A virtual assistant is a person who offers support services to businesses or individuals from a remote location, that is, on a non-face-to-face basis. With the development of technology, the internet offers an increasingly broad range of job opportunities. The possibility of working remotely has made virtual assistance a standard service for small and large businesses, and even for individuals who need help managing their daily tasks.
The cost of virtual assistant hourly rate depends mainly on the type of duties and the volume of work. The average hourly rate is $20/h, but can range from $10/h to $55/h.
What is a virtual assistant?
Virtual assistants are independent professionals who provide administrative, creative, and technical support to clients in all industries remotely.
What features does virtual assistance include?
In theory, a virtual assistant can perform the same functions as a person working in an office. This often includes diverse tasks, such as marketing services, web design, and other related functions.
In this sense, two types of virtual assistants can be distinguished: those who specialize in a multidisciplinary set of tasks, and those who perform several specific tasks in a particular area of work.
In practical terms, some of the tasks that virtual assistants can perform are:
- Agenda management and planning
- Project management
- Communication with other services contracted by the client, such as management, legal services or other types of providers
- Invoice management (issuance, sending, receiving, payment, etc.)
- Budget management (preparation, comparison, sending, etc.)
- Customer management for loyalty, customer service, or database registration
- Management of communication channels, such as email, calls or social networks
- Organizing and updating files
- Stock control
- Claims handling
- Report preparation
- Planning trips, events, or meetings
- Basic digital marketing tasks
- Search for collaborators
- Translation
- Graphic design
- Technical support
- Blog management
- Article editing
What factors influence the price of virtual assistance?
Generally, the price of virtual assistance is quite flexible, depending primarily on the negotiation process between both parties. Although numerous variables can influence this, the main parameters determining these services’ price are as follows.
Rate type
Although the hourly rate for a virtual assistant service can range from $10 to $55, this isn’t the only way to budget. Some companies and professionals calculate their prices on a monthly or project-by-project basis.
In terms of monthly price, this usually ranges from $250/month to $1500/month, depending on whether it is a part-time or full-time service, for one or more days a week, with a greater or lesser workload, etc.
Type of service
In many cases, the price of virtual assistance varies depending on the type of tasks to be performed. Not all services require the same level of responsibility or expertise, so the same assistant working the same number of hours per month may charge more for the service depending on what they need to do during the day.
Training and experience
When setting their prices, virtual assistants should consider their training and experience: whether they have professional degrees, whether they have completed any specialization, how many years of professional experience they have, whether they speak other languages, or whether they have any professional certifications. All of these points are guarantees of the quality of the work, which, understandably, will influence the value of the service.
Equipment and software
Performing certain tasks may require the use of electronic equipment or specific software, which, depending on the case, will entail additional licensing costs for the professional.
That is, the use of some programs and applications entails a monthly fee that, depending on the case, may be borne by the contracting party (for example, if its use is exclusive to that client) or be an amount integrated into the price of the service (if, for example, the tool is used to provide service to several clients).
Deadlines
The timeframe that the contracting party determines for the virtual assistant to complete their tasks can significantly influence the value of the service they provide.
If the project is requested urgently, the price will likely be higher, as it may require restructuring your work schedule or working more hours each day to meet the deadline. However, if the project has a more extended timeframe that allows for self-organization, the price will not change.
Plans
In some cases, services are offered as closed-package plans or packages, which can be convenient if you need virtual assistance for a specific purpose. Some of the most popular plans include:
- Email marketing services
- Webinar Support Services
- Billing services
- Administrative services
- Telephone support services
- Chat support services
In short, the greatest advantage of hiring this type of service is its flexibility, as you can hire an unlimited number of services tailored to your needs at any given time.
Since you can pay by the hour, month, or project, expenses are also more flexible, unlike with a fixed-term contract. This also enables the growth of virtual assistants, who can be delegated more tasks as the business grows or the quality of their services is proven.