How To Get Your First Paying Client As A Health VA
Wondering how to get started as a health virtual assistant?
Like any business, your first goal will be to get your first paying client.
If you’re not sure how to do that, this is the step-by-step process you want to implement.
Here’s How To Get Your First Paying Client As A Health VA
Step #1 - Set up the business
You can't charge for your services until you have a business structure in place! This can include:
An ABN
A business name (unless you’re going to work under your name as the business name as I do)
A basic legal contract to give to clients - I use the client service agreement from Michelle Whitehead and it has more than paid itself!
A business email - even a separate Gmail/Outlook/etc email address specifically for your VA work is a good starting point
A way to invoice and accept payments - if you’re on a tight budget, start by making your own invoices in Canva and set up a business bank account with your current bank
Step #2 - Figure out your ideal clients
You can’t go looking for your first client if you have no idea who they are in the first place! So now is the time to get clear on who you want to be working with.
As an example, I will work exclusively with people in the health and wellness profession including practitioners, health food companies, and supplement companies. You won’t find me offering services to wedding planners or construction companies!
You could choose to niche down further by working specifically in the modality you have a background in. This is particularly beneficial if you’re looking to do VA work that involves blogging, social media and customer service.
Or you could choose to work with any type of practitioner who is niched into your favourite area of health. For example, you might want to work with nutritionists, naturopaths and acupuncturists who specifically work with fertility.
Step #3 - Decide what you’re going to offer
There is no point in offering all of the services under the sun if you a) cannot actually do those services successfully and b) don’t genuinely enjoy those services!
Choose only the services that you can offer to people using your experience and range of skills.
Here’s a simple exercise to get you started:
Have a brainstorming session of all of the potential services that you enjoy doing and could be useful to another business owner
Circle the top 3-5 options
Congratulations!
You just figured out the key services of your business to start off with.
Step #4 - Choose your pricing
There's nothing worse than jumping onto a free chat with a potential client having them ask you what you charge when you don’t know! Here’s what happens - you stumble over it, or you completely underquote because you got put on the spot, and you end up burnt out and unhappy.
Quick tip: I generally recommend jumping on a call with someone finding out the scope of what they want from you as a VA first. After the call, you can send them a follow-up email with your quote.
Need help figuring out what to charge? Give this blog a read.
Step #5 - Get in front of your dream clients
Sorry, but your dream clients are not going to know that you are sitting at your desk waiting for them. That means it’s time to actually get out in front of those people - wherever they are.
Remember those ideal clients that we came up with in step #2? We need to figure out where they are hanging out online and looking for help, or at least being open to help.
For example, a lot of my clients come through social media - Facebook groups, Instagram stories and the like. Some people may be hanging out on LinkedIn particularly if they are health business owners, health food companies or supplement companies.
Step #6 - Rinse & repeat!
It would be really nice if we could just magically get all of our clients right from the very beginning! But in reality, it will usually start off as a slow trickle.
Eventually, you will build up a reputation via word of mouth where you do not actually have to go looking for clients. This took me 2-3 years of being really consistent and nailing my niche. It could take you more or less, depending on how much you show up and how many of my mistakes you avoid!
These steps might seem simple, but they are exactly what I teach the health VAs who work with me. And the best part? These steps work because they are simple - and therefore achievable.
Wondering if you have what it takes to start working as a health virtual assistant?
If you love the idea of:
Building a thriving biz as a health virtual assistant (including writing, social media, design, systems, admin, and more...)
Making money from the comfort of your home, your bed, your favourite cafe or even a tropical island resort (wherever you like, really!)
Pricing yourself in that sweet spot of client-friendly but not hitting burnout
Standing out from the crowd so you can work with the people you admire the most
Having the freedom to live your life and not be glued to your work 24/7...
then 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗩𝗔 is what you want to get your hot lil hands on!
In this FREE guide, I share exactly what you need to land your first paying clients as a health VA.
