Alexis Kestler
A virtual assistant can be a game-changer for your business. With a skilled VA handling routine tasks and admin work, you free up more time to focus on core business activities.
But where do you find the best virtual assistants? And how do you pick the right platform for your needs?
This comprehensive guide explores the top 13 websites to hire a virtual assistant for your business. I‘ll highlight key features, services, and benefits of each platform to help you make the perfect match.
What is a Virtual Assistant?
First, let‘s clarify what a virtual assistant is.
A virtual assistant (VA) is an independent contractor who provides administrative, technical, or business support services virtually. They work remotely, usually from home, rather than on-site in your office.
Common virtual assistant duties include:
- Email management
- Calendar/appointment scheduling
- Data entry
- Customer service
- Bookkeeping
- Social media management
- Research
- Writing and content creation
- Graphic design
- Website maintenance
- Event planning
So in essence, a VA can take on a wide range of business tasks to help you operate more efficiently. They function as an outsourced assistant.
Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants offer many advantages for businesses and entrepreneurs:
Cost Savings
You only pay VAs for work completed, rather than having full-time employees on payroll. This significantly reduces labor costs.
Increased Productivity
By delegating time-draining administrative or technical tasks to a VA, you free up more hours in your day for high-level strategic work.
Focus on Strengths
Outsource tasks outside your core competencies to VAs who specialize in those skills. This allows you to play to your strengths.
Flexible Support
Scale virtual assistant hours up or down as your business needs change. You have flexibility you don‘t get from full-time hires.
Domain Expertise
Hire VAs with specialized expertise to complement your own skills and knowledge.
Access to TalentGlobally
You can potentially find and hire top virtual talent from anywhere in the world. This greatly expands your hiring pool.
No Office Space Needed
With remote VAs, you don‘t have to provide office space or equipment. They handle their own.
13 Top Virtual Assistant Companies to Check Out
Ready to find your perfect virtual assistant match?
Here are 13 reputable and experienced virtual assistant companies, covering options for any budget or business requirements:
1. Time Etc
Time Etc offers exceptional virtual assistants and remote staffing solutions for businesses worldwide.
With over 22,000 clients served, including major brands like Facebook and Google, they are a proven leader in the VA space.
Key features
- US and Philippines-based VAs
- English and bilingual options
- Starting at $14/hour
- Flexible contracts – hourly, weekly, monthly
- 100+ areas of expertise
From administrative tasks to specialized services like web development and digital marketing, Time Etc provides talented remote staff to meet any need.
They also handle rigorous screening, training, and management, so you benefit from a highly qualified VA matched to your requirements.
2. Belay
Belay is an award-winning virtual assistant service used by over 10,000 businesses. Their U.S.-based VAs average 10+ years of professional experience.
Key features:
- Easy monthly contracts, no minimums
- 360 support from onboarding to optimization
- Sample tasks to test options risk-free
- Specialized VAs (e.g. social media expert, web developer)
- Starting at $980/mo for 16 hours
From administrative assistance to bookkeeping and technical work, Belay offers reliable, dedicated remote staff to help your business thrive. Their matching process and onboarding support also set them apart.
3. Robert Half
Robert Half provides freelance administrative talent for on-demand or ongoing projects. Their international network accesses top virtual assistants worldwide.
Key features:
- Screened, trained VAs
- Flexible hourly options
- Expertise in 100+ skills
- Proprietary matching process
- Rates start around $30/hour
With 70 years in staffing, Robert Half has the experience to connect you to the best remote assistants for admin support, customer service, transactional work, and more.
4. 24/7 Virtual Assistant
24/7 Virtual Assistant offers dedicated US-based assistants for entrepreneurs and executives. Their VAs have 5-10+ years of experience in business admin, marketing, IT, and more.
Key features:
- Dedicated (non-shared) VAs
- Hourly rates from $25-$45
- 15% discount for 40+ hours/month
- Free trial on first project
- Specialized expertise available
- Live chat and screen share with VAs
For mission-critical work requiring consistency and dependability, 24/7 Virtual Assistant provides reliable, professional remote staff support. Expect excellent communication, responsiveness, and attention to detail.
5. Time Doctor
Time Doctor goes beyond a typical job board, offering managed services to oversee remote staffing. Features include:
- Global talent pool of pre-vetted VAs
- Activity tracking ensures payment for hours worked
- Built-in collaboration and communication tools
- Seamless talent onboarding
- Rates starting around $6/hour
For affordable overseas virtual assistants, Time Doctor provides the platform and project management oversight to ensure success. They guarantee results and take care of payments, freeing you up entirely.
6. Virtalent
Virtalent handpicks the top 1% of administrative talent to provide elite virtual assistant services. Their VAs average 15+ years of experience.
Key features:
- Dedicated assistant model
- Specialized expertise: social media, HR, property management, personal assistant services
- Custom packages and rates
- Premium support and project management
- Free consultation to match business needs
For mission-critical work, Virtalent offers total reliability and quality. Their highly experienced virtual assistants integrate seamlessly as your remote admin team.
7. Lexie
Lexie provides dedicated online personal assistant services for busy professionals. Rates start at $26.50/hour for 3-hour packages.
Key features:
- Assistants based in the U.S.
- Easy sign-up, no monthly fees
- Specialized in personal errands, tasks, scheduling
- Packages for home or business
- iOS and Android app to submit tasks
- Confidentiality guaranteed
Lexie offers a unique solution for reliable help around your home or office. Their VAs can quickly handle errands, organizing, paperwork, and other tasks so you can focus on priorities.
8. Magic
Magic delivers on-demand 24/7 virtual assistant help via chat/text. Think of them as your personal concierge.
