KPMG Spark

Posted by Mica Harvey / Bookkeeping Services

KPMG Spark is an online bookkeeping service helping small to medium-sized businesses manage their day-to-day bookkeeping and finances.

The company has been in business since 2013. Their headquarters is based in Utah, where their operational staff work, and they have some bookkeeping staff based remotely.

About KPMG Spark

KPMG Spark ReviewThe company is headed up by Zach Olson, Managing Director, and Austin Miller, Director of Marketing. Their target customers are small to medium-sized businesses that have monthly expenses up to $250,000.

KPMG Spark say one of the things that separate them from their competitors is the proprietary software they use. They also offer separate pricing plans for cash and accrual accounting, and give every client a dedicated bookkeeper and assign an account manager.

How KPMG Spark Works

To get started, you can schedule a live demo to see their software in action or book a consultation call to discuss your bookkeeping requirements.

When you sign up for one of their plans, a member of their team will help you integrate your bank accounts into their software. You’ll also be introduced to the bookkeeper that’ll be handling your account.

Once you’re all set up, you’ll be able to update and categorize your transactions in real-time. From here, you can leave the day-to-day bookkeeping tasks to your bookkeeper. You can run reports yourself to check your financials at any time.

Services

KPMG Spark handles all the day-to-day bookkeeping tasks any small to medium-sized businesses face. This includes:

  • Recording expenses
  • Tracking mileage
  • Live bank data
  • Tax preparation
  • Invoicing and payments
  • Payroll

You can rest assured that they are handling all aspects of the bookkeeping for your business. Meaning you can focus on other areas of your business.

Plans and Pricing

KPMG Spark is fairly flexible with their plans. The amount you pay per month depends on the number of bank accounts you have. As well as whether you’re operating on a cash or accrual basis, and any extra services you add on.

To give you an idea, here is the monthly cost for basic cash accounting for each of their pricing tiers:

  • Starter – 1-5 bank accounts for $195 per month.
  • Essential – 5-10 bank accounts for $295 per month.
  • Enterprise – 10+ bank accounts for $395 per month.

The extra services you can add to each plan are:

  • Tax Prep – $125 per month.
  • Payroll Facilitation – $100 per month.
  • KPMG Consulting – $1,000 per month.

KPMG Spark Pricing

So, for example, if you have 10+ bank accounts and want to include tax prep, payroll facilitation, and KPMG consulting, you’ll pay $1,620 per month.

There are no contracts, so you can change your plan or cancel at any time. And, as they point out, you can deduct accounting fees on your annual return, so that’s an extra little incentive.

KPMG Spark Alternatives

Two alternative online bookkeeping companies worth checking out are Bench and Bean Ninjas. Bean Ninjas use Xero accounting software if you’re already familiar with this software.

Bench offers a free trial so you can to try before you buy.

Your Turn

Have you worked with KPMG Spark? If so, please leave a review below to help others with their decision.

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iWorker

Posted by Mica Harvey / Dedicated Virtual Assistants, Virtual Assistant Companies

iWorker is a virtual assistant company headquartered in New Mexico, U.S. Their virtual assistants work remotely from Venezuela and other South American countries.

Their mission is to find and hire workers from impoverished countries, and give them a chance to work with business owners around the world.

The company started operations in 2013, and are able to offer very competitive rates due to sourcing workers from these economic locations. But are they any good?

Read on to see if iWorker might be a good fit for your business.

About iWorker

iWorker ReviewiWorker was co-founded by John Miles, Eric Tanaka, and Enrique Yervez. Before forming iWorker, both John and Eric had a number of years’ experience hiring virtual assistants to grow their own businesses.

They got to know many Venezuelan immigrants while living in Argentina. After learning of their struggles to find work, they decided to start iWorker and focus on hiring Venezuelan workers. They have since expanded to hiring virtual assistants from other economically challenged countries.

iWorker says their motivation was to provide professionals in impoverished countries, “dignified work, thereby generating opportunities for them to improve their lives, support their families, and grow their local economies.”

It’s certainly a noble cause, and if they can provide excellent service to clients at a great rate, it’s a win-win.

How iWorker Works

To get started with iWorker, send them a message via their contact page outlining the kinds of tasks you want to outsource. They will then send you a couple of bios for assistants they think are best suited to you.

Per the company: “Every remote professional on our team goes through a rigorous interview process, helping you to avoid false starts and misfires by trying to find a reliable worker on your own.”

If you want to move forward, you can interview the candidates to ensure they are a good fit for you and your business. Once you’ve decided on an assistant you want to work with, you can communicate directly with them going forward.

Payments are all processed by iWorker, and the pricing couldn’t be any simpler.

You pay a flat rate of $5.95 for every hour your assistant works. There are no minimum monthly plans, no contracts, and you even get your first 3 hours free.

