YES, YOU CAN AFFORD A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT!

Don’t Make Assumptions

Everyone has a different perception of what “expensive” means. This has never been more clear to me than right now, when I have the exact same conversation with two different clients and one responds with, “Hell yeah, let’s do this!” and another responds with, “This is way outside my budget.”

I have taken a vow to never judge a potential client (or anyone, for that matter) on their money situation. And I can tell you from my own perspective that money is not an indicator of success or happiness. The bottom line is this: Hiring help is an investment and you need to think of it that way. It’s a new line item in your budget and new expense to account for.

 And you know, sometimes you have to forego some things you may “want” for the sake of your business.

Of course, “have to” is a strong phrase. You don’t “have to” do anything. This is your life and your business. You can spend your money, time, and resources however you want.

But isn’t that the big goal in life? To spend your time, money, and resources on doing what you truly love?

That’s why “help” is even a thing people pay for, like virtual assistants. I’m here to help make your life better!

If you’re ready to spend some money on hiring help, the sky is the limit. You can find someone who matches your budget.

Hiring help is an investment. That level of investment is up to you. But it’s not only a monetary investment. It takes time and energy to hire and support someone if they’re new to your team.

How to Calculate the Cost of Your Virtual Assistant

When I first started working as a virtual assistant, So, I took that annual salary I was making in an office and divided it by 52 and then again by 40 to get an average hourly rate.

Perfect calculation, right?

Wrong.

I forgot to factor in the cost of benefits that I would need to keep myself healthy, both personally and as a business. Things like health insurance, supplies (like a computer), the internet, etc. Those costs add up quickly! And this is why sometimes you may have paid an intern in your office $10 per hour but a virtual assistant costs $30-40 per hour for the same amount of work. That virtual assistant has to cover the normal expenses of life PLUS business-related expenses that you would have had to cover for them had they been hired as an employee.

Get it? You’re not just paying them for the actual hours worked. You are also paying for them to be in good standing with all the things needed for them to do the job.

If this seems unfair to you, think about what you’d have to pay if they were an in-house employee. And then shut your mouth. Please. And thank you.

 Now, how much do virtual assistants charge per hour? That depends on a few things:

·     Experience: Have they even done this before? Many virtual assistants get where they are because the skills they’re offering as a VA are the things they used to do in a corporate job somewhere. Those assistants generally charge the bigger bucks. Then there are those who are recent grads, changing careers, or just want to make some money on the side. These people may charge less just to get their feet in the door.

·     Type of Service: Are you asking for executive assistant-type tasks such as calendar management, data entry, and flight booking? Or are you asking for copywriting, video production, and email marketing services? Executive assistants can often do all those things, so their rates are higher as well.

·     Deadlines: Is the project a rush job or are you providing a realistic deadline? If something needs to be done ASAP, it’s within every VA’s best interest to charge a little more. After all, they have to drop everything to make that possible for you.

 When all is said and done, virtual assistants charge anywhere from $20 to $100 per hour. Sometimes even more. But the sweet spot is generally between $25 and $50 per hour for executive assistant services and $55-$90 per hour for higher level marketing or financial tasks.

 Use the above considerations as a guide when you’re evaluating whether or not an assistant is worth the price they’re asking for. Have they been doing this for more than 3 years and have testimonials to prove their good work? Maybe they deserve $50 per hour if you can swing it. It’s not a cut and dry answer, you’ll need to use your analytical skills to figure out what sort of hourly rate makes the most sense for your particular needs, timeline, and sensitivity factor.

If a virtual assistant sends you a proposal for services and you don’t like it, it’s always within your right to negotiate. Within reason, of course. For example, if someone is asking for a $50 hourly rate and you only want to pay $15 an hour, well, first of all, you probably should have said that up front, but also, that’s unreasonable. But you know, maybe they’ll knock off $10 or so. You never know unless you ask.

 Just remember, while it’s always within your right to ask, it’s always within their right to say no. Don’t get offended. They need to live, and these are the services that allow them to do that. Ask nicely. Don’t insult them. And if you can’t come up with an agreement that works for everyone, well, then it’s just not a good fit. And that’s okay.

The truth is you can find any sort of an assistant for any rate you want. Just remember: You always get what you pay for. If you see something that feels too good to be true, it probably is

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