Is a Part Time Virtual Assistant Worth It?

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Wondering if a part time virtual assistant is a good hire for your business? 

You can hire virtual assistants part time and full time and still get remarkable results.

My name is Connor Gillivan. I’m an Owner and the CMO of Outsource School, EcomBalance, and AccountsBalance. With my last company, I hired 45+ virtual assistants and scaled to 8 figures with an exit in 2019.

I’ve hired virtual assistants part time, full time, and everything in between.

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about hiring a part time virtual assistant.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

  • Is It Possible to Be a Part Time Virtual Assistant?
  • What Does a Part Time Virtual Assistant Do?
  • What Is The Hourly Rate for a Virtual Assistant?
  • How Many Hours Does a Part Time Virtual Assistant Work?
  • Case Study: How A Part Time VA Helped Us Get More Done Faster
  • Part Time VAs vs Full Time VAs

Let’s get started!

Is It Possible to Be a Part Time Virtual Assistant?

Are you wondering if you can dip your toes into the virtual assistant waters without diving in headfirst?

Well, the short answer is yes! It is absolutely possible to hire a part-time virtual assistant.

In fact, many virtual assistants start out part-time while they build up their skills and client base.

This can be a great way to for them to test the waters and see if being a virtual assistant is the right fit for them.

One of the great things about hiring a virtual assistant is the flexibility they have. They can work as much or as little as you want, depending on what you need for your business.

So, whether they’re a stay-at-home parent, a student, or just looking for a side hustle, you can find extremely smart part-time virtual assistants.

Of course, hiring a part-time virtual assistant does come with its own set of challenges. You’ll need to be organized and efficient with your time to make sure you’re helping the virtual assistant be as efficient as possible.

What Does a Part Time Virtual Assistant Do?

part time virtual assistant

Some common tasks that part-time virtual assistants might be asked to handle include:

  • Email management: This could involve everything from responding to emails on behalf of your client to sorting through their inbox and flagging important messages.
  • Scheduling: As a part-time virtual assistant, they might be responsible for managing their client’s calendar, scheduling appointments and meetings, and sending reminders.
  • Data entry: Some clients may need help with data entry, such as inputting information into spreadsheets or databases.
  • Social media management: If you have a social media presence, the VA may be responsible for managing the accounts, creating posts, and responding to comments.
  • Research: You may ask the VA to conduct research on a particular topic, such as market trends or competitor analysis.
  • Customer service: You can hire a VA to be responsible for handling customer service inquiries, such as responding to emails or chat messages.

The opportunities are endless.

Check out this guide for more inspiration: 30 Tasks a Small Business Virtual Assistant Can Take On.

The most important thing is to set the expectations clear upfront and make sure they’re good at communicating. 

Want to learn more about hiring a virtual assistant? Check out this video from Travis Marziani.

What Is The Hourly Rate for a Virtual Assistant?

The hourly rate for a virtual assistant can vary widely depending on several factors, including their level of experience, the tasks you need them to perform, and their location.

Generally speaking, though, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $75 per hour.

At the lower end of the scale, you might find virtual assistants who are just starting out and are willing to work for a lower rate to gain experience.

These VAs might be based in countries with a lower cost of living, which can also contribute to their lower rates.

On the higher end of the scale, you’ll find more experienced virtual assistants who specialize in a particular area, such as social media management or bookkeeping.

These VAs may have advanced skills and certifications that justify their higher rates.

Here are some factors that can impact the hourly rate for a virtual assistant:

  • Experience level: As with any profession, the more experience a virtual assistant has, the more they’ll likely charge.
  • Geographic location: Virtual assistants based in areas with a higher cost of living may charge more than those in lower-cost areas.
  • Task complexity: If you need a VA to perform more complex tasks, such as bookkeeping or web development, you can expect to pay a higher rate.
  • Task volume: If you have a large volume of work that needs to be done, you may be able to negotiate a lower hourly rate.

Overall, the hourly rate for a virtual assistant is an investment in the success of your business.

By outsourcing administrative tasks to a VA, you can free up your time to focus on growing your business and increasing your revenue.

