Suppose you are currently expanding your business or just starting as an entrepreneur. In that case, most probably, a great deal of your time is focused on phone calls, doing research, paperwork, data entry, accounting, and other time-constrained tasks.
This can be addressed by hiring a virtual assistant to do those tasks for you.
Businesses outsourcing has been gaining popularity in recent years as more business owners opt to hire virtual assistants to aid them in running their companies.
So, you can fulfill these general or administrative tasks by hiring virtual assistants, and at the same time, you cut down costs in actually employing staff.
Generally, you can hire a virtual assistant (VA) to do administrative tasks.
Most General VAs are tasked with calendar management, appointment scheduling, preparing online meeting minutes, and filtering e-mails.
Most General VAs would need 20 hours to 40 hours a week to fulfill these duties.
If you were to assign this to an in-house administrative assistant, you would generally pay $18 per hour or more in the USA.
Plus, remember, you would need to spend for employee benefits, training and overhead costs, and payroll taxes.
However, if you were to hire, let's say, a Filipino General Virtual Assistant, the starting wage for someone skilled is around $3.00 to $4.00 per hour, with the average, experienced virtual assistant in the Philippines willing to work for a salary of between $4.00 and $6.00 per hour.
Paying a salary of $4.00 to $6.00 per hour might seem low according to your country's standards, but this rate is not based on American, Australian or British living costs.
In the Philippines, the cost of living for a decent middle-class lifestyle is about 1./3 of what it is in the UK or the USA.
Hopefully that puts it into perspective. I've created an e-book that you can download for free, THE ULTIMATE SALARY GUIDE FOR HIRING FILIPINO VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS AND THE COST OF OUTSOURCING TO THE PHILIPPINES
You can also hire a VA to do technical assistance for your company. Most of the VAs employed in this category are those programmers, web developers, and SEO specialists.
These VAs cost more, but given the training and experience these VAs had in this field, you know you are getting your money's worth.
Besides, when you hire an in-house programmer, developer, or SEO specialist, you will need to pay $20-$40 per hour plus employee benefits, training and overhead costs, and payroll taxes.
Whereas if you decide to hire skilled staff in the Philippines, you can employ somebody such as a CPA or an SEO specialist for perhaps $5.00 to $8.00 per hour.
You will need to pay more if you hire an experienced person with high-level skills. Browse Virtual Assistant profiles in our database and see what salaries, skills, and experience they have.
You also need to know that you are paying only for actual hours worked.
Let's say you employed a virtual assistant to do administrative tasks for you for 4 hours a day.
It's easy on an all-in-one virtual assistant marketplace such as VirtualStaff.ph. The VA will record the hours they work inside Virtual Staff Work Log.
You'll then get an invoice the following week for the agreed hours that the staff worked, plus you've got the proof that the virtual assistant worked!
Additionally, since tasks are delegated and done virtually, you can cut in-person office costs.
When hiring virtual assistants, whether inside your own country or on the other side of the world, you will only need to focus on delegating and assigning them tasks.
If you think about it, you can hire multiple virtual assistants to do most of your general administrative office tasks or provide you with technical assistance at a fraction compared to hiring employees.
More companies and entrepreneurs are drawn to the benefit of cutting costs by hiring VAs.
Let's have a look at the rise of VAs in detail:
Businesses are increasingly turning to virtual assistants to handle time-consuming tasks, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on strategic aspects of their companies. Outsourcing has become a game-changer, providing a cost-effective alternative to in-house staffing.
1. General Virtual Assistants for Administrative Tasks
Most commonly, entrepreneurs hire General Virtual Assistants (GVAs) to manage administrative duties. This includes calendar management, appointment scheduling, online meeting preparation, and email filtering. Typically requiring 20 to 40 hours a week, GVAs take on tasks that, if handled by an in-house administrative assistant, could cost significantly more.
Cost Comparison:
- In the USA: An in-house administrative assistant might demand $18 per hour or more, with additional expenses for benefits, training, overhead, and payroll taxes.
- In the Philippines: Skilled Filipino GVAs are willing to work for $3.00 to $6.00 per hour. Considering the lower cost of living, this rate is a competitive and economically sensible choice.
2. Technical Assistance from Virtual Assistants
For more specialized tasks like programming, web development, and SEO, businesses can hire Technical Virtual Assistants. While these VAs come with a higher price tag, their expertise justifies the investment.
Cost Comparison:
- In-House: Hiring a programmer, developer, or SEO specialist in your country could cost $20-$40 per hour, along with additional expenses for benefits, training, overhead, and payroll taxes.
- In the Philippines: Skilled technical VAs, such as CPAs or SEO specialists, can be employed for $5.00 to $8.00 per hour, providing significant savings without compromising quality.
The Benefits Beyond Cost Savings
1. Flexibility in Working Hours
When employing virtual assistants, you only pay for the actual hours worked. This flexibility allows you to tailor the workload according to your business needs. Whether you need assistance for a few hours a day or a full-time commitment, virtual assistants offer a scalable solution.
2. Task Delegation and Virtual Operations
Virtual assistants operate in a digital space, eliminating the need for physical office space and reducing associated costs. Delegating tasks becomes streamlined, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on their core responsibilities.
3. Proof of Work and Efficient Invoicing
Platforms like VirtualStaff.ph provide a transparent work log, offering proof of the hours worked by virtual assistants. Invoicing is straightforward, ensuring that you pay only for the agreed-upon hours.
As more companies and entrepreneurs recognize the advantages of hiring virtual assistants, the trend is set to continue. Whether you opt for a General Virtual Assistant to handle administrative tasks or a Technical Virtual Assistant for specialized roles, the cost savings and operational efficiency are undeniable.
One more thing. Do you want my team to help you hire the perfect Virtual Assistant?
If you want a hands-on, hold your hand every step of the way kind of approach. I'd suggest that you take a look at the Enterprise Solution.
