VAs do not discuss and plot rates at VAnetworking.com. But, they network to learn who they are and how to recognize their worth as professionals. Then, to express that to potential clients.

Still the other day, a prospect asked what my rate is. I told him, and he suggested that although he thought my rate was probably fair, he would go with another VA who provided the ’same service’ for less than half my rate.

Happens all the time …

I am the first to admit that when I started my business, I just picked a number out of mid-air which was a terrible idea because it was low and when I came to a point where I needed subcontractors, most charged more than me and it was just a big mess. It also takes a long time to get to where you need to be because you can’t just tell your clients your rates are going up $10 an hour effective immediately!

To Nanette – I strongly encourage you to worry about what you need to make, instead of looking just at the average being charged. You have to figure out how many hours you actually can work, how many hours you need to spend building your business and how much your going to have to save to cover your taxes.

I agree with your post — I find many clients see hiring a VA as a way around the high charges of a temp agency so they think we should all work “really cheap.” Also, since much publicity has been given to outsourcing this work overseas where rates are MUCH lower, many new clients already have a distorted idea of what we should be charging. While I have a few clients for whom my rates are lower, they are clients who started with me and have stuck with me through the years. Periodically I raise their rates in small increments and they understand that I am still charging them less than the majority of my client base.

However, many months ago I wrote about my personal “BIG ISSUE” with pricing in a post titled “IF YOU PAY PEANUTS, YOU GET MONKEYS!” (http://budurl.com/nwq9) In most cases, you get what you pay for. And nothing is worse for us as virtual assistants then for prospective clients to have bad experiences with inexperienced or unqualified VAs. It’s easy enough to tell someone ‘you get what you pay for,” but that never removes the bad taste in their mouth over the poor service they’ve already received.

As a profession we have to work as hard at educating clients on the pitfalls of working with inexperienced VAs as we do at selling them our skills and services.

I agree that sometimes the lowest bidder is exactly what you need for a short term project, but when you’re looking for a VA for full time work, take a good look around and get the right one. Yes, rates should play a part, and should be a factor in your decision, but you get what you pay for. Most VAs I know are very educated in the services that they provide and should charge what they are worth. I haven’t had too much of a problem asking for and getting the rates I request. Maybe I’ve just been lucky.

Thanks.
Kathy Zengolewicz