Services

iWorkers’ virtual assistants are ready to handle any tasks you can send them to complete remotely. They group their areas of expertise into the following areas:

  • eCommerce – Order processing, customer service, managing your Shopify store, and more.
  • Direct Sales – Phone sales, email outreach, competitors research, and more.
  • WordPress & Web Development – Modifying and managing WordPress sites, plugins, content, and more.
  • Customer Service – Responding to customer queries, managing social media, and more.
  • Personal Assistance – Managing your diary, making travel bookings, and more.

Plans and Pricing

iWorker do not currently have any set pricing plans or set hourly commitments. Instead, you pay for the number of hours your assistant works for you. Their hourly rate is currently $5.95 per hour.

They offer a 3-hour free trial, so you can test their services before deciding if they are the right fit for your business.

iWorker Alternatives

There are some other highly-rated virtual assistant companies providing assistants based in South American countries. Uassist.me and Virtual Latinos are two companies worth considering, although their rates are not as competitive as iWorker’s.

One big advantage of all these options is the time zones are a little closer to home for US-based businesses.

If budget is your main driving force, I recommend looking further overseas. If you’re looking for full-time help, you might consider recruiting via OnlineJobs.ph, the largest job board in the Philippines.

Your Turn

Have worked with iWorker? If so, please share a review of your experience below to help others with their decision.

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100 Ninjas

Posted by Mica Harvey / Dedicated Virtual Assistants, US Virtual Assistants, Virtual Assistant Companies

100Ninjas is a US-based virtual assistant company that has been in business since 2015.

They are a 100% virtual company, providing US-based virtual assistants to help busy clients lighten their workload and free up more of their time.

About 100Ninjas

100 Ninjas ReviewThe company was founded by Monica Rawicz. Monica worked as a freelance graphic designer for a number of years, before moving into the virtual assistant space managing remote support teams.

Driven by her passion for helping other busy business owners free up more of their time, Monica founded 100Ninjas. Over the last four years, she’s built up a team of skilled remote workers called “ninjas” across the US.

Their services cover everything from personal assistance and administration work, to managing your social media accounts, writing blog content, and doing online research. Basically, you can request any tasks that can be completed remotely from your ninja.

How 100Ninjas Works

100Ninjas says they “take a very personalized approach when matching our clients to our ninjas.”

When you sign up for one of their plans, a client support specialist will contact you to ensure they have a good understanding of you and your business.

Once they have a clear understanding of what you’re looking for in a VA, they will match you with one of their VA’s best suited to you and your business.

From there, you communicate directly with your assistant to get your tasks completed.

Services

With good communication, the 100Ninjas virtual assistants will be able to take just about any task that can be completed remotely off your hands.

To give you a better idea of the types of tasks they specialize in, here are the main categories they group their services around:

  • Executive Admin Support – Inbox management, tracking expenses, data entry and transcription services, event planning and organization, and more.
  • Personal Assistance – Scheduling appointments, buying gifts, finding services, etc.
  • Social Media Management – Managing your social media accounts, accelerating crowdfunding campaigns, email campaigns, and more.
  • Research – Analyzing and comparing competitors’ services, market trends, event and conference tracking, and more.
  • Travel Management – Making and booking your travel plans, itinerary planning, handling international paperwork, and more.

Plans and Pricing

Rates range from $30-34 an hour and their plans start at 10 hours per month.

When you sign up for a plan, you’ll be assigned a dedicated assistant to work with as well as a client a support specialist.

New clients get the first 2 hours free, and you can cancel at any time.

A complete list of their plans at the time of publishing are:

  • Ninja10 – 10 hours per month for $340 ($34 per hour)
  • Ninja15 – 15 hours per month for $510 ($34 per hour)
  • Ninja25 – 25 hours per month for $850 ($34 per hour)
  • Ninja35 – 35 hours per month for $1,120 ($32 per hour)
  • Ninja50 – 50 hours per month for $1,500 ($30 per hour)

100 Ninjas Pricing

If you don’t see the hourly plan you’re looking for, 100Ninjas are happy to work out something bespoke if you contact them.

100Ninjas Alternatives

Three of the more established US-based virtual assistant companies worth considering are Time Etc, BELAY, and Boldly.

Prialto Time Etc MyTasker Boldly
Customer Rating
Established 2009 2007 2012 2012
Hourly Rate $27 $24-27 $7.50-14 $59
Minimum Package $1500 for 55+ hours $270 for 10 hours $140 for 10 hours $2360 for 40 hours
Dedicated Assistant
Minimum VA Experience Extensive in-house training 5 years In-house training 7 years
Team Access
Rollover Hours *does not charge overage
Free Trial
Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More

Time Etc is the most affordable if budget is a concern, while BELAY and Boldly have a wealth of experience and a deep pool of assistants. So if you’re looking for specific skill sets, you’ve got other options as well.

Your turn

Have you worked with 100Ninjas? If so, please share a quick review of your experience below to help others with their decision.

