FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a Virtual Assistant?

A Virtual Assistant is an office administration professional that works from the comfort of their own home office or a leased office space or anywhere they want to be! They are generally sole traders, carrying their own ABN and working the hours of their choosing.
What can a Virtual Assistant do for me?

Advancing technology means that you don’t need to hire an administration professional to sit in your office. Below is a tiny list of tasks that our VAs regularly carry out for our clients: Taking incoming calls and scheduling bookings; Updating the content of your websites; Updating your social media accounts and replying to your customers; Replying to your client’s enquiries via email; Debt collection and accounts receivable tasks; Data entry; Calendar management; Booking travel; Writing board reports; and much, much more! One of the main attractions of using a VA is the cost benefits. A VA offers businesses the best range of office solutions at a fraction of the cost of a temp or employee. VAs don’t need employee benefits, superannuation, holidays, sick pay, overtime, bonuses, training, office down time, office space, coffee breaks or lunch breaks. Another major attraction is that it doesn’t matter where your VA resides, as all communication is handled virtually!
What is an Online Business Manager (OBM)?

An Online Business Manager (OBM) is: A virtually based support professional who manages online based businesses, including the day-to-day management of projects, operations, team members, and metrics. I am a professional business manager who can run your business’s daily operations and give you, the owner energy and time to focus on strategic growth. An OBM gives the owner permission to be a visionary and serve your clients, plan the business’s growth and future, and use your talents to their fullest potential.
What can a Online Business Manager (OBM) do for me?

The OBM keeps all the balls in the air and functions as an integrator of the business. As a OBM, I harmoniously combine the major functions of the business (sales, marketing, operations, and finance), runs the organization, and manages day-to-day issues. This role is literally the glue that holds the people, processes, systems, and strategy of the company together. The OBM creates space so the business owner can fully step into the CEO role and do what they are called to do-change the world. Finding an Online Business Manager for your e-commerce business would take a big load off your mind and off your plate, wouldn’t it?
Does a contract or agreement need to be signed?

There is no long term locked in contracts and this is what makes hiring a Virtual Assistant so attractive. Ongoing clients and contracted clients are issued with an agreement on the confirmation of each project. The Service Agreement must be signed before services are commenced. The Service Agreement states the type of services rendered, the prices and anything else discussed. The Service Agreement includes a confidentiality clause which remains in place even after the work or project is completed.
Will you sign a confidentiality agreement?

Yes, this is part of our Service Agreement. It protects you and us and benefits all parties
What is your privacy policy and how can I be assured of confidentiality?

At AVO Virtual Services, we understand how important confidentiality is to our clients. We are strongly committed to protecting your privacy and will endeavour to provide a secure and confidential environment for any and all information provided by you. Any confidentiality agreement you require signed by us; we will be more than happy to do so. We will not disclose information to any other party, unless required by law or with your full consent.
Do you charge for a minimum number of hours?

No. You can use us for one hour a week, or 20. It all depends on your work load and what you need done!
What tools do you use to get your job done?

There are so many tools available to us online to make working remotely easy for everyone. We love OneDrive for file sharing, we use G Suite and Outlook for our email, calendar and contacts, we use Skype and Zoom for communicating. Of course, you may have your own CRM or programs/technologies that you use in your business, we’re more than happy to use these and we are very familiar with Dropbox, Google Apps, Shopify, Zendesk, Adobe, Hootsuite. Mailchimp to name a few.
How do we share files?

With the use of OneDrive or Dropbox you can share the files that you want to share with us, so that we work in real-time on the same documents. There is no need to send files via email and there will be no chance of duplicate documents. It works just like a normal server, just in the cloud. We also use Google Drive or any other file sharing program you choose.
How do we communicate and work together?

We can use email, telephone, Skype, Whatsapp, facebook messenger, screen-sharing and project management tools to communicate with our clients. We will do our best to accommodate your business and your preferred style of communication when delegating tasks. A phone call is usually the quickest way to get an urgent matter sorted out:)
How quickly will my project or tasks be completed?

We are committed to delivering on deadline which we will agree on before we start on yoru project. Turnaround time can depend on the complexity and urgency of the project or tasks at hand. Our turnaround time is between 2-3 business days to complete most tasks.
How can I hand over my email inbox to you?

If you want us to manage your email inbox, it’s easy. We simply set up a copy of your email account on our desktop and manage it from there. Or, if you’re already in the cloud ie. Gmail, we can simply log on throughout the day to action your Inbox. We can also help organise your folders so they work the best for you and your business - easy to find specific emails and help you keep everything neat and tidy. We love fixing messy inboxes!
What if I only need you to answer my phones?

Not a problem! This is a service we can offer with a dedicated line for your business.
What are your payment terms?

We have a strict 7 day payment term. If payment is not received within the 7 days, you may incur late fees and have your services suspended due to non-payment.

PRICING TERMS & CONDITIONS

On average, a Virtual Assistant cost 60% less than hiring staff on payroll.

Outsourcing to AVO Virtual Services puts you in control of how much you spend on administrative services by eliminating overheads such as sick pay, annual leave, superannuation, office space, equipment and supplies.

Working with us means you only pay for the services required, and we have great hourly rates and packages to suit your needs.

Please contact me for a personalised quote. We offer hourly rates, as well as packaged rates, depending on the task or project. We are happy to assist with any job, however small.

All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars (AUD)
Payment method accepted via direct deposit – bank details to be displayed on invoice
Invoices will be itemised and forwarded upon completion of work. Pro Forma quotes are available on request
Invoices are payable within seven (7) working days of invoice date
Late payment will incur a fee
Additional costs will be itemised separately in the invoice. These include postage, courier services, STD calls, photocopying, faxing, large print jobs and specialised print jobs. Standard phone calls and mobiles will be included in the hourly rate or package rate
All work is quality checked but it is the client’s responsibility to proofread all completed and returned work
Weekend services available at a higher rate
For urgent tasks, a surcharge of 30% applies to total invoice. Services will be offered at agreed upon time and duration finalised in writing between parties.
Onsite attendance is also available at a higher rate if in the Sydney, New South Wales region.