Hiring a virtual assistant is an excellent option for businesses that need help managing their daily operations. However, finding the right person can be difficult.
When you hire an employee, their hourly rate includes several hidden costs such as overtime, payroll taxes, social security, insurance, holiday pay, and pension.
Cost
First, you must understand that a virtual assistant costs much lower than an employee. Virtual assistants work on a project-based basis, and you can choose how much time you want them to spend on a task. It allows you to tailor your VA’s skills to your needs without overpaying for services you don’t need.
Another way to assess a VA’s cost is to examine its expertise in specific areas. For example, some VAs specialize in SEO (search engine optimization) and can help you optimize your website for better rankings. Other VAs have experience with ecommerce tools, content management systems, and customer support software. These specializations can impact their rates but often provide more value for your business.
Finally, consider the time it takes to find, hire, train, and manage an employee. It can be a significant chunk of your business’s overall operating costs. In contrast, a virtual assistant is ready to work on day one and can save you money in the long run.
In addition, you will be paying less for overhead expenses, holiday pay, social security costs, pension costs, and insurance. All in all, this makes hiring a VA a more attractive option than ever before. However, comparing the VA’s hourly rate against what you would have paid a full-time employee for similar work is still essential.
Flexibility
When hiring a virtual assistant vs. employee, you must ensure the person can work the necessary hours. They are typically hired freelance so they may be available at certain times of the day or week, not others. If they are unavailable when you need them, moving on to another candidate is best.
A virtual assistant can help you with various administrative tasks, such as email management, calendar management, and social media management. The ideal VA will be comfortable with these responsibilities and understand how to leverage the latest technology efficiently. They will also be familiar with various content marketing tools to help your business reach its target audience.
A virtual assistant is also more flexible than an employee since they only work the hours that they are needed. It helps you save money by not paying for water more excellent time, breaks, or wasted time. In addition, virtual assistants often have a varied skill set and can be used for multiple projects. However, if you need someone to specialize in an area of your business, then consider hiring an employee instead of a virtual assistant. It will enable you to focus on your core competencies.
Time
For small business owners, time is money. It is not uncommon for entrepreneurs to rely on virtual assistants to complete menial tasks that they either don’t have the time to do or cannot afford to pay full-time employees. However, it is crucial that businesses only outsource work that they can trust a virtual assistant to do. Otherwise, the result can be costly for both parties regarding quality and productivity.
If you hire a virtual assistant, it is vital to be clear about the time you expect them to spend on each task. It will help ensure you get the best value out of your VA. For example, if you have an assistant complete many email responses, note how long it takes them to do so. It will help you estimate how long it should take them to do a similar task in the future.
Since a virtual assistant is an independent contractor, they may have other clients or jobs besides their responsibilities at your company. It can cause their work to suffer if they have fewer competing commitments at once. It is also worth noting that if a virtual assistant is not a full-time employee, they are likely not eligible for company benefits such as health insurance.
Communication
Virtual assistants, unlike employees, are not tethered to the company and work remotely. They often use project management software that allows you to track their work progress. It makes it easy to see if they’re working on the right things or wasting time. It lets you quickly weed out VAs that aren’t adding value to your business.
In addition, many VAs charge a flat hourly rate. It eliminates hidden costs like holiday pay, insurance, and other employee benefits. Virtual assistants also don’t waste time at the office or on social media, as they realize that their income depends on being efficient and providing value to the company.
Finally, virtual assistants provide valuable expertise and talent that may be difficult to find in a local workforce. For example, it’s rare to find someone with advanced Excel skills, visual editing chops, and the ability to increase operational efficiencies. However, finding a freelancer with these skills is easy.
While an employee and a virtual assistant offer distinct advantages, it’s essential to carefully evaluate your needs before making any final decisions. Considering cost, flexibility, and communication would be best when choosing the best fit for your business.