Read More

Fancy Hands

Posted by Mica Harvey / Task-Based Virtual Assistants, US Virtual Assistants, Virtual Assistant Companies

Fancy Hands is a New York-based virtual assistant company that was founded in 2010. I’ve been a member since 2012, and here’s my review.

What sets Fancy Hands apart from its low priced outsourcing competition is its use of US-based, native-English speaking assistants. fancy hands reviewFor that, they’ve gained a lot of momentum and exposure.

Note: This Fancy Hands review is geared toward those looking to hire an assistant. Click here to learn more about how to become a virtual assistant.

Fancy Hands Services

fancy hands review

Customers primarily use Fancy Hands as a time-saving tool for small one-time tasks, like restaurant reservations, online research, set up conference calls, and quick event planning.

Adding events to your Google Calendar is free, and you can set up a credit card to have on file for your assistant to make purchases for you.

How I Use Fancy Hands

In my case, I mainly rely on Fancy Hands to:

  • Respond to certain customer requests on my behalf. (This is the majority of the work I send.)
  • Proofread articles.
  • Check in for flights.
  • Research products and companies online.

When I was shopping for a used car, I had them scour the classifieds listings on a bunch of different sites and build me a spreadsheet with the available inventory that met my criteria.

TeamWork

If you manage a large team, you can give everyone access to this distributed army of assistants through the Fancy Hands TeamWork platform.

For employers, it’s a nice perk to offer and allows your workers to be more productive on the job. The service is integrated with the web interface, email, phone, and Basecamp project management software.

Incoming Calls

The introduction of the Fancy Hands incoming calls API is big news for anyone struggling with their call volume or already using an outsourced solution like Ruby Receptionists.

With a little bit of set-up, your preferred phone number can ring Fancy Hands and an assistant will answer the call, answer basic questions, and with access to your calendar, set appointments.

How Fancy Hands Works

Fancy Hands virtual assistants are “in the cloud” – a largely part-time, on-demand, and remote workforce that handles tasks as they come in.

Submit your requests via email, the mobile app, or text and they all get dumped into a common task feed. From there, any qualified and available Fancy Hands assistant can claim it and get to work.

One advantage of this team-based approach is 24/7/365 coverage for your requests, whereas a “real” assistant would probably need to take some time off or sleep every now and then.

For example, most of my requests are handled in 20 minutes or less. (I even demo’d this live during a presentation and the response came back just after my 15-minute cutoff!)

The Online Dashboard

Once you create your account, you’ll see a dashboard that keeps track of your requests and some other stats on your profile. As you can see, Fancy Hands has spent over 23 hours on the phone for me!

I’m a pretty happy camper to have not had to make those 476 calls myself.

Fun fact: I actually broke their system — the counter stopped at 1000 requests and hasn’t updated in years!

Longer Requests

Fancy Hands also added the ability to go beyond the regular 20-minute time limit by asking your approval to burn multiple tasks on one request.

For instance, sometimes I’ve gotten a response back that says, we’d love to handle this for you, but it will take 3 tasks instead of one.

OK, that’s fine — I reply back with my approval and they got to work.

Fancy Hands Review

That video is super old, definitely due for an update!

Virtual Assistant Assistant Referral Bonus: If you want to try Fancy Hands, get 50% off your first month when you sign-up through this link.

Fancy Hands Plans and Pricing

Fancy Hands pricing is as follows:

  • Once a Week: 5 requests* a month for $29.99.
  • A Few Times a Week: 15 requests a month for $74.99.
  • Every Day: 30 requests a month for $149.99.

fancy hands pricing 2019

*Each request has a 20-minute maximum duration.

You can save 15% on all plans by pre-paying for a year in advance. The pre-pay option is a great deal but of course is a little risky for first-time outsourcers.

Unused tasks rollover month-to-month. Since the tasks rollover, one strategy would be to buy the Premier plan for a month or two to stockpile your requests, and then downgrade to Basic until you’re running low, effectively reducing your price per request.

Virtual Assistant Assistant Referral Bonus: If you want to try Fancy Hands, get 50% off your first month when you sign-up through this link.

A Dedicated Assistant

One great new addition the company has added is a dedicated assistant option. This means you can delegate to the same assistant every time, rather than have your requests picked up by the first available assistant.

Obviously this leads to better collaboration for ongoing business processes or more open-ended projects.

How it works is you commit to a certain minimum number of hours, which you pre-pay for at the start of the month.

Here are some of the common pricing tiers:

  • 25-49 hours per month = $32/hr
  • 50-74 hours per month = $30/hr
  • 75+ hours per month = $28/hr

If you go over, the extra hours get tacked onto the next bill. (You can work with your assistant to ensure they never go over the hours though.)

Your first month is half off.

This dedicated service is most similar to other US-based virtual assistant operators like Time Etc.

The Fancy Hands App

Unlike many other VA services, Fancy Hands is also accessible through a dedicated mobile app. It has a very slick user interface with nearly all the functionality of their browser-based site.

