TLDR – Is Abbey Ashley’s Virtual Assistant Business Course Any Good?
Abbey Ashley offers a comprehensive course that helps you launch a virtual assistant startup business. This means you’ll be working remotely, helping your clients with admin tasks and other jobs throughout the day.
The guru is living proof that this can work. A super successful virtual assistant, Abbey changed her life for the better when she started her own business and started living on her own terms.
But is this VA course going to work for you?
So Abbey puts her success stories front and center. Head to her website, and you’ll see loads of smiling faces, and cool quotes from people who have won big time with Abbey’s processes and assets.
My big question here though… how long is this going to last? Is the remote VA market a sustainable option for the future?
Technology has really blown the VA market wide open. Today, people can work as virtual assistants from the comfort of their own homes. They just need an internet connection and a remote working platform.
But that same technology has gone global… anyone in the world can be a virtual assistant nowadays. Overseas professionals are super experienced, great at what they do, and tend to charge less than VAs here in America. It’s getting super-hard to compete.
And where’s that technology going next?
That whole AI-taking-over-the-world-Terminator-2-we’re-all-doomed stuff is mainly just sci-fi fantasy, but artificial intelligence definitely is changing the way we do business. AI tools are already handling admin tasks for businesses each and every day.
It won’t be long until there’s a full-service virtual assistant app. Something that’s way cheaper, and doesn’t need to do inconvenient human stuff… like take a vacation, or have a lunch break, or just sleep.
There’s money to be made here. Abbey has shown us this. And the Savvy System course has helped people make their dreams come true. I’m just worried about what the future holds for this business model.
This is why I would recommend something with a bit more staying power. Something like Digital Leasing.
Digital Leasing is all about local lead generation, and this market is sticking around for good. You set up your digital rental property, which is a simple website in a super specialized local niche. Then you lease this website out to your local business partners.
They get easy-to-convert leads they can knock out the park on the daily. Your local business community gets the support it needs to thrive. And you get a regular income up to $10k a month.
There’s a local focus… so this is not getting outsourced overseas any time soon. And once you’ve set up your site, you control your market and your niche. No AI chatbot T-1000 can take this away from you.
It’s also super hands off. You can run your business with just a few minutes a day, giving you the freedom you need to live life right.
So what will you do?
- Maybe you’ll finally get to spend your winters on the piste in the Swiss Alps, or your summers in St Tropez.
- Perhaps you’ll get to create more special memories with the people you love the most.
- Or you could start a new career, without the pressure… maybe even becoming a virtual assistant.
It really is your call.
Learn more about how Digital Leasing can change your life.
Who Is Savvy System For… And Who’s It NOT For?
To be clear… I think some people could get something from this course, but not everyone. Let’s try to shed a bit of light on this.
Who It’s For…
The Savvy System program could work for you, if…
- You love helping people – The virtual assistant business model is all about helping people, so if this fills you with excitement, it could be a good fit for you.
- You’re looking for something 100% remote – Abbey became a VA because she wanted to stay home with her kids. If you’d like to do something similar, it could work.
- You don’t have any VA experience – The Virtual Savvy course is aimed at beginners, so if you want to start from scratch this might be a good way to do it.
Who It’s NOT For…
The Savvy System program probably isn’t going to work for you, if…
- You already know the basics – If you already have a bit of background, you might find the course a bit boring, particularly the early modules.
- You’re worried about the future of the market – If the idea of competing with outsourced overseas professionals and AI software frightens you, you might want to try something different.
- You believe some of the Reddit comments – Lots of Redditors are saying it’s better just to learn the basics for free and start working, which might put some people off paying a couple of grand for the course.
The 1000FT View Of The Savvy System
Before we go any further, let’s take a minute to get the full picture. Just what is The Savvy System all about?
