How to Find a VA Niche That Pays Well (Without Overthinking)
Stop guessing and start offering services people actually need!
You know you want to niche down as a VA, but every time you try to decide, you overthink it. You don’t want to pick something random. You don’t want to get stuck in a niche that doesn’t make money. And honestly? You just want someone to tell you what works.
I hear you. But the thing is no one can choose your niche for you. And that’s actually a good thing because you get to build a business around work you actually enjoy.
Instead of stressing about it, let’s talk about three easy ways to figure out what services are in demand, so you can confidently pick a niche that gets you booked.
Step 1: Pay Attention to What People Are Already Saying
Business owners talk about their struggles all the time—on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and even Reddit. You don’t need to spend hours researching. Just start noticing:
What are people complaining about?
What questions keep coming up?
What tasks are they saying they wish they could outsource?
If you see multiple people saying, “I hate keeping up with my email list” or “I know I need to post on social media, but I never have time”—that’s a clue. That’s a service people are already looking for help with.
🔥 Example: Let’s say you want to work with coaches. You assume they need inbox management, so you set up your services around that. But after spending time in Facebook groups, you notice they’re all saying things like, “I wish someone could turn my podcast episodes into social media content.”
Just like that, you’ve found real market demand. Instead of being just another VA, you could be the go-to Podcast Content VA who helps coaches repurpose their content into engaging Instagram posts and LinkedIn articles.
Small shift. Big difference.
Step 2: Ask People What They Need Help With
Your past clients (or even business owners in your network) are your best source of information. A simple message like, “Hey, I’m refining my VA services—what’s one task you wish you could hand off right now?” can give you exact answers straight from potential clients.
The key? Listen without assumptions. Sometimes, what people actually need isn’t what you expected. And that’s where the real opportunities are.
If you’re newer and don’t have past clients yet, that’s okay! You can:
Ask in entrepreneur Facebook groups (“For those of you running an online business—what’s one thing you wish you didn’t have to do?”)
Post an Instagram story poll with a few options
Reach out to business owners in your network for a quick chat
People love talking about their pain points—sometimes, they just need to be asked.
Step 3: Look at Freelance Job Listings
If you’re wondering what people are hiring VAs for, job boards like Upwork and Fiverr will tell you instantly. Just search “virtual assistant” and see what pops up.
Notice the patterns:
✔️ What services show up in multiple listings?
✔️ What skills are always in demand?
✔️ What tasks are being outsourced at higher rates?
When you see the same types of jobs being posted over and over again, that’s a clear sign there’s demand.
🔥 Example: You keep seeing listings for Pinterest management VAs. If that’s something you enjoy (or are willing to learn), that could be a profitable niche for you.
But What If My Niche Is Too Competitive?
Here’s the thing: Competition means demand.
If other VAs are already offering the service you’re interested in, that’s actually a good sign. It means people are paying for it. Your job isn’t to find something no one else is doing. Your job is to find a way to stand out.
You can do that by:
✨ Choosing a specific audience (like working only with wedding planners or course creators)
✨ Adding extra value to your service (offering both content writing AND scheduling instead of just one)
✨ Bringing your unique experience into your brand (maybe you have a background in marketing, and you combine that with your VA work)
No one else has your exact background, style, and approach. And that’s your edge.
The Best Niche is the One You Actually Start With
The worst thing you can do? Sit on the sidelines and wait for the “perfect” niche to magically appear.
Start paying attention, have some conversations, and take note of trends. You’ll start to see what’s working—and if you need to adjust along the way, that’s totally fine.
And if you want a step-by-step breakdown of how to do this without the stress—I’ve got you.
Join my free masterclass, Booked, Balanced & Thriving VA, where I walk you through this process and help you confidently niche down.
Send me a message for the link.
💬 What’s one niche idea you’re considering? Hit reply—I’d love to hear!
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