You know you need help in your business, but you aren’t quite sure who to ask. You’re familiar with the term VA, more and more people are using them and they make good business sense, but more recently you’re hearing the term OBM or Online Business Manager added into the mix and now you’re confused.

 

Do I need a VA or an OBM?

 

Although the terms are being used more widely than ever, there’s still a lot of confusion around the differences of the two roles. In this article I’ll outline the key differences of each, so you can take the next step of your support journey in confidence and get the help you need quicker.

 

Let’s dive in…

 

Doing vs. Managing

The role of a virtual assistant is to be a DOER in the business. What they do will vary from person to person depending on their area of expertise, whether that’s admin work, customer service, tech automation’s or marketing.

 

The role of an online business manager is to be a MANAGER inside the business. The clue is in the name! Simply put, they make sure the right things get done in the right way, at the right time, and by the right people.

 

Responsibility

A VA is responsible for their OWN tasks and projects being completed and delivered in a timely fashion.

 

An OBM is focused on what the entire team is doing – making sure that EVERYONE is completing their tasks on time to ensure that progress is being made toward the established business goals.

 

Planning

A VA plans their time and workload effectively to ensure that your tasks are completed. They are responsible only for themselves and none else in your team.

 

An OBM will plan for your business at large. They will look ahead to what is coming up and create plans & systems to ensure the business is running smoothly and effectively. They have a wider understanding and overview of the business.

 

Working with the Team

A VA will focus on their own work and only engage with other team members as needed to complete their own tasks.

 

An OBM, however is the key point of contact for the entire team. They work closely on a day-to-day basis, making sure that everyone is clear on their tasks & deadlines and has what they need to do their best work.

 

Put simply – a VA works independently with a focus on completing their own tasks, and will often rely on the business owner (you!) telling them what needs to be done. Whereas an OBM is able to plug into the big picture, layout plans and work with the entire team to make sure that everyone is ‘getting the right stuff done’ and progress is being made to meet the goals of the business.

 

So how do you know if you need to hire a VA or an OBM? A few things to consider…

 

1. What stage of growth is your business in right now? You’ve established your offer; you have clients and the money is coming in… now it’s time to focus on building a foundation for growth. You are making at least a consistent £15-£20k/month and have big plans for where you want to go next, but you know you can’t get there on your own. This is where an OBM comes in, working with you to lay out the right plan, team and structure to get you to the next level.

2. Who is currently managing your team? If that’s you, you probably didn’t realise at the start how much time and energy it would take to manage the day-to-day running of your business. Creating plans; making sure you have the right people and resources in place to get stuff done; Checking in with the team to ensure they are on track (and working together when things are off track). Investing in an OBM will take all of these things off your plate. Imagine the time and energy you will get back!

 

3. Where are the bottlenecks? In the early days your own hustle is enough to carry you through – you work hard and get it done. But when you reach the early 6-figure mark the hustle actually starts to get in the way. There is only so much of your time and energy to go around – and if you are the ‘hub’ of everything that happens in the business… well, you become the biggest bottleneck. An OBM will work with you to get ‘all the things’ off your plate, so that you can get back to growing the business and doing what you love.

 

There comes a time when your business requires more than you working as a lone-ranger. What you did in the early days – the hustle and the ‘do it all myself’ mentality – is no longer effective… it actually starts to get in the way and stall your growth.

 

Does this sound like you?

I hope this article has helped to define the differences in support levels available to you and helps you make an informed decision about where you go next. If you need more info on what working with an OBM is like, please check out my FREE GUIDE.

 

Or if you’re ready to take things to the next level and get yourself freed up from the day-to-day, book in a coffee chat with me and we can explore the opportunities ahead.