A month ago, I was sitting at my desk with that tight, slightly panicky feeling in my chest. You know the one. I had a keynote to research, a presentation to build, coaching clients to prep for, and stage notes to get ready for here and overseas.
Instead, I was trying to remember whether the internet bill had been paid, whether I’d booked my next session with the stylist, and whether my website planner was definitely booked in for Thursday.
None of it was hard. None of it needed me. And all of it was standing between me and the work that actually grows my business.
Turns out I’m not alone. A June 2026 survey of 260 Australian small business owners found the average founder spends 19.5 hours a week on tasks that could be delegated, nearly half their working week.
And almost half of small business owners (46%) say the admin and red tape of running a business is eroding the dream that made them start it in the first place. Ouch.
So here’s the question I’ve been asking myself, and a lot of business owners lately: what are you going to do differently in 2027 to grow your business?
My own answer: try out a VA.
I’d been toying with getting help for a while, but I’ll admit I was hesitant. I’d watched a few colleagues have disappointing experiences with overseas virtual assistants. The last thing I wanted was to feel locked into an arrangement that wasn’t working.
So I tested the waters with a one-off, 10-hour project through Bayside Focus Group Rooms, an agency that assist in finding casual, one-off, part-time or full time VA’s in the Phillipines.
The process couldn’t have been simpler. I sent through a brief outlining the type of VA I needed and what the project involved. They shortlisted candidates and sent me the CV of the person they felt was the best fit.
Then they set up a virtual meeting so I could interview her. Once I’d given the green light, I sent the work over.
Meet Nicole. Her English was excellent and she had exactly the research skills I was after. Her task was to research conferences and events in the industries I’m looking to specialise in, and capture everything in a spreadsheet I’d set up.
I gave her a two-page brief. We agreed she’d do two hours of work first, then record a short video walking me through what she’d done, and wait for my feedback before going further.
Nicole did all of that. The work was high quality, and she completed the job without any fuss. Honestly, I expected a lot of check-ins. There weren’t. Bayside Focus Group Rooms understood my brief and delivered exactly what I asked for. Seamless.
It’s been such a positive experience that I’m now considering an ongoing VA for research work in 2027.
If you’re wondering whether a Phillipines based VA could work for you, here are my top five reasons to consider one:
- Get the low-value tasks off your plate
As business owners, we spend far too much time on tasks we shouldn’t be doing. Every hour spent on admin is an hour not spent growing your business. - Free yourself up for high-value work
Hand off the grunt work and you get your time back for strategy, sales, client relationships and the creative thinking only you can do. - Do your homework on prospects
A VA can research potential clients before you pitch, so you walk into every conversation better informed and better prepared. - Keep costs low
You pay for the hours you need, not a full-time salary. That makes a VA a low-cost, high-impact way to expand your capacity. - Stay flexible
Start with a one-off project, then scale up to part-time support if it works. There’s no long-term commitment and no pressure.
So, back to my question. What will you do differently in 2027? If the honest answer is “find more time”, a part-time VA might be the place to start.
P.S. If you’re looking for a Philippines based VA, I’d recommend a chat with Sarah at Bayside Focus Group Rooms. You can reach her on (03) 9599 4277.