TIPS for Hiring a VA #3: A VA is an investment, not a panic button

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Before I get into this I want to clarify, there is absolutely a place for as-needed VA support. I am often that VA and honestly it is some of my favorite work. I get to save the day and feel like a total superhero. 🦸🏽‍♀️ Sometimes you just need someone to knock out a project, handle a one-time task, or carry you through a launch. Those VAs are sanity savers and yes, we have them in our community too.

BUT... 😬

After a call I had last week with a salon owner, I felt the urge to share this one.

A retainer VA is a fixed monthly expense. If your income is not fixed and predictable, that math gets uncomfortable real fast.

Here is what her numbers looked like:

January $4,000

February $900

March $6,200

April $1,100 (based on confirmed appointments so far)

That is not a business ready for a $1,500 monthly retainer. Not because a VA is not worth it. But because [all other $ things aside] one slow month wipes out her ability to pay and now she has a strained relationship, a stressed VA, and starts to resent an expense she chose that's supposed to help her business.

I learned this the hard way working inside that scenario multiple times. When a business owner does not know their numbers, when cash flow is unpredictable, when hiring is driven by panic instead of strategy, everyone loses.

A great VA amplifies what is already working. They cannot stabilize what is still shaky.

So before you commit to a dedicated VA ask yourself:

Do I know what I bring in every month? [Google Sheets is your friend here]
Can I sustain this expense for at least 90 days? [true ROI is seen after 3-6 months]
Am I hiring to grow or hiring to survive? [let's chat if you're confused]

Stabilize first. Hire strategically.

Then watch what a great Virtual Assistant can actually do for your business.

Desperation is expensive. Preparation pays off.

We have a talented community of operators ready to support you when the time is right. They're all making me really proud. 😊

Check them out here 👈🏾

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