You can check on view your usage statistics, track existing requests, and submit new ones via text or voice. Very cool.

It also allows you to take pictures that might be helpful to your VA or choose an existing photo from your library.

fancy hands app screenshot

Fancy Hands Alternatives

Wishup is a great alternative with highly competitive prices.

I tested Fancy Hands against a few of their competitors, both in the US and overseas. The trial pitted them against Red Butler, Efficise, and My Tasker (no longer offers a task-based plan). Please click here to read the full review of my test.

I’m still maintaining my subscription and have actually set up a cool automation with Zapier where I can send them tasks automatically based on certain criteria.

One other company worth checking out is OkayRelax. This is the service I use as a lower-priced dedicated assistant option, which I’ve found really reliable for recurring tasks where a login is needed.

Your Turn

If you have any experience with Fancy Hands, please share your review below!

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Bean Ninjas

Posted by Mica Harvey / Australia Virtual Assistants, Bookkeeping Services

Bean Ninjas is an online bookkeeping and accounting service aimed at helping individuals and small to medium-sized businesses manage their business accounts using the Xero accounting software.

The company has been operating since 2015. Their head offices are based in Burleigh Heads Queensland, Australia, and they have bookkeepers working remotely from the US and UK as well as Australia.

About Bean Ninjas

bean ninjas reviewThe company is run by the founder Meryl Johnson. She is very hands-on with the day-to-day running of the business and involved in the client onboarding process.

Their target customers are any individuals and small to medium-sized businesses that are looking for a cost-effective way to outsource their bookkeeping and company financials to free up more of their own time.

Their client-base covers:

  • e-commerce businesses
  • coaches
  • digital agencies
  • bloggers
  • SaaS companies
  • authors
  • and a wide range of other online businesses.

When you sign up with Bean Ninjas you will have a 30-minute discovery call with Meryl, the company co-founder to discuss your business and requirements.

You will then go through their onboarding process and meet the bookkeeping manager who’ll be handling your financials.

Next, you will be set up on Xero, the cloud-based accounting software Bean Ninjas use. They can also guide you through converting from your current accounting software across to Xero.

Finally, you will be introduced to a team leader who will be available as a point of contact, and a dedicated assistant who will be working on your account.

Services

Bean Ninjas offer Xero bookkeeping and accounting. Xero is their preferred accounting software and they have team members skilled in setting up and transferring businesses over to Xero.

Once they’ve set up you and your business on Xero it will integrate with your bank feed and anyone can log in remotely.

This means your dedicated bookkeeper at Bean Ninjas can keep your financial records up-to-date so you can have a clear and accurate picture of your bank balance, debtors, creditors, and more at a touch of a button.

The frequency in which Bean Ninjas update your accounts and generate reports depends on the plan you opt for. However, they offer training on Xero so you can run your own reports at any time and make the most of the accounting software.

Plans and Pricing

Bean Ninjas currently have 3 plans to choose from starting from $249 per month.

Their complete list of plans at the time of publishing is as follows:

  • Small – $249 per month (+Xero), this plan includes a chart of accounts, Hubdoc subscription, monthly recording of transactions, quarterly reporting and BAS preparation.
  • Standard – $399 per month (+Xero), this plan includes all the services in the Small plan, along with more regular reporting and receipt/expense management.
  • Premium – $579 per month (+Xero), this plan includes all the services in the Standard plan, along with more regular reporting.

bean ninjas pricing

There is also a one-off fee of $349 for their Xero setup service. This includes 2x 30-minute training calls so you’re able to make the most of this accounting software.

Bean Ninjas Alternatives

Two other companies offering a similar cloud-based bookkeeping and accounting service are ZipBooks and Bench.

ZipBooks have much more competitive rates and use their own in-house software. While Bench has similar pricing plans and are based in Canada.

Your Turn

Have you worked with Bean Ninjas before? If so, please leave a brief review below to help others with their decision.

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24Task

Posted by Mica Harvey / Philippines Virtual Assistants, Virtual Assistant Companies

24Task is a virtual assistant company specializing in providing dedicated virtual assistants to small and medium-sized businesses all over the world.

The company is based in the Philippines, with its headquarters located in Daet, Bicol Region. When working with 24Task’s assistants you can specify if you want them to work in their offices, or from their own homes (for a discounted hourly rate).

About 24Task

24Task ReviewThe company started operations in 2014. There isn’t any publicly listed information on the founders or the board behind the company, but their goals are clearly defined:

“To provide reliable and affordable support in every aspect of the business.”

They definitely come in as one of the more affordable VA companies in the Philippines with hourly rates as low as $3.90.

24Task don’t give away much about their vetting process of the skills and experience of their assistants, but they do offer a free trial so you can “try before you buy”.

You have the option to choose if your assistant will be working from their offices or at home, as well as the number of years’ experience they have. From there you will be assigned an assistant and can communicate directly with them.

