Loving being able to be more present for her children whilst working from home during lockdown, Laura Bonser was inspired to start up her own virtual admin business. She set out to assist families, individuals and businesses that needed a helping hand. At Bonlake Admin Services, she helps others utilise their time more efficiently so they can concentrate on what matters, whether that’s spending precious time with family and friends or freeing up time to focus on more pressing business needs. With 30 years of administration experience and a personable approach, she takes care of those additional admin tasks with care and discretion. Here, she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about her business journey so far and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Mostly my children! I have an 11-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son who has Down Syndrome. Last year during lockdown, I was working as the Office Administrator for a local farming business, as I was able to work from home it meant not only could I get my job done, but I was also able to be present for my children when they needed me. I really enjoyed being able to spend the extra time with them and towards the end of those lockdown weeks, I kept entertaining the idea of starting my own virtual admin business.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
By coincidence really, earlier this year, I was approached by an organisation that works with families who have children with disabilities to help one of their families find a caregiver. I was to meet with the family to discuss what they were looking for, advertise the position, vet all the applicants, draw up an employment contract and then take care of the payroll. For me, this was a sign that I needed to turn my dream into reality and get my Virtual Assistant business up and running.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The biggest breakthrough has been discovering that there is a need for this type of business. There are a lot of families out there who need a helping hand, whether it be sourcing a quote to have some work around the house carried out (such as a ramp for a wheelchair) or to finding someone who can come into their home and help with the day-to-day running of the household. I have also discovered that there are a great deal of small business owners who wish they could spend less time taking care of office duties so they could be out there growing their business or spending some free time doing what they enjoy!
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
The jobs I accept can be small, one-off contracts such as proofreading a document through to longer term assignments like taking care of the creditor/debtors for small businesses. Each weekend, I ensure my office door has the “Closed” sign up so that my children and I can enjoy doing the things we love together.
