The workplace is changing fundamentally and the right job is becoming hard to find. Profitability appears to be more important to corporations than loyal employees as they merge, downsize and relocate. One startling prediction suggests that up to 70 per cent of the jobs that will be available in 2010 haven't even been invented yet. There is no doubt that we all need to think more creatively about our future livelihoods.

Virtual business associates, or VBAs, are doing just that. What on earth is a virtual business associate you ask? A VBA partners with a client (i.e. another business owner) and uses technology to deliver services. These individuals are throwing off the employee shackle and re-inventing themselves, and a whole new vocabulary to describe their small office/home office, or SOHO, status is emerging. New terms include:

• Solopreneur
• Micropreneur
• Free agent
• Freelancer
• E-lancer
• Independent contractor

One thing is certain - these new business owners are starting to appear in our national statistics. According to the latest figures release by the ABS, nearly one million Australians work from home. This figure includes employees working offsite, or telecommuting, but still accounts for more than 10 per cent of the entire workforce. About half these people are women and 76 per cent are 35 years old or older.

Excellent opportunities for women
Given the statistics above, it is no wonder that virtual business associates are fast becoming part of a booming, cutting-edge service industry. Better still, if you've got the right experience and expertise then you're bound to find a bright future in this area, particularly if you're a woman.

Almost 85 per cent (and growing) of VBAs who participate in online communities in order to collaborate and share expertise are women. By joining forces, they are choosing to take responsibility and control of their lives by creating a flexible, technology-driven future for themselves. They choose not to do the daily commute, amass the corporate wardrobe or ask permission to take time out when children are sick or have their school sports carnival. Their new slogan is ''have modem, can deliver''. Women are standing out as keen early adopters of technology that can improve their lives.

You don't have to see each other to work together
One managing director of a large seafood business prefers to outsource all his correspondence to a VBA whose expertise is writing. They both benefit because she can fit work around raising her three year old daughter and her client has work waiting for him in the morning when he arrives at the office. They've never met face-to-face and all their communication is via the telephone, email and, amazingly, snail mail! This particular virtual associate also copyedits for an author based in the United States - they have never met either.

Focusing on core business
One of the benefits of partnering with a VBA instead of taking on the burden of an employee (employees can cost up to twice their annual salary) is that you can continue to do what you are good at - your core business - and outsource the rest. Depending on your situation, this might be:

• Bookkeeping
• Database management
• Event management
• Diary management
• PR/Marketing support
• Website maintenance

One export solutions company outsources all its grant and tender document preparation to a VBA. It is more cost-effective for them to do this rather than employing someone in-house because they do not have to provide office space and equipment, superannuation, workers compensation or professional training and development.

Ten things to know about working successfully with a VBA
Partnering with one of these business associates may take some getting used to and may involve developing new work paradigms. Here are some things you may need to know:

1. VBAs have opted out of the daily commute, the corporate grind and the office politics - they know that there is more to life than being an employee.
2. VBAs have chosen a new lifestyle/workstyle and very often are balancing work with other important activities, e.g. parenting, study or leisure pursuits.
3. VBAs are also known as entrepreneurs and free agents and have a professional service to offer.
4. Remember that working with a VBA is a business-to-business relationship, not an employer/employee or boss/subordinate relationship. If you ever feel tempted to treat a VBA as an employee - don't.
5. Take the time to speak with several VBAs before deciding which one you would work best with, although you may choose to partner with several depending on their areas of expertise.
6. VBAs will want to learn all about your business so they can provide you with outstanding services so tell them as much as you can about yourself, your business and your future goals.
7. Be specific when outlining the services you require, e.g. bookkeeping, appointment scheduling, copyediting, desktop publishing, IT support, PR support, telephone answering, writing.
8. Make sure you draw up a written contract detailing the exact services, time period, confidentiality clauses and payment method that have been discussed verbally.
9. Decide how you are going to communicate over the term of the contract, e.g. over the phone, by email or even face-to-face once a month.
10. Keep an open mind and explore different ways of working with your VBA, especially when new technology presents itself.

Virtual business and the future
An Australian report which estimates and maps employment relocation in the global economy and new communications environment, reveals that:

"Organisations are ''electronically outsourcing'' information-based work to firms or individuals located in cities, regions or countries that previously would not have been considered. The Internet allows large firms, small firms and even home-based businesses to compete for such work across a wide area, potentially the globe."

Virtual business associates work locally and globally, and are part of a future that is already here. Remember - have modem, can deliver!

Kate Gorce-Macham is the managing director and community creator of Virtual Business Australia (previously The Virtual Assistant Group) and is continually inspiring others to create virtual businesses. A passionate advocate of this evolving workstyle/lifestyle concept, Kate has been interviewed for TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and online publications both locally and internationally. For further information visit Kate's website at www.virtualassistant.com.au or call (08) 9377 0783.