The Savvy System Business Model
Is The Savvy System Worthwhile?
| Time Investment | 2.0 out of 5 stars | It’s a big time investment. There’s a lot of resources to get through, and then you’re basically heading straight into a full time job. |
| Level of Control | 2.5 out of 5 stars | You do have some control if you run you’re own business, but you’ll still have to bend to your client’s whims and rely on a whole host of other factors. |
| Ease of Implementation | 3.2 out of 5 stars | I think Abbey lays everything out very nicely in her course, and you can probably implement her advice pretty easily. |
| Profit Potential | 2.2 out of 5 stars | It’s getting harder and harder to make a profit in this market. You’ve got overseas experts to contend with, and the growing power of AI is a real concern. |
The Savvy System is all about the virtual assistant business model. You basically learn about becoming a virtual assistant, and then scaling up to create your new virtual assistant business.
But what does all this mean?
A virtual assistant is someone who helps with administration and other services. They work for their clients, but they do not work within the office or even within the main company structure. They are outsourced, remote contractors. Typically, this means working freelance and from home.
A few years ago, this would have been pretty difficult. But now that digital technology is actually pretty darn good, lots of people are logging in remotely and working as outsourced assistants to business owners across the world… you don’t even need to be on the same continent. The virtual assistant community is going global.
There are some pros and cons to this, though. On one hand, VA work has helped some people change their lives, bringing in income during really hard times. The Covid pandemic led to many people joining the VA world, as businesses struggled to stay afloat without in-office staff.
But, on the other hand… well, just keep these things in mind before you dive into the virtual assisting space:
- The market is getting more competitive daily – There were already 3.6 million secretaries and assistants in the USA before the pandemic blew the roof off the whole thing. Today, it’s even more competitive.
- Many businesses choose to outsource overseas – Countries like the Philippines are home to many of the world’s virtual assistants. It can be difficult to compete with these overseas professionals, as they provide a high level of service at a relatively low cost compared to here in the U.S.
- Digital technology could put VAs at risk in the future – Increasing numbers of businesses are turning to automated VA software powered by AI. It’s estimated there will be 150 million of these in the USA alone by 2026, which could make it even more difficult for VA professionals to find work.
There is still a market for virtual assistants based here in the United States, and Abbey is proof that this business model can work. But I would consider your options very carefully before you decide to sign up for one of her virtual assistant courses.
How Much Does The Savvy System Cost?
Abbey Ashley offers a free training program for people who are interested in exploring the VA market. But… to get the best from her experience and expertise, you’ll need to pay.
Nothing wrong with this! Abbey is a seasoned professional and she’s put together a solid course of comprehensive training. It’s only fair she should get some income from her hard work.
So how much are we talking here? How much will The Savvy System cost you?
- The Savvy System will cost you $1297, and this will get you lifetime access.
Paying upfront will also save you a bit of money. You can also pay in 12 instalments of $127 which comes out at $1524 overall.
- The Savvy System Pro costs $1797, or 12 payments of $177 totaling $2124.
- The Ultimate Savvy System is the premium course. This costs $3397 if you pay all at once.
You can also spread the cost over a payment plan of 12 installments here too, at $297 a time. That means a total price of $4044, almost 700 bucks more than the up-front pricing.
It might sound like quite a lot upfront, but it’s not bad if you’re learning a life-changing business model. There’s also lifetime access, so you can progress through the course at your own pace.
- Access to The Savvy Vault is included in The Ultimate tier, but is available at an additional cost for other users. You’ll be making monthly payments of $47 to access this resource.
- The VA Toolbox is a $97 one-off payment for lifetime access.
How Is The Savvy System Different?
The Savvy System is certainly very different from other online courses, such as Side Hustles For Moms and Side Hustles For Women. The Savvy System focuses specifically on the VA business model, something that Abbey herself has had big successes with.
But it also stands apart from other courses I’ve seen in the “how to run a successful virtual assistant business” market. Abbey covers things like getting your tax records in order, growing and outsourcing your team, and raising your prices… all of which are important lessons that are often missed.
Who Is Abbey Ashley? Learning More About the Guru
It wasn’t so long ago that Abbey Ashley was facing real trouble…
She’d recently got married to the love of her life, and the couple were expecting a baby. But what should have been one of the happiest periods of her life was anything but. Why? That same old problem… money.
