How I Booked Out My Virtual Assistant Biz (Without Upwork or Burning Out)
TL;DR: I built a fully booked virtual assistant business without using Upwork or burning myself out. Instead of chasing lowball gigs, I positioned myself as a strategic partner, got clear on my offers, showed up where my clients hang out, and protected my peace with strong systems and boundaries. This post breaks down exactly how I did it—so you can too. Want a head start? Grab my free guide, 10 Pro Moves to Attract Premium Clients.
How I Booked Out My Virtual Assistant Biz (Without Upwork or Burning Out)
Let’s be real: I didn’t get booked out overnight. There was no magic funnel. No viral post. And definitely no Upwork profile racking up five-star reviews while I slept.
What I did have? A laptop, two little kids in school, and a serious need to build a business that paid the bills without draining the life out of me.
Here’s how I booked out my VA biz sustainably—and how you can find direct clients without the burnout loop.
How do I find direct clients as a virtual assistant?
I skipped the job boards.
It wasn’t about being above them. It was about being exhausted by them. Most job boards felt like a race to the bottom—lower rates, faster turnarounds, clients shopping for deals instead of support.
I needed clients who wanted a partner, not a task rabbit. So I went direct.
Instead of bidding on gigs, I built real relationships. I showed up on LinkedIn with behind-the-scenes posts, shared my client wins, and talked honestly about systems, burnout, and what it actually takes to run a stable backend.
That’s how I started getting inquiries.
Start where people are already hiring. Coaches. Consultants. Solopreneurs who just launched their course and are overwhelmed. Show up in their world, not just in the VA bubble.
How do I advertise my virtual assistant business?
I got visible in a way that felt good.
Advertising your virtual assistant business doesn’t have to mean dancing on Reels or dumping Canva quotes all over Instagram.
Visibility can be strategic and still feel like you.
I leaned into what worked:
Weekly posts on LinkedIn
Connection-based commenting (not just engagement pods)
Email check-ins with past contacts
SEO content (like this blog)
If you want to advertise your virtual assistant business, start with platforms that match your vibe. Love talking? Go live. Prefer writing? Blog or email. Hate social altogether? Build out your About page and make it work hard.
How do I sell myself as a virtual assistant?
I sold my support, not myself.
Selling yourself as a virtual assistant doesn’t mean shrinking to fit someone else’s business. It means clearly communicating the support you bring.
Your future clients aren’t buying "a VA" in the abstract. They’re investing in calm, in structure, in things not falling through the cracks. Show them that.
I positioned myself as backup in their business—someone who could think strategically and execute cleanly. My messaging was direct: You don’t need to do it all alone, and you don’t need to micromanage me either.
How much should I pay my virtual assistant?
If you're hiring a virtual assistant and wondering what to pay, here's what I charge as a seasoned, executive-level VA:
Monthly Support: 10 hours/month at $750 or 20 hours/month at $1,500.
Project-Based Work: Custom flat rates based on scope.
VIP Intensives: One-time 90-minute sessions to solve specific backend challenges.
You’re not just paying for tasks. You’re investing in reliability, clarity, and peace of mind. Know what level of support you need—and pay accordingly.
I Treated My Business Like a Business (Not a Side Hustle)
I priced based on value, not vibes.
That meant moving away from hourly rates that kept me in task mode. I offered retainers and clear deliverables so clients knew exactly what they were getting. 10 hours a month of executive virtual assistance? That’s $750. Period.
Want me to design your onboarding workflow in one go? That’s a project, not a favor.
Want to map out your whole backend in 90 minutes? Let’s do a VIP Intensive.
When I got clear on what I offered, clients got clear on how I could help.
I Protected My Peace Like It Was a Line Item
Burnout isn’t a badge. It’s a business risk.
I learned that the hard way.
That’s why I built in boundaries from day one: no texting, tracked hours, onboarding calls, and clear scopes. Every client gets a proposal, contract, and follow-up.
Because being booked out means nothing if you're burned out.
Want to build your business without burning it down? Here’s how you can start:
Explore my Monthly Support packages
Need a systems overhaul? Book a VIP Intensive
Curious about my path? Read more About Me
Grab my free guide: 10 Pro Moves to Attract Premium Clients
And if you want to connect beyond this blog? I hang out on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and of course, LinkedIn.
You don’t need Upwork. You need clarity, visibility, and support that feels like yours.
And yes—you can absolutely get booked solid without burning out.
