Virtual Assistant & Admin Support | Emma Shergold
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HOW A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT CAN
HELP 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 with:
Marketing preparation
Creating social media content in advance, scheduling posts, designing graphics, writing email campaigns, updating your website with event information.
The benefit? Having this done ahead of time means you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
Event creation and management
Setting up event registration, creating automated confirmation emails, managing attendee lists, preparing materials, coordinating with venues or suppliers.
The benefit? All the administrative details that need handling are done without necessarily needing your direct involvement.
Email workflows
Setting up automated sequences for before, during and after the event. Reminder emails, post-event follow-ups, feedback requests.
The benefit? Attendees receive all the communication that keeps them engaged without you having to manually send individual messages.
Website updates
Making sure your website reflects current information, creating landing pages for event sign-ups, updating your services page if you’re launching something new.
The benefit? Your website is up-to-date to use for marketing purposes, as well as matching your event materials and communications.
Having all of this sorted well in advance means you can focus on delivering the actual event rather than firefighting admin problems. You’re also less likely to miss important details or deadlines when you’ve got a proper plan in place.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
It’s important to remember that knowing what would help is different from actually making it happen.
You might read this and think “yes, I need all of those things” but then December gets busy, January arrives, and nothing’s changed.
If you want 2026 to be different, you need to make a decision about how you’re going to approach it.
If you want to outsource these tasks
I offer all of the services mentioned in this blog. You can book a free discovery call to discuss what you need and whether we’d be a good fit to work together. I offer traditional done for you VA services, with options for one-off projects, regular monthly support, or done with you sessions where we tackle your to-do list together.
If you'd rather learn how to do these things yourself
My Admin Corner* membership might work better for you. It is a weekly admin-focused coworking session where I share practical admin tips for guidance and accountability, after which everyone works on their own tasks with me on hand for support if needed.
*Admin Corner is not currently open to members, so isn’t an option for early 2026 goals, but has a waiting list for things you have planned later in the year.
Not sure which tasks to keep and which to delegate?
I’ve created a free checklist that helps you work through what makes sense to outsource based on your specific situation.
The key is to actually take action rather than thinking about it. Pick one area from this blog that would make the biggest difference to your 2026 and start there.
Final thoughts
In short: Planning at any time of year, not just in December, beats panic, especially in January.
Whether you choose to outsource, learn to do it yourself, or a combination of both, having proper systems and support in place gives you the best chance of achieving whatever you want from the year ahead.