What UK Small Business Owners Want from a Virtual Assistant

25 July 2025

What Small Business Owners Want from a Virtual Assistant

Running a small business in the UK is no easy task. You’re the boss, the bookkeeper, the customer service rep and sometimes even the cleaner. When you wear that many hats, admin can easily take a backseat. But ignoring it? That’s damaging and not sustainable. So, what do UK small business owners want from a virtual assistant?

An online article from Lucy Brimble of The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/business-owner-admin-tasks-hours-b2391474.html shows that UK small business owners need an average of 4 hours a day on admin tasks alone.

That’s 20 hours a week—just to stay on top of emails, bookkeeping, diary management, and all the behind-the-scenes jobs that keep the wheels turning.

It’s no surprise that more UK business owners are turning to Virtual Assistants (VAs) for admin support. But what exactly are they looking for?

Why Admin Becomes a Burden

Admin isn’t the most exciting part of running a business. But it is essential. When it piles up, it causes real stress, slows down growth, and eats into the time you could spend actually running your business.

Here are just a few common obstacles small business owners face:

Too many hats, not enough time
From managing client work to marketing and invoices, it’s a constant juggle.
Inconsistent workflows
You might have processes in your head, but they’re not documented—or worse, not working.
No time to delegate
You want help, but training someone sounds like another job in itself.
Fear of losing control
It’s hard to hand over tasks when it feels like no one else will do them ‘just right’.
Admin overwhelm
Emails, follow-ups, reminders, payments, receipts, compliance.

Sound familiar?

What Small Business Owners Really Want from a VA

You’re not just looking to outsource the admin tasks. You want support that feels like a natural extension of your business. What is important to you and your business, what matters most?

Regaining time. Whether it’s planning your next launch or simply taking a proper lunch break, VAs help by clearing the admin backlog and keeping things moving.

A Reliable, Proactive Virtual Assistant. You want someone who’ll spot a gap in your calendar and fill it. Someone who’ll chase invoices, follow up on that email, or gently nudge you when a deadline’s creeping up.

UK-Based Knowledge and Context. Understanding HMRC deadlines, GDPR compliance, VAT returns, UK holidays, and how British clients like to be communicated with.

Flexibility Without the Faff. A good VA adapts to your business flow—whether that means weekly check-ins, monthly bookkeeping, or help during busy weeks or months.

Someone Who Understands Your Business. It’s not just about skills—it’s about personality fit. Your VA should understand your goals, your tone of voice, and what done well means to you.

How a Virtual Assistant Can Help

Here’s where a UK Virtual Assistant can step in to lighten the load:

Managing inboxes and flagging priority emails
Scheduling meetings, calls, and reminders
Formatting documents and proofreading
Handling invoicing, expenses, and chasing payments
GDPR compliance checks and process documentation
Creating systems so you’re not trying to remember how you did a project 3 months ago

Imagine what you could do with 20 extra hours a week…

If admin is taking over your week, it might be time to stop drowning in it and start delegating. A VA isn’t a luxury—it’s a smart investment in your time, energy, and growth.

💬 Ready to Reclaim Your Time?

If you’re a small UK-based business owner and want to free up your schedule, streamline your workload, and get a handle on the admin chaos—I’d love to help.

👉 Let’s have a chat about what you need and how I can support you.

Contact Me