Smart business owners are using the secret to accomplishing more profit-pulling tasks while still managing administrative duties. This secret is outsourcing to a virtual office assistant. In today's declining economy, many businesses have had to downsize in order to remain in operation. Many managers are now struggling to do more jobs than there is time for, or than they are trained for.

Mishandling important tasks as bookkeeping and payroll, putting things off or fumbling through can often lead to very costly and sometimes, illegal, mistakes.

Contracting with a professional virtual office assistant can relieve the small business manager of many administrative tasks such as word processing, data base management, e-mail screening and response, calendar management, travel arrangements, spreadsheets, newsletters, Internet research, written projects

and reports, bookkeeping, job cost accounting, payroll processing and just about any other administrative task required by a "back office." The business owner's time is freed up to work on tasks that increase revenue, such as marketing and production. Time is money.

You can pre-screen a virtual office assistant and choose one that understands your industry. You can choose one that is willing to be available on retainer, or just work as many hours you need on a project-by-project basis. Because a virtual office assistant is an independent contractor, you are not required to follow technical hiring practices or cover expensive employee overhead. Your contract is flexible. If you are not happy with their service, you do not have any obligation to continue working with them and you're free to find a more reliable person.

Once you find a professional virtual office assistant that provides reliable, cost-effective, quality work, you can delegate more tasks and responsibilities to them and treat them as part of your team. Because the success of their business depends on the success of your business, client relationships can develop into long-term alliances to help you work more effectively and achieve greater success in your business.