Online and digital Home-basedNo experienceRepeat customers

How to start a virtual assistant business in Virginia

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Virginia asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In US dollars 12-minute read

To start$1.1k–2.3kLean to full setup

Per month$3.1k–10kOnce established

Profit margin85–95%After software, insurance and payment fees

First customer1–6 weeksFrom today

DifficultyOffice skills you can learn fast

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you're organized and like helping people get things done

Small business owners drown in admin: email, scheduling, invoices, travel and follow-ups. As a virtual assistant you take it off their plate from home, and clients who trust you tend to keep you for the long run.

You'll like it if

You're organized and reliable
You write clear, friendly emails
You like learning new apps
You want to work from home

Think twice if

You don't like juggling many small tasks
You'd rather not answer messages during the day
You need the same work every day
You find it hard to keep things confidential

02What it costs

From $1,125 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to start$1,125

What	Cost
LaptopAn everyday laptop runs everything a VA needs	$710
Headset and second screenClear calls and room to work in two apps at once	$20
Software, first three monthsBusiness email, plus a design app in the full figure	$20
Registering your businessThe state's fee to form an LLC in Virginia	$100
Insurance, first three monthsProfessional liability, plus general liability in the full figure	$190
Website and marketingWebsite, domain and business cards	$85
Total	$1,125

Once you're running: about $90 a month, plus about 3% of what you earn. Insurance, email and your website every month, plus card or bank fees on each payment.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per hour $35 $13$100

Hours a week 25 150

Monthly costs $90 $0$360

Typical in Virginia: $25–$50 per hour, 10–32 hours a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustle$1k–1.5k

About 10 hours a week

Full-time, on your own$3.1k–5.1k

25–30 billable hours a week

With a small team$6.1k–10k

Other assistants take some clients

04Step by step

11 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Choose your services
2–3 days Free

List what you already do well, such as inbox and calendar help, customer emails, travel booking, research or simple bookkeeping.
- 3–5 core services
- The kind of client you'd like
- Check other VAs' prices
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Your own name works well for a VA, or pick a business name that says what you do. Make sure no one in Virginia has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas, then check yours with VirginiaFind a name
3
Form your LLC in Virginia
1–2 weeks $100 state fee

An LLC keeps your personal savings separate from the business. You file Articles of Organization with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC).
- Articles of Organization
- A registered agent
- An operating agreement
PressUp can file your LLC with the state for youForm your LLC
4
Get your EIN
Same day Free

The IRS's tax number for your business. You'll need it for a business bank account.
- Apply online with the IRS
- Open a business bank account
Apply for it along with your LLC filingAdd your EIN
5
Sort out sales tax in Virginia
1–3 days Free

Virginia's sales tax is 5.3%, and cities and counties add their own. Ask the Virginia Department of Taxation whether what you sell is taxable.
- Check if your services are taxable
- Register for sales tax if needed
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- Professional liability
- General liability
- Cyber liability
7
Set up your office
2–3 days $750–1.5k

A reliable laptop, a quiet place for calls and safe ways to handle clients' passwords and files.
- Laptop and headset
- Business email
- A password manager for client logins
8
Set your prices
1 day Free

Monthly blocks of hours are easier to sell than single hours, and they give you steady income. See the prices below.
- 10, 20 and 40 hour plans
- A rate for extra hours
- A simple written agreement
9
Put your business online
1 day Included

Clients hire assistants they can trust. A site with your services, prices and a way to book a call helps them say yes.
- Website with your plans
- Discovery call booking
- Your professional profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
10
Get your first clients
1–6 weeks Free

Your first clients usually come from people you know. Tell them exactly what you can take off their plate.
- Message 20 people you know
- Offer a short trial week
- Ask every client for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
11
Bill and keep track
Ongoing Included

Track your hours, invoice each month and see who's paid.
- Time tracking
- Monthly invoices
- Client list
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in VA

What Virginia asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Articles of Organization (LLC)

Registers your business with the state.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC)$100once

Annual report

Keeps your LLC in good standing with the state.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC)$50a year

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

IRSFree

Sales tax registration

Only if what you sell is taxable where you are: ask the state.

The Virginia Department of TaxationFree

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

LaptopEveryday model with a good webcam

$710–$1,250Must have

HeadsetNoise-canceling microphone

$11–$75Must have

Second screenWork in two apps at once

$60–$140Later

Business email and files, a yearYour own address and shared drives

$85–$170Must have

Design app, a yearFor quick graphics and documents

$0–$150Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

10 hours

$350 per month · About 2 hours a week

Inbox and calendar help
Weekly to-do check-in
Same-day replies on workdays

20 hours

$690 per month · About 5 hours a week

Everything in 10 hours
Customer emails and follow-ups
Research and travel booking

40 hours

$1,350 per month · About 10 hours a week

Everything in 20 hours
Invoices and simple records
Social posts and scheduling
Project tracking

Hourly rates for virtual assistants in VirginiaTypical: $18–$65

Average $35

$0$20$45$65$85

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Your own network

Friends, former bosses and coworkers who run businesses are your fastest first clients.

Free

Local business groups

Owners at chamber and networking events often need a few hours of help a week.

Low cost

Partner with other freelancers

Web designers, bookkeepers and coaches meet clients who need admin help.

Partnership

Monthly plans

A block of hours every month gives clients steady help and you steady income.

Repeat income

Reviews

Ask every happy client for a review: trust is what VAs sell.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your services
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Get ready

Set up email and a password manager
Write your client agreement
Make a list of 50 people to tell

Week 3

Go live

Website with your plans
Discovery call booking
Set your prices

Week 4

First clients

Aim for 2 monthly clients
Offer a trial week
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to be a virtual assistant in Virginia?

Usually not. You'll register your business and handle your taxes. If you take on regulated work, such as bookkeeping in some countries, check the rules shown above.

Do I need experience?

Office, customer service or admin experience helps a lot, but many VAs start with everyday skills: email, scheduling, research and being reliable.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Many VAs start with one or two clients for a few hours a week, then grow as those clients refer others.

Should I charge by the hour or by the month?

Monthly blocks of hours are common: clients get a set amount of help and you get steady income. Charge your hourly rate for anything extra.

How do I keep clients' information safe?

Use a password manager to share logins, turn on two-step sign-in, keep client files in shared drives rather than on your laptop, and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources