28. May 2026

My journey into Self-Employment as a VA

Seven months ago, when I started this journey, I honestly never thought for a second it would work.

There, I said it.

I was scared I wouldn’t get clients, full of self-doubt and worried I wouldn’t be able to make a living from it.

Starting a business in a completely new place where I barely knew anyone felt like a huge risk, and I know many people who have gone self-employed will understand that feeling.

Admin, marketing and event planning are all I’ve really ever known. I started working straight from school at 16, spending years working across a range of corporate environments in both Glasgow and London while also gaining my marketing qualification with the Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2008. After working virtually since COVID, becoming self-employed and offering flexible business support as a virtual assistant felt like the natural next step.

But even knowing that didn’t stop the fear of whether this would work.

Fast forward seven months, and I could not have been more wrong.

In that time, I’ve moved in with my partner, got engaged, started planning a wedding and properly settled into life in Fife. Alongside that, I’ve met so many lovely people, made genuine friendships and received an incredible amount of support from the Fife networking community, something I’ll always be grateful for.

I’m also working with some amazing clients.

I have learned that I am more than a virtual assistant; I am their business partner, executive assistant and personal assistant all rolled into one. I take ownership, genuinely get to know how they work and always want to make life easier for my clients.

No two days are ever the same, and that’s one of the things I love most about what I do. One day I’m managing inboxes and calendars, handling general admin tasks, implementing systems or organising travel arrangements. The next, I’m writing and creating social media content, designing documents, supporting branding projects, planning events or editing videos.

Some clients work with me on a retainer basis, while others use my services on an hourly basis when they need extra support.

What has surprised me most is how appreciated and respected I feel by my clients. That means more than I can explain.

Self-employment has also given me something I didn’t fully appreciate before: freedom, flexibility and a better work-life balance.

I can structure my week in a way that works for me, take time off without asking permission and build a business around my life rather than the other way around. After years of corporate structure, that still feels slightly surreal to say out loud.

Another unexpected part of this journey has been becoming Membership Secretary for Fife Women in Business, something I’m genuinely excited and proud to be part of.

So, if I look back now and ask myself whether I should have done this sooner?

Absolutely.

Don’t get me wrong, it can still feel scary at times. Running your own business comes with uncertainty, pressure and a lot of responsibility.

But despite all of that, I honestly wouldn’t change it for the world.