Tired of those endless to-do lists and wondering what it costs to hire a Virtual Assistant? You’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs struggle with a lack of time and are looking for efficient solutions. In this blog, you’ll learn about the different rates for a Virtual Assistant and why they vary so much.
With our years of experience, we can confidently say that Virtual Assistants are a valuable asset to businesses. At Moneypenny, we understand that every business is unique. That’s why we offer different rates and service levels to suit your needs and budget.
Curious about the rates and how a Virtual Assistant can strengthen your business? Then read on.
The cost of a Virtual Assistant can vary greatly and depends on several factors. One important factor is the type of work the VA performs. Specialized tasks such as project management, marketing strategies, or accounting are often more expensive than administrative tasks such as email management and scheduling. VAs with specialized skills typically charge higher hourly rates due to their expertise and experience.
The rates of Dutch virtual assistants average between €30 and €65 per hour, excluding VAT. Many VAs use a fixed hourly rate, but some also offer options such as prepaid packages or subscriptions. This can be advantageous, as the hourly rate is usually lower with a larger purchase of hours.
On the other hand, VAs in low-wage countries, such as India or the Philippines, charge significantly lower rates, usually between $8 and $15 per hour. While these rates may seem attractive at first glance, there are also drawbacks to outsourcing abroad. Language barriers and cultural differences can make communication difficult, which can ultimately affect the efficiency and quality of the work.
The type of contract also influences the cost. Freelance VAs (ZZP) usually have lower overhead costs than VAs who work through an agency. However, agencies often offer additional benefits such as replacement during illness or vacation and quality guarantees, which can justify their higher rates. Agencies can also offer a wider pool of VAs with diverse specializations, which can be useful for companies with varying needs.
In short, when choosing a VA, it’s important to look not only at the hourly rate, but also at the specific skills, experience, location, and type of contract. Together, these factors ultimately determine the value and cost of the service.
Do you want to assign structural tasks to your Virtual Assistant that require knowledge of the Dutch language and customs? Think of making appointments, managing your inbox, or calling warm leads. Then engage a Dutch Virtual Assistant. And yes, they cost more per hour; however, because you only need half a word, you more than earn back the extra costs.
View our rates hereYou might think that a freelance Virtual Assistant generally has a lower hourly rate than a VA agency, because a freelancer simply has low overhead costs. However, nothing could be further from the truth. The VA market is still developing and you see a huge variation in hourly rates. The market for Virtual Assistants has developed strongly in recent years. Where previously mainly basic tasks were performed at relatively low rates, nowadays specialized skills such as project management, digital marketing and accounting are on the rise. As a result, hourly rates have increased for VAs with this expertise.
It is now customary to be transparent about rates, so with a round of googling you quickly get an idea of the costs. Most freelance virtual assistants also work with subscription forms and prepaid packages. We recommend starting with a budget of hours, so that you are not faced with surprises afterwards.
Make sure you quickly get an idea of the productivity of your virtual assistant, so that you can estimate the hourly rate. A super efficient virtual assistant who charges €65 per hour can still be cheaper in the end than a VA who charges €35 per hour and takes twice as long to complete a task.
We work with a flexible subscription model, where you choose an entry level of 6, 14, 20, 30 or 60 hours per month. On top of that, you can always give your virtual assistant more work, we will then charge the extra hours afterwards on a monthly basis. With a larger subscription, you ultimately benefit from a lower hourly rate. You can switch between subscriptions, which can be useful if you have less work in the summer or winter months.
For a project or other complex request, we have customization. Or it may be that your question or request is more complex than one of our subscriptions. Together with you, we look at where the question and the need lies and who or which virtual assistant fits well with this. We have a diverse group of virtual assistants available, with numerous disciplines and expertise. If it is not with 1 virtual assistant, then it is a combination of 2 or 3 virtual assistants.
In this article, we have highlighted the different rates of a Virtual Assistant. A foreign VA, a freelancer or a VA agency all offer unique advantages, but the choice depends on your specific business needs.
A foreign VA may be cheaper, but the language barrier or cultural differences can throw a spanner in the works. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that, especially in the beginning, you quickly get an idea of the productivity of your Virtual Assistant, so that you can estimate the hourly rate of your VA.
Are you considering working with a Virtual Assistant? Then contact Moneypenny for a no-obligation introduction and discover how our services can increase your productivity and efficiency.
+31(0)20 42 60 760 