Tasks you can hand to a virtual assistant
- Inbox, calendar and travel management.
- Customer service by email, chat or phone.
- Data entry, CRM updates and reporting.
- Research, presentations and document formatting.
- Social media scheduling and basic design.
- Supporting your bookkeeper with receipts and invoices.
Set them up safely
- Use a password manager and give access only to what they need.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication for every shared account.
- Sign a confidentiality agreement and, where personal data is involved, a data processing agreement.
- Write down your processes so work stays consistent.
Hiring someone abroad directly? Check whether they are a contractor or an employee under local rules. Our guide to contractor or employee explains the tests.
Freelance VA, agency or dedicated team?
- Freelance VA: direct relationship, flexible hours.
- VA agency: vetted assistants, cover for holidays and a replacement if it isn’t working.
- Dedicated offshore or nearshore team: several people for larger, ongoing workloads, often managed by the provider.
What affects the cost
Skills and experience, hours, location and time-zone overlap, language requirements and whether you hire directly or through an agency. Assistants are usually paid hourly, or by a monthly package of hours.
Last updated: 16 October 2026