How 24Task Works

To get started, sign up for the 10-hour free trial and provide some details about your business and what you’re looking for in a virtual assistant. A member of their team will contact you within 24 hours via email or SMS.

They will give you the details of their best-suited VA and you can chat with them via Skype or email. If you’re happy they have the skills to carry out the work, you’ll be sending them you can start sending them tasks right away.

At the end of each week, you’ll be sent an invoice for the number of hours your assistant has worked.

Services

24Task list well in excess of 100 different services and skillsets of their assistants on their site. It’s fair to say that if you have tasks that can be communicated and completed remotely, they want your business.

To give you an idea of the general services they offer, they group them under the following headings:

  • Customer Service
  • Marketing
  • Accounting
  • Admin Support
  • Writing
  • Video and Animation
  • Website Development
  • Mobile Development
  • Design

Plans and Pricing

24Task currently have three hourly plans:

  • Startup – 40 hours for $256 per month ($6.90 per hour)
  • Part-Time – 80 hours for $472 per month ($5.90 per hour)
  • Full-Time – 160 hours for $784 per month ($4.90 per hour)

24Task Pricing

Those rates are based on a VA working from their offices with 1-3 years’ experience. You can choose an assistant based from home and cut $1 off the hourly rate across the board. Likewise, you can opt for an assistant with 4-6 years’ experience and add $1 per hour across the board.

They have an hourly rate calculator on their site with a sliding scale if you want to buy a specific number of hours. The lowest rate you’ll pay is $3.90 if you commit to 160+ hours a month for a home-based VA with 1-3 years’ experience. That’s a very competitive rate, even for the Philippines.

24Task offers a 10-hour free trial, so I’d recommend taking advantage of that if you want to try their services before committing to a plan.

24Task Alternatives

If you want to get quotes with other virtual assistant companies in the Philippines before making a decision, I recommend starting with OnlineJobs.ph and Task Bullet.

OnlineJobs.ph operates a job board where you can post your job and screen for qualified candidates. They also have a done-for-you recruiting service. Task Bullet operates on an hourly rate model like 24Task, but instead of a monthly membership, you buy “buckets” of hours and can choose to renew — or not — when they run out.

Your Turn

Have you worked with 24Task? If so, please leave a brief review below to help others with their decision.

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The 10 Best Productivity and Outsourcing Courses on Udemy: Starting at $11.99 This Week

Posted by Mica Harvey / News

Sometimes a small investment in education can pay huge dividends for years down the road. If you’re ready to invest in your productivity education this year, here are the best productivity courses.

best productivity courses

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe,” Abraham Lincoln reportedly said.

How much time do you spend sharpening the axe? This is time that’s seemingly unproductive, but can lead to greater productivity later. It’s a step back to take two steps forward.

One of the best places to “sharpen your axe” is Udemy.com, a worldwide marketplace of instructors and students.

In that spirit, I want to share some of the top courses on Udemy on productivity, systems, and outsourcing.

These include lessons from some of my favorite instructors on the platform and (selfishly) even one of my own courses.

Disclosure: Links below are affiliate links.

Score the courses below starting at just $11.99 with no promo code needed!

Offer expires June 26th at 11:59pm Pacific.

1. Become a SpeedDemon: Productivity Tricks to Have More Time

Learn how to:

  • Harness the preeminent theories of productivity and time management to squeeze more time out of the day.
  • Use cutting-edge hacks, tips, and tricks to improve computer productivity work.
  • Identify time-wasters and zap them before they drain the day away.
  • Cut out the bad habits that cost hours in the day for no reason.
  • Make more time for the things that matter in life.

Sticker Price: $95

Instructor: Jonathan Levi

Social Proof: 3600 reviews, 4.3-stars, 33,000 students

Sample Review: “A lot of useful, simple, and specific pieces of advice. Maybe not all tips and tricks are for everybody, but the ones that are applicable to you will save you tons of time.”

2. Productivity and Time Management for the Overwhelmed

Learn how to:

  • Take control of their mindset and energy levels to increase your productivity
  • Discover why you are not as productive as you could be and develop a plan to improve
  • Increase  your productivity by implementing new strategies throughout your day
  • Create a personal plan that fits your personality and style

Sticker Price: $75

Instructor: Josh Paulsen

Social Proof: 4200 reviews, 4.4-stars, 20,000 students

Sample Review: “Lessons are presented in manageable time slices. Some of the lessons I “knew” already, but they are presented in a way to be really actionable. I am looking forward to applying them. I feel as though some of the items have made an impact already (focus on the most important thing, above all others, during your most productive time of the day).”

3. Productivity 10X – Your Complete Guide To Productivity

Learn how to:

  • 10X your personal productivity, avoid distractions, have laser-focus, implement powerful daily rituals!
  • Stay focused on what really matters and find satisfaction in your work.
  • Stay energized and on the top of your game, so you can work smart without burning out.
  • Automate your routine so productivity becomes a habit.
  • Beat procrastination, once and for all.
  • Make sure you do the right work, instead of just keeping busy.
  • Create a schedule that works.
  • Cut out the bad habits that cost hours in the day for no reason.

