Virtual Assistants 101: A Startup’s Guide to Scaling Smarter

Having an expert assistant is not a luxury reserved for large enterprises—it’s a strategic necessity for any business striving to scale with efficiency and accuracy. In a world where time is our most valuable (and often limited) resource, delegating administrative tasks and specialized operations to a skilled virtual assistant can be the key to unlocking higher productivity and growth.  

How do you know if that person is right for you? They don’t just take tasks off your plate. They become an extension of your team. Whether you’re in startup mode, have hit a rapid scale phase, or are an established company, integrating virtual assistants can streamline operations, reduce costs, and drive long-term success. 

In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast by BIP Ventures, Brad Stevens from Outsource Access explains what virtual assistance is, how to know if your company could benefit from using a virtual assistant, and how to make the most of the strategic investment. Brad shares specific, actionable tools and information, along with his own impressive company case study, to help you maximize your team’s rarest and most valuable resource—time. 

Timestamps: 

• [02:16] Brad's journey and how he created Outsource Access 
• [05:31] Brad’s guiding principles for building a company during challenging times 
• [10:14] Virtual assistance: What it is and what makes a great virtual assistant 
• [13:56] The benefits of integrating virtual assistants into your strategy 
• [17:45] A two-question assessment for every startup 
• [19:26] How to find the right virtual assistant and equip them to succeed 
• [24:02] Practical ways to manage time zone differences effectively 
• [25:35] AI trends and how it’s impacting virtual assistance 
• [28:55] Brad’s advice on how to start adding virtual assistants in 2025 
• [31:25] Where to learn more about Brad and Outsource Access  

Points of Wisdom: 

• “When you hire people directly, they’re not part of your company, so it’s important to build a connection and a relationship with them so they don’t disappear.” [16:40] 
• “AI can do this, that, or the other, but if you don’t have someone managing, overseeing, and coordinating it, it doesn’t matter.” [27:14] 

Resources Mentioned: 

• Jim Collins Bullets & Cannonballs  
• Necessary Endings by Henry Cloud  
• The Two-Question Assessment

About Brad Stevens: 

Brad Stevens is the founder and CEO of Outsource Access, a business processing, outsourcing, and virtual assistance company. A serial entrepreneur and recognized authority in scaling, automation, outsourcing, and high-performance virtual teams, Brad has grown Outsource Access to 500 employees in just four years, serving over 75 industries.  

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BIP Ventures 

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