As Abbey explains, they weren’t just struggling… they were flat out broke. It was hard just to heat their tiny apartment, never mind put food on the table, and with another mouth to feed just a few months away, something had to change.
Business ideas came, and business ideas went. Abbey tried being a nanny. She tried selling jeans to customers on eBay. She even tried selling frozen meals online. None of it worked. And there was another source of anxiety too. Abbey had always dreamed of being a stay at home mom, spending time with her young children rather than being away at work.
What could she do?
Fortunately, the answer came in the form of a piece of advice from a friend. She could become a virtual assistant. Abbey soon found she was pretty well suited to this thanks to her professional and personal background. This was a new business idea that wasn’t going to flop.
Fast forward several years, and Abbey has turned her VA business idea into a full time concern. She makes great income from this business, while staying at home to give her family the love and support it needs. Now, she wants to help other people do the same, and follow in her impressive and resourceful footsteps.
Is There A Savvy System Scam Here?
I know this is an important part of the Virtual Savvy review… and I get that. No one wants to be scammed, and no one wants to waste precious time, money, and effort on something that just isn’t going to work.
So is there a Savvy System scam to worry about?
Personally, I don’t think so. Looking through the course material, I’d say Abbey has put a whole load of work into making a great course. It gives you a solid foundation and plenty of information to start and scale your own virtual assistant business.
There’s also a money back guarantee. So you can try the course for 30 days, and get a refund if you’re not happy. It doesn’t sound like a scam to me.
Of course, not everyone agrees with me here.
One Reddit reviewer I found said that the course was “too high level.” Now, they don’t mean it’s too complicated… they mean it’s too “surface level.” It’s not diving into the details you’ll need to really run a successful VA business.
From my personal point of view, I don’t think this is the case. The modules cover a lot of the key topics that you’ll need on your VA business journey. But I admit that I’m not a virtual assistant myself, so maybe I’m not seeing the same lack of detail that this Reddit reviewer picked up on.
They followed up by saying you can find a lot of Abbey’s resources for free online. You can check out Google, YouTube, TikTok, and basically train yourself…
Other Redditors seemed to follow this view too.
Another comment I found said you’d be better off just starting work as a virtual assistant yourself. That’s actually kind of what Abbey did, so it makes sense.
I still think a course like this is definitely going to help aspiring virtual assistants on their journey, but I get why people would hesitate to pay several thousand dollars for something they can probably do themselves. Even if they miss out on expert insight from Abbey.
So I’d say it’s not a scam in the traditional sense. Abbey’s not going to take your money and run… she’s going to take your money and give you tons of amazing VA advice and guidance in return. Which is exactly what she says she’s going to do!
But I can’t ignore the reviews and comments I’ve seen… comments that say there may be more effective ways of starting your own VA business.
My Personal Opinion On The Savvy System
Ok, let’s get personal… here’s my honest opinion on The Savvy System program.
I think it certainly can help you gain the skills you need to run your virtual assistant business. This is a good VA course… maybe one of the best virtual assistant course options I’ve seen recently!
But I can’t recommend it for everyone.
First up, here’s what I need to see from a program like this…
- Awesome coaching and materials – You need to be learning great stuff, from inspiring coaches and teachers.
- Huge profit potential – At the end of the day, we all need to be making money… good money that justifies the time and effort we put in.
- The freedom to live your life the way you want to – Life is for living, and I like courses that support real freedom.
Does The Savvy System Give You What You Need For A Successful VA Business?
This question is a little tricky… I’d say…
Yes, it can do it…
But in most cases, it probably won’t.
Here’s why…
- I don’t want to come down too hard on the teaching and materials, because I think Abbey has done a pretty good job here. I am a little worried about the Redditors saying you can find this stuff for free elsewhere though. There are a lot of YouTube videos out there covering the same stuff The Savvy System covers.