Sticker Price: $200

Instructor: Silviu Marisca

Social Proof: 580 reviews, 4.6-stars, 8800 students

Sample Review: “A good course which includes actionable steps and practical productivity strategies. The course exercises are very engaging and demand serious introspection. Worth the time and money invested.”

4. Modern Productivity – Superhuman Focus in a Distracted World

Learn how to:

  • Minimize the distractions of modern life.
  • Break your compulsive social media habits.
  • Identify your peak hours for productivity.
  • Take charge of your time and stop living on other people’s schedules.
  • and more!

Sticker Price: $190

Instructor: Brad Merrill

Social Proof: 1600 reviews, 4.6-stars, 8,700 students

Sample Review: “Instructor was very engaging and there was a very minimal amount of repetition. The course was “short and sweet” with lots of real world applications. I’d recommend it to a friend.”

5. Virtual Assistant: Find, Hire, Train, and Manage

Learn how to:

  • Find the best VA talent.
  • Hire virtual workers anywhere in the world.
  • Onboard and train them for the best results.
  • Work with them on an ongoing basis.

Sticker Price: $35

Instructor: Nick Loper (that’s me!)

Social Proof: 79 reviews, 4.5-stars, 1200 students

Sample Review: “This is really good, I feel like its more of a no-brainer but sometimes just hearing other people reiterate it helps you make a good conscious decision. I definitely think you need to take this course if you have no idea where to begin. I felt it was great for clarification and ease of mind.”

6. Productivity Machine: Time Management & Productivity Hacks

Learn how to:

  • Set crystal-clear goals.
  • Focus on your most important task and eliminate distractions.
  • Effectively manage your time both personally and professionally.

Sticker Price: $195

Instructor: Patrick Dang

Social Proof: 1400 reviews, 4.4-stars, 6500 students

Sample Review: “The course is incredibly well structured and highly informative. I am halfway through it and I’m already using many of the apps/ extensions provided. I can’t wait to apply more of what I’ve learned.”

7. Productivity Masterclass: How to Powerfully Get Things Done

Learn how to:

  • Get crystal-clear on your goals.
  • Engineer your perfect day.
  • Build “fail-proof” plans.
  • And more!

Sticker Price: $195

Instructor: Brandon Hakim

Social Proof: 360 reviews, 4.4-stars, 1,800 students

Sample Review: “This is the most efficient course on how to get things done (productivity). Must watch for all Entrepreneurs and people who want to be more productive and in a more effective way. Brandon is an excellent teacher.”

8. Boost Your Productivity. Work Less and Get More Done Easily

Learn how to:

  • Boost your productivity two, three, four or more times with simple methods that are proven to work
  • Eliminate bad habits that steal your time and freedom
  • Become more efficient and make more money with less work
  • Only do the things that matter most and will add value to your life
  • Get more free time in your life to do the things you really love doing
  • Manage your business and personal life and have more energy to enjoy each and every day
  • Avoid distractions and people who try to steal your time
  • Become laser-focused effortlessly and avoid the struggle that most people content with in their everyday life
  • Identify time wasters that will kill your chance of success and steal away your life
  • Manage your time so others aren’t dictating how you use it
  • Eliminate procrastination by removing the triggers that cause it to happen

Sticker Price: $40

Instructor: Geoff Shaw

Social Proof: 150 reviews, 4.6-stars, 700 students

Sample Review: “Great productivity overview, with some butt-kicking and inspiration thrown in for good measure! Once again, as is with all Geoff’s courses, lots of actionable “meat,” no fluff.”

9. Double Your Productivity and Get Important Things Done

Learn how to:

  • Manage Your Time
  • KILL Procrastination
  • Make More Money
  • Get More Things Done
  • How To Prioritize
  • Get and Appreciate Free Time

Sticker Price: $200

Instructor: Jimmy Naraine

Social Proof: 500 reviews, 4.3-stars, 12,000 students

Sample Review: “Great content, engaging delivery and practical strategies that can be immediately implemented.”

10. Get Things Done: How To Organize Your Life And Take Action

Learn how to:

  • Visually map out your tasks, projects, and goals for the next week to 6 months.
  • Create, plan, and complete multi-action projects (writing a book, creating a website, planning an anniversary) easily and efficiently.
  • Use the Action Map to capture and do small, but important tasks (check email, check Twitter, order that new watch, make appointments, etc.).
  • Track and follow up on the people, decisions, and tasks that you’re not prepared to act on right now.
  • Manage and run your errands in the most efficient way possible (works great in households and businesses, too).
  • Use Triggers to take action on the recurring tasks in your life (cleaning & maintaining your car or home, paying bills, posting to your blog, etc.).
  • Master using Domains – a section of your Action Map for capturing and managing knowledge, checklists, processes, dreams, templates, documents, and more!
  • Use timeboxing to consistently take action and get things done.