So, don’t be afraid to shop around and find a virtual assistant who offers the skills and experience you need at a rate that works for your budget!

How Many Hours Does a Part Time Virtual Assistant Work?

part time va

The number of hours a part-time virtual assistant works can vary depending on several factors, such as their availability, your budget, and the workload you have for them.

In general, though, a part-time virtual assistant usually works between 5 and 30 hours per week.

Here are some factors that can impact how many hours a part-time virtual assistant works:

  • Availability: If your virtual assistant has other clients or commitments, their availability may be limited. You’ll need to work with them to establish a schedule that works for both of you.
  • Budget: The number of hours a part-time virtual assistant works can depend on your budget. If you have a smaller budget, you may only be able to afford a few hours per week.
  • Workload: The number of hours a part-time virtual assistant works can also depend on the workload you have for them. If you have a lot of tasks that need to be done, you may need to hire them for more hours.

It’s important to note that even if a part-time virtual assistant works fewer hours than a full-time assistant, they can still be incredibly valuable to your business.

By outsourcing administrative tasks to a part-time VA, you can free up your time to focus on revenue-generating activities, such as marketing and sales.

Case Study: How A Part Time VA Helped Us Get More Done Faster

A few years ago when I started hiring VAs, my team and I were struggling to keep up with our workload.

We were constantly bogged down with admin tasks, such as scheduling appointments, responding to emails, and managing our social media accounts.

We knew we needed help, but we didn’t have the budget to hire a full-time assistant.

That’s when we decided to hire a part-time virtual assistant.

We found a VA who had experience in the areas we needed help with, such as social media management and email management.

We set her up with the tools and resources she needed to get started, and we established a clear set of expectations and deadlines.

The results were astounding. With our new virtual assistant taking care of administrative tasks, my team and I were able to focus on revenue-generating activities, such as marketing and sales.

We were able to get more done faster, and our business started to grow at a faster pace.

Not only did our part-time virtual assistant help us get more done, but she also brought a fresh perspective and new ideas to the table.

She was able to suggest new social media strategies and help us streamline our email management processes.

Overall, hiring a part-time virtual assistant was one of the best decisions we made for our business.

It allowed us to be more productive and efficient, while also freeing up our time to focus on what we do best.

Part Time VAs vs Full Time VAs

virtual assistant working

Full-time VA:

Pros:

  • More availability: A full-time VA will be available to work for you during regular business hours, so you can get more done in a shorter amount of time.
  • More consistency: You’ll have the same person working for you consistently, which can lead to better communication and a stronger working relationship.
  • More skills and experience: The VA may have more skills and experience, as they’ll have had more time to develop their abilities.

Cons:

  • Higher cost: They will generally be more expensive than a part-time VA, as you’ll need to pay for their salary, benefits, and other expenses.
  • Potentially more responsibility: You may need to provide more guidance and oversight, as they’ll be working for you more consistently.

Part-time VA:

Pros:

  • Lower cost: A part-time VA will generally be less expensive than a full-time VA, as you’ll only need to pay for the hours they work.
  • More flexibility: With a VA part time, you can adjust their hours and workload to suit your needs, which can be helpful if your business has seasonal or fluctuating demands.
  • Less responsibility: You may have less responsibility for managing and overseeing their work.

Cons:

  • Less availability: They may not be available to work for you during all of your business hours, which can be limiting.
  • Less consistency: You may be working with different people at different times, which can lead to communication challenges.
  • Potentially less experience: They may not have as much experience as a full-time VA, as they may not have had as much time to develop their skills.

What Is Outsource School?

outsource school

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

Conclusion

“Can you hire a virtual assistant part time?”

“Yes, you can!”

I hope that you believe this now as well.

Get out there, post a job, and start interviewing.

If you need help taking those steps, check out Outsource School.

It’s our exact hiring system that we’ve used to hire 100s of virtual assistants for our companies.

Happy virtual assistant hiring!

Want help outsourcing & hiring virtual assistants? We make it easy! Learn More, Speak w/ an Expert, or Request a Callback

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