How Much Does it Cost to Hire a VA?
Image from Seniv Petro
The cost of doing business includes hiring a great support staff
Behind almost every successful executive is an executive assistant keeping them organized, putting out fires, and anticipating their needs before they even utter a word. When you enlist the help of an excellent virtual assistant, you can refocus your priorities without sacrificing your free time and sanity. You’ve previously heard about what a VA is and how they can help your business…but what does it cost to hire a Virtual Assistant?
How much does a virtual assistant cost?
You can expect to pay between $8-$75 per hour for virtual assistant work. That range seems a bit unhelpful, but let’s break it down a bit. Tech VAs or higher-level assistants can charge upwards of $50-$75 per hour, and general VA freelancers cost anywhere from $20-50 per hour. At She’s A Given, we fall somewhere in between. When you factor in location, skill level, hours needed, response times (ours is 2 hrs!), and other varying details, the value that a great virtual assistant provides is enough to satisfy the cost.
First and foremost, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before making the decision to hire a VA. Once you’ve got that worked out, consider the location you’d like your VA to be in. Do you need someone who is local to you or are you comfortable with a VA who lives in a different state or country and works remotely? Note: if you choose to outsource offshore, your turnaround times may be greater due to time differences. If you require someone who is going to be an extension of you or is speaking directly to your clients, you’ll benefit from hiring an assistant who lives in a similar time zone, is familiar with US business practices, and has thorough executive assistant experience.
What about scope of work?
If you require a VA to be highly experienced and skilled in a specific area or industry (think scheduling, complex calendar management, project management, or finance), then rates are going to be on the higher side. Consequently, if the scope of work is minimal, you can expect to pay less. Just as a rule of thumb, try to keep in mind the more experienced the VA and the higher workload, the more you can expect to pay for expertise and assistance. After all, quality assistance is of utmost importance.
Now that you have a handle on location and skill level, you need to think about how many hours you need your assistant to be working for you, and when. If you are looking for per-diem hours, you might look for a freelancer who can pick up the work for you at a lower hourly rate. But be wary of where you find a VA, as candidates on freelance platforms create their own profiles and the information isn’t required to be verified. The benefit to hiring an assistant through an agency is that your agency is contractually obligated to the hourly work you agree to on your account.
Generally, agencies will charge on a monthly retainer vs. hourly. It’s actually a monthly business expense that allows you to focus on growing your business income instead of spending it. Plus, VAs at She’s A Given can often get things done more efficiently; and hiring a VA for 25-30 hours instead of 40 will yield similar results to a full-time assistant in-house!
Think about credibility
When you hire a VA from an agency, you’re also hiring management and a team to oversee the work who has proven experience working with other businesses. She’s A Given VAs are hand selected to be paired with clients, ensuring a good fit. Plus, you’ll always have the opportunity to reevaluate your needs, and the relationship with your VA if things aren’t quite working out.
If you need to swap a VA to see if there’s a better fit, you’re guaranteed the opportunity to do so. If your VA is ever sick or takes a vacation, there is another VA who is ready to step in and cover. This is a guarantee that is already factored into your cost when you hire through an agency.
With all this considered, the value of hiring an excellent VA far outweighs the cost. There are several options to explore, but if you’re looking for someone who is capable and competent right from the start, hiring through an agency is a great choice.
When you find the right VA, it’s like establishing a relationship with an executive assistant who can act as your administrative business partner! If you think you’re ready to invest in this type of support, let us know. We’d love to talk with you!
FAQ
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Yes, a virtual assistant is worth it as they can provide a range of services that can help you save time and money. They can handle tasks such as scheduling, managing emails and social media, and providing customer service.
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The best way to pay your virtual assistant is to agree on a rate that works for both parties and is mutually beneficial. You can pay them an hourly rate, a monthly rate, or a project rate. It is also important to discuss if they need to be paid upfront or if they can invoice you.
