Free stuff. If you are starting your virtual professional business on limited budget there are plenty of free options out there when it comes to online services and the software we need to run our businesses. But there is one thing that we should always be willing to pay for, no matter how small our shoestring budget is.

Information.

Yes, I know there is a lot of great free information out there.  I love the forums as much as you do and literally lived on them in my start up phase.  But let me explain a few things  about information.

• First, when relying on free information you are only going to get what you’re aware that you might need.  Did you know that the most important things you can learn often are the ones you weren’t even aware that you needed to know?  That means chances are you aren’t even looking for the things that could help you the most.
• Second, what you can get for free is limited.  Sure there are some awesome people giving away fabulous info, but I guarantee you it’s partial info.  Those of us who give out free info, and yes, I’m including myself here, keep the best stuff for the people that pay.

Before you let that make you angry, think about something for a minute.  The information I’m talking about is worth more than any software, service or piece of hardware you could buy.  Why?  Because it can solve whatever problem you might be having at the moment, whether that is starting up a business, finding clients or learning a new skill.  That alone would make it worth paying for, but this is one of those things that keeps on giving.  You can take what you learn and use it over and over again.  You get repeat value from information.  Not only that, in many cases you can turn around and create a service or product out of what you learn.

Look, I’m not saying you need to run out and go into debt to purchase a $1999 marketing program. What I am saying is that no matter what your budget looks like, you should make education  a priority.  The saying goes that Learners are Earners.  Those that are smart enough to invest in their businesses are always going to be the ones that earn more.  My first information purchase was a $20 book.   Not what one would consider breaking the bank, but it ended up being priceless in helping me build my business.  I would never have found the information in that book online for free no matter how many hours I might have spent.

It saddens me to see so many virtual assistants asking the same questions over and over again on the forums, Facebook and LinkedIn groups, wondering why they aren’t growing when they’ve tried all of the tips and tricks that others have shared with them for free.  How many hours have they spent searching for answers and how much were those hours worth?

Virtual assistants seem so resistant to paying for anything, always looking for the ‘free’ version, wondering why they are struggling in their business.  I know, I’ve been one of them.  Luckily I learned early in my business that investing in information is just  plain smart.  Now I’m sharing it with you.  Some things are just worth paying for.  Information is at the top of that list.

(Don’t forget, continuing education is tax deductible too!)