Relief for Germany's Small Businesses IS Within Reach

Shooting the breeze :) ...

Usually I am not the one who likes to talk a lot about myself nor have I ever thought about having an article published about me ..But seeing that a lot of events came together recently and a very dear friend of mine, Danielle Taylor owner of Taylor-Made Virtual Assistance,has taken the time to write and publish the following article about me and my services, I do not want to miss the chance to publish the very same here as well :

"The high costs of operating a small business in Germany can be alleviated" says Silvia Shields. Ms. Shields is a professional Virtual Assistant. Her business, Just A Phone Call Away, may be the answer to any number of cost issues that cause German business owners to lose sleep. And, because she is a German native with over 20 years experience working with German companies, Ms. Shields understands very well the nuances of the laws governing the way businesses operate in the country.

Outsourcing, more commonly known as consulting, is a cost-effective, efficient and proactive solution that has long been used for project management, customer service and subject matter expertise. The same concept is now being successfully applied to the administrative functions every company requires. Virtual Assistance is a growing industry that has benefited from an infusion of highly skilled, expert administrative professionals who understand the need for cost-effective administrative support to small business owners who, before now, could not afford it.

The most recent German Labour Cost Survey1 shows that 74.8% of compensation to employees is the result of gross salaries and wages and only 56.7% of that amount is paid in direct remuneration to those employees. Further, employers are paying social contributions of 24.6% and statutory social security contributions of 13.7%. These labour costs are some of the highest in Europe.

By outsourcing the administrative functions to professionals such as Ms. Shields, companies are better positioned to offset their high labour costs that, particularly for small businesses, could result in a less advantageous position with regard to compliance with Basel II regulations. This solution becomes viable when small businesses reap the rewards of becoming more financially solvent through outsourcing; therefore, receiving a higher ranking with regard to credit worthiness and the ability to generate cash flow to cover all operations.

Ms. Shields benefits her clients by providing administrative and back office accounting support without the burden of governmentally mandated employer taxes, severance packages, health insurance, office space, training or equipment. All of these tasks are performed virtually with the use of the latest technology and regular communications with her clients.

Relief is within reach, and now Just A Phone Call Away.

References

1 Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland, 2004. Labour Cost Survey; Detailed Structure of Labour Costs in Industry and the Services Sector in 2004. 2004 Labour Cost Survey.

About the Author: Danielle Taylor is a professional Virtual Assistant and avid writer. She operates Taylor-Made Virtual Assistance and provides specialized administrative support to authors, chefs, event planners and alternative health professionals.


Thanks Danielle :)

Talking about dreams come true ....

I am so amazed by this story of the cell phone salesman in Britain that I simply have to share it with you.

It blew me away and left me with Goosebumps...and it is a nice reminder to never give up on your dreams and hopes- they might just come true!

Gratitude....

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."
-Brian Tracy

The same way I do believe in the saying: “What goes around, comes around”, I do believe that it is very important to be grateful and to give thanks to events or circumstances in our lives. It doesn’t matter whether the events are as simple as a beautiful sunset you happen to see and/or being able to pay the bills, or greater scenarios such like a new client, adopting a pup from the local humane society, getting married etc…. Giving gratitude to the “Universe” goes a long way!

Every morning I try to take a few minutes to give thanks to the “Universe” for events or experiences in my life that I am grateful for - even for those events, which causes me some distress or headache as I count them only as a learning curve…

I am getting the impression the more gratitude I give; the more comes flowing back in unexpected ways :)

Today I am grateful for:

• My Husband
• Having received an offer I never expected
• To have a business that creates money
• Having found a friend when I least expected it
• That I was able to see my Dad the last day he was alive

What are you grateful for today?

How to choose a Virtual Assistant

You just made the decision to hire a Virtual Assistant. What’s next? What should you pay attention too?

Here are a few tips to make the process a little easier for you:

1. Take a look at the VA's website. How is the spelling and grammar? Do you like what you see, does it "speak" to you? Is the Website neat and clear ? Remember, if a VA doesn't pay much attention to her own website, it’s likely that she won't pay much attention to your work either.

2. How does she answer her phone? Does she put you on hold to take another call? Is she answering her voicemails and e-mails in a timely manner?

3. Make sure you feel the “click” when you have your first telephone conference with any potential VA. Is the VA confident, friendly, and enthusiastic? Moreover, is she a good listener? Is she treating you with respect? Are you feeling comfortable speaking with her/him?

4. Find out what system she has in place to handle different tasks for different clients. Does she have a limit of clients she will be taking on? How does she handle and prioritize her client’s needs? What are her turnaround times?

5. You can delegate many tasks to a VA. It helps if you have a list of tasks you want her to take over from you, available during your first consultation. Discuss that list with your potential VA and determine whether she will be able to handle those tasks.

6. Ask your potential VA what software products he/she is using and how familiar she is with them. If you use any particular software for your business, make sure to ask the VA whether she is familiar with the system and if not what she suggests how to handle it. She might be offering to train herself on the software and you will have to decide whether that is suitable for you.

7. Last and least – the experience! While it's helpful to know how long she has been in business as a VA, as well as it’s certainly great to work with a “Veteran”, you might find it helpful to learn how long she has done the tasks that you want her to do. If your potential VA just started her own business, you might want to ask her about her experience prior to becoming a VA and she may have just done the very same work you need to delegate for a previous employer for many years and is therefore equally qualified to assist YOU!

Not every potential VA will be the perfect fit but be assured that YOUR perfect fit is out there!

Let me rest “my case” in adding a great resource to find the best fit for you and your needs:

The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce :)

Have your choice.....

You've probably heard the old adage: "Fast, Cheap, Good. Pick Two."

1. If you want it fast and cheap, it's not going to be good;
2. If you want it good and cheap, it's not going to be fast;
3. And if you want it good and fast, it's not going to be cheap.

According to the triangle you can't have it all- what is your preference?