If you’ve ever Googled “what is a virtual assistant?” you’re in the right place. 

Virtual assistance is one of the fastest-growing online industries, and it can completely change your life. I know because it changed mine!

I was able to replace not only my full-time income but also my husband’s income through virtual assistance – without any prior experience!

And if you’re curious how you can do the same, let’s break it down step by step.

 

Who Am I and Why Should You Listen?

Hi, I’m Abbey Ashley, founder of The Virtual Savvy. I’ve trained over 6,000 virtual assistants to replace their income working from home, and I run a community of over 130,000 VAs.

But before all that? 

I was a broke mom living in a basement apartment, pregnant with my second baby, and desperately searching for a way to work from home. 

A friend suggested becoming a virtual assistant, and like you, I Googled: What the heck is a virtual assistant?

That search changed everything…

 

What Is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant (VA) is a remote professional who provides administrative, creative, or technical support to business owners – whether they run online businesses or brick-and-mortar companies.

Some common virtual assistant services include:

• Data entry
• Customer service email management
• Scheduling social media posts
• Blog writing
• Invoicing and calendar management
• Research and travel planning

Here’s the best part: you don’t need years of experience to start. 

Many of these skills are things you already do in your personal or professional life – and anything else can be learned with free resources (hello, YouTube!).

 

 

The Flexibility of Virtual Assistance

One of the biggest reasons I’m obsessed with virtual assistance? Flexibility.

As a VA, you’re not an employee – you’re an independent contractor. 

That means:

• You set your own schedule. (Yes, you can work at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m.)
• You decide which tools you’ll use.
• You choose your own clients.
• You set your own rates.

Think of it like hiring a plumber. You don’t call a plumber and tell them, “You must come at 2 p.m. tomorrow and I’ll pay you $30/hour.” 

Nope – the plumber sets their rate and availability. As a virtual assistant, you get to do the same.

For me, this flexibility meant I could work around my kids’ nap times, take vacations whenever I wanted (yes, even working a little while traveling), and create my very own version of the Freedom Life.

 

What You Need to Get Started as a Virtual Assistant

Another reason I love virtual assistance is the low cost to start.

Unlike starting a food truck, opening an online store, or buying inventory, becoming a Virtual Assistant only requires:

• A computer
• Reliable Wi-Fi
• A few free tools (like Canva for design, Toggl for time tracking, or Wave for invoicing)

That’s it. You don’t need a business loan or a massive upfront investment to get going.

 

Replace Your Income With Just a Few Clients

Here’s some good news: you don’t need hundreds of clients to replace your income.

Most virtual assistants can meet their financial goals with just 4–7 clients.

Think about it: if you offer a 20-hour/month package at $600, that’s one client paying you $600 every single month. 

With just a few of these recurring packages, you can hit your income goals much faster than with blogging, Etsy shops, or other online businesses that require tons of traffic or product sales.

 

The Scalability of Virtual Assistance

Finally, virtual assistance is scalable.

• Some people choose to keep it small – working a few hours a week to fund vacations with the family
• Others go on to build teams that can earn $25,000/month.
• And some scaled to multi-million-dollar VA businesses.

The beauty is – there’s no wrong answer. 

Whether you want a part-time side hustle or a full-fledged agency, virtual assistance lets you design a business that matches your Freedom Life.

 

What Does Your Freedom Life Look Like?

That’s the question I want you to sit with: What does your Freedom Life look like?

Do you want to build a six- or seven-figure business? 

Or do you simply want to make extra income while homeschooling your kids? 

Either way, virtual assistance can get you there.

And I’d love to help you start.

 

Ready to Start Your Virtual Assistant Journey?

If this inspired you, don’t just stop at reading about it – take action!

 

 

Sign up for my FREE Become a Booked Out VA Training and learn exactly how to:

• Choose your services
• Package your offers
• Find paying clients

Plus, join over 130,000 other VAs inside the Virtual Assistant Savvies Facebook Community. 

We’re cheering you on every step of the way.

Your Freedom Life is waiting – and virtual assistance can help you build it. 💻✨

 

Check out the full video on YouTube below to watch me break down exactly what a virtual assistant does, how I replaced my income, and tips to get started today!