As a small business owner, you understand the value of your time. Every hour is filled with admin, emails, invoicing, planning, chasing information, posting on social media, or organising the never ending list of tasks. It’s easy to reach the end of the week and wonder why you haven’t started the project you really wanted to work on.
This is often the point at which small business owners begin to consider working with a Virtual Assistant. But one of the first questions that usually comes up is: how much does it cost to work with a Virtual Assistant?
The answer is that the cost is far more flexible and approachable than you think.
The Cost Of Working With A Virtual Assistant
Most Virtual Assistants in the UK charge an hourly rate or offer monthly support packages. For a professional, experienced VA, you can expect rates to sit between £30 and £50 per hour, depending on the level of expertise and the type of work required.
Many business owners choose a retainer package so they know exactly how many hours of support they have each month. These packages often start from 10 hours per month and can be scaled up based on your needs.
If you need more flexibility because you’re not sure how much time you need per month, you can work with a VA on an ad hoc basis. If you want to start with 5 hours per month, that’s fine. There’s no pressure to try and provide tasks that perhaps you don’t want to pass on yet. Once you feel more comfortable, you can discuss further tasks with your VA. This means you only pay for the time you actually need, and you don’t have the overheads that come with hiring a full-time employee.
Why It Saves You Money In The Long Run
A Virtual Assistant may feel like an additional cost at first glance, but when you break down what you gain, it becomes clear just how cost-effective the support can be:
You avoid employee overheads
There is no holiday pay, pension contributions, equipment costs or office space. You simply pay for productive, specific, focused work.
You eliminate wasted hours
Think about how much time gets lost to admin or tasks outside your expertise. A VA can take these on efficiently, freeing you to focus on higher value work.
You become more organised
Missed deadlines, forgotten follow ups and disorganised systems can quietly cost a small business money. A VA helps streamline your processes so things run more smoothly and reliably.
You free up head space
Having someone manage your admin reduces decision fatigue and stress. That clarity often leads to better business decisions and stronger performance.
It Saves You Something Even More Valuable: Time
Time is the one thing you can’t get back. With a Virtual Assistant:
- Your evenings stop being taken over by admin
- Your weekends become yours again
- You have more space for family and friends
- You gain breathing room to think about the bigger picture for your business
These benefits often have a positive knock on effect on your wellbeing and your motivation to grow your business.
A Smoother, More Organised Working Life
One of the biggest advantages of working with a Virtual Assistant is the noticeable lift in day-to-day organisation. Whether it is managing your inbox, setting up systems, handling client communication, preparing documents, chasing payments, or keeping track of your diary, a VA helps you feel in control rather than constantly playing catch up.
Why 2026 Is The Perfect Time To Get Admin Support
The end of the year is the ideal moment to reflect on how you want to work in the future. Planning ahead now means you can enter 2026 with systems that work for you, clearer routines, and support already in place.
If you’ve spent the past year thinking you need more time, more support, or simply more breathing room, starting the new year with a Virtual Assistant could make all the difference.
In Summary
Don’t just take my word for it; there are lots of articles out there praising the benefits of working with a Virtual Assistant and explaining what a useful and cost-effective outsourced service it is for small business owners. An article from One-Source also discusses the benefits and how much it costs to work with a Virtual Assistant https://www.one-resource.com/employee-versus-virtual-assistant-employment-whats-the-true-cost/
Working with a Virtual Assistant is not a luxury. It is a practical, cost-effective way for small business owners to reclaim time, work more efficiently, and reduce stress. The cost is flexible, the support is tailored, and the benefits reach far beyond your business.
If you’re ready to make 2026 a smoother, more organised and more balanced year, exploring how a Virtual Assistant can support you may be the best place to begin.
If you would like to chat about how this could work for your business, feel free to get in touch – I am always happy to help.
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