the basics

• What can my remote staff do?

  Your staff will have one or more of the following skillsets: executive admin, project management, bookkeeping, social media and marketing, customer service, and multilingual support. Once we get to know your requirements, we’ll match you with either one or multiple dedicated members of staff to provide you with the full range of skills you need for your business. See our Services page for more information.

• How do I get assigned my staff?

  First, we connect by phone so that we can make sure we fully understand your business and requirements. Then we suggest the virtual professional with the right skills and personality to be a good fit. We’ll send you a candidate's profile for review, and you can meet with your staff before making the decision to sign up with us. It's a fast and efficient process, and you'll be up and running in no time. See our How It Works page for more information.

• How do you choose the staff that work for Boldly?

  Boldly has a simple premise. We only invite experienced and highly skilled people to join the Boldly team who are passionate about doing a great job and passionate about working from home—people who share the belief in going the extra mile to retain that privilege. After a rigorous interview and vetting process, we invite people who have both the professional skills and an innate sense of service. We find that the motivation of continuing to work virtually from home translates into team members that shine. This article written by our Founder, Sandra Lewis, explains the basis of the Boldly selection process and how it has evolved.

• Where are your staff located?

  Our team is from North America and Europe, and we'll assign you an assistant from the country of your preference.

• Do you train your staff?

  The person assigned to work with you will have the in-depth professional background and skills to perform the tasks you have requested. Boldly's staff all have a clear understanding of how the most popular software packages and Internet technologies work, and undergo a rigorous onboarding and development program. However, you will need to train them in how your business works and in your business-specific systems and procedures. We recommend that you have a written manual—if you don’t, we’ll create one for you!

• Can I use multiple staff?

  Yes absolutely! We've listened carefully to clients over the years and assembled a team with the variety of skills that clients need as they grow their business. The experience is that we become an extension of your business. Why should you have to find an executive assistant, and then find a Web developer, and then find a bookkeeper? With Boldly, you have immediate access to a team of tried and tested professionals with all the skills you need when you need them.

• Do my staff work on weekends and holidays?

  Our team members work during business hours, Monday to Friday.

• Do you provide back up when my staff member is away?

  Yes! Even the best people get sick from time to time, take a vacation, or need to take time off for personal reasons. Boldly won’t leave you stranded. All of our team can train a backup so that they can step in to cover them when the need arises.

• Can my remote staff work with my online software and project management tools?

  Yes, as long as your system is cloud-based and accessible via the Internet.

• How quickly will my staff respond when I contact her/him?

  Your member of staff will always respond within a few hours during the business day, and by the next business day for off-hour or weekend requests. When you begin working with your staff, you'll be able to establish a routine that works best for you both as you determine how best to allocate the time you have purchased in your monthly plan.

• Can I assign a company email address to my staff?

  Yes, of course! Your staff can easily communicate on your behalf and as an integral part of your team.

• How do you ensure quality control?

  We conduct a rigorous interview process and take great care only to on-board professionals with the required professional skills and background to provide outstanding services. We NEVER outsource to third-party providers in order to control quality. The staff you are assigned are the ones who do the work!

• How does my remote staff member track time?

  Our team track their time with an online stopwatch that is part of our online dashboard. You can log into the dashboard and see how many hours have been used so that you can adjust your plan accordingly.

BILLING INFORMATION & SUBSCRIPTION

• How do I sign up?

  Since we take a very personalized approach to assigning you a member of staff, the first step before you sign up is to find out your requirements. Go to Get Started, tell us what you need, and we’ll be in touch within a few hours to schedule a time to speak. You will get a chance to review your candidate's profile, and meet the staff first to make sure it’s a good match before you sign up with us.

• How do I pay?

  After you’ve decided on the person that’s right for you, we'll give you the link to our sign-up page, where you can choose the plan you’d like to sign up for and check out. You can easily pay online via credit card. Your plan will renew on the same day each month.

• Are your plans flexible?

  Yes, our approach is flexible. You can start with one plan and upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time. In fact, you can upgrade and downgrade multiple times as your needs change throughout the year. Please note that any unused hours in your monthly plan do not roll over to the following month.

• How do I terminate work with a staff member?

  Our plans are renewed on a month-to-month basis with no long-term commitment. If you would like to be assigned a different person we'll update your requirements and recommend new candidates. If you would like to cancel the renewal of your plan, you can do so at any time in your client dashboard.

• Are there any additional fees in addition to my monthly plan amount?

  Our plans are all inclusive. Assign your staff a company email address, share your monthly plan with other members of your team, and have your remote staff work with your favorite online project management tools. It's all part of your monthly plan features. The only time additional fees are applied is if you choose to use design or Web services, which are charged separately from your regular plan.

OUR DIFFERENCE

• What sets Boldly apart from the competition?

  First and foremost, the quality of our team. Each member of our team has 10-15 years experience in their area of speciality, so you will be working with someone with a proven track record. Secondly, our personalized process focuses not only on skills, but also on compatibility. We strive to make both effective and positive matches for our clients and staff, so that you'll be working with someone who is excited about your business and working with you for the long term. Our US team are employees, rather than contractors, so you are protected from compliance risk and work with people that are part of a dynamic and happy company culture. Lastly, we stand behind our work and our team with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee. If at any time you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund your fees for the month! Read more on our Compare page.

SAFETY & PRIVACY

• How can I protect my company information?

  All Boldly staff have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) covering the protection of your information and intellectual property. In addition, take advantage of cloud technologies and save information and files on cloud-based platforms like Dropbox or Google Drive. This means that your sensitive information is stored centrally rather than on an individual's personal computer.

• Is it safe to give financial information like bank accounts and passwords to my virtual assistant?

  While all of our employees go through a rigorous interview and vetting process, we recommend that you first establish a working relationship with your staff member so that you feel comfortable before you share this type of information. Treat your staff as you would a new employee and build up trust as you get to know them better. If you do decide to divulge confidential information, do it methodically and one step at a time, and we recommend that you use a secure sharing system for passwords and credit card information, such as Lastpass.