Jenny Sjollema Pangels
You knew it was about building trust and rapport to build a customer relationship that would last years, as the old networking adage goes – know me, like me, trust me.
But now business is multifaceted, and as a business owner, you can feel like you need to be a;
- Film maker
- Content creator
- Finance director
- Solicitor
- Counsellor
- And a million other job titles!
You didn’t go self‑employed to spend evenings replying to emails, chasing invoices or fiddling with systems you never asked for, and yet many business owners feel they are drowning in all the other stuff that was never needed before.
And it stops your company from growing and ties you to the office when you’d rather be on the golf course or on doing something more fun instead!
It’s not just you that’s bored with it all extra stuff to running a small business, Startups.co.uk reported there are 5.64 million small businesses in the UK, with over 50% are now using AI tools to try and manage admin or customer messages and that risks even more business slipping through your fingers if you get it wrong.
Only recently I was at a networking event and heard someone say “Oh I never got that email” and that email was worth over £2600 in the first order alone!
For most sole traders, the work they love isn’t the problem. It’s juggling all the extra stuff that makes it hard work. The inbox, spreadsheets, book-keeping, social media marketing, relationship building stuff, that piles up in the background.
If your business is built around face‑to‑face work, it’s even more galling. You’re good at what you do, but now you're expected to handle all the online faff too.
As a VA, I hear many woeful stories of business owners and sole traders who have had enough of trying to be everything to everyone. Trying to do it all is draining and can impact on your health and family life too.
I’ve good news for you. Did you know in less than 3 hours we can have a face-to-face conversation and I can take off your desk and out of your head at least 40% of your admin woes?
You won’t need fancy software or dozens of new systems. What helps most is putting a bit of order around the chaos, quietly and sensibly.
Whether you like things done every day or once a week/month, we can create a system right for you to tackle emails, invoices and paperwork. Follow up leads, automate marketing to build brand awareness – I can even carry out customer relationship calls and offer cold calling to bring in new business.
If you aren’t ready to jump in with me as your VA let me share a few ideas to help you get more organised – with so many changes with laws, tech and customers’ needs, it’s good to get as many resources to keep business organised as possible, and freeing up your time will enable you to ensure your company is compliant and up to date (another service I can offer is wading through documents for you!)
- Keeping everything in one place is very useful. It’s too easy to end up with things in the car, office, kitchen. One notebook or file. No hunting for loose notes or half‑finished tasks.
- Keep emails short and to the point. Most don’t need overthinking. A clear reply gets it done. And don’t be afraid to not reply if you know it’s that waste of email type and you will see them networking that week anyway.
- Don’t feel forced to be everywhere online. One platform done well is far better. (If we work together, we can work out what will be best for you. I can even do market research to understand where your potential customers are and what would make them head to your preferred sales funnel system and yes, we can create one of those together too! You don’t need to be a Tik Tok Super star, just have enough in place to keep connected with clients and get on the radar of people that need what you do so new business comes to you.
- Leaving it. This is a disaster for any small business that needs to grow and create new business. It becomes a mental game as well and that’s draining. Be honest with yourself when it starts to pile up. Waiting until it's a mess only makes it take longer to sort out.
Running a business is a fast-changing beast that needs support, when we work together, I become your second brain, your company secretary, your social media manager, your receptionist and office manager. I can spot issues before they arise, make suggestions and even help you get into AI!
Here at Pängels we aren’t here to teach you tech (unless you want us to) or overwhelm you with tools, we’ve here to help you navigate the paperwork and online side of your business with steady, no‑nonsense support. Things get flagged. Priorities get sorted. You still focus on your work and customers and I will do all the “stuff”.
Because when 52% of small businesses are using AI just to keep up, adding yet another system isn’t the answer. What you need is someone who can help you make sense of it all.
- You still run your business.
- You still see your customers face-to-face.
You just don’t have to carry that extra weight alone or worrying what’s been missed in the office – or in the car – or on the kitchen worktop!
Running a small business in the UK today isn’t about working harder or learning every new bit of tech that comes along. It’s about getting the right support in place so invoice chasing, emails, paperwork, customer follow‑ups, systems and online tasks don’t hold you back from growing your business.
As a virtual assistant supporting sole traders and small business owners for many years, I know what genuinely helps you regain control of the paperwork, inbox and online side of your business in a practical, straightforward way that will lead to new business and opportunities too.
If you’re tired of juggling everything yourself and want reliable business support that fits how you work, the next step is simple. Get in touch with me for a cuppa and a no‑pressure, face‑to‑face conversation and find out how much time, headspace and energy you could get back by having the right virtual assistant alongside you. Your profit margin could be happier too!
Call me on: 0844 500 7818 or email me jenny@pangels.co.uk, if you prefer with what you are struggling is confidential conversation.