So you are thinking of becoming a freelance administrative assistant. You have come to the right place. In this article, we will be discussing all things related to freelancing as an administrative assistant. We will talk about the good, the bad, and ugly to be an administrative assistant, why it can be a beneficial career choice, and how best to become one.
We’re going to break down each part into three sections: the good, the bad, and the ugly. The first section will discuss how awesome being an administrative assistant is. The second section will give a frank look at some of the difficulties that come with being an administrative assistant, and how you should navigate them if they arise while emphasizing that these challenges aren’t deal-breakers by any means.
The third section will provide some tips that will surprise you in your journey toward getting started with your new job title. Also, we will cover the benefits that you will gain when you decided to become a freelance administrative assistant.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Freelance administrative assistants have both positive and negative aspects to consider. |
| The flexibility of freelancing allows administrative assistants to have control over their work schedule and location. |
| Freelancers may face challenges such as inconsistent income and the need for self-discipline and self-motivation. |
| Building a strong network and reputation is important for freelance administrative assistants to attract clients. |
| Freelance administrative assistants should carefully consider the pros and cons before making the decision to work independently. |
The Good
Sometimes hiring a freelance administrative assistant can be the best move you make for your business. If you’re still on the fence, here are some reasons to hire one:
Hiring a freelance administrative assistant means that you can have someone perform professional tasks without having them be an employee of your company. This frees up time and money.
You only have to hire someone for as long or as little as you want or need, so there is no need to worry about whether or not they will be full-time employees.
Cost-effectiveness is another huge plus for hiring a freelancer. On average, it costs between $2,400 and $4,000 per year to employ one in-house team member, depending on how many hours they work weekly.
Freelancers often don’t cost nearly as much per hour and can also often handle several different tasks simultaneously. So if you have multiple things that need doing at once, instead of hiring more than one person to do all these jobs for short periods, you can just hire one and save on wages paid out!
Building a successful career as a freelance customer service specialist requires finding the right opportunities. Explore our guide on 14 Best Freelance Jobs for Customer Service Specialists to discover exciting options in the industry.
The Bad
Now let’s get into the “Bad” part. As I mentioned above, when you hire a freelancer, it’s not like hiring a regular assistant. If you hire someone who works remotely and is in another country or even another state, for example, some things might be different than with someone who works locally for you. Here are the things that come to mind:
Time Zone – They might wake up at 5 am on Monday ready to work and your alarms don’t go off until 9 am! You can’t help but wonder if they’re secretly laughing at you while they watch your online status go from “online” to “offline” every day at 9 am sharp! Or what if their working hours are 8 pm-5 am? That could throw off your communication schedule.
Work Schedule – They may take off for an hour in the middle of the day for lunch or lunch and a pilates class, whereas you eat lunch at your desk because it takes most of your time just to catch up from being away from email all morning and then spend all afternoon on conference calls (or maybe that’s just me).
I’ve even seen people work 7 days per week, which is not something I do on my schedule! But again…that doesn’t mean they are more productive or effective than an employee who doesn’t do that. It’s just something to keep in mind when scheduling appointments, training calls, and deadlines.
Work Ethic – If you decide to interview multiple potential assistants (which I highly recommend) then you will probably find some candidates who don’t have a good work ethic. You can tell by listening closely during the interview process if they have this problem or not (Trust me! There’s always “something” that gives them away!). The best thing to do here is simply DON’T HIRE THEM.
The Ugly
Uneven workflow: Freelance assistants can be popular for their ability to handle projects with little turnaround time, but this also means that administrative duties may be relegated to less attention.
High turnover: If a freelancer starts working for you and then leaves for another opportunity, the assistant is gone and you can’t say much about it.
Unreliable: The freelancer might have an outdated computer or a slow internet connection, which could make communication difficult. This could leave you in a tight spot if the freelancer isn’t able to do what’s necessary at the required speed.
Scams: Not all freelance sites are reputable. Some might require monthly membership fees or charge exorbitant rates that aren’t worth it (or even deliver on promised services).
The Benefits That You Will Gain When You Decided To Become A Freelance Administrative Assistant
If you want to be successful as a freelance administrative assistant, there are many benefits that you must know about. In this part, we will tackle all the benefits and show you how you can succeed from the first day to the last day of your business.
