“I can’t afford a VA!” screamed countless small business owners since the day dot. All too often, they believe it’s a luxury way beyond their budget – yet for many, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
In this blog, we’re unpacking all aspects of hiring a virtual assistant – from sign up to pay cheque and everything in between – so you can see how affordable it might be for your business.
Virtual Assistant Cost Myths, Busted
One of the most pervasive myths about hiring a Virtual Assistant or an Administrative Assistant is the belief that it’s too expensive.
Many business owners, especially those running small or medium-sized enterprises, hesitate to hire a VA because they assume it will strain their budget beyond all recognition. And rightly so – whatever your business size, keeping your budget within your means is critical if you want to stay profitable.
However, hiring a VA can actually be one of the smartest and most economical business decisions you ever make! Let’s see why.
1. You only pay for what you need
Unlike a full-time, in-house employee, a VA provides the flexibility to work on an as-needed basis. This means you’re not committed to a fixed salary or ongoing benefits. Whether you need help for just a few hours a week or on a project-by-project basis, you only pay for the work that’s actually done. This pay-as-you-go model makes it easy to manage your budget and ensures that you’re getting the most value for your money. (And no upfront hiring costs either! KaCHING!)
2. No overhead costs
The clue is in the name. ‘Virtual’ assistants usually work remotely, otherwise they would be a Personal Assistant Or Executive Assistant (both of which work at your business premises). This means they use their own technical resources and pay their own overheads (rent, utility bills), which is a significant saving for your small business. And that’s money you can invest elsewhere – towards equipment, materials, marketing, or other critical areas.
3. Access to specialised skills
Many VAs have a specialism, allowing you to tap into high-level skills without the full-time commitment. This gives you all the expertise you need, precisely when you need it, without the expense or commitment of a full-time employee. And what if you need to plug more than one type of skills gap?
You can hire a VA once a month to run your accounts, another once a week to create marketing content, and another for a one-off half day to hit the phones for a sales campaign. Think how productive hiring a specialist VA can be for your business at any given time, based on your needs – it’s sure to save you money on wasted time.
4. You’ll feel PUMPED!
Did you honestly set up a business to do everything yourself? It’s likely you didn’t – and nor do you need to! Because doing so much yourself can genuinely drag you down, leaving you feeling negative towards your business or worse, completely burned out.
Why not free up your time and focus on the tasks that actually light you up? That way, you’ll enjoy your business all the more and make a success of any tasks which are yours to manage. That’s a much more productive way of getting business done!
Your Business Can’t NOT Afford a Virtual Assistant!
If you’ve been hesitant about hiring a VA because of cost concerns, it’s time for a mind pivot.
Instead of thinking purely of the outlay, consider the time, money, and energy you could save by investing in a Virtual Assistant (or several) to support your business. In the long run, this investment could be one of the most economical and impactful decisions you ever make. Not least, it will help you to enjoy the best of your business – and that can feel priceless.
Now, you just need to decide what tasks you would like to delegate the most!