Mandurah business woman Michelle Marks of Laptops & Lattes named finalist in 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards.

Little did she know, 13 years later she would be forging the path ahead for other Australian mums to run profitable businesses in the same field.

The Mandurah mum of two has stopped her own work as a virtual assistant - so she can focus full-time on coaching other women via her business, Laptops & Lattes.

She says there are more opportunities for VAs now than ever before.

"The fact that most people were forced to work remotely really opened up possibilities. Many businesses who previously were only open to employing people are now open to contractors."

She urged women not to be put off by how competitive the industry is or by the prospect of competing with cheap overseas labour.

"There is a place for you in this world. You will have something to offer - experience, life experience that no-one else can bring. There is more than enough work out there for everyone so if that's part of your dream, give it a shot."

She says some businesses had tried overseas labour and it didn't work for them.

"Some people will still want cheap labour, that's fine, you don't need to pursue those people. There's enough people who value what Australian VAs have to offer."

Her advice to VAs just starting out is to ensure they charged enough to support their lifestyle.

"Just know it's a rite of passage to undercharge at first," Ms Marks laughs.

"I would advise every VA raise their prices every year. Your clients generally run a business as well; more often than not they will understand that price rises are part of business. If you lose a client, you're opening yourself for a new client who knows the value of the work you do."

She says the hourly rate for Australian VAs is anywhere between $25 to more than $100 an hour.

Read also: Mandurah food blogger Claire McEwen makes $300k a year working in her pyjamas

Ms Marks dreamt of running her own business as a teenager and when she was 21 she started freelancing as a graphic designer, a business that she ran for the next 13 years as a side gig.

After having her two children, Dean, now 4 and Louise, 2, she says it was difficult to manage both family and career, two very important aspects of her life. Running a business from home allowed her to have the freedom to enjoy both.

While the two youngsters are mostly in daycare during business hours, she says she has the flexibility to keep working when there is a lockdown or when a child is sick.

She says it's her mission to help other women who "struggle with the juggle".

Read also: 'If I do things, I do them big': Challenging times inspire Mandurah business woman

Whether they battle chronic illness, manage children at home, or just have the dream of running their own show, she says she wants to help them do well in business.

"Business can be a rollercoaster. You'll have ups and downs, but in the end, it's about creating a life that fulfills you in a way that employment can't."

Ms Marks says she's particularly proud of the online membership group for home-based businesswomen she has created.

"I found while I absolutely loved working from home, even though I'm a complete introvert it does get a bit lonely. When you work in an office, most of your close friends are your workmates. I decided to create a Facebook community for home-based business people like me. I started doing brainstorming sessions where we put together ideas on marketing and business growth. Unless you're working with a coach or have your own team, you miss out on that."

In the little spare time she has, Ms Marks likes watercolour painting, calligraphy and anything else creative and crafty, as well as movies and spending time with her family.

Ms Marks has been named as a finalist in the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards.

www.laptopsandlattes.com.au