You Can Potentially Make More Money
While there is a much lower earning potential for an in-house admin assistant once they’ve been at that job for 5 or 10 years, if you have 5 or 10 years of experience as a freelance administrative assistant, you can potentially make more money because your skills and experience are valuable to companies who don’t want to go through the process of finding and training new hires.
As a freelancer, you’re paid per hour (not per year) which means that if you work 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, your yearly salary will be $104,000 (assuming $50/hr). But when you’re working on a contract with multiple clients whose needs vary greatly from week to week, it’s not unusual to make over $200k in one year.
Are you looking to break into the freelance customer service field? Learn valuable tips and strategies in our article on How to Get a Freelance Customer Service Jobs to Pay the Bills to kick-start your journey.
You Can Take On Multiple Clients
Being a freelance administrative assistant means you can take on multiple clients, which means multiple streams of income. Even if you don’t want to be a freelance administrative assistant long-term, it can be an excellent way to get the experience you need to get a permanent job. The potential for doing this kind of work from home is also appealing for many people, as is the potential for flexible hours, working across a variety of industries and with a variety of people.
You Can Have More Control Over Your Schedule
Perhaps the biggest and most attractive benefit of this career is that you can have more control over your schedule. You can work when you want to, and take breaks when you need to. If your family needs you at a certain time of day, or if your health struggles get in the way of working normal hours, you’re free to set your schedule.
You’re also free to take on more clients or fewer clients as needed if you want to scale up so that you have more money coming in, go for it; if work starts becoming stressful and overwhelming, cut back. If there’s any downside to this kind of freedom, it’s that some people struggle with having too much free time on their hands.
They may find themselves spending most of the day watching Netflix or playing video games instead of getting things done. It can be hard to strike a balance between enjoying yourself and being productive when there are no bosses around holding you accountable! Luckily, this problem can be easily solved with a few simple organizational tricks: for example, create a daily schedule for yourself so that it’s crystal clear how many hours per day need to be spent working (and how many hours per day can be devoted to leisure).
You Have Higher Expenses
When you work for yourself, you’re responsible for paying your expenses. At first glance, this may seem negative many people prefer having their work equipment and office supplies taken care of because it’s less of a hassle to get started. But being responsible for your expenses can be a huge benefit of working as a freelance administrative assistant because it means that no overhead costs are coming out of your paycheck.
This is especially true if you choose to buy insurance coverage which is almost always in your best interest when running your own business, due to the potential liabilities that come with working with confidential information. You may also want to consider buying malpractice or professional liability insurance; although this isn’t required by law, both types of coverage will offer additional peace of mind while you’re working with sensitive company data.
You’re A Self-Starter
This is both the good and the bad of freelance administrative assistantship. You won’t have a boss hovering over you with a to-do list, so you need to be able to work independently. And to keep working, it’s on you to go after your clients and make sure they are happy with you (which will allow them to continue giving you work).
If this sounds terrifying, then freelancing may not be for you. But if it sounds like an opportunity to develop your professional skills while also earning some extra money on the side from the comfort of your own home, then freelance administrative assisting may very well be for you.
Enhance your freelance customer service business with the right tools and services. Check out our comprehensive list of The Best Tools, Apps, and Services for Freelance Customer Service to optimize your efficiency and deliver exceptional support.
You Need To Overcome Objections To Telecommuting
Confusion. Disbelief. Irritation. And the occasional “what’s a telecommute?” These are some of the reactions you may receive if you try to explain your business model to a prospective client who is new to the idea of telecommuting.
The good news is that companies are becoming more and more open to the idea of hiring virtual assistants as they learn about their benefits and ease. So, your job will be to help them understand why it makes sense for their workflow and their bottom line, regardless of what their initial response might be.
When you’re on the phone with a potential client, there are three key points you need to emphasize:
There is no compromise on quality or security when it comes to working with a freelance administrative assistant from a remote location
There are many opportunities for interaction between you and your client (phone/Skype calls, emails, messaging tools like Slack) that allow for immediate communication and feedback when needed
Many companies have transitioned entirely or in part, to using remote workers it’s an option that makes financial sense
You Need To Be Self-Motivated
If you want to be a freelance administrative assistant, you are going to need some self-motivation. Nobody is going to tell you what to do. You are going to have days that are boring and uneventful. You need to take it upon yourself to start your projects or figure out ways you can help the company grow and succeed.
Although being self-motivated is hard for many people, it’s necessary if you want to be successful in this industry.
