The Media's Virtual Assistant Survey Results

The Who, What, When, Where, Why & How of Virtual Assistants

NOTE: You may freely use VANA's Virtual Assistant statistical data in any documentation both on and offline as long as you fully credit the Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) at www.vanetworking.com as your reference source.

*Source: Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) The Media Virtual Assistant Survey
The Largest Global Meeting Place Online for Aspiring and Successful Virtual Assistants

1. Gender
		Response Percent	Response Count
Female		96.8%	735
Male		3.0%	23
	answered question		759
	skipped question		2

2. Marital Status
		Response Percent	Response Count
Single		13.1%	99
Married		69.3%	524
Divorced		13.0%	98
Common Law		4.5%	34
	answered question		756
	skipped question		5

3. Do you have children?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		76.1%	574
No		23.7%	179
	answered question		754
	skipped question		7

4. If Yes, how many?
		Response Percent	Response Count
1		27.8%	161
2		39.4%	228
3		20.4%	118
4		7.9%	46
5 or more		4.3%	25
	answered question		579
	skipped question		182

5. What is/are the age(s) of your child(ren)? Click all that are applicable.
		Response Percent	Response Count
1-5		30.6%	177
6-10		28.5%	165
11-15		31.3%	181
16-20		22.3%	129
Adults		37.0%	214
	answered question		579
	skipped question		182

6. What's your educational background? Click all that are applicable.
		Response Percent	Response Count
High School		51.8%	392
College/Trade School		59.2%	448
University		32.2%	244
Online VA Training Program		19.8%	150
Online/Computer-based Courses		37.7%	285
On-the-Job Training		52.7%	399
	answered question		757
	skipped question		4

7. Did you start your business right after graduation? Click all that are applicable.
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		4.6%	35
After being in the workforce for some time		82.5%	622
After children were born		29.8%	225
	answered question		754
	skipped question		7

8. Do you carry insurance for your business?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		32.0%	240
No		67.9%	509
	answered question		750
	skipped question		11

9. Why did you start your VA business? Click all that are applicable.
		Response Percent	Response Count
Wanted out of the corporate world		50.1%	379
Wanted to stay home with my children		41.0%	310
Wanted to own my own business		77.3%	585
Wanted flexible hours		78.7%	596
Wanted to make money		54.0%	409
Wanted independence		72.5%	549
Disability or physical reasons preventing you from working in the corporate world		7.4%	56
	answered question		757
	skipped question		4

10. Is your VA business...
		Response Percent	Response Count
Full-time		58.9%	443
Part-time		41.0%	308
	answered question		752
	skipped question		9

11. If part-time, do you also have another job?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes, part-time job		30.6%	70
Yes, full-time job		45.9%	105
Yes, other home based business (other than VA business)		29.7%	68
	answered question		229
	skipped question		532

12. If it is part-time, do you intend to go full-time?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		70.7%	217
No		29.3%	90
	answered question		307
	skipped question		454

13. How long did it take before you had your first paying client?
		Response Percent	Response Count
They were already pre-arranged before my business started		23.2%	168
In the first month		30.9%	224
In the first 3 months		24.7%	179
In the first 6 months		9.7%	70
In the first 9 months		4.8%	35
In a year or more		6.6%	48
	answered question		725
	skipped question		36

14. Do you use outsource work using subcontractors?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		37.5%	276
No		62.4%	459
	answered question		736
	skipped question		25

15. How do you market your business? (Please choose as many as you currently use in your business).
		Response Percent	Response Count
Online Networking via e-lists, forums, websites, etc.		70.4%	523
Online Search Engine Optimization Marketing		35.7%	265
Online Press Release Submissions		17.1%	127
Online Article Submissions		17.9%	133
Online Newsletter		14.5%	108
Online Banner Advertising		6.7%	50
Online Email Marketing Campaigns		15.1%	112
Online Affiliate Program		6.1%	45
Hand out Business Cards		74.0%	550
Newspaper or magazine ads		15.2%	113
Yellow page ad		14.0%	104
Cold calling		11.2%	83
Mail out media kits		6.3%	47
Mail or hand out flyers/brochures/postcards		38.9%	289
Networking at local community groups (Chamber of Commerce member, etc)		51.4%	382
Referral Program (referees of your services get a coupon or dollar amount)		22.8%	169
I do not market at all		8.2%	61
Please tell us what other marketing mediums you use			151
	answered question		743
	skipped question		18

16. Do you have a... Click all that apply.
		Response Percent	Response Count
Marketing plan		62.3%	341
Business plan		88.1%	482
Contingency plan		25.8%	141
	answered question		547
	skipped question		214

