Running a business can feel overwhelming—especially when you're trying to juggle emails, social media, customer support, bookkeeping, and more. That’s where virtual assistants (VAs) come in. A virtual assistant can help take over time-consuming tasks so you can focus on growing your business.
But how do you actually hire a reliable VA? Let’s break it down.
A virtual assistant is someone who provides administrative, technical, or creative support services remotely. They typically work from home or a co-working space and connect with you online using tools like Zoom, Slack, Trello, or Google Workspace.
Some common tasks VAs handle include:
Hiring a VA is a cost-effective way to grow your team without committing to a full-time in-house employee. Here’s why many business owners prefer VAs:
Whether you're launching a startup or planning to sell a small business, delegating repetitive tasks to a VA can boost your efficiency and business value.
Before you start looking for a VA, make a list of tasks you want to outsource. Ask yourself:
Be specific. For example, instead of saying “help with social media,” define it as “create 3 Instagram posts a week and schedule them using Buffer.”
Once you have a task list, group them by type—admin, content, technical, etc. This helps you define the role you’re hiring for.
Not all VAs charge the same. Rates depend on:
You can find entry-level VAs for $5–$10/hour from countries like the Philippines or India. More specialized VAs (with marketing, design, or tech skills) might charge $20–$50/hour or more.
Also decide:
Having this clarity saves time during hiring.
There are several platforms where you can find skilled VAs. Here are some top options:
If you prefer someone to handle the vetting, consider agencies like:
Agencies typically cost more but save you time in hiring and managing.
Search for Facebook groups like “Virtual Assistant Savvies” or “Online Jobs for Virtual Assistants.” You can also post job listings on LinkedIn.
When posting your job, be super clear about what you need. Include:
Example:
“We’re a small e-commerce brand looking for a VA to handle order processing, customer queries, and weekly email campaigns. Must know how to use Shopify and Mailchimp. 10 hours/week. $10/hour. Include ‘VA Rockstar’ in your subject line to be considered.”
This filters out people who don’t read carefully and makes hiring easier.
Shortlist 3–5 promising candidates and conduct short video interviews.
Things to ask:
Also, give them a small paid test task. For example: draft a customer support email or schedule a blog post in WordPress. This shows how they think and work.
Before locking into a long-term contract, offer a 2–4 week trial. This lets both parties test the waters. Be clear about:
Use this trial to build trust and refine expectations.
Even if your VA is great, miscommunication can derail everything. Here’s how to avoid that:
Also, give constructive feedback often. Appreciate their good work and share areas for improvement kindly and clearly.
Once your VA is integrated, track their performance:
If yes, consider giving them more responsibilities or hiring additional VAs for other departments like marketing, operations, or customer service.
Hiring a virtual assistant can be a game-changer for your business. It frees up your time, improves efficiency, and lets you focus on big-picture goals. Whether you're scaling up or preparing to sell a small business, a skilled VA can make your operations smoother and more professional.
Start small, hire smart, and build a long-term support system that grows with your business.