins, GPBS will ask you to sign a straightforward contract outlining
the scope of work and expected compensation.
GPBS will then bill you by the hour, by the project or by retainer, depending
on the work to be performed. For project billings, GPBS requests 30 percent of
the estimated project cost before work begins. The balance will be due when the work
is complete. For monthly retainers, GPBS requests full payment in advance.
GPBS accepts bank checks, business checks, personal checks and money orders.
I’m located in New Hampshire. If I need on-site assistance for
all or part of a project, would you consider working at my office?
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Yes, depending on the specifics. We reserve the right to determine what
tasks require on-site performance and what tasks are better performed off-site.
GPBS charges a four-hour minimum for on-site work.
How do I know I’m getting what I pay for?
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At any time GPBS will be happy to supply you with progress reports, expense
records and time sheets. We want you to have confidence in our work practices,
and we will gladly document the work we do for you.
How do I know I can trust you?
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GPBS promises to keep your business information confidential while we are working
for you and after our working relationship ends. We also promise never to engage
in activities that conflict with your interests, and we will never use your information
for personal gain.
The International Virtual Assistants Association has certified GPBS owner Ramona
Goutiere as an EthicsChecked virtual professional. See
IVAA for more information.
I want a stable relationship for administrative support where I don’t
have to “break in” a new VA every six months. How do I know I can
depend on you?
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GPBS is in business to do business, just like you. So we want strong, long-term
partnerships just like you do.
When we contract with you for services, we intend to provide those services
for as long as you need us. We know you make
an investment of time and effort in the relationship. So do we.
Sometimes, however, the unexpected happens. GPBS will let you know immediately
if we are unable to fulfill our obligations to you. If you wish, we'll be happy to recommend another qualified VA.
What if our business relationship just doesn’t work out?
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Sometimes unanticipated events change a business relationship,
and sometimes a good working partnership never develops.
Either party may terminate a GPBS contract without cause with five days’
written notice. GPBS will bill you for time and expenses up to the termination
date. We will immediately refund the unused portion of fees paid in advance.
It’s that simple.
Have a question that you don’t see answered? Contact
GPBS.
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