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How to Hire a Virtual Assistant for $2 an hour?

Updated on : 06-Mar-2024 04:29 PM

Did you know you can hire a Virtual Assistant for as little as $2 an hour?

In fact, not only can you hire virtual assistants, but you can even find and hire virtual staff specializing in SEO, digital marketing, programming, content, blogging, social media, and graphic design.

Don't get me wrong, if you want to hire someone who has the experience, and is a specialist in an area such as graphic design, bookkeeping, digital marketing, etc., then don't expect to pay $2 per hour. Instead, set a $4.00-$10.00 per hour budget to find and attract the best quality applicants.

What type of virtual assistant can you hire for $2 per hour?

If you're looking for cheap virtual assistants, outsourcing to the Philippines might be a good option as you can find someone to do basic tasks for as little as $2 per hour.

However, keep in mind that hiring someone solely based on their low rate might result in lower quality work and skills.

You could hire a VA of entry-level, or someone to do copy and paste stuff, or perhaps even basic admin or cold calling for $2.00 to $4.00 per hour in the Philippines.

However, you can't hire somebody skilled with a lot of experience, and when you pay $2 per hour, you will see a decrease in skills.

To get the best understanding of how hiring VAs or remote staff works, you can check out the Philippines outsourcing guide to doing it right. 

It's a more in-depth article that shows you how to not mistakes and successfully outsource to the Philippines, whether that's hiring virtual assistants or any virtual staff for that matter.

How to hire virtual assistants in the Philippines who are of the same quality as employees in the USA?

First, you need to decide what skills and experience you need your virtual assistant to have. You also need to remember this critical point that I will explain below.

Living for a reasonable middle-class lifestyle in the Philippines costs around 1/3 to 1/5 of the USA.

I mean, cars, internet, fuel, groceries, electricity, mortgage, school fees for kids all still need to be paid in the Philippines, just like they would for a regular family in the USA, UK, Australia, etc.

Suppose you want to hire great virtual assistants. In that case, I'd suggest you look to pay a minimum of $3.50 per hour, but more realistically set your budget at between $4.00-$10.00 per hour when you hire a VA, which would be around 1/4 of what you would expect to pay a decent quality employee locally in the states.

Of course, in addition to the salary savings, you are also saving a lot of money on all the other associated costs that come with hiring local employees in America or any country in the west, for that matter.

Hiring a virtual assistant is different from hiring traditional freelancers. This article may well be a game-changer in the way you look at the process of outsourcing and what it can do for you and your company.

I'd strongly suggest that you take a couple of minutes and read the step-by-step guide to hiring virtual assistants. It's an in-depth article that shows you everything you need to know about virtual assistants and remote staff.

Why do virtual assistants in the Philippines speak English? It's in Asia, right?

The Philippines is unique amongst Southeast Asian countries because it's hugely Americanized. I mean, basketball, for example, is popular here.

In addition to that, it is a former colony or territory of the USA, and even its constitution is written in English.

Kyle, a Filipino virtual assistant, guest contributed an article that explains why Filipino virtual assistants speak English. It's a fascinating read, especially if you don't know much about the history of the Philippines.

I highly recommend reading it, as it'll help you understand why the Philippines is the best place in the world to outsource to.

Is It Ethical To Pay Somebody $2/Hour?

Yes, it is. The reason it's ethical is because of the following:

  • In a free market, as long as both parties are happy with the offer and the deal, then it's great to hire cheap virtual assistants.
  • The worker you hire for $2/hour is paid to do entry-level work and very basic tasks. Skilled workers in digital marketing or accountancy will require significantly higher pay. (Remember, even with higher pay, you're still looking to save around 80% on what it would cost you to hire a local employee).
  • $2.00 per hour in the Philippines is the same as paying someone minimum wage to flip burgers in America.

As I mentioned earlier in the article, I don't suggest that you can hire a VA that is highly skilled and specialized for $2.00 per hour.

To get the level of quality that can replace local employees without compromising on the skill, you must know how much to pay virtual assistants in the Philippines. Remember that this will typically mean budgeting for around 1/3-1/5 of what the equivalent skilled employee would cost you in the USA.