Freelancers often encounter common challenges in customer support. Discover effective solutions and strategies in our article on How to Solve Common Customer Support Issues Freelancers Face to enhance your problem-solving skills and provide excellent service.
You Need To Learn To Deal With Rejection
Learn to swim with the sharks. As a freelancer, you will be dealing with many different clients and opportunities, some of which will not work out for one reason or another. However, instead of getting angry and frustrated when this happens, try to see it as part of the process. Take time to learn from the experience and ensure that you don’t repeat your mistakes moving forward.
Try your best to keep a positive mindset on each new opportunity you get, even if it seems daunting or difficult at first. This will help you keep your mind in the right place and allow you to grow stronger from any missteps along the way
Social media platforms play a crucial role in the success of freelance marketing. Explore our guide on Freelance Marketing: The Best Social Media Platforms for Freelancers to leverage the power of social media and reach your target audience effectively.
Final Thoughts
The good: The work can be challenging, the pay is great and you get to work from home (or wherever you choose) with a flexible schedule. What’s not to love about this job?
The bad: If you aren’t self-disciplined, there’s a lot of time for distracting yourself. You may also feel lonely or isolated, as your employer might not be located in the same city or even country as you are.
The ugly: It can be hard to find a gig that pays enough for you to make it worth your while, and if you need health insurance, good luck finding an employer who can provide it. If this is your full-time job, it’s also imperative that you stay on top of your taxes and keep detailed records of how much money you make and spend throughout the year. That’s another job in itself.
In conclusion: It depends on what works best for each freelancer; only they know what they want to accomplish with their career.
There are many benefits to being an administrative assistant—namely earning more money–but there are drawbacks too that must be considered before taking any job offer seriously or quitting one’s current position.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources related to freelance work and similar topics:
Becoming a Freelance Paralegal: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Learn about the pros and cons of becoming a freelance paralegal and the challenges you may face in this field.
Freelancing: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Discover the different aspects of freelancing and gain insights into its advantages, disadvantages, and potential challenges.
Virtual Assistants: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Explore the world of virtual assistants and understand the positive and negative aspects of working as a virtual assistant.
People Also Ask
What Does It Mean To Be A Freelance Administrative Assistant?
It means that you are in charge of your own schedule, have flexibility in how much time you spend on your job, have the freedom to take on multiple clients, and can choose when and where you work from day to day based on your needs and personal preferences.
How Much Does A Virtual Assistant Make?
On average, virtual assistants make $16.17 per hour, though this number can vary depending on part-time or full-time status as well as location. In New York City, you can expect to earn around $20 per hour while in Florida and North Carolina the hourly rate drops to around $13.50. Virtual assistants aren’t likely to be given benefits like sick leave or health insurance either.
What Is A Freelance Administrative Assistant?
A freelance administrative assistant (or, more simply, an administrative assistant) is a secretary. They help with organizing and maintaining office systems, doing research and data entry, scheduling appointments and meetings, working with other staff to coordinate efforts, arranging travel plans and accommodations, preparing reports and presentations, managing projects on deadlines all the tasks that can be done remotely rather than in person.
What Does A Freelance Administrative Assistant Do?
The short answer: everything that needs doing. The long answer: it all depends on the situation and the client’s needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to being an administrative assistant; what you’re needed for will vary day today. Tasks can include anything from organizing physical papers to referring clients to new business opportunities or helping them navigate confusing situations in their personal lives (like divorce), depending on how comfortable they are with delegating such responsibilities to you.
How Much Does A Freelance Administrative Assistant Make?
It depends! Some assistants make $25 an hour while others make $50+. Your value as an assistant is largely determined by your skillset the more skills there are that would be useful for clients (technical skills like creating spreadsheets or accounting software training, soft skills like troubleshooting interpersonal conflicts),
The more valuable of an asset you’ll be to potential employers and therefore able to charge higher rates for your services. You can expect anywhere between $25-$55 per hour if hired directly by companies looking for assistants rather than individuals who want someone just like themselves (this means their budget may not be able).
Why Should I Hire A Freelance Admin Assistant Instead Of A Traditional TA?
If you’re looking for someone who can handle all the responsibilities of an executive assistant but has more experience with technology and less experience with office management, then hiring a freelance admin assistant could be right for you.
Freelancers have been in the business longer than TAs, so they have more experience in their field as well as more skills to offer clients. They also tend to be more flexible with their time and scheduling options than TAs because they are not full-time employees of any one company.
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