What Exactly Does a VA Do?

One of the biggest questions I get asked is: “What exactly does a VA do?”

The truth is, there isn’t one fixed answer. That’s the beauty of the VA industry — it’s flexible, varied, and can be shaped around your skills and your clients’ needs. Whether you’re coming from admin, customer service, marketing, or something completely different, there are services you can start offering from day one.

The mix of things can be slightly overwhelming - in fact I recently forgot that I help tackle emails when I was trying to answer the "What can you do" question from a prospective client... So let's break this down into clear, practical areas - that way you can see just how many opportunities there are.

1. Admin & Organisation

This is where many VAs start, because the need is huge. Business owners often get buried in admin and dream of handing it off - even me!

Examples include:

• Managing emails and calendars

• Organising digital files

• Data entry

• Preparing documents or presentations

• Research (suppliers, venues, competitors, etc.)

If you’ve ever kept things running smoothly in an office or home, you’ve got transferable skills here.

2. Customer Support

Small businesses thrive on happy customers, but keeping up with queries takes time. A VA can step in to make sure customers feel supported.

Examples include:

• Responding to customer emails or messages

• Managing helpdesk platforms (like Zendesk or Freshdesk)

• Answering and making calls from their virtual number

• Processing orders or refunds

• Following up with clients after sales or events

If you’re naturally people-focused, this can be a strong starting point.

3. Social Media Support

Not every VA wants to be a social media manager, but you don’t need to be an “expert” to offer simple, valuable support. The below examples are things that I offer my clients, but if they are looking for a strategic plan, I have social media experts to refer them to instead (know your limits!)

Examples include:

• Scheduling posts with tools like Meta Business Suite or Buffer

• Formatting and uploading content provided by the client

• Monitoring comments and messages

• Repurposing email campaigns and blogs into posts and vice versa

• Setting up their profiles

  
  

If you’re already familiar with Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, you’re further ahead than you think.

4. Document & Content Support

Many clients need help preparing professional materials. This could be as simple as top and tailing a document and transforming a plain document into a branded one. I once had a client brain dump his whole annual sales forecast and proposal into a document, which I then formatted into head office review ready from half sentence notes. Sure, he could have easily done it himself, but enlisting me to help freed up time to find and include more detail, and brain space (crucial!)

Examples include:

• Creating branded templates

• Formatting reports or proposals

• Proofreading documents

• Converting files (Word to PDF, PowerPoint to Canva, etc.)

• Spreadsheet templates and formula fixes

These tasks may seem small to you but save huge amounts of time for clients.

5. Business Operations

As you grow in confidence, you can move into more advanced areas, but some of these are possible even from the start if you’re organised and detail-focused.

Examples include:

• Setting up CRMs (customer relationship management systems)

• Updating websites (basic edits in WordPress, Squarespace or Wix)

• Creating simple automation (using tools like Zapier)

• Managing memberships or client portals

• Drafting invoices and bookkeeping

So, now you know what a VA does (or can do), what you could offer first as a VA?

When you’re just starting, don’t feel pressured to “do it all.” Choose 2–3 core services you’re confident with and start there.

For example, many new VAs start with:

✅ Email and diary management

✅ Document formatting

✅ Social media scheduling

These are easy to explain to potential clients and easy enough for them to handover, and will give you confidence as you grow. Over time, you’ll naturally expand your services based on what you enjoy and what your clients need.

Being a VA doesn’t mean doing everything. It means offering the right mix of support so business owners can free up time and focus on what they do best. From day one, you already have skills you can package into services. The trick is presenting them in a way that shows value.

✨ Your next step as an aspiring VA:

Grab a pen and paper, and a cuppa, and take a look at your skills. Note the 2–3 services you’d feel most comfortable offering today. That’s your starting point.