I started out as a Virtual Assistant doing simple tasks like many of you I up-skilled, had many clients and then did subcontracting until it became a big agency.
I scaled my agency on my year 2 to 30 team members.
We had a great flow of clients and a good system. But it ended up to be my worst nightmare.
I have team members messaging our clients to hire them directly because they can offer "lower" than our price, there were members as well who copied my entire business and started their own, even downloaded all of my contacts and client list and team members who left and did not return the equipments (laptop, phones etc)
I lost a lot of money, sleep and it was mentally draining.
I closed it after 5 years and went back to solo.
Now I earn more than having an agency. I sleep peacefully, I can travel, I can choose my clients, I don't need to pay 13th month pay, bonuses, no need to provide equipments.
I was also able to invest my money.
Having an agency is not for the weak. Unless you have big investors and go for funding, it really has a small profit margin.
It's okay to go solo and stay solo. If you feel that managing people is not for you, it's okay. You can always be a solopreneur.
You don't need to build an agency to be called successful in this industry.
I agree. There's no one else to manage but yourself.
Wala akong naging agency but at one point, I subcontracted din. But their time and output is not within my control. Sometimes, nauubos lang din oras sa pag-polish to the point na uulitin ko na lang yung gawa from scratch.
this is exactly my sentiment as well when I subcontract though I really want to help provide gigs/work to those who are around me pero ako yung mas lalong napapagod kasi I had to revisit what they've done to make sure it's good
True. That's why I tried also to have an office based team. Kaya lng they ended up requesting to do hybrid set up, daming excuse then hanggang sa nag work from home na talaga.
Also it ended up they are milking hours. Yung task na kaya lng 3-5 hours, nagiging 10-15 hours.
Tapos gumagawa pa ng task na kanila.
Worst? Ginagamit tools ko for their own clients. Bigla nlng makikita ko na may ibang clients sa folders nmin
How about coaching? Parang tingin kasi ng tao next step after VA is coaching. Personally, it's not something I can do lol
Naaah. It's exhausting. Especially when you become their unpaid therapist. Plus Pinoys want to be spoonfed, not to generalize but been there too. I tried Coaching and also did in person VA workshops before but kulang nlng gusto nila bigyan mo sila ng client agad. Tapos endless messages and don't know how to respect boundaries na. There were a few na okay but I will never do Coaching again. What I earn monthly for Coaching and selling "VA courses" i can earn in a day or two working.
It’s the endless messages for me. 😅 I offered free mentoring and posted tips on my FB page. I constantly get messages,especially those na gusto bigyan ng client. And ending, I stopped mentoring and went quiet. 😅
Working quietly and focusing on your own craft. Peace and Grind all day! 🤘
I always dream about having an agency kahit alam ko maraming sakit sa ulo. I know my limitation - I'm not good at handling people. Sign na ba to na hindi ko na dapat i-pursue ito pero minsan gusto ko pa rin i-try para di ako magregret
If you are willing to take the risk, go through the emotional and mental pain, go ahead. Calculate the risk.
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Hindi kailangan maging coach or agency owner ang next step sa pag-level up. Umalis nga tayo sa corpo ladder, bakit tayo susunod sa dictation ng society na ganito-ganyan ang next level?
At the end of the day, you should define your own success. Huwag magpadala sa success ng iba na nakikita sa social media. Hindi puro pera, titles, at power ang success. Sometimes it is in the quiet, little moments: time spent with loved ones, paggising nang walang anxiety, being at peace na wala kang utang at nabayaran mo lahat ng needs mo.
Love this!
Totally agree.
Last year, I'd been sick a lot and wished I had a co-founder or a VA who could work on client tasks while I was out recovering. But then again pag naaalala ko yung stories where co-founders or VAs would steal proprietary data and leave their co-founder/client, I'd think "nah, sakit lang ng ulo." Pero low-key hoping pa rin na maka-meet ng trusted co-founder/VA. For now, rely lang muna sa savings pag di maka-work and friends/family who could occasionally help with simple tasks.
Yeah. If you have small tasks you can delegate to part timers or family/friends that's good. Just be sure to set expectations and boundaries. Also, make sure everything is in paper or documented
Hi! Ako din naghire ng 3 people but ended up getting more stress than ever huhu however, gusto ko bigyan ulit ng chance yung agency dreams ko since I have people I can trust talaga, do you offer any support call especially dun sa processes and systems ng industry? willing to pay! :) Thanks for considering!
I do 1:1 consultations before but still busy right now. Maybe in the next few months
This. Been working online since 2007 and altho it crossed my mind to start an agency but I don’t have the energy to train people (kids were growing up and that’s already draining me 😅) I prefer to work solo and be accountable for my own work alone 😹
If you don't mind sharing, ano po niche niyo? I have experience na po kasi in appointment setting, maintenance coordination sa real estate and CSR sa mga BPO experiences ko. I want to upskill and learn the right process pero I don't know how.
Digital Marketing. All of it.