Hello! I’m excited to share an insightful interview about how to make money online as a freelance writer or virtual assistant. After the positive response to a previous interview about becoming a freelance proofreader, I wanted to bring you another conversation focused on two flexible, in-demand online careers many readers have asked about.
Today’s guest is Gina Horkey, a professional writer and virtual assistant who built her freelance business quickly. In just six months she reached monthly earnings of over $4,000 as a writer. In this interview she explains how you can begin, what to expect, and practical steps to launch these side hustles as a career or supplemental income source.
If you’re looking for a new job or a side hustle you can run from home, read on for a thorough look at freelance writing and virtual assisting, including how to start, typical earnings, and tips to grow your income.
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Please give us a little background on yourself and how you became a freelance writer and virtual assistant.
Hi, I’m Gina Horkey. I’m married and a mother of two toddlers. My husband chose to stay home with the kids after we realized daycare for two young children was prohibitively expensive. Before freelancing I worked in the financial services industry for nearly a decade as a financial advisor and support professional.
I started freelancing while working full time and raising two little ones. Writing led me to opportunities offering virtual assistant work, and the more predictable income from VA contracts helped me transition off my day job. With persistence, hustle, and learning on the job, I scaled my freelance work and went full-time at the end of 2014.
Can you explain what exactly a freelance writer is, who they write for, etc.?
A freelance writer is a self-employed professional who provides writing services to clients—this can include individuals, small businesses, or larger organizations. Freelancers don’t have a single employer; they work with many clients and must find and pitch for their own work.
Most freelance writers produce content for online publications: blog posts, website copy, case studies, newsletters, and other digital content. Some writers also write for print magazines, textbooks, or technical publications. Your niche, experience, and the quality of your pitches determine the kind of clients you attract and the rates you can command.
What exactly does a virtual assistant do? Who are their clients?
A virtual assistant (VA) provides administrative and operational support to business owners remotely. Tasks vary widely depending on the client’s needs but commonly include email management, scheduling, social media management, formatting and editing blog posts, booking travel, and other routine or specialized tasks.
Many VAs focus on serving online entrepreneurs and small business owners because those clients are comfortable working remotely and outsourcing tasks. Brick-and-mortar businesses can also hire remote VAs for back-office work. The primary benefit to clients is flexibility: they contract VAs rather than hiring employees, so they don’t provide benefits, paid leave, or handle employment taxes.
How much can a beginner freelance writer or virtual assistant expect to make? How much can a person expect to make around one year after they start?
Rates vary widely depending on experience, niche, and the types of clients you target. Many beginning writers earn under $0.10 per word or less than $50 per article. As writers gain experience, they can charge several hundred dollars per piece or move to retainer arrangements.
For virtual assistants, hourly rates commonly range from about $15 to $50 per hour. North American VAs often charge between $35 and $50 per hour, though many start lower. Some VAs quote hourly rates initially and later transition to weekly or monthly retainers.
Specialized knowledge can command higher pay. For example, experience in financial services helped me charge approximately $0.30 per word for some projects. The key is positioning your services as an investment: demonstrate how the work you do helps the client grow revenue or saves valuable time. For instance, if a VA saves a business owner 10 billable hours a week, that owner could earn thousands more monthly.
What do you like about freelance writing and virtual assisting?
Freelancing offers control over schedule, choice of clients, and the freedom to work from anywhere. Writing allows me to express ideas and solve the “word puzzle” of creating compelling, actionable content. VA work provides variety and more predictable income without the constant deadline pressure of writing full-time. It’s also a powerful way to learn new skills—project workflows, sales funnels, copywriting techniques, and tools like Trello or Buffer—while getting paid.
What if you’re not sure if either are a good fit?
Try it. You won’t know until you start. Most people never feel fully “ready,” so the best approach is to take action, learn as you go, and use experience to refine your direction. You’ll either succeed or learn valuable lessons from failure—both are worthwhile.
How much does it cost to start these side hustles and how much on a monthly basis to maintain it?
You can begin with almost no upfront cost beyond a computer and internet access. I spent around $200 to launch my business—covering domain, hosting, a job board membership, and a style guide—and didn’t spend more until I was earning income. Ongoing expenses vary as you grow, but early-stage costs are minimal. Reinvest profits into tools, training, or marketing as needed.
What do you love about being able to make money freelance writing and virtual assisting?
What do you love about being able to make money freelance writing and virtual assisting?The freedom to make my own choices is the biggest benefit. I’ve built a business that lets me decide which products or services to offer, when to launch new projects, and where to work from. That flexibility means we can travel for a month while continuing to work, and our family life doesn’t have to be restricted by rigid employer schedules.
Lastly, are there any other tips that you have for someone who wants to try either of these side hustles?
Just get started. Don’t wait until you feel fully prepared—most people never do. Learn by doing, iterate on your approach, and use real client work to accelerate your skill development. Action is the fastest path to success.
What can a person learn from your courses? Can you tell us about some of the people who have successfully taken your course?
My courses—30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success and 30 Days or Less to Virtual Assistant Success—are designed to help beginners launch a freelance business in a month or less. Students range from brand-new freelancers to experienced contractors looking to scale. Course topics include:
- How to set and negotiate rates
- Where to find and pitch clients
- How to format effective pitches
- Securing client testimonials
- Resume tips for freelancers
- Accounting and bookkeeping for small freelance businesses
- Ways to diversify income streams
- Services you can offer as a VA
- Training on popular tools like Buffer, Trello, and Google Tools
Many students have launched successful freelance careers after completing the courses. They’ve used the strategies to secure paying clients, increase rates, and scale to full-time freelancing.
Bio: Gina Horkey is a professional writer and online business consultant with a background in financial services. She helps freelancers and aspiring virtual assistants build sustainable businesses so they can replace day job income and gain more control over their schedules.
Are you interested in becoming a freelance writer or a virtual assistant?