Let’s go back to the summer of 2022.
I was determined to make the upcoming school year my last, but after months of searching for jobs, nothing seemed to be sticking. I applied for everything under the sun from remote teaching gigs to non-profit roles. Sometimes, I’d hear back, other times I’d get the automated “Thanks, but no thanks!” and in some cases, I’d get the offer. But none of it felt right.
So when August rolled around, I packed my teacher bag and headed back to my middle school FACS position. But even with nothing lined up, I knew this would likely be my last first day.
I stumbled upon the role of Virtual Assistance in one of my many LinkedIn rabbit holes, and while it caught my eye at first, I didn’t pursue it at first.
“I didn’t know how to run a business.”
“I’ve never managed clients.”
“How will I even get clients?”
Friends, there is nothing like a puzzled anxious brain to make you doubt everything about yourself.
But the possibilities—and freedom—I knew this job came with kept coming back to me, and I had no choice but to silence the noise in my head and start to put a game plan together. I had the stability of my teaching job, so even if it didn’t work out, I wasn’t losing income.
So I started building my company. And guess what?
It worked.
In my first three months of teaching, I tripled my income.
One month later, I resigned from my teaching position altogether.
And now, I help people just like you launch their own successful VA businesses.
In almost two years, I’ve scaled my business to over six figures, created two coaching courses: Educators Exit and Next Level VA, built a free masterclass, and helped thousands of people reclaim their freedom through Virtual Assistance.
And now I’m here to tell you about every single resource I used to help me get there.
Let’s get started!
PURPOSE: I use this to schedule my and all of my client’s social media posts across all platforms.
COST: It depends on the package you choose! I chose the yearly Growth option because it was the most cost-effective in the end and served both my and my client’s needs.
PURPOSE: My favorite project management software. There are a ton on the market, but this is the one that I prefer. You can manage team members, organize projects, stay on top of deadlines, and streamline every client task you could ever need.
COST: Free! We love to see it.
PURPOSE: The easiest platform to build your website, IMO. I recommend every one of my VA students to get started with Squarespace as their website hosting platform. Some templates are totally free, while others are less expensive than other website options.
COST: It depends! Make sure you do your research before selecting a template.
PURPOSE: Literally everything. ClickUp is how I keep track of client work, and Honeybook is where I communicate with clients. This software is great for invoicing, calendar management, emails, and more. Plus, if you’re an Educators Exit student, you get access to premade smart files I made just for you!
COST: You can choose between a starter, essentials, and premium pricing plan. The year-cost is $200+ for this service.
PURPOSE: Meet every VA’s holy grail. I use Canva for everything. Social media, slide decks, infographics, newsletter graphics, literally you name it, I’ve used it.
COST: Free! But I recommend you upgrade to Canva Pro. You’ll use it, I promise!
PURPOSE: Repurposing content and gathering inspo for virtual assistance tips, services, and content.
COST: Free!
PURPOSE: Photo editing. It’s the best one on the market if you ask me. Plus, it’s exceptionally great if you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed. Which I’m sure you are.
COST: $39.99 per year
PURPOSE: Both websites are great for stock photography, but Styled Stock Society costs money and offers a way better selection. Unsplash is great, too, but when the time comes, I’d recommend upgrading!
COST: Styled Stock Society: It depends on your plan. Unsplash is FREE!
PURPOSE: This is a design/creative heaven. Get logo mockups, photos, graphics, fonts, and entire design collections here.
COST: Based on your purchase!
PURPOSE: Wow prospective clients with a quiz and use Interact to build it! Figure out which service you should provide as a VA with my quiz!
COST: Ranges from $27/mo-$125/mo.
PURPOSE: A website, but fancier. If you’re just getting started, stick with Squarespace. But when you’re ready to upgrade your website design and functionality, head on over to Showit.
COST: Get your first month free with my code: EDUCATORS EXIT
Whew! That was a lot. But I hope you feel like you have a good resource roadmap to get started on building your Virtual Assistance business! Comment below if you have any questions—I can’t wait to see how these resources help you grow your own six-figure company.
Want even more access to resources and advice? Sign up for my FREE masterclass to learn all about starting your VA journey.