Sticker Price: $95

Instructor: Derek Franklin

Social Proof: 460 reviews, 4.5-stars, 3800 students

Sample Review: “Derek’s courses are always so thorough and insightful. I don’t remember how I discovered him but I am sure glad I did! I am looking forward to the changes that will happen as a result of applying what I learned from this course. Thank you, Derek!”

Your Turn

Have you taken any of these Udemy courses? Any favorites you’d add to the list?

Leave a comment below and let me know!

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Maestro Personal Assistants

Posted by Mica Harvey / US Virtual Assistants

Maestro Personal Assistants is a US-based personal assistance and concierge service offering a range of personalized services worldwide, 24/7.

The company has been in business since 2004, and their headquarters are located in Dallas, Texas.

About Maestro Personal Assistants

The company was co-founded by Dallas-based entrepreneurs Adam Alfia and Kfir Alfia. They originally started Maestro with the goal of providing a more affordable alternative to 411 calls people were making and getting charged premium rates for.

Over the years they revised their business model and the services they offered to more of a bespoke personal assistance service.

Maestro now has a national call center with phone operatives on-hand to handle incoming requests via email, phone, SMS, and through their mobile app.

They serve a large client base across the country and are available 24/7. Maestro is often sold as a white label concierge service. As such, most of their requests are coming in from their client’s customers.

Maestro’s assistants handle these requests branded as the client, so the customer is often none the wiser that they are dealing with an external company.

How Maestro Personal Assistants Works

When you sign up with Maestro Personal Assistants you’ll be given access to a customized web-based control panel. This is where your future communications will flow through to your assistant.

There is a 4-step process from signing up to being fully functional. These are:

  1. Your web-based control panel will be set up and branded in your company name.
  2. Automated emails or SMS messages are sent out to your customers welcoming them to our personal assistance service.
  3. Your customers now have direct access to the personal assistance service handled by Maestro.
  4. Your customers can start contacting and using your service via phone, email, text, or through the free phone app.

Services

To give you a general idea of the areas Maestro specialize in, they group their services into the following categories:

  • Concierge Services
  • Personal Assistance
  • Travel Concierge
  • White Label Concierge
  • Corporate Concierge
  • Virtual Concierge
  • Global Concierge

Drilling down a level further, they share examples of typical requests they commonly handle. These include:

  • arranging a plumber to come out and fix a toilet
  • requesting a list of housekeepers in the area
  • checking if a store has any more of a particular style of pants

That gives you an idea of how their service works: you have a personal assistant on the end of the line and you can ask them to do any tasks they can complete remotely.

Plans and Pricing

Maestro is not forthcoming with any pricing information. They request that anyone interested in using their service try a free demo first.

A member of their team will then be in touch to discuss your experience and put together a pricing plan for you.

Maestro Personal Assistants Alternatives

Their service makes me think of on-demand text assistant services like that offered by Magic, or even a task-based virtual assistant service provider like Fancy Hands–though both are aimed at individual consumers.

It’s always worth contacting virtual assistant companies like Time ETC for a quote too. You can have an assistant on-call that’s capable of handling the same tasks as a Maestro assistant and only pay for the hours you use.

Your Turn

Have you worked with Maestro Personal Assistants? If so, please leave a review of your experience below to help others with their decision.

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Personiv

Posted by Mica Harvey / India Virtual Assistants, Philippines Virtual Assistants, Virtual Assistant Companies

Personiv is a US-based business process outsourcing (BPO) company. Their headquarters is in Austin, TX, while their assistants are based in their offices in the Philippines and India–allowing them to offer competitive rates.

They specialize in creating custom solutions for their clients. Personiv find and hire virtual assistants with skills and experience specific to your needs to become part of your team.

About Personiv

Personiv ReviewPersoniv has been operating since 1985, making them one of the longer serving virtual assistant providers and virtual staffing companies in the space. The company is headed up in the US by CEO David Lesniak who has more than 20 years’ experience in leading and growing leading middle-market companies.

Their service is different from the typical virtual assistant business model. While they do have a large team of assistants working from their offices, when you discuss what you’re looking for in an assistant they will “headhunt” a team member and bring them in for you.

This means you’re getting a more personalized and custom service than hiring from a pool of general VAs. It’s going to be a service better suited to individuals looking for a longer-term staffing solution, however.

How Personiv Works

1. Needs Assessment

The process starts with what they call the “Discovery phase.” This is essentially a call between you and a member of their team to do a deep dive into the skillset and requirements of your ideal candidate(s).

2. Recruiting

A representative from Personiv will then draw up a plan to recruit, test, and hire the person(s) matching the skills and other details you outlined to them. If they identify some areas that require training, they will also meet that need if they feel like they have the right candidate.

