TradeMark Express Blog: All Things Trademark

Starting a Business Series: I Want to Become a Virtual Assistant

The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

I recommend checking out the Small Business Administration
, Entrepreneur, Start Up Journal, Wall Street Journal & Nolo’s Starting a Business – Resource Center. All four are great informational resources for the new/small business owner.

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet.

• Virtual Assistant Network Forum
• International Virtual Assistants Association

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

• Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA by Diana Ennen, Kelly Poelker
• Start Your Own Business Support Service (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Entrepreneur Press
• The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants by Christine Durst
• The Virtual Office Survival Handbook: What Telecommuters and Entrepreneurs Need to Succeed in Today's Nontraditional Workplace by Alice Bredin

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Here's just a handful:

• How to Start an Office Support Service by Randy Wilson
• Virtual Assistant Tips to Success by Diana Ennen