AMBERSTONE SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES CUTTING-EDGE ONLINE SUPPORT SERVICE

Company Offers Bigger Image, Low Rates to Small Business Clients. Small business owners can now outsource administrative and other support functions to a "Virtual Assistant" and concentrate on what matters -- growing their business.

Susan Bernstein, a Tampa entrepreneur, announced the opening of Amberstone Solutions, a virtual assistance practice devoted to helping small business owners handle administrative tasks so they can focus on growing their business. Using the Internet and email with other mainstay communications tools, businesses are now able to pass along time-consuming chores without having to hire employees or temporary help.

Amberstone Solutions aids small business owners by handling such tasks as correspondence, travel arrangements, appointment-setting, preparation of reports and presentations, and Internet research, as well as managing voice and email and other day-to-day matters.

Susan Bernstein is one of a growing number of "Virtual Assistants," leveraging the Internet to launch practices around the world. Virtual Assistants provide off-site business and professional services. A VA is an independent contractor, usually working from home, who provides administrative and other support services to small businesses via the Internet. The VA works quite closely with the entrepreneur despite the distance, and the relationship is usually long-term. Because the VA is a contractor, the small business owner avoids having to deal with time-consuming and expensive tax, legal and insurance issues.

Bernstein adds, "Virtual Assistants are the ideal staffing solution for the new breed of 'wired' small- business owner. Without requiring more office equipment or space, and without the hassles associated with hiring employees, Virtual Assistants offer expert support on an as-needed basis -- billing only for time-on-task. Since Virtual Assistants themselves are also small-business owners, they have a direct interest in making sure their clients are happy with their performance, and better understand the small-business arena than either employees or temps."

The small-business owner with a VA can have administrative needs handled transparently, with the client unaware that the assistant is hundreds or even thousands of miles away. "Small-business owners can pick up the phone in their car or at the airport and delegate work to their VA in 'real time,' knowing that the work will be completed professionally and on time, and at a reasonable fee," says Bernstein.

For more information on Amberstone Solutions, log on to www.amberstonesolutions.com, or call (813) 494-1094.