Your first steps as a Get Ahead VA Regional Director

If you’ve always dreamed of starting a business and being your own boss, Get Ahead VA’s franchise opportunity could be right for you. It allows you to set up a branch of Get Ahead VA in your area, so you’ll be going into business for yourself, but with the backing of an established and successful brand.

So when you decide to become a Get Ahead VA Regional Director, where should you begin? We’ve spoken to a few of our existing RDs to find out the first steps they took when they opened up their franchise, so you can see just what it takes to get a new business off the ground.

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Franchises and family life: getting the balance right

For so many of our Regional Directors – the ambitious business people who run the regional branches of Get Ahead VA – achieving a healthy work–life balance was a major reason for deciding to open a Get Ahead VA franchise. Running their own business gives them the flexibility to plan their time and fit their work around their home life – not the other way round.

We’ve spoken to a few of our Regional Directors to find out exactly how they achieve this all-important balance, and to give you some tips if you’re thinking about taking the plunge too!

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5 essential skills for franchisees

Get Ahead VA is very proud to have branches across the country, run by our Regional Directors. All of our RDs are ambitious, business-minded people who took advantage of Get Ahead VA’s exciting franchise opportunity, which allowed them to start their own business with the support of an established brand behind them.

So what does it take to become a Get Ahead VA Regional Director? We’ve pulled together the top 5 skills which we think are essential if you want to take on this exciting role.

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The benefits of being a Get Ahead VA franchisee

Get Ahead VA is very proud to have branches across the country, each run by one (or two!) Regional Directors. All of our RDs are ambitious, business-minded people who took advantage of Get Ahead VA’s exciting franchise opportunity, which allowed them to start their own business with the support of an established brand behind them.

There are so many reasons to become a Get Ahead VA franchisee, and we’re always on the lookout for people who are interested in opening a new branch in their local area. Not sure whether you should take the plunge? Here are five brilliant benefits of opening a franchise with us!

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Tips for building a network

Get Ahead VA is very proud to have branches across the country, and we’re always on the lookout for ambitious, business-minded people who are interested in opening a new branch in their local area. Our Regional Directors are brimming with good advice about being your own boss. Today, Fiona, who runs the Leeds branch, is here to share her advice about building a business network.

A big part of being a Get Ahead VA Regional Director is networking – the job is all about building up a network of contacts, including people who might use the services offered by our virtual assistants. I usually attend two networking meetings a week, although there is one week in the month where I go along to four! Given how important networking is, here are my tips for building a useful, supportive network.

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Meet the RDs: Kristy Roff and Suzanne Evett

Here at Get Ahead VA, our people are everything. We’re dedicated to growing our business all over the country, so our customers can access a wide range of highly skilled professionals wherever they are. We currently have regional offices in Bristol, Leeds and Newcastle and we’re pleased to announce our latest addition: Berkshire & North Hampshire.

Here’s 60 seconds with our Berkshire & North Hampshire Regional Directors, Suzanne and Kristy, who will be running the new Get Ahead VA office together.

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Day in the life of a Regional Director: Fiona

Becoming a Regional Director for Get Ahead VA means having the freedom to run your own business with support from an established brand – so you’re going into business for yourself, not by yourself. But what is it actually like to be a Regional Director, day to day?

We spoke to Fiona, the head of our Leeds branch, to find out how she spends a typical working day.

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How to find the right franchise for you

Opening a franchise is a great way to start a business without having to go it alone. Franchising is an arrangement whereby an existing, established company allows a person (the franchisee) to open a branch of the company for themselves. This benefits both parties – the franchisor company gets a new branch, while the franchisee gets to run their own business with the support of the franchisor.

Lots of companies offer franchise models. In fact, Get Ahead VA offers a franchise package for anybody wishing to open a branch in their local area. But with so many opportunities out there, how can you decide which one is right for you? Here are a few essential things you should consider when choosing a franchise.

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How to tackle the elevator pitch

Get Ahead VA is very proud to have branches across the country, and the Regional Directors that run them are brimming with good advice about being your own boss. Today Salvatore, who runs the Bristol branch, is here to share his advice about the all-important elevator pitch.

As a Get Ahead VA Regional Director, I do a lot of networking, and one vital tool for this is the elevator pitch. The elevator pitch is a quick and punchy sales pitch, designed to explain who you are, what you do, and what you can offer to potential clients. This can be delivered formally (many networking meetings give everyone a chance to pitch to the room), or informally, during one-on-one mingling sessions, which is where the real connections are made.

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Time management for business owners


Get Ahead VA is very proud to have branches across the country, and the Regional Directors that run them are brimming with good advice about being your own boss. Today Fiona, who runs the Leeds branch, is here to share her top tips for managing your time as a business owner.

Time management is an important skill for any business owner, and I have to use it a lot as a Get Ahead VA Regional Director. That means I’ve learned a few things about organising my time effectively, so here’s some of my best advice if you’re thinking of starting up a business too.

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