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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Writer Access

Posted by Mica Harvey / Content Writing Services

Writer Access is a content creation marketplace based in Boston, MA. The company was founded in 2008 and they offer a range of content-on-demand and membership options.

The company has grown quickly in the 10+ years they’ve been in business, being featured on the Inc. 5000 list numerous times on their way to becoming one of the larger players in the content writing space.

About Writer Access

Writer Access ReviewsThe company is headed up by current CEO Byron White. They provide a broad range of content services, mostly geared around giving customers the option to choose content that matches your budget by providing a sliding pricing scale.

They operate on a monthly membership model, with a grading system so you can choose how much to pay per word for your content. Pricing starts from as low as $0.04 per word for a 3-star writer and goes all the way up to $2 per word for one of their “All-Star” writers.

That makes their pricing range one of the widest I’ve seen. But it’s better to have the option for expensive content than not, and their membership cost covers casting calls and supports from their team to ensure you’re happy with the writers you’ll be working with.

How Writer Access Works

To get started, you choose a membership plan that suits the size of your team and the amount of content you anticipate needing.

Writer Access has a Casting Call tool that helps clients find the best-suited writers for their projects. You can then add writers to your preferred list to work with again, and there is some support available from the Writer Access team, as they understand how important it is to find the right writer.

From there, you start ordering content. You’ll have access to some workflow tools to manage your orders, request revisions, and so on through their interface.

Services

Writer Access is a marketplace that matches clients with US-based writers that have been vetted and graded according to their skill level and writing experience.

There is really no limit to the type, length, and style of content you want to order (within the realms of moral and sensible limits).

Their most commonly requested content is going to be web content, such as:

  • blog posts
  • sales copy
  • email newsletters
  • and more

But I wouldn’t hesitate to use their service for any form of content writing.

Plans and Pricing

Writer Access has two different pricing elements.

When you order content, you pay per word for written content, as you would with most content writing services. You also have to sign up for one of their monthly plans to cover some administration costs.

Their per word pricing is as follows:

  • Basic Pricing – Choose from a 3 star to 6 stars rated writer and pay from $0.04-0.10 per word. ($40-100 for a 1,000 word article; for the sake of reference, this article is 700 words.)
  • PRO Pricing – Choose from 6 stars to All-Star rated writers and pay from $0.11-$2.00 per word.

They give some guidance as to what you can expect from the star ratings they assign their writers.

For example, if you’re opting for a 3-star writer for the cheapest price, they recommend you only request content that requires little research and doesn’t have any special requirements.

On the other hand, higher rated writers can produce “publish-ready” content, with detailed instructions, and taking into account legal challenges, and so on.

You need to sign up for a monthly membership plan before ordering content, these are priced as follows:

  • Basic Solopreneurs – $39 per month.
  • PRO Business – $79 per month.
  • PRO Agency – $99 per month.
  • Managed Service – $349 per month.

Writer Access Pricing

Each tier upgrade comes with more perks, such as adding more users to your workflow, more casting calls, and higher quality writers.

Start a 14-day free trial here.

Writer Access Alternatives

Copywriter Today also operates on a monthly subscription model, but the membership fee included “unlimited” content. Of course, “unlimited” is throttled by 1-request-at-a-time limitation and reasonable turnaround times based on content length. It might be worth a look if you have ongoing content demands.

Copywriter Today Fiverr HireWriters Textbroker
Customer Rating not yet rated
Established 2014 2010 2012 2005
Minimum Cost (500 words) $265 per month $5 $5 $7.50
Type of Service Subscription A la carte articles Pre-screened writers; varying quality Pre-screened writers; varying quality
Best for Agencies, ongoing content needs One off, quick work Inexpensive filler content Connecting with reliable writers
Notes First article free Check Fiverr Pro for better quality 25% bonus on first deposit Pricing is per-word
Learn more Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More

Other marketplaces, like HireWriters and Crowd Content, operate on a price-per-word model starting at a lower price range. If you’re on a budget I’d check both of those out.

Your Turn

Have you worked with Writer Access?

If so, please leave a review below to help others with their decision.

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EcomBalance

Posted by Mica Harvey / Bookkeeping Services, eCommerce Services

EcomBalance is an online bookkeeping service aimed at helping eCommerce and digital businesses better manage their finances.

The company is headquartered in Denver, CO, and utilizes both U.S.-based and overseas staff.

About EcomBalance

The company started operations in 2021 and is headed up by Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan.

While EcomBalance is a new company, both Nathan and Connor are experienced entrepreneurs who have started several successful businesses in the virtual assistant space.

They started out selling on Amazon, and as they became more successful Nathan and Connor started hiring VAs to help scale their businesses.

This led to them co-founding FreeUp, a freelance virtual assistant marketplace. After selling FreeUp, the duo co-founded Outsource School.

