Leslie Auman

Editor and Teacher-Author

How I Converted Clients to Retainer Packages

Retainer Packages | Virtual Assistant | Service-Based Business | Are you a service-based business owner looking to uplevel? One way you can do that is by switching to monthly retainer packages. Not sure what a retainer package is? This post explains that and provides information on how a virtual assistant, for example, can transition clients to this new pricing structure. Plus, there are FREE email scripts included as a download! Click through to read this post.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been about a year-and-a-half since I started working from home full-time, running my virtual assistant business as my main focus and source of income. That was back in September of 2016, and I spent several weeks crunching the numbers and thinking about how best to make that happen. Prior to working from home full-time, my virtual assistant business was run on simple straight hourly work, with a flat rate for all services. But, part of my plan to be able to work from home included switching from straight hourly to monthly retainer packages.

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5 Online Business Tools You Need

Online Business Tools | Solopreneur | Business Owner | Make running your business go more smoothly by utilizing a few online business tools that will make your systems easier. This blog post shares five online business tools this solopreneur uses to effectively run her business, so click through to read the full post.

I don’t think you need me to tell you that running a business is hard work. Like, really hard. It’s always hard, but I think it’s especially hard when you’re a solopreneur like me, because you have no one to fall back on, no one to swoop in when you can’t get to something, and no one to tell you you’re doing a good job. With all of that in mind, it’s important to make things easier when and where you can, which is why online business tools are so important.

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How Do I Become a Virtual Assistant?

Virtual Assistant | Virtual Assistance | Virtual Assisting | Have you been wondering how you can become a virtual assistant? This blog post is for you! I share several steps you need to think through and plan for in order to start a virtual assistant business. Click through to read the post in full!

I was just recently asked about this (again), so it seems like a timely post to write! I started my virtual assistant business in August of 2015, after my online acquaintance Meg Bateman commented on my post in a Facebook group I was in (for food bloggers) and told me to consider it. I grew my business part-time on the side while I worked a full-time job, and then, in September of 2016, I made the leap and started working from home full-time with my VA business as my main source of income. I’ve been fortunate enough to be doing that ever since!

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How I Knew It Was Time to Hire a Subcontractor

Hire a Subcontractor | Subcontractor | Virtual Assistant | Every virtual assistant or social media manager feels like there needs to be 10 of them to get everything done for their clients. What's the solution? Hiring a subcontractor! In this blog post, I write about how I knew it was time to hire a subcontractor to work under me and take some client work off my plate. Click through to read more.

My business exploded in late July and early August of 2016. I’d been in business for about a year at that point, and my business had been growing in fits and starts during that time. But, all of the sudden, it just outright burst through the ceiling that had seemingly been on it. That growth continued – it’s still growing – and for a long time, I struggled to keep up with everything by myself. A few times I received the advice that I should hire a subcontractor, but I knew I just wasn’t there yet, at least financially.

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3 Smart Ways to Find New Clients

A large rectangular graphic with the words 3 Smart Ways to Find New Clients on it

You’ve decided you want to become a virtual assistant (or a solopreneur or an entrepreneur).

          Great!

You’ve created a business bank account and a business PayPal account.

          Sweet!

You’ve chosen a few online tools to help you run your business smoothly.

          Awesome!

So…where do you get clients to do all of the work that you’ve set yourself up to do?

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© Leslie Auman, LLC 2016-Present. Photography by PAW Prints by Patti Wojtowecz. All photographs taken at Picnik Austin.

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About Leslie

I’m Leslie, a former middle school teacher turned editor and Teacher-Author. I’m here to help female entrepreneurs improve their writing and to help teachers around the world save time on lesson planning. I’m glad you’re here!

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