I have a bone to pick today. If you have read some of my previous posts you know that as a Virtual Assistant I work both for my clients and for other virtual assistants, (subcontracting). You might wonder why I subcontract. For several reasons. Subcontracting can be great work when someone else is handling client contact, client billing, determining client needs. I simply step in and do the work.

So what is the problem today?

I am seeing more and more Virtual Assistants taking on clients who need a certain level of technical expertise for which the VA does not posses. The VA then tells the client they can do the work. The VA then goes in search of a subcontractor who they ask to:

– handle all the details, (define the work)
– obtain the needs from the client (client contact)
– let the client know how much time is expended (client billing)

and then offer to pay a much lower hourly rate than they are charging the client. Don’t get me wrong, it is OK for a subcontracting rate to be lower than the client billed rate. However, a subcontracting rate should vary depending on how much “responsibility” you ask the subcontractor to take on. There is a point at which the VA must decide… is this about making money or meeting the client needs.

Today I noticed someone searching for a subcontractor to “fix” a clients Wordpress site which had multiple problems. The problems were serious and long-standing. That VA has two choices.

First the VA could find great help, fix the problem and not focus on a low subcontractor rate. I have actually been paid near full rate with some VA’s because they wanted the job done quickly and done right. Or, second the VA can offer the lower subcontractor rate and hope that good help comes along.

All Digital Support focuses on client satisfaction. The bottom line is meeting the clients needs the best way possible. I urge clients seeking technical VA work to inquire regarding the skills of the VA WHO will actually be performing the work.

I urge virtual assistants hiring subcontractors to be open to increasing your rate when higher levels of technical skills are required. Research what rate a VA charges for technical support and ask yourself what kind of help will you get when you offer to pay 1/3 that rate. Satisfying a clients technical issues upfront may provide you with a long-term client relationship.