Independence.  Can you say FREEDOM?  The VA life was made for independent entrepreneurs and creative types. If you’re a disciplined, self-starter who needs very little supervision, becoming a VA is the way to go.

Save on driving costs.  The numbers speak for themselves.  The average annual cost of driving ranges from $6,735, for a small sedan, to 11,360 for a SUV 4WD.  According to Consumer Reports, the average national gasoline price is currently $3.30 per gallon.  Compare that to the zero cost of your at-home commute as a VA.

Flexible hours.  Whether you choose to work from 8am to 5pm, or start work at midnight, it’s up to you.  The benefit of controlling your own time will pay off in ways you may have never imagined—from shopping when stores are less crowded to making money from anywhere in the world.

No office politics. If you dislike it when people “kiss up” to the boss or throw their co-workers under the bus on their way to the top, consider becoming a VA.  You can avoid the politics, gossip and drama.

Be available for your kids.  Once, I was the only parent to attend an event at my daughter’s school.  I know other parents would have loved to attend but they couldn’t.  Why?  Because they were stuck working at an outside job.  Working from home as a VA allows you to stay on top of your children’s lives and correct problems which may go unchecked if you can’t be around to address them.

Save commute time.  Long commutes and traffic jams can cost you in lost time and stress. According to Zipatlas.com, the average one-way commute in Los Angeles is 37.6 minutes; 45.5 minutes in Philadelphia and 45.5 minutes in Brooklyn.  If you live in the boondocks, you’ll spend more time commuting.  In Douglas, Arizona (pop. 85), the average commute is almost 2 hours.

Build business skills. As a VA, by creating your own methods of marketing and business protocol, you’ll accelerate the learning curve.  You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll also gain valuable business skills that you might not otherwise have.

You can work in your pajamas. As long as you don’t have a Skype meeting, or one at your client’s office, no one has to know what you’re wearing.  You can work in PJs, sweats, jeans—whatever.  Think of the money you’ll save on dry cleaning, shoes and panty hose.

No age or race discrimination.   If you’re over 50 or a person of color, becoming a VA can open doors.   Since many workers are hired online, you may never see your clients or talk to them.  You are, essentially, unseen and therefore not judged based on your appearance.  This gives you a hiring advantage that folks who go to a physical location do not have.

Unlimited Income.  If you commit to building your VA business, you can earn a lucrative income for yourself that will eventually exceed what you could make at a traditional job.  My friend lost her job 2 years ago.  Now, she has a thriving VA business with no down time.

To become a virtual assistant, go to http://virtualassistants.com

About the author:

Veronica Mackey has more than 20 years’ experience as a writer and marketing entrepreneur.  She writes for business and all forms of media.  Veronica has helped clients build national audiences through her writing, media campaigns and targeted marketing events.  She is also the author of 30 Days in September (www.30dayseptember.com), an inspirational e-book, and founder of The Connectory Referral Network (www.theconnectory.co).