Up Close & Virtual: A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own Virtual Assistant Business, Second Edition

Up Close and Virtual, 2nd Edition is a complete reference guide to starting a successful and PROFITABLE virtual assistant business. Virtual assistants provide business support services to a broad range of clientele worldwide. Virtual assistants specialize in web design/graphic design, word processing, transcription, Internet research, event planning, coaching, editing/writing, meeting planning, concierge services, real estate transaction coordination, etc. Our detailed book covers all the how tos of starting a business including business and financial planning, determining rates, specialty services, VA training, etc. Plus it offers information on domain registration, creating your web site, and most importantly, how and where to find clients. All the latest information, links, resources, and tools are available for you!

Along with our personal experiences, (which covers over 20 years) we've also included recommendations from virtual assistants worldwide. This enables readers to see how others are making their businesses successful and provide them with a blueprint on how to do the same with theirs.

Cited as the book of choice for the VA industry, Up Close and Virtual is currently used as training material for VA courses including being the primary textbook for Red Deer College’s VA Certification Program (in Canada) and required reading for students of Virtual Assistance U, an online training center for virtual professionals. It truly leaves no stone overturned and is a MUST for anyone wanted to start this type of business.

Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the authors of Up Close and Virtual, 1st & 2nd Edition and the Bizymoms Cookbook (available at Bizymoms.com). Diana is also the author of Success From Home: The Word Publishing Business (published by Adams-Blake Publishing), and Words From Home: How To Start and Operate a Home-Based Word Processing Business. With a combined history of working at home of over 20 years, these two women have contributed to the success of many word processors and virtual assistants alike. Additionally, they have been included in a number of books, articles and interviews by Mompreneurs®, Lisa Roberts, Jan Melnik, Liz Folger, Maria Bailey, Priscilla Y. Huff, Woman’s World, Home Office Computing, USA Today, Entrepreneur Magazine, MomsTown.com Internet Talk Radio and many others.

Both are active in the virtual assistant community, not only as business owners, but as mentors, message board managers and chat hosts. Together they remain on top of the latest developments in the virtual assistant (VA) industry.

As a leader in the work-at-home word processor world, Diana Ennen has been in the forefront of the work-at-home word processor world since opening her practice, Ennen’s Computer Services, in 1985. She has also excelled in the virtual industry as well. Kelly Poelker, one of the VA industry leaders, has been operating Another 8 Hours, Inc. since 2000. Another 8 Hours is co-host to the first ever VA Conference.