As a virtual assistant (VA), I take on the nitty-gritty work for independent professionals and small businesses. I'm virtual, working from my home, communicating via e-mail, phone and online instant messaging.

Clients are most likely to hire virtual assistants to save money -- I pay for my own equipment, taxes, training, healthcare and insurance. Using a virtual assistant allows clients to outsource any projects that can be done from a remote location. It allows them to accomplish more with less time.

To the small business person the virtual assistant can mean the difference between failure and success.

You could do all this yourself, but there's no point. You have to work smart, not hard, and invest your own time on business development...not on activities that just keep you busy.