How Much do Virtual Assistants Cost? with Jaime Jay
One of the biggest factors in whether or not a business owner delegates their tasks to other qualified people is how much a virtual assistant cost. Having someone that can help you with a project that may be too time-consuming can help out significantly, as a virtual assistant can help clear up some of your time to dedicate to other tasks.
Several different factors play into how much you should expect to budget to hire someone, but the main things to consider are what service they will be provided, where they are located, and their experience level. Let’s take a closer look at how much a virtual assistant may cost.
What Do Virtual Assistants Do?
Virtual assistants come in handy for a variety of reasons. They work remotely and can take on numerous different tasks to help your business run smoothly. Most virtual assistants are freelancers or independent contractors that offer specialized skills. Some of the most common tasks they provide include:
- Administrative tasks
- Customer support
- Data entry
- Digital marketing
- Email correspondence
- Financial planning
- Graphic design
- Organizing your calendar
- WordPress website management
How Much Virtual Assistants Cost: Key Factors to Consider
When it comes down to how much virtual assistants cost, there isn’t a specific amount you can expect to spend. Some charge as little as $1 per hour, while others expect $100 or more hourly. Some key factors can impact exactly how much you can anticipate spending on your virtual assistant, including:
- Their experience level
- What type of work do they provide
- Where they are located
- The duration and size of the project at hand
What They Do
One of the most significant factors to consider when thinking about the cost of your virtual assistant is the variety and complexity of tasks that you are going to be delegating to them. If you only need a virtual assistant to help with mundane tasks like answering emails and phone calls, while occasionally making travel and lodging arrangements, you may be able to budget a much lower amount for your assistant’s payroll.
On the other hand, tasking your virtual assistant with more important, complex, or even mission-critical functions will dramatically increase their potential value and your potential cost. For example, tasking them with basic clerical and administrative functions, then adding social media management to their plate, can drastically increase how much you can expect to pay them, particularly if they are responsible for scheduling posts and helping with customer and follower engagement.
The cost can skyrocket if you need them to be a sidekick for more mission-critical functions like graphic design, marketing input, or even helping to research and prepare presentations for potential clients or investors. Assistants that can tackle these vital tasks are incredibly valuable and their pay will be commensurate with that value.
Experience Level
The experience level of your virtual assistant will also be highly influential on their cost. If you hire a virtual assistant who is just starting to cut their teeth on freelancing, you may save on payroll, but need to invest more in training, while showing grace when the inevitable mistake pops up. But you may also breed incredible loyalty in them as well.
Hiring an assistant that has significant experience as a virtual assistant in your specific industry will come with a price tag to match. You will save on training and onboarding, but you’ll certainly be investing more in payroll. Additionally, your error tolerance for someone with extensive experience should be far lower, since it isn’t their first rodeo.
Where are They Working From?
One final factor that will have a considerable effect on the pay your virtual assistant commands, is what market they are located in. Virtual assistants in the US are going to be some of the most expensive you’ll find, while some European nations can offer assistants at a much lower cost, with some occasional language and accent compromises.
Many people are now looking to the Philippines for their virtual assistants. Not only are they incredibly cost-effective, sometimes being available for a few dollars an hour, but their performance and passion are hard to match. Additionally, virtual assistants from the Philippines have such a high proficiency in English, that it can be incredibly easy to integrate them into your organization without language issues.
How Much Does a Contract with a Virtual Assistant Cost?
Ultimately, the cost of hiring a virtual assistant depends on your needs and expectations. The virtual assistant you hire will charge based on their expertise level, with their rates also factoring in their location and the specific tasks they can complete for you. The amount you’re going to pay will depend on whether you need someone that can complete tasks for you or someone you want to bring on board to carry a vision forward. Consider it a cost vs. investment, and consider what the assistant can bring to your company.
To Find Out Exactly How Much Virtual Assistants Cost, Contact Bottleneck Distant Assistants Today
When you’re ready to jump in and find the best personal assistant to help your company, the professionals at Bottleneck Distant Assistants are here to help you. We offer free consultations so you can get the ball rolling on hiring a personal assistant so that you know what your virtual assistant cost will be.
About Jaime Jay
Meet Jaime Jay – a man who wears many hats, and wears them all admirably. He's a master connector, an entrepreneur extraordinaire, and a published author who knows how to get things done.
Before he found his way to the business world, Jaime served his country as a brave paratrooper in the U.S. Army. But that's just the beginning of his many accomplishments.
He's the founder of the renowned Bottleneck Distant Assistant Services firm, and his book "Quit Repeating Yourself" has become a must-read for entrepreneurs everywhere.
When he's not busy building his empire, you can find him on his beloved Harley Davidson, cruising through the countryside and taking in the invigorating effects of Uitwaaien – a Dutch practice that involves facing the wind to boost health and relieve stress.
He enjoys spending his free time outside building stuff with his wife, Nikita the dog and their two kittens (for now at least) Tommy and Tater.
He is ‘over-the-moon’ happily married to his wonderful wife Sara, his amazing daughter, Jessica, who is serving our country as a United States Army soldier. Jaime and Sara are the proud grand parents of two beautiful little girls.
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Quit Repeating Yourself provides guidance for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and managers to help prevent unknown challenges from ruining their business.