- The virtual assistant lifestyle was a real lifeline for people during Covid, but I’m not sure about the long term profit prospects. With real competition from overseas markets like the Philippines, and from AI, job opportunities might be scarce in the future.
- And finally, freedom… well, people hire virtual assistants to give themselves more freedom. If you’re working as a VA, you’re basically taking on tasks that your clients don’t have time for. You might be able to work from home, but I don’t think you’ll be truly free.
From what I’ve seen online, lots of people are saying the best way into the VA business is simply to gain a foundation then start working.
There are plenty of skills available for free online, on YouTube videos and via free courses. They might not be quite as good as what Abbey is offering, but you’ll get good practical skills to use on your journey. And you won’t be several thousand dollars in the hole when you finally become a business owner.
But this is if you even want to become a virtual assistant. There’s a lot of uncertainty in the market, and even seasoned professionals live in fear of their potential clients just drying up.
When it comes to making money online, I prefer something that offers more long term potential… something like Digital Leasing.
The thing is, a great business is always based on the good old problem-solution dynamic. Your clients have a real problem, you have an effective solution.
As a virtual assistant, you’ll certainly be working with this dynamic. Your clients have a problem – not enough time to handle admin tasks, resources stretched too thin. And you offer the solution.
But what happens when that solution is available more cheaply overseas? Or when there’s an app that can do what you do but with a 24/7 service? All of a sudden, your solution doesn’t seem quite so worthwhile.
Digital Leasing is very different…
Here, the client is your local business partner.
The problem is they don’t have enough leads to grow their business… or even to put food on the table in some cases!
The solution is your digital rental property… kicking great leads their way, for easy conversions.
No one is going to outsource this. You don’t look to the Philippines when you need driveway repair leads in Fremont, Nebraska.
No app can do this either. You’re essentially cornering your local market and your chosen niche… you’re future-proofed.
Here’s how Digital Leasing stacks up…
- Awesome coaching and materials – Yep, it’s certainly got that. The coaches and the modules are some of the best I’ve seen online.
- Huge profit potential – For sure… I’ve seen people clearing up to $10k a month in steady, regular income.
- Freedom… – This is maybe the best part. It only takes a couple of minutes and a few clicks to run your digital rental property once it’s set up. Say hello to a whole lot of freedom… financial freedom, and freedom freedom.
So what will you do with it?
- Maybe a round the world trip is calling you? You can basically do a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ vacation whenever you want… even multiple times a year.
- Perhaps you’ll just spend more time with your loved ones, making more of those special memories…
- Or, if you’re still dreaming of running a VA business, you can start learning at your own pace… the pressure’s off; your life is your own!
Find out more about Digital Leasing, and get started today.
What’s Inside The Savvy System?
What do you get when you sign up for this virtual assistant program with Abbey Ashley? Well, there are a few options available to you…
The Savvy System: VA Launch Academy
The Savvy System VA Launch Academy is at the heart of what Abbey is offering. This is a 14 module course that takes you basically from zero to the stars.
The course is designed for beginners, helping them to gain their first client, run their own business, and make mega profits. Here’s what this Virtual Savvy course offering covers.
- Module One – Welcome To The Savvy System
- Module Two – Discover Your Skillset
- Module Three – Packages and Pricing
- Module Four – Brand Academy
- Module Five – Processes And Assets
- Module Six – Payments, Invoices, And Taxes (OH MY!)
