Business Research & Prospect Analysis Virtual Assistant

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TYPE OF WORK

Part Time

SALARY

$4-5/hour

HOURS PER WEEK

10

DATE UPDATED

Sep 25, 2026

JOB OVERVIEW

I am looking for a detail-oriented Virtual Assistant to help with business and prospect research for a U.S.-based business consulting company.
This is not simply a data-entry or list-building position. I am looking for someone who enjoys researching businesses, finding information from multiple public sources, organizing findings clearly, and using good judgment to identify companies that deserve deeper research.
Responsibilities
You will research privately owned businesses in selected Pennsylvania markets using publicly available sources.
Work will include:
• Researching companies, owners, and key decision-makers
• Gathering information about industry, years in business, employees, ownership, growth, hiring, management structure, and other business characteristics
• Using company websites, LinkedIn, business directories, news, job postings, and other legitimate public sources
• Recording findings and source links in Google Sheets
• Identifying businesses that appear worthy of deeper research and briefly explaining why
• Flagging conflicting or unavailable information rather than guessing
• Providing feedback when certain research tasks are taking significantly more time than expected
Quality, accuracy, source documentation, and good judgment are more important than the number of businesses researched.
Ideal Candidate
You should have:
• Strong online research skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Good written English
• Strong Google Sheets skills
• Good analytical judgment
• Ability to distinguish facts from assumptions
• Resourcefulness and ability to work independently
• Reliable communication and willingness to adjust based on feedback
Experience researching U.S. companies, owners, executives, or prospects is a plus.
Hours & Opportunity
The initial engagement will be approximately 10–12 hours per week.
If the work is high quality and the research process is producing useful results, hours may increase after the first few weeks.
There is potential for ongoing and expanded work for the right person as the business grows.
How to Apply
Please begin your application with “Research First” and answer the following:
1. Briefly describe your experience with online, company, or prospect research.
2. Give an example of a research project you completed and what you were responsible for finding.
3. What sources or tools do you typically use when researching privately owned U.S. businesses?
4. Describe your experience with Google Sheets.
5. What is your current hourly rate?
6. What is your availability over the next 4–6 weeks?
7. If you found conflicting employee-count information for a company, how would you handle it?
8. How do you d ---------- whether online information is reliable enough to enter into a research database?
9. If this project is successful and the role expands, would you be interested in a longer-term position?
Final candidates will be invited to complete a small paid research assignment before a hiring decision is made.

SKILL REQUIREMENT
Google Sheets Data analysis Scientific Research
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