How a Virtual Assistant can help your business in 2026

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December 1, 2025 Emma Shergold Recent Posts All Posts Productivity How a Virtual Assistant can help your business in 2026 How to choose what to outsource to a VA An Introduction to Understanding CRMs 5 reasons to use a password manager Categories Operations & Systems VA ProductivityOffice Management Neurodivergence Connection Corner Newsletter I share what I’m learning about running a business – the wins, the mistakes, and admin solutions that actually work. Delivered fortnightly to your inbox. Join Connection Corner Admin-focused Coworking Sessions Join other business owners for admin focused coworking sessions that gets stuff done. Weekly 1-hour sessions. Monthly topics. Get stuff done together. Join Admin Corner Free Resources Checklist: How to choose what to outsource to a VA CRM Spreadsheet Template See all resources Work with me Whether you would like a done for you or done with you VA service, or you would like a bit of guidance to get you started, please complete my work with me form. Work with me Edit Template HOW A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT CANHELP YOUR BUSINESS IN 2026 December is the perfect time to start thinking about what you want to achieve in 2026 and how you’re going to make it happen. I’m not talking about resolutions or completely reinventing yourself. I’m talking about having a proper plan in place for you to get the operations and systems in place that actually work. Whether your goals involve growing your business, improving your work-life balance, or simply getting on top of the admin that’s been piling up, having the right support can make all the difference. Here are some practical ways a Virtual Assistant (VA) can help you set your business up for success in 2026. GETTING YOUR BUSINESS ORGANISED One of the biggest barriers to achieving your goals is simply not having proper systems in place. You end up wasting time looking for things, recreating documents from scratch, or trying to remember what needs doing when. A VA can help you get organised in several key areas: Email management If you’re spending hours each day buried in your inbox, a VA can set up filters, folders and templates to streamline your email. They can also handle routine responses, flag priority messages, and archive or delete the rest. The benefit? You get your time back and nothing important slips through the cracks. Filing systems Whether it’s digital or paper-based (or both), having a proper filing system means you can find what you need when you need it. A VA can create a logical structure, create file names that make sense, and even go through your existing chaos to get everything filed properly. The benefit? Being able to find your business certificates, templates, client work, and bookkeeping records in the same place each time. Task management if you’re currently working from memory, scraps of paper, or multiple to-do lists that don’t talk to each other, you’re making life harder than it needs to be. A VA can set up task management software like Asana, create recurring tasks for regular activities, and help you develop a system that actually works for how you run your business. The benefit? You stop wasting mental energy trying to remember everything and can focus that energy on actually doing the work you love. OPTIMISING OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES You might already have systems in place, but are they actually working efficiently? A VA who specialises in operations and systems can review your current processes and identify where you’re losing time or duplicating effort. This might mean: Connecting your CRM to your email marketing platform so you’re not manually copying data between the two Creating automation workflows so routine tasks happen automatically rather than requiring your input every single time Streamlining your client onboarding process so it’s consistent and professional without taking up hours of your time Setting up templates and standard operating procedures (SOPs) so tasks that get done regularly can be completed faster. The benefit? You’re not working harder, you’re working smarter. Even small improvements can add up to significant time savings over a year. It’s worth bearing in mind that optimising systems isn’t a one-time job. As your business grows and changes, your systems need to evolve too. Having a VA who understands your operations means they can adapt things as needed rather than you having to figure it out yourself. VA BOOKKEEPING SUPPORT FOR TAX RETURNS If you’re self-employed, you’ve got until 31st January 2026 to submit your tax return for the 2024/25 tax year. Starting to think about this in December rather than leaving it until the last minute means you can approach it methodically instead of frantically hunting for receipts. A VA can also implement a bookkeeping process ready for the end of the next tax year in April, and/or complete your bookkeeping for you each month.  Imagine having your bookkeeping so up-to-date that you never again have to remember what that transaction was for 18 months ago, and being able to file your tax return in May! A VA who offers bookkeeping services can: Set up or update your bookkeeping software to make sure everything’s categorised correctly Chase missing receipts and invoices while there’s still time to get them Reconcile your bank statements to identify any transactions that need explanation Prepare a summary of your income and expenses ready for your accountant (if you have one) Create a system going forward so you’re not in this position again next year. The benefit? You meet the deadline without the stress, you’ve got accurate records if HMRC ever queries anything, and you actually know how your business is performing financially rather than just guessing. This does of course depend on having someone who understands bookkeeping principles and software. Not all VAs offer this service, so it’s worth checking their specific skills and experience. EVENT PREPARATION AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT If you’ve got events, launches, or campaigns planned for early 2026, December is the time to start getting everything ready. A Virtual Assistant can support you