- Module Seven – Legalities
- Module Eight – Marketing 101
- Module Nine – The Ultimate Marketing Plan
- Module Ten – Web Development 101
- Module Eleven – The Virtual Assistant Lifestyle
- Module Twelve – Raising Your Prices
- Module Thirteen – Building A Team
- Module Fourteen – What’s Next
Breaking Down The Savvy System Modules
| The Module | What’s It All About? |
|---|---|
| Module One – Welcome To The Savvy System | This is a real “start from the beginning” module. There’s even a handy resource called the Launch From Scratch Blueprint. Basically, you’re getting everything you need to get started on your journey. |
| Module Two – Discover Your Skillset | I’m really impressed with this module actually. It really drills into something important that many courses just gloss over – marketable skills. In this section of the course, Abbey helps you find the personal skills and experiences that you can draw on as you become a VA for your paying clients. She also identifies skills you can develop in the future. |
| Module Three – Packages and Pricing | Here, Abbey talks about structuring your pricing and packaging your services to clients. This is important, as many people won’t know where to start when it comes to selling themselves. It might be a little premature to start thinking about pricing this early in the virtual assistant course. But it’s Abbey’s program so it’s her call. |
| Module Four – Brand Academy | Module four is all about setting yourself apart from your competitors, even the more experienced virtual assistants in your space. Abbey and the Virtual Savvy team talk about logos, names, and color schemes, as well as other branding elements in your VA toolbox. It’s all about creating a recognizable identity for your brand, and landing better job opportunities as a result. |
| Module Five – Processes And Assets | Now Abbey starts really getting into the technical aspects of running a virtual assistance business. She’s very proud of the ultimate Savvy System and on the other systems you’ll be using to help run your business. She also states that you just can’t find this info from reading blog posts and checking out articles… you’ve got to experience it first hand! |
| Module Six – Payments, Invoices, And Taxes (OH MY!) | So many online courses forget about the legal and tax stuff, so it’s cool to see that Abbey does not! If you don’t get this stuff right, you could quickly get yourself into trouble as you run your virtual assistant business. This module is all about invoicing, receiving payments, and understanding your tax status. |
| Module Seven – Legalities | More of the legal and tax stuff! It might not be the most exciting part of running a successful VA business, but it sure is important. This module is all about negotiations, contracts, and alterations. |
| Module Eight – Marketing 101 | This is where Abbey lays the groundwork for marketing. All aspiring virtual assistants need to be able to handle this important part of business. Abbey says this module will be help you land your first paying client, so you’ll be well on the way to building your successful business. |
| Module Nine – The Ultimate Marketing Plan | Marketing doesn’t end at 101… oh no! Now, Abbey introduces your Ultimate Marketing Plan, which she describes as a step-by-step blueprint. The first client is vital as you run your own VA business, but this is where you start to target real growth on your successful virtual assistant journey. |
| Module Ten – Web Development 101 | Abbey is super intentional about the structuring of her Savvy System program. She says too many virtual assistant candidates try to get on to web development too early, which is why she asks them to hold their horses and wait until module 10… or after they have their first client. Here, she teaches her students all about design and development. |
| Module Eleven – The Virtual Assistant Lifestyle | As we enter the home straight, Abbey says you should already be building your own VA business… and a successful business at that! Now, she focuses on the challenges you might encounter along the way. Overcoming those challenges, and planning for even bigger successes, is key. |
| Module Twelve – Raising Your Prices | The Savvy System covers a lot of stuff that other courses miss out on, and I’d say it’s a pretty comprehensive training program as a result! One of the things that gurus often miss out is the reality of scaling… which means raising your prices in the right way. In module 12, you’ll learn about how to understand your value, and grow your revenue as a virtual assistant. |
| Module Thirteen – Building A Team | Outsourcing and hiring are important aspects to any successful virtual assistant business, and Abbey covers those here. She’ll help you find and use the right systems to boost productivity, as well as hiring subcontractors. |
| Module Fourteen – What’s Next | Abbey is keen to point out that your learning journey doesn’t stop just because the comprehensive course is complete. In the final module, Abbey talks about scaling… not even just taking on more virtual assistant work for you and your team, but targeting new opportunities and avenues. Again, this is pretty cool. |
The Ultimate Savvy System and Savvy System Pro
These are basically the enhanced versions of Abbey’s course. You pay more, you get more, simple as that.
This means things like…
- All of the modules listed above
- More live support calls
- Full access to the Savvy Vault
- Access to newly updated course materials – Abbey says these are released pretty regularly
- Access to exclusive job opportunities
- More advanced tech content, at least compared to the more basic tech skills taught in the Savvy System lite version
The Savvy Vault
The Savvy Vault is a huge collection of course materials and training programs. Some are made by Abbey herself, but others are made by some of her partners and friends in this industry.
