Virtual Assistant or Office Employee? Which Is Best for You?
As your business grows, you’ll need extra hands. A virtual assistant (VA) and an office employee can do similar work for you.
A VA can give your business extra value while saving money. But VAs have downsides too. For example, they may live in a different time zone, so urgent tasks can be harder to get done right away.
So which is right for you? Here are the main differences, with the pros and cons of each.
Virtual assistant vs. employee: the differences
| Virtual assistant | Office employee | |
|---|---|---|
| Who they are | An independent contractor, freelancer or self-employed person | Works under an employment contract |
| Where they work | Remotely, usually from home | At your business premises |
| How they’re paid | For work done, by the hour or per project | A fixed salary |
| Cost | Lower. No payroll taxes, benefits, office space or equipment. VAs use their own tools. | Higher. Taxes, office and equipment, payroll, and benefits such as health cover, sick pay and holiday pay |
| Training | Little needed. VAs keep their skills up to date at their own cost. | You pay for induction and ongoing training |
| Hiring | Quick and simple, as and when you need help | A longer hiring and replacement process, usually for a set role |
| Schedule | Flexible | Fixed working hours |
| Communication | Can be slower, especially across time zones | Quick, face-to-face conversations |
| Tracking work | Through reports and tools rather than in person | Easier to see day to day |
| Relationship | No in-person contact | In-person contact helps build relationships |
So, which one is best for you?
It depends on your needs, how complex your tasks are and your budget. If you need flexible help with admin, operations or projects without the cost of a full-time hire, a VA is often a great fit.
With Bridge Imara, you buy hours up front and get a report every Monday showing work done, hours used and hours left, so you always know what you’re paying for. See our prices.
Not sure which is right for your business?
Book a free 30-minute call. We’ll talk through your tasks and help you decide.
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