Outsource School is an online platform that provides all the resources businesses owners need to scale up their own businesses in the same way as Nathan and Connor have.

So, EcomBalance is almost like a natural progression off the back of those other businesses. Through EcomBalance, Nathan and Connor provide all the bookkeeping services online business owners need to operate.

They specialize in businesses with a turnover in the range of $250,000 to $50 million. Primarily selling on the major platforms, like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and so on.

How EcomBalance Works

The good news is that EcomBalance offers a free month to get started. All they need from you is access to your electronic transactions and any other business-related financials, and they can get started.

During your first month, their bookkeepers will complete your previous month of business. This month also gives you the leeway to iron out any potential problems accessing all of your information.

EcomBalance has bookkeepers in the US and Philippines. Every client has a Head Bookkeeper from the US that they work directly with and that Head US Bookkeeper has a support team of Filipino bookkeepers to help with the account as well. This gives you the best of both worlds. By combining high level talent from both countries, they’re able to offer competitive rates for you.

It’s worth taking their free month trial if you’re interested. EcomBalance are so confident you’ll be impressed with their service, they are sure you’ll continue to work with them.

EcomBalance Services

EcomBalance handles all of the financial and bookkeeping requirements of digital businesses.

This means everything from recording all of your business’ income and expenses, making sure your finances are in order, and producing monthly reports so you can keep tabs on the financial health of your business.

They also offer a wide range of custom reports – they report sales and COGs on an accural basis, everything else is on a cash basis. Importantly, if you feel like there is something you would want EcomBalance to do but can’t see it mentioned in their services, they’re open to discussing it with you.

EcomBalance Plans and Pricing

EcomBalance currently has 3 paid plans to choose from. Their Startup plan starts at $150/mo, and their highest plan costs $2,000+/mo.

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

  1. Startup – $150-$400 per month – This plan is ideal for small businesses and startups. You get access to a dedicated bookkeeping team, and will receive financial reports within 14 days of month-end.
  2. Essential – $350-$800 per month – This plan is aimed at growing businesses. It includes everything in the Startup plan along with a faster month-end turnaround and some other features.
  3. Growth – $750-$2000+ per month – This plan is reserved for large businesses. It includes everything in the Essential plan along with a faster month-end turnaround and some other custom features.

If none of the above plans fit with what you’re looking for, EcomBalance says they are willing to work out a personalized plan.

All you have to do is set up a call with a member of their team, and they’ll work something out. They also offer a number of specialized services and add-ons for fixed monthly fees.

EcomBalance Alternatives

If you’re looking for alternative bookkeeping solutions to EcomBalance, I recommend checking out Bench or RemSource.

Bench and RemSource are two of the most well-known U.S.-based online bookkeeping services and has a good deal of positive feedback.

Your Turn

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

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GoLance

Posted by Mica Harvey / Freelance Virtual Assistants

GoLance is an online workforce platform that connects employers with freelancers based all over the globe.

Based in Delaware, US, GoLance has been in business since 2015. Their mission is to, “Make life better for all online workers with a flexible, fair, efficient, and transparent virtual workplace.”

About GoLance

GoLance is headed up by CEO Michael Brooks, and they have been in operation for more than two years.

The company head office is in Delaware, US, and they have a number of staff at this location providing support and carrying out day-to-day operations.

The company does not carry out any of the client jobs themselves or employ virtual assistants.

They provide the platform for freelancers and employers to connect and handle the payments and contracts between the two parties.

GoLance also provide some tools to make finding freelancers easier, as well as monitoring your tasks being worked on and providing support when needed.

They have developed their own tool called goMeter Time Tracking to enable clients to monitor activity, a work diary summarizing monthly gigs and communications, and a smartphone app so you can stay connected on the move.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc_ia_DPong

How GoLance Works for Employers:

You can use the GoLance platform as either an employer or a freelancer. Here’s how it works for employers.

1. Post a job

After posting your job you will be provided with a list of recommended candidates based on your requirements and the skillsets of freelancers in their database.

2. Invite freelancers to apply

You can then send invitations to a short list of the freelancers you think are best suited based on their profiles.

3. Set milestones/ pay per hour

You have the option to either set milestones and make payments when they are met. Or, you can set an hourly rate.

You can filter workers by their rating and the number of hours worked on the platform. If a worker’s profile looks strong, you can reach out to them directly without posting a job and going through the application process.

How GoLance Works for Freelancers:

  1. Build your profile – Fill out a profile with all your skills and experience to find jobs that are suited to your skills.
  2. Search and apply – You can browse the available jobs and send applications.
  3. Work and earn – Once you’ve had a successful application you can start working and earning.

Services

You can post just about any remote task on their marketplace and expect to find a freelancer willing and able to complete the work.

To give you an idea, some of the more common remote tasks include:

  • Web development
  • Graphic design
  • Copywriting
  • Marketing
  • Technical web related work

Their target customers are business owners and entrepreneurs too busy to handle their workload, or businesses not in a position to hire full-time assistants.