Right now, there are more than 70 courses available in the vault, but it looks like this is being updated on a regular basis. The aim here is to take you beyond the basic stuff the Savvy System offers, so you can move ahead of other business owners in the market.
The VA Toolbox
The toolbox is another kind of vault. Rather than courses, this one offers a bunch of valuable resources you can use to grow your business.
You’ll get a load of different sample contracts and other documents in the VA template vault. This will help you get up and running quickly while also ensuring your virtual assistant business is fully legal and tax-compliant!
Virtual Savvy Facebook Group
There’s also a private Facebook group, where Abbey has created a cool little online community. Members can ask questions, share wins and tips, and generally support one another.
The private community is not part of the course as such, but it is a nice perk when you sign up.
My Savvy System Review – The Conclusion
We’ve covered a lot of ground here today… thanks for sticking it out with me!
So let’s bring this Virtual Savvy review to a close.
Abbey has put together a great course, and I do think it can help students go from basically zero experience to running their own VA business. Some of the reviews I’ve found say you can get a lot of the content for free elsewhere, or that it’s too basic… but I think it’s still a nice package.
I think the big issue here is the business model. It’s just so competitive now that it’s hard to make your voice heard as a virtual assistant, and that’s only getting harder as more and more companies outsource overseas.
Oh, and the “AI is taking my job” scare will be very, very real in the VA market in the next few years.
So unfortunately, I can’t recommend this one for those looking to start a successful business.
Where do you go from here? Well, you might want to check out another one of my blogs… like this one for Grow Channels.
Or you could just sit tight and learn all about my #1 pick for making money in 2024…
My #1 Way for Making Money Online In 2024!
Our review team has spent months reviewing dozens of business models and thousands of programs.
And the research IS conclusive:
Digital Leasing is the #1 online business model for those just starting out.
Whether you’ve never made a dollar online, or you’ve been in this space for a while, Digital Leasing is for you.
Why?
1) It’s Flexible: got an hour a day? You can do this. Even with a little time each day, you can move the needle in a Digital Leasing business.
You can earn PASSIVE INCOME – if you stop working, the money doesn’t.
Imagine taking 3 months off to just tour around Europe, rent a cabin in the woods to write a book, hike the Appalachian Trail, or live on the beach and surf all day.
The virtual assistant business is a real lifestyle choice. You’re basically signing up for a full-time job. Yes you can work from home, but you’re still on call.
2) You Own & Control EVERYTHING: As a virtual assistant, you’re dictated to by your client. You need to do the tasks they want you to do, when they want you to do them. There’s not much control here.
With Digital Leasing, you own all the assets, which means you have all the power and all the control.
3) Little To No Startup Costs: It’s possible to get into Digital Leasing with zero dollars upfront using the strategies outlined in this program.
You can have your first Digital Rental Property up and running and generating profits for less than $100.
4) Easy To Duplicate: OK, here’s the best part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up and running, you can literally DOUBLE your income with a few clicks.
Each Digital Rental Property is worth $500 to $2,000 a month in semi-passive income (over 95% profit). Every time you decide to create another one and increase your income, it gets easier.
Abbey does teach a cool module on raising your profits that I really like, but doubling your profits?? That seems like a heck of a stretch, especially when you’re being undercut by overseas VA experts.
5) Make Money Helping Real People: Small, local business owners need more customers, and with Digital Leasing, you are unleashing a flood of happy, paying customers for these businesses.
You make money by helping them make money. This part is what makes it all worth it… helping a small business owner in your community. That’s how Digital Leasing makes a real impact in the lives of real people.
Get started today, and join a community of over 2,000 successful students that are living life on their own terms, and achieve a consistent, reliable, semi-passive stream of income while helping real people.
If this sounds more like what you want out of life click here to learn more about Digital Leasing.
