AI Hasn't Killed This Side Hustle: Here's How to Start One

Is being a virtual assistant still a viable side hustle in the age of AI? Today's guest, Rachael Davila, is here to show us why the answer is yes, and how you can turn your existing skills and experience into a VA business. Rachael has been a virtual assistant for more than 20 years. But today, she's also a VA mentor, author, and the founder of Extra Hands! Virtual Assistance. In our conversation, she draws on her decades of experience to share... valuable insights on finding and working with the right clients, why the best VAs think beyond simply completing tasks, and how the right mindset can help you confidently charge what you're worth. We also get into practical details, from pricing and the best billing model, to the different ways you can structure your business so it actually pays you ... and how to get started without having to know everything before you begin. 🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations about building a side hustle that fits your life. In this episode: 0:00 The priceless gift of being a VA 1:30 Welcome Rachael Davila 2:00 Doer VAs vs. collaborator VAs 3:00 Where AI still falls short (the course platform story) 4:00 The "19-step newsletter" problem 5:30 How the VA role has changed in 5 years 7:00 A day in the life of a VA 9:00 Client systems and the stage manager mindset 11:00 Onboarding: the first 90 days with a new client 13:00 What makes a "rockstar" VA 15:00 The real time-savings VAs provide 15:30 Biggest challenge: learning each client's needs 17:30 The biggest mistake new VAs make 18:30 Rachael's own side-hustle-to-full-time story 19:30 Talking pricing: what VAs really charge 22:00 Getting past the mindset block on rates 24:00 Selling outcomes, not tasks 26:30 Why niching down can multiply revenue 27:00 The VA community: referrals over competition 29:00 VA hourly rate ranges (US and Canada) 29:30 How to find your first client 30:30 The most effective way to get clients 32:00 Generalist vs. niche VA 33:30 What actually makes the sale 35:00 How to run a discovery call 37:30 The question most VAs forget to ask 38:30 Contracts: formal or plain speak? 39:00 Billing models, including the debit-card system 44:00 What sets a new VA apart in month one 45:00 The biggest surprise for new VAs 46:30 The risk of relying on one big client 48:30 What to do this week if you're on the fence 51:30 Where to connect with Rachael 52:00 Rachael's best advice for side hustlers 53:00 What we didn't cover: insurance and liability 54:00 Final thought: what AI still can't replace 54:30 Support the show and subscribe Need a little push to start and then stay focused to grow your side hustle? Dive into my online Masterclass: https://courses.joanposivy.com/p/turn... If you like what you're hearing, you can give it a caffeinated thumbs up. We'd really appreciate it! Here's how: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sidehust... For the full show notes head on over to the home of Side Hustle Hero. https://www.sidehustlehero.com/200 Connect with Rachael: https://extrahandsva.com/ Connect with Joan: https://www.sidehustlehero.com/about/   / joan-posivy-28b936a7     / joanposivy     / posivy   Be a guest on the show! https://www.sidehustlehero.com/guests...