Recently we brought on two assistants to work with us on an entertainment industry project. Both assistants are American, but one is an actual assistant and the other is a "virtual assistant". Our goal for the month was to compare and contrast how successful the virtual assistant would be to the actual assistant in getting tasks done.
Every two weeks we pay the actual assistant $100 for making phone calls to potential contacts. They're not allowed to do anything else because of the haphazard way they have done things in the past. When they make their calls, they call us four times a day (at all kinds of hours) and ask us to write down what they did. Sometimes, after they're paid, we don't hear from them for a few days. Other times we're called to answer and resolve problems they have with their other clients. We are also routinely told we're getting them to work for us at a fraction of what they would charge other people despite them being paid at a rate both sides agreed to.
The virtual assistant we found through Elance.com. They were offering a free trial, so we decided to take them up on their offer. For the free trial, I gave them the same number of tasks the regular assistant has. We answered a few brief questions through email and then received an Excel spreadsheet with the finished tasks in two days. Two days! In two days they did what the real assistant takes two weeks to do. We were so impressed with their work that we brought them on as a regular assistant to work with us on the project. Thus far there have been no hassle and they don't even call with problems. If there is an issue, we get a brief email stating the problem. Their regular rate? $180 for 20 hours of work a month. $20 less than what the real assistant costs with none of the hassle.
Article comments
1 - Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary
$9 an hour for a VA and they're in the US? That is very low and doesn't seem correct to me. You're sure they weren't from another country with a lower cost of living?
You're right that a VA will get through things quickly and you are only charged $$ per hour for the work they do.
You mentioned the assistant had other clients - that sounds like to me they were also virtual and not operating in your own office. Or perhaps the terminology for that is different where you are?
2 - Paula Hill
In general, American VAs need to charge at least $25 p/hr to cover self-employment taxes and other overhead expenses. An American VA who only charges $9 p/hr is working way below minimum wage.
3 - Sherra Scott
I agree with the other comments that $9/hour for a US/Canada based VA is WAY low. While VAs are a wonderful asset to growing companies, we are business owners and are responsible for all our own overhead (taxes, equipment, insurance, etc.) $25-$40/hour is more the average for a VA performing administrative tasks.
4 - Agnes Ikotun
Virtual Assistants possess not only administrative know-hows but also specialized skills to support clients in areas of organization, creativity, design, marketing, computer programming and many other industry specific aspects.
5 - bliffle
What's the point of this article? I mean, other than that Pink is a cheapskate? He will probably get repaid in kind, possibly with fraudulent data.
Probably, all those VAs quit their VA jobs and flocked to work for that large retailer that Dave bragged was paying twice as much. Who is that retailer, Dave? I know a couple people who could use the jobs.
6 - Serial Entrepreneur / FT College Student
Great posting. I congratulate you on taking the step towards economizing your VA search. Don't worry about people attacking you for this (i.e. comment by 'bliffle" that says "pink is a cheapskate"). I have a blog that posts how I've paid people $3/hour for VA services that basically involve running my entire business! I agree with you pink. You're on the right track.
But Pink, I have hired people for 1/3 of the $9/hour your paying. Lets get in touch. Shoot me an email through my blog so we can talk about this.
Great posting. Ignore people's negativity. A global economy is the wave of the future!