- Ever felt like you’re stuck in a bit of a groundhog day with your work routine?
- Having to get up super early just to get the dog walk in before the school run and work?
- Trying to fit in personal appointments around your 9-5 work schedule?
- Is the commute to and from work adding too much time to your working day?
- Are the bills stacking up but your take-home pay isn’t rising?
- That rising panic each time you need to call work to say your child is sick or you have no childcare because the nursery is shut.
This was us.
We felt like juggling full time parenting and full time work was just not logistically achievable – and trying to do both meant neither were getting 100% of our potential.
It’s so clear that the average workplace is not set up to accommodate parents – it’s still stuck in the 1950’s where one parent could afford to stay home! And let’s not even get started on single parenting!
Some companies are changing and becoming more flexible which is a great step forwards – but not all of them. So we were both left thinking, “There has to be a better way to make a living than this?”
All we wanted was a better work-life balance – one that brought in a decent income, so we didn’t have to work multiple jobs, and all hours of the day. Not too much to ask, right?!
Well, we found the better way! Virtual Assistants are taking over the work world and the great news is you might already have the skills to do it!
What Actually is a Virtual Assistant?
Simply put, it’s someone who carries out administrative, creative or operational tasks remotely to support other business owners.
You can work for numerous different clients/companies at the same time, meaning no two days are the same and your work varies – goodbye groundhog days!
Each client can request a different scope of work from you, depending on what services you offer. So one morning you might be managing a client’s inbox and scheduling their week, the next you might be drafting newsletters and keeping their social media accounts consistent. A VA’s key skills are in the organisation and executing of tasks to ensure the client’s business runs smoothly.
Why a VA Life is Great for Parents
You might think the greatest thing is being able to work from home in your comfies (and yes, that is great!) but the best bit is that you own your own time.
- You set your hours: You can work it around school drop off and pick up, and work again when the children have gone to bed or before they get up – whatever fits best for you, your schedule, and your body clock! This is exactly what we did!
- Increase your income: A client is buying your services, not employing you, so you set the price. A VA in the UK typically charges £30-£40* per hour, UK national minimum wage is £12.71* per hour and the average UK hourly rate for employed roles is £18.00*. No brainer right?
- You’re your own boss: No more asking for time off work for personal appointments, childcare or when you feel unwell yourself.
This financial and mental freedom is every parent’s dream…and it’s achievable!
Think You Need ‘Special’ Qualifications?
The myth: Many people assume you need decades of corporate management experience or expensive certifications to launch a VA business.
The truth: If you know how to organise a busy household, manage multiple schedules, communicate clearly and reliably, then you already have what it takes to become a VA!
The hardest part isn’t doing the work, it’s knowing how to turn those everyday skills into paid services, set up your business foundation legally and land your very first paying client. This is what we’ve spent years perfecting for our own business – learning the hard way the things we should (and shouldn’t) have done. We’ve now written our proven methods down into 12 trainings to help parents like you achieve the same VA business success but without making all the mistakes we initially did.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you’re ready to stop trading all your time for a fixed salary and want a clear, step-by-step roadmap to launch your business from scratch, then we’ve made it as simple (and affordable) as possible.
Our How to Become a VA and Work From Home starter guide walks you through the basics of everything you need to know to package your existing skills, set your rates and get your new business off the ground.
Grab your copy of the £8 How to Become a VA and Work From Home starter guide here and start building a career that finally works around your life.
* Figures correct at the time of writing this blog post. September 2026.