Hiring Subcontractors for Your VA Business
Posted by:
Abbey Ashley
Get ready for the best virtual assistant subcontracting advice you’ve ever received.
*Ta-da!*
Seriously… this interview will completely revolutionize your thoughts about how you start subcontracting as a VA.
I’m super excited to be sharing with you today an interview with my friend Kena Roth from Kena Roth Business Solutions. Kena has been in the VA world for a long time, and has a ton of expertise to share, specifically about subcontracting!
Kena has been a VA for 10 years. She started her business because, like so many of us, she wanted to be home with her kids, and she also wanted a career. Kena has a team of 6 full-time VAs and brings in other subcontractors as needed. She offers complete business management. She currently has 12 full-time clients, at 30 hours or more per week (wow!).
I asked her to join me on a live call to discuss your top questions about hiring subcontractors for your Virtual Assistant biz.
PS – I was super upset about my video quality here. My camera stopped working, Kena’s lighting was a little off, and my shot ended up at a weird angle (hello, close-up). Boo. However, the content is SO good that I still HAD to share!
TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS INTERVIEW:
- At what point should I start considering subcontracting for my business? [4:16]
- Find out what happens in your business when you start outsourcing. [4:51]
- Where do I fit in within my own business after I hire a team of subcontractors? [5:40]
- Difficulties faced in the process of hiring a team of subcontractors [7:49]
- The ONE secret to being a successful VA [9:25]
- What qualities should I look for in a subcontractor? [10:40]
- Where to start looking for good people as VA Subcontractors [12:50]
- The ONE Project Management tool Kena uses and recommends for managing subcontractors. [15:25]
- How to bill and process payment between clients and subcontractors. [19:44]
- How much should I pay my subcontractors? [22:05]
- How to stay in touch with your subcontractors [25:03]
- How do I know I am ready for subcontractors? [26:45]
- How to appreciate your subcontractors [27:51]
- The ONE personality trait to look for in a subcontractor [31:44]
CHECK OUT THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE:
If you’re ready to start subcontracting in your Virtual Assistant business, check out our VA Toolbox, which includes a VA Contract as well as a Subcontracting Agreement and a Mock Portfolio Template.
Meet Abbey
Abbey Ashley is the Founder of The Virtual Savvy. She helps aspiring virtual assistants launch and grow their own at-home business from scratch. She's since gone on to grow a multi-six figure business and retire her husband ALL from her at-home business. It's now her passion to help others start their own VA business so they can taste the freedom and flexibility of entrepreneurship as well.
This free one-hour training combines thousands of hours of research, years of experience in growing a virtual assistant business!
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Abby,
Thank you for this interview with Kena. I definitely want to hire subcontractors eventually in my business and this has been very informative and educational.
I loved what Kena said about you don’t have to know everything just be honest and let her know. But be willing to learn.
Hi Deborah,
Yes, it’s always best to be honest and be open to learning new skills. You never know, you may be good at something you didn’t even know you would be good at until you actually try it. 😉
Also, always be yourself. It’s your business so be YOU, that will set you apart from everyone else.
Good Luck!
Great infirmation. Thank you for sharing.
I am ready to hire subcontractors in my VA business, however I still need some insight on paying them, taxes and what it means for my business. I don’t want to get in trouble with the bid bad IRS. Do I 1099 them? Employ them? Please help!
From my understanding, it would be just like hiring any contractor. Make sure to talk to a professional to help you out.
Im thinking of bringing someone on as a subcontractor. Let’s say said person works for me could they just get paid from the work they do. Let’s say I want to bring on a SMM. They get the job and they get paid. Not me.
Is that possible?
Hi Sara, if you hire a subcontractor then typically the client will pay you directly and you will be responsible for paying your subcontractor. I have a video HERE that might help too!
Good day
Would like to find out if your documents will work for me I am starting off VA in South Africa.
Hi Chantelle,
Yes, our content is designed to help VAs and aspiring VAs anywhere in the world! If you’d like to learn more, come on over and join our free Facebook group here.
Hi Abbey! Have you ever thought about providing transcripts for these videos, particularly for the hearing impaired? Thanks so much for always providing such great information for VAs!
Hi Annie,
Thanks so much for the suggestion! It’s definitely something that we will consider, as we want our content to be available for ALL VAs. 🙂
Yes, I second this! I study at night when hubby is asleep next to me, so a transcript option would definitely be nice!
Sara, thank you for your comment! You rock!
Kena you are a gem, a diamond for the way you treat your VAs. God bless you. So enjoyed this video.
Kena is pretty amazing, isn’t she!?
I think this is great information but it might be an even better idea to interview a VA who is a subcontractor and get their perspective on what works and what doesn’t for them, such as what’s an acceptable amount to work to be handed-off at the subcontractor rates, what the contract should include and set working-terms that doesn’t overlap your capacity to still market for your own clients. I subcontract and it can be just as overwhelming if you work with the wrong VA, especially when boundaries get crossed.
Yes, great idea! Thank you so much for the feedback!