The Virtual Assistant industry which is continually growing can require very little in the way of start-up costs. VA businesses can be offered as both an individual service or company with a team of VA’s. As with any business there is a quite a bit of work involved and no guarantees for an overnight success. Successful businesses require more than a speedy internet connection and Microsoft Office.

Start Small – Many virtual assistants begin their careers on freelance sites like Odesk and Guru. Taking on small projects here is a great way to get your feet wet and a quick way to build a good reputation.

Be realistic about your abilities – If your knowledge of Excel is minimal do not take on assignments requiring advanced Excel skills to snag a client. If (and probably when) you do a less than stellar job the negative feedback can hurt your chances of a successful business and future clients.

Get organized – Many in the market for a virtual assistant are small business owners and entrepreneurs themselves. They look for a VA to help them stay on track, stay focused and grow their business. Great organization and time management skills are essential. If these are not your strong suits you may want to rethink your new career path.

Team up – If you are working on a freelance site spend some time in the chat rooms or forums, talking with other virtual assistants. You may want to partner up with another individual who is strong in areas where you are weak and vice versa. You can program a great website but can’t write to save your life; she has no idea what HTML is but can blog effectively on any subject under the sun. Teaming up can create a virtual team to be reckoned with.