Plans and Pricing

GoLance is an interesting platform in that you as the employer have the option of setting the hourly rate for each job. That way you make sure you stay within your budget and can theoretically attract better talent with higher rates. Or, you could end up overpaying 🙂

GoLance take a flat 10% commission fee from every payment. Like Upwork, the platform is geared more toward short-term projects rather than ongoing relationships. (Though some of the freelancers on there have thousands of hours under the belts!)

GoLance Alternatives

Upwork is the largest online marketplace connecting employers with freelancers. GoLance point out that they do not offer bidding for jobs like Upwork, rather set fees across the board.

FreeeUp Upwork Fiverr OnlineJobs
Established 2015 1999 2010 2008
Location Worldwide, w/ concentration in USA and Philippines Worldwide Worldwide Philippines
Customer Rating
Size of Talent Pool Thousands 12 million 830,000 250,000
Hourly Rate $5-75+ $3-100+ $3-100+ $3-20+
Platform Fee 15% 5-20% 20% + processing fee $69 a month
Worker Tracking
(optional)
Pre-Screened Freelancers
(w/ Fiverr Pro)
Best For Quick hires, e-commerce One-off projects Smaller jobs Affordable full-time help
Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More

Also check out FreeeUp for pre-vetted workers with an e-commerce focus, and TopTal if you’re looking for designers or developers. If you have an ongoing roll to fill and are on a tight budget, you might consider OnlineJobs.ph.

Your Turn

Have you worked with GoLance? If so, please take a moment to leave a review below to help others with their decision.

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One Concierge

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

One Concierge is a US-based luxury personal assistant company offering a range of high-end concierge services both domestically and internationally.

They operate on a membership model, giving you access to more than 150 concierge services, access to over 50,000 events around the world, and more for an annual fee.

About One Concierge

One Concierge ReviewThe company was founded by current CEO, Arman Motiwalla and has been in business since 2008.

Their business model is providing luxury personal assistance and concierge services. Once you’ve signed up for one of their membership plans you can send requests to a member of their team.

Common requests include handling errands for you, making travel arrangements, coordinating events, or almost anything you can think of that a personal assistant would handle.

They have employees and partnerships strategically placed in more than 115 locations across the globe to ensure they can offer a quick and smooth service wherever their clients are in the world.

One Concierge says one of the perks of being a member with them is that they have relationships with a network of over 10,000 service providers worldwide. That gives you access to some pretty exclusive offers and events that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

Services

One Concierge’s mission statement reads: “Our main focus is to provide superior concierge and lifestyle management solutions through unsurpassed attention to detail and unrivaled personal service.”

They really aim to take care of anything and everything you would ask of a concierge or a personal assistant. To give you an idea of the kinds of requests they commonly handle, they group their services as follows:

  • Travel services – Their assistants will take care of all your travel arrangements.
  • Business services – Planning corporate events, executive services, and other day-to-day business tasks.
  • VIP access – They can arrange VIP access to events around the world, such as celebrity parties, sporting events, and so on.
  • Lifestyle management – Everything from home improvements to restaurant reservations.
  • Event planning – They will plan and host an event to your specifications.

Plans and Pricing

One Concierge currently has three different membership pricing plans as follows:

  • Bespoke – $3,000 per year ($250/month)
  • Lifestyle – $8,000 per year  ($667/month)
  • Executive – $25,000 per year ($2083/month)

One Concierge Pricing

Bespoke Membership

When you sign up for their Bespoke membership plan you have access to a team of luxury lifestyle experts 24/7 365 days a year.

You can send requests for anything within their available services as often as you wish.

Lifestyle Membership

Their Lifestyle membership includes all the perks of the Bespoke membership, as well as providing a dedicated account manager who will learn about you and your business and try to make proactive decisions for you as well as overseeing your experience.

Executive Membership

If you want to go all-in and sign up for their Executive plan you really get the red carpet treatment.

You’ll have a dedicated account manager to tend to your every need, a virtual personal assistant, as well as access to travel discounts and other benefits by leveraging from more than 10,000 partnerships One Concierge have with companies around the world.

If that wasn’t enough, you will also be given a 14k Gold Aurae Branded Mastercard crafted from 43 grams of solid gold to flash when you’re making purchases.

One Concierge Alternatives

While there is a niche for luxury personal assistant companies like One Concierge and there are some companies that offer a similar suite of services, if you want to explore more affordable options, I recommend checking out a US-based virtual assistant company like Time ETC or Worldwide101.

With these services, you can hire a personal assistant and pay by the hour for the hours used instead of committing to an annual plan with One Concierge.

When averaged out monthly though, the Bespoke membership plan is actually pretty affordable.

Your Turn

Have you worked with One Concierge? If so, please leave a review of your experience below to help others.

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