A Virtual Assistant (VA) is a professional office assistant who provides office services and support from their own office. VAs provide a wide range of business services through the Internet, fax and telephone. VAs are entrepreneurs - as are many of their clients. Given that much of their work is done online, VAs can work locally or globally.

VAs can coordinate travel, trade shows and special events; provide desktop publishing, word processing and copywriting; and offer data base management, purchasing and sales and marketing support.