That's a general rule of thumb, but it's served me well, and thousands of business owners and entrepreneurs are currently outsourcing to the Philippines and hiring cheap virtual assistants.

You can directly see the current asking salary rates by browsing thousands of virtual assistants on the VirtualStaff.ph Philippines outsourcing marketplace.

Benefits of Hiring Virtual Assistants from the Philippines

Outsourcing tasks to virtual assistants in the Philippines offers a myriad of benefits for businesses seeking efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and specialized skills. Here are some compelling reasons why hiring virtual assistants from the Philippines can be advantageous:

1. Cost-Effectiveness:

The cost of living in the Philippines is lower than in many Western countries. As a result, businesses can leverage this economic difference to access skilled professionals at a fraction of the cost required to hire locally.

2. English Proficiency:

English is widely spoken in the Philippines, making communication seamless for businesses whose primary language is English. This linguistic compatibility is crucial for tasks involving content creation, customer support, and other communication-dependent roles.

3. Cultural Affinity:

The Philippines shares a cultural affinity with Western countries due to its history as a former American colony. This cultural alignment often leads to a better understanding of Western business practices, making collaboration smoother and more effective.

4. Global Talent Pool:

The Philippines boasts a diverse pool of skilled professionals, from entry-level virtual assistants to specialists in fields such as digital marketing, programming, and graphic design. This allows businesses to tap into a wide range of expertise based on their specific needs.

5. Time Zone Advantage:

The Philippines operates in a time zone that aligns with or is close to many Western countries. This can facilitate real-time collaboration, timely responses, and improved workflow efficiency.

6. Flexible Working Hours:

Virtual assistants in the Philippines often exhibit flexibility in working hours to accommodate different time zones. This adaptability can be particularly beneficial for businesses with dynamic or unconventional schedules.

7. Quality Work Output:

While cost-effective, hiring virtual assistants from the Philippines does not compromise on quality. Many professionals in the country are well-educated, experienced, and committed to delivering high-quality work.

8. Scalability and Resource Optimization:

Outsourcing to the Philippines allows businesses to scale their operations quickly without the challenges of hiring and training an in-house team. This scalability promotes resource optimization, ensuring that the workforce aligns with the company's evolving needs.

9. Reduced Overhead Costs:

By hiring virtual assistants, businesses can significantly reduce overhead costs associated with office space, equipment, and other facilities. This cost-saving strategy contributes to improved profitability.

10. Focus on Core Competencies:

Delegating routine and time-consuming tasks to virtual assistants enables business owners and professionals to focus on core competencies, strategic planning, and activities that directly contribute to business growth.

How to hire virtual assistants on VirtualStaff.ph?

DIY Method: Best if you want the most cost-effective solution and don't need an outsourcing professional's help to hire a VA.

Choose from thousands of virtual assistants. You can post a job for free, see how many applicants apply, then upgrade to the business membership with a risk-free guarantee. Once upgraded, you can contact as many virtual assistants as you want, in addition to posting multiple jobs.

Why do customers use VirtualStaff.ph?

You can post jobs, hire a VA, manage staff, and pay your virtual assistants, all in one easy-to-use dashboard!

Enterprise solution: Best if you want the help of a professional outsourcing provider

  1. Our recruitment specialists (with years of experience) will find you the best virtual assistant in the Philippines.
  2. You'll get your own Client Success Manager to hold your hand through the entire process—an expert in your corner.
  3. The Virtual Assistants all undergo rigorous background checks.
  4. Legal protections & compliance: We onboard the staff with our Philippine legal entity before assigning them to work for you. This means we can enforce contracts and ensure you're 100% protected!

See how Virtual Staff enterprise solution can help you outsource to the Philippines.

As you can see, both the DIY and the Enterprise option have their advantages. The enterprise outsourcing option starts at around $5.80 per hour. It includes everything listed above, such as staff salary, your client success manager, HR, legal and compliance, and other such stuff.

Which option is best?

It ultimately depends on your situation. I'd suggest that you look at both options and decide if it's worth paying a little more for the extra peace of mind and legal protections.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, and only you know what the best decision for you and your business is.

pen
Michael Brodie
Helping make outsourcing to the Philippines easy for everyone. Michael is the Founder of VirtualStaff.ph - "The Philippines Outsourcing Marketplace".

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