3. Get to Work!

From there, you will be able to work with your assistant. They are based in one of their offices, and you will also have contact with a team leader overseeing your assistants to deal with any issues that may arise.

Services

Personiv specialize in recruiting staff to meet specific staffing requirements. To give you an idea, here are some of the roles they commonly fill for clients:

  • Back Office Support – Accounting, data entry, general admin, and more.
  • Creative Services – Graphic designers, branding teams, and more.
  • Customer Care – Phone support, email and chat handling, and more.
  • Finance and Accounting – Staff qualified in managing all aspects of business finances.
  • Sales Solutions – Sales team members to drive more sales, follow up on leads, and so on.

With such a wide range of possible skills and individual client requirements, it’s best to contact a member of their team and talk through exactly what you’re looking for to find out if they can help.

Plans and Pricing

Personiv do not currently have any set pricing plans.

Every request is handled on a case-by-case basis taking into account your individual requirements and the costs involved in fulfilling your request.

Personiv Alternatives

Virtual Staff Finder operates on a similar business model, though aimed at smaller businesses.

For a flat fee of $495 they will find 3 suitable candidates for you to interview. Where their service differs from Personiv is that they part ways after doing the headhunting and finding a hire you’re happy with.

If you’re looking for a more cost-effective short-term solution, I recommend checking out one of the many virtual assistant providers in the Philippines with trained staff ready to go at a competitive hourly rate.

Your Turn

Have you worked with Personiv? If so, please leave a review to help others with their decision.

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Trusty Oak

Posted by Mica Harvey / Dedicated Virtual Assistants, US Virtual Assistants

Trusty Oak is a US-based virtual assistant company that offers a range of virtual services to busy entrepreneurs, small to medium-sized businesses, and anyone looking to outsource some of their workloads.

The company was founded in 2015, and after building up a client base of local businesses they’ve been steadily expanding and now work with businesses and individuals all over the globe.

About Trusty Oak

Trusty Oak ReviewThe company was founded by current CEO, Amber Gray. Amber spent several years working for a digital agency in Austin, TX, where she was responsible for managing their virtual teams.

She decided to take her experience and expertise in managing virtual assistants and start Trusty Oak to offer a personalized service helping other entrepreneurs and business owners. Per Amber: “The driving passion behind Trusty Oak’s mission to support ambitious people in pursuit of big dreams is personal.”

When you sign up with Trusty Oak, a member of their team will arrange a call to learn more about you and your business. They will help you identify the tasks they can take off your hands, and will assign the best-suited assistant they have available to work with you.

How Trusty Oak Works

1. Choose a Plan

To get started, choose a plan that suits your hourly requirements. After you fill out your details on their site a member of their team will be in contact shortly after.

2. Discuss Your Requirements

One of their Delegation Strategists will discuss your requirements and match you with a VA. They recommend starting out with a 90-day trial purchasing their Sprout Plan for $720 per month and they’ll add 3 free hours to cover the onboarding phase.

3. Get Matched

After being introduced to your VA you’re free to communicate with them directly to start handing over those day-to-day tasks that have been taking up too much of your time.

Services

Trusty Oak has a team of virtual assistants skilled in a wide range of virtual services. Some of the tasks they list as examples of commonly requested roles include:

  • Online Business Managers – Managing workflows, improving efficiency, handling day-to-day business tasks.
  • Marketing Support – Managing social media accounts, writing web content, creating brand documents.
  • Executive Assistant – Managing calendar appointments, travel bookings, handling CRM software.
  • Administrative Assistant – Responding to emails, transcribing audio content, scheduling appointments.

Plans and Pricing

Trusty Oak currently has four different monthly pricing plans as follows:

  • Acorn – $360 per month for up to 10 hours and 1 dedicated VA ($36 per hour).
  • Sprout – $720 per month for up to 20 hours and 1-2 dedicated VAs ($36 per hour).
  • Oak – $1,400 per month for up to 40 hours and 1-2 dedicated VAs ($35 per hour).
  • Grove – $2,000 per month for up to 60 hours and 2-3 dedicated VAs ($33 per hour).

Trusty Oak Pricing

With each plan, they will work with you to formulate a delegation strategy plan and you can schedule in quarterly strategy calls to ensure everything is working out as planned.

There isn’t a lot of movement in the hourly rate across the plans. It’s worth noting that as you can only roll over up to 5 unused hours per month and add on more ad-hoc hours at a rate of $36 per hour if needed, it makes sense to make a conservative estimate on the hours you’ll require when committing to a plan.

Trusty Oak Alternatives

Boldly (formerly Worldwide101) operates on a similar business and pricing model.

They are one of the more established VA companies in the US and worth considering, along with Time ETC and Virtual Assist USA, two more highly rated US-based virtual assistant providers.

Your Turn

Have you worked with Trusty Oak? If so, please leave a review below to help others with their decision.

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