There are many types of virtual assistant companies and freelancers, and their costs and business models differ widely. So, as is often the case, the answer to the question, "how much does a virtual assistant cost?" is, well, it depends.
There are three significant factors that affect how much a virtual assistant costs:
We’ll explore what each of these factors involves to help you choose a virtual assistant service that fits your needs and budget when you're considering hiring one.
There are three broad categories of virtual assistant service providers:
Let's break down the costs, use cases, and risks of each model.
Freelancers are independent contractors who set their own hourly rates. When you Google "virtual assistant," you'll see freelance marketplaces with prices starting around $10/hour. UpWork, for example, advertises rates of $10-$20/hour.
Indeed lists the average hourly rate for virtual assistants on their platform at $20/hour. Keep in mind that "average" means half are above and half are below that amount.
A freelance virtual assistant is ideal for short-term projects that are time-sensitive and need little guidance. Using a freelance platform to hire an assistant can quickly provide support while reducing overhead.
However, there are risks involved with hiring freelancers:
Remember that marketplaces and job boards are not providers of virtual assistant services. Instead, they function like online dating platforms for various types of labor, without focusing on a single field. You can go to them to find the lowest hourly rate for virtual assistants, but you won't get the same level of support, quality guarantees, or value as you would with a VA service.
The payment setup for an independent contractor on a freelance platform typically involves either an hourly fee or a fixed overall cost. For a highly skilled and trained VA, you might expect to pay above the average rate.
A virtual assistant agency specializes in helping people hire a virtual assistant directly and usually has a vetting process for quality control. Prices vary, and many firms are unclear about their pricing, instead emphasizing how much lower the cost is compared to a fully loaded full-time employee.
Virtual assistant payment structures vary. They could be hourly, packaged pricing, or project-based. Most VA companies offer packages of hours on a monthly contract.
The risks linked to using an agency are similar to those of hiring a freelancer, but agencies usually bear slightly more responsibility for their virtual assistant's performance. Possible risks include:
Managed virtual assistant service providers offer a high-touch model where the service provider takes on the tasks of hiring virtual assistants, training and onboarding them, and managing them day to day. The cost of a virtual assistant through a managed service is typically a flat monthly fee.
Prialto, for example, offers 55 hours of a virtual assistant's time for a fixed price of $1,500 per month, or about $24 per hour, or a fully-dedicated assistant for $3,600, around $25 an hour.
In a managed service model, virtual assistants are full-time employees of the service providers, who give them comprehensive health insurance and other benefits. In Prialto's case, assistants have access to ongoing education and training, secure technology, QA, and an internal management structure dedicated to their (and the client's) success.
A significant benefit of a managed service is that the client bears no added management burden. Account managers work closely with clients to document their processes, allowing the virtual assistants to be trained on client systems prior to engagement. This ensures that assistants are prepared and able to start contributing immediately. Client feedback is directed to the account manager, who then coaches and supports the assistant accordingly.
Managed virtual assistant services are perfect for clients needing to handle repetitive tasks that can be standardized and outsourced, like calendar management, phone screening, data entry, and other routine activities.
As the client-assistant relationship develops and the assistant learns more about the clients' businesses, they can expand their services, create new processes, and boost their contribution to client productivity.
There are also risks associated with this model, due to the nature of the engagement:
Like an in-house employee, the cost of virtual assistant services often varies depending on the skills you need. Most virtual assistant providers position themselves as either generalists or specialists. The former can handle most process-oriented tasks, while the latter is suited for advanced projects in a specific area of expertise requiring specialized skills.
Here are some examples of the different types of tasks you can offload based on a virtual assistant's skillset:
When most people think of a virtual assistant, marketing support doesn’t necessarily come to mind. However, offloading tedious tasks allows you/your team to focus on driving your marketing strategy. Here are some of the tasks you can offload, depending on whether the VA is a specialist or not:
Generalist:
Specialist:
This type of support includes a wide range of activities and software, so if you choose a specialist, expect to pay higher rates for niche software or industry-specific tactics.
Given that salespeople spend as little as 30% of their time selling, using a virtual assistant for sales support is a no-brainer.
The type of virtual assistant you should move forward with varies based on what you want to offload:
Generalist:
Specialist:
Since a virtual assistant focused on sales support possesses skills that are between those of a generalist and an SDR, investing in them might not be justified unless cold calling is necessary.
Delegating many logistical tasks essential for your business to run smoothly is a simple and cost-effective method to enhance efficiency.
Generalist:
Specialist:
Whether investing in a specialized virtual assistant is justified depends on the standardization of your processes. Remember, many tasks you see as ambiguous can often be standardized. Our Engagement Managers frequently assist clients in developing processes, enabling them to delegate more tasks to their virtual assistants.
The distinction between a generalist and a specialist virtual assistant is similar to that of an entry-level versus a senior in-house executive assistant. The former handles standardized tasks and commands a lower salary, while the latter manages complex, nuanced projects and receives a higher salary.
Generalist:
Specialist:
Deciding if a specialized virtual assistant is worth the higher expense depends on whether you prefer to delegate advanced tasks or manage them internally. Usually, hiring a generalist offers a better return on investment because they can handle a wide variety of repetitive tasks, freeing up you and your team to concentrate on projects that utilize your skills.
Among virtual assistant services offering the same model and skills, there is still a significant range in costs based on location. For example, a freelance virtual assistant in India might charge $7 per hour while an assistant with comparable skills in the United States may charge $40 per hour.
There are often differences in the level of knowledge about local business norms, which can make a difference, particularly if you’re looking for executive administrative support.
This includes:
Considering this, partnering with a company that provides a hybrid onshore/offshore model is usually the most effective choice. For instance, at Prialto, our virtual assistants operate from offices in Guatemala, Kenya, and the Philippines, while our Engagement Managers are located in Portland, Oregon.
They serve as consultants for our clients and mentor our virtual assistants. This strategy guarantees our virtual assistants deliver highly nuanced support at a cost lower than many US-based options.
As noted earlier, the price of a virtual assistant depends on the provider's business model, skills, and location. The specific combination of these factors you need will be based on your budget and the type of work you are delegating.
If you require assistance across various parts of your business, combining different providers might be ideal. For instance, you could hire a generalist virtual assistant through a managed virtual assistant service to handle daily administrative and operational tasks, while also engaging a few specialized freelancers for uncertain or short-term projects.
Curious how a Prialto managed virtual assistant can help you and your team achieve more? Read this guide.