Key features:
- Text requests anytime, get rapid solutions
- Specializes in research, scheduling, customer service queries
- Plans from $39/mo – $279/mo based on usage
- 100+ pre-screened assistants
- Completely virtual/mobile
- Money-back happiness guarantee
With its fast, convenient text-based platform, Magic makes getting assistance quick and easy. If you need real-time solutions for simple tasks, Magic offers responsive, affordable help around the clock.
9. FreedomVA
For expert virtual assistants based in the Philippines, FreedomVA is a top choice. With over 6,000 clients, they are a trusted leader in offshore staffing.
Key features:
- Starts at $399/mo for 5 hours daily
- Month-to-month contracts
- Guaranteed satisfaction
- Specialized VAs: social media, web development, design, etc
- Branded online portal for task management
- Scales to any number of employees
For affordable overseas virtual assistants, FreedomVA offers unparalleled quality. Their rigorous recruitment and training ensure an exceptional remote staff experience.
10. Fancy Hands
Fancy Hands provides US-based assistants-on-demand through its online platform. They specialize in everyday business tasks.
Key features:
- Vetted, U.S.-based assistants
- Per-task-based payment, no monthly fees
- Chrome extension for easy task submission
- Virtual reception and call handling
- Rates start around $5.50 per task
- Specializes in admin, research, data tasks
When you need fast, reliable help with miscellaneous daily tasks, Fancy Hands offers a handy virtual assistant solution. Their per-task model offers flexibility many other platforms can‘t match.
11. Assistants.com
With Assistants.com, you can browse profiles and select the best match for your needs from thousands of qualified candidates.
Key Features:
- Large pool of pre-screened assistants
- Custom tailor experience – select specialist skills, hours, etc
- Virtual and in-person options in major metro areas
- Full-service setup and support
- Hourly rates starting around $30
Assistants.com offers outstanding variety and customization. You can hand pick the perfect assistant for your needs from their extensive talent network.
12. Assistant Match
Assistant Match focuses on providing elite caliber live-in, live-out, or virtual assistant staffing. Candidates are rigorously screened and interviewed.
Key features:
- Assistant placements nationwide
- Thorough vetting and background checks
- Specializations: estate management, elderly care, childcare, personal assistance
- Custom packages with dedicated project managers
- Requirements gathering to identify perfect hires
For mission-critical personal assistance and estate management, Assistant Match offers exceptional thoroughness and quality. Their recruitment process and management support deliver tremendous value.
13. Upwork
Upwork provides freelance virtual assistant services, with access to a broad range of global talent and specializations.
Key features:
- Browse profiles, interview, hire your pick
- Hourly, per project, or ongoing contracts
- 24/7 chat and messaging with freelancers
- Feedback and ratings help identify best fits
- Affordable pricing, starts around $15/hr
If you value choice and flexibility, Upwork grants you access to an immense pool of freelance virtual assistant talent from around the world.
Key Considerations When Hiring a Virtual Assistant
When selecting a virtual assistant platform, keep these factors in mind:
Specialization
Look for VAs tailored to your field and skill needs (e.g. legal VAs, medical VAs, real estate VAs)
Language & Location
For some roles, native English fluency or specific location requirements are vital.
Platform Features
Evaluate options for task management, communication, collaboration, and payments.
Screening & Matching
Seek robust processes to pre-vet candidates and align them to your role.
Management Options
Some platforms provide management layers for oversight. This ensures work quality but adds costs.
Scalability
Make sure contracting and hours allow you to scale support up or down flexibly.
Cultural Fit
Cultural alignment and work ethic may be crucial for longer-term arrangements.
Security
Data privacy and security protocols should be reviewed for sensitive business or personal work.
Best Virtual Assistant Skills to Look For
Though specific skills depend on your needs, these traits make for the most effective virtual assistants:
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Proactive – Acts on own initiative, doesn‘t need constant oversight
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Organized – Structured, detail-oriented, meets deadlines
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Reliable – Dependable, gets work done as expected
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Discreet – Respects confidentiality, protects privacy
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Tech savvy – Comfortable with platforms required for the role
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Communicative – Responsive, keeps you updated on progress
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Problem solver – Resourceful at troubleshooting issues independently
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Self-starter – Motivated, disciplined, accountable
Prioritize skills and attributes that are hardest for you to manage remotely. The right strengths help a VA contribute as an independent extension of your team.
Tips for Working Effectively With Virtual Assistants
To set your virtual assistant partnership up for success:
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Provide detailed requirements and expectations upfront – Clarify workload, responsibilities, goals, etc
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Have a central system for task management – Shared to-do lists, project boards, chat tools all help
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Check progress regularly in the beginning – Frequent communication builds rapport and workflow
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Ask for feedback – Check-in to address any issues and improve collaboration
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Set communication norms – Agree on response time, channels (email vs phone vs chat) etc
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Document processes clearly – How to guides help onboard and train VAs efficiently
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Recognize achievements – Positive feedback and small incentives boost motivation
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Measure results – Track progress metrics so you can refine methods
With excellent communication, clear expectations, and proper onboarding, you can make the VA-client relationship very effective right off the bat.
Ready to Hire Your Virtual Assistant?
A skilled virtual assistant gives you freedom to focus on the priorities that matter – like growing your business. I hope this guide provided a helpful starting point to explore your options.
Now it‘s time to evaluate your needs, shortlist a few favorite platforms, and try out some top candidates to find the perfect fit.
When you delegate the right tasks to trained remote staff, mundane administrative burdens become a thing of the past. You open up valuable time and mental space to do more purpose-driven work.
So don‘t wait to start outsourcing. Discover firsthand how virtual assistants can transform your business and maximize productivity. The time and cost savings will be game-changing.
