It’s a question of perspective..
January 30, 2008 by Kylie Short · 4 Comments
Through wooing a potential client this week, the subject of rates came up in our discussion as it often does. But the difference with this potential client is that he questioned my rates and why aren’t I cheaper?
To start with it really ‘threw me’ off balance. I’ve never had to justify my rates to anyone before because the majority of my clients come through referrals these days. It made me question myself and how I do business.
But it was a good question. Why am I Kylie Short, owner of Tilda Virtual Services worth the hourly rate that I charge?
I’m going to tell the truth here because we’re all friends right? I charge the rate that I charge because I’m darn good at what I do. I’m an expert in all things Administrative and I have the qualifications and experience to back it all up. I’m a perfectionist with a mean research streak and I love to learn. In fact I can’t help it. I NEED to learn.
Just because I’m virtual doesn’t mean I’m worth any less per hour then the business down the street with a shop front. Unlike most business owners I’ve calculated my break even point. I’ve calculated a budget for the rest of this financial year (in Australia the financial year runs from July to June) and I know what profit I want to make per hour so I can afford new technology, software and training for my team, which ultimately benefits YOU. I have ongoing expenses because I am a professional business owner with REAL overheads and REAL payroll to cover each week.
It may seem like I am ranting but surprisingly I’m not. Quite frankly questioning my rates because I’m virtual does not surprise me at all. I’ve been told that the ‘4 Hour Work Week’ by Tim Ferris is a great read and that yes he does mention Virtual Assistants on two pages. Two whole pages where he discusses outsourcing your business and personal life to Virtual Assistants in India. Two questions I’m going to leave you with is:
- Is your Virtual Assistant a professional, qualified business owner dedicated to getting to know you and your business?
- Does their rate reflect the cost of living for their country/region?
If you can answer yes to both these questions and your VA is charging less then I do then good for you. Otherwise cough up because I don’t negotiate. My rate is my rate. Take it or leave it.
More evidence that I’m a nerd..
January 27, 2008 by Kylie Short · 1 Comment
I had the pleasure of talking with Katie from Mint Coaching this week and she mentioned to me that she was surfing later on during the day. I of course responded “oh yeah, I’ve been catching up on my blog reading….” and there was this silence on the other end of the phone.
Katie said “um, I’m going surfing” to which I asked her “what, with water and … stuff?”
Silence…
“OH I get it now, you’re going surfing”
BAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Poor woman, I doubt she’s ever spoken to a real live nerd before.
Pleased to announce…
January 17, 2008 by Kylie Short · 3 Comments
That Tilda Virtual Services is now a Quicken Professional Partner - Bookkeeper for Australia. As a result I’ve been playing and learning more about using Quickbooks Premier of which I’ll do a review a little later on.
For now, let me share with you how excited I am about this software. I’m really EXCITED!!!!!
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking “Kylie is such a big nerd” and you know what? You’re right! I am! Anything that makes my life easier as a bookkeeper is a bonus. Anything that makes my life easier as a business owner is a bonus. I still believe that in order to use bookkeeping software correctly, you need to know accounting/bookkeeping principles because a two day course doth not make you a bookkeeper I’m afraid. But that is a post for another day.
For now, let me say how pleased I am to be able to extend our bookkeeping services to cover QuickBooks for Australia. So to help me learn more about this particular software package, throw a question at me. The best way to learn (in my humble opinion) is to try, have a go and if all else fails, research or ask someone.
Sale over at the Needlework Boutique
January 15, 2008 by Kylie Short · Leave a Comment
Bernadette over at the Needlework Boutique is someone I greatly admired who started her business a couple of years ago in Europe. When Bernadette and her husband decided to move back to Australia she made the difficult decision to wind the business down to make the move easier.
Since then her website has undergone two major changes and her current website is absolutely gorgeous. To celebrate the launch of her new site Bernadette is offering a fabulous sale on all things needlework. Check it out today and tell her I sent you!
7 Weird things about me - meme
January 15, 2008 by Kylie Short · Leave a Comment
Thanks Sally and Crystal. Now I have to tell everyone 7 weird things about myself.
- I cut my pinky finger on my left hand on a deli slicer, trying to clean it, while it was going as a teenager at my after school job. I still have the scar today. Sliced it right down the middle (well on the top bit anyway).
- My porn star name is Gwen Quinn.
- I never finished my HSC - Higher School Certificate.
- I started my business 34 weeks preggars with my third child Matilda hence the Tilda brand.
- I’ve been with my husband since I was 15 years old.
- I used to hate the colour pink. It’s kinda growing on me now.
- I’m tongue tied.
I’m going to tag Melissa, Anne, Kathie, Justine and Amanda.
The rules for those of you who have been tagged are;
1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself
4. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog
Have fun ladies!