17. Which VA related organizations/groups do you belong to?*
*A total of 114 VA organizations/groups were named but only those with a response percent of 5%+ were listed below.		Response Percent	Response Count
www.VAnetworking.com		64.7%	400
www.IVAA.org		37.7%	233
www.cvac.ca		12.1%	75
www.AssistU.com		9.7%	60
www.vadirectory.net		7.3%	45
www.canadianva.net		7.1%	44
www.iavoa.com		7.1%	44
	answered question		618
	skipped question		143

18. Do you have employees? (Not including subcontractors)
		Response Percent	Response Count
No		91.9%	688
Yes - full-time		3.1%	23
Yes - part-time		4.9%	37
	answered question		749
	skipped question		12

19. If so, how many employees?
		Response Percent	Response Count
1 - Just Yourself		85.6%	292
2-3		12.6%	43
4-6		0.6%	2
7-10		1.2%	4
10 or more		0.0%	0
	answered question		341
	skipped question		420

20. Do you niche market yourself? ie) Real Estate Virtual Assistant
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		43.4%	317
No		56.5%	413
Please let us know what your niche is.			317
	answered question		731
	skipped question		30

21. How do you charge for services? Please check all that apply.
		Response Percent	Response Count
Hourly		87.7%	654
Retainer		60.7%	453
Project		50.5%	377
Other		6.0%	45
Other (please specify)			50
	answered question		746
	skipped question		15

22. What is your hourly rate? (Amounts are based on a per hour USD rate)
		Response Percent	Response Count
Less than $10		1.3%	10
$11-20		10.3%	77
$21-30		30.2%	225
$31-40		32.0%	238
$41-50		17.6%	131
$51-75		6.9%	51
$76-99		1.5%	11
Over $100		0.1%	1
	answered question		745
	skipped question		16

23. How long have you been in business?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Less than 1 year		37.8%	282
1-2 years		9.6%	72
2-3 years		21.6%	161
4-5 years		14.6%	109
6-7 years		5.9%	44
8-9 Years		3.2%	24
10 years or more		7.2%	54
	answered question		747
	skipped question		14

24. How many hours a week do you put into your business?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Less than 10		9.5%	71
11-20		22.3%	166
21-30		19.7%	147
31-40		23.9%	178
41-50		14.1%	105
More than 50		10.5%	78
	answered question		746
	skipped question		15

25. Do you keep traditional work hours? (ie, Monday-Friday, 9-5 plus or minus an hour)
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		38.6%	288
No		61.3%	458
	answered question		747
	skipped question		14

26. As a rule, do you normally work on the weekends?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		43.6%	326
No		56.2%	420
	answered question		747
	skipped question		14

27. How many days a week do you normally work?
		Response Percent	Response Count
1-2		4.7%	35
3-4		25.6%	191
5-6		57.8%	431
7		11.8%	88
	answered question		746
	skipped question		15

28. If you work nights, weekends, or holidays, do you increase your rate?
		Response Percent	Response Count
I do not work outside of normal business hours		18.1%	133
I work outside of business hours and do not raise my rate		62.2%	458
I work outside of business hours and do raise my rates		19.6%	144
	answered question		736
	skipped question		25

29. Where is your office located?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Home office in a common room (ie: living room, dining room, bedroom, etc.)		31.1%	233
Actual home office in a separate room		66.1%	496
Office outside of home (rented space)		2.1%	16
Office outside of home (owned location)		0.5%	4
	answered question		750
	skipped question		11

30. Where are you located?
		Response Percent	Response Count
United States		72.5%	542
Canada		15.1%	113
Australia		5.2%	39
Europe		4.0%	30
South America/Africa		2.3%	17
Asia		0.8%	6
	answered question		748
	skipped question		13

31. Do you have a website?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		85.4%	635
No		14.5%	108
	answered question		744
	skipped question		17

32. If so, do you maintain your website yourself?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		80.1%	526
No		19.9%	131
	answered question		657
	skipped question		104

33. How do you find your clients? Click all that apply.
		Response Percent	Response Count
Word of mouth referrals		93.7%	697
Paper (magazines, newpaper, yellow pages)		23.8%	177
Electronic (Emails, banner ads, etc.)		31.5%	234
Directly from my website		49.6%	369
RFPs from online job boards		37.4%	278
Other		27.4%	204
	answered question		744
	skipped question		17

34. How many clients do you normally have at any one time?
		Response Percent	Response Count
1-4		61.9%	451
5-7		21.4%	156
8-10		9.6%	70
11-20		4.4%	32