If you are a small business owner, you will already know the importance of time management. It is likely that you have hired a personal assistant to help you with day-to-day running of the business – but have you ever considered hiring virtual support?
Remote employees are more popular than ever before. A recent study found that 25% of employees now work from home, and this is expected to go up to 30% over the next five years.
The Rise Of Virtual Support
Millions of people across the globe are choosing to work from their homes. In the past this wasn’t the easiest option for most businesses, but developing technology has made it much easier for people to work efficiently from home. Cloud computing, mobile apps, project management tools and advanced video chat allow people to do everything they would in an office from home, so now more businesses are open to the idea of remote work.
What Do Remote Employees Do?
The term ‘remote employees’ is an umbrella term for anyone who works from home. So there are remote employees in nearly every field; you can hire virtual accountants, virtual IT support and even virtual artists to design logos for your business.
Some virtual employees work full time for one business, while others are independent contractors who often work with a range of businesses. In this case the contractor and the employer might never meet face-to-face, but the contractor will still help the business with various admin so that the owner can focus on the more important tasks.
Things To Consider Before Hiring Virtual Support
There are both pros and cons to hiring remote employees. One of the main advantages is that you don’t have to pay for office space, which is very helpful for a small business with a tight budget. You also won’t have to provide them with equipment (such as a laptop or a desk).
Another benefit of virtual support is the flexibility. You can hire either part-time or full-time employees, and you can choose from a wide range of skills. After all, there are millions of remote employees across the globe, so there is certainly one out there who is suited to your business!
There are also a few downsides to hiring virtual support. Some business owners report communication issues as they aren’t in the same room as their staff. This can be combated by providing a range of communication channels (such as weekly video chats, a professional Whatsapp group and Zoom meetings). It can also be useful to provide a more casual chat group so that employees can relax and bond with each other.
If you are thinking about hiring virtual support for your business, get in touch today. We have spent years pairing high quality remote employees with small business owners, and we would love to help you too!
