Traditional vs Virtual Assistant - What's the Difference?

There are lots of things to consider when deciding whether to hire an in-person or virtual assistant. Here is our breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of both: 

Virtual Assistant Benefits: 

• Virtual assistants usually cost less on average and come with lower overhead.
• Since the majority of your communication is virtual, you have the freedom to work with a VA from wherever you are
• VA’s are typically self-employed and do not require you to provide benefits like health insurance or paid time off. 
• Using virtual assistants allows you to pick and choose the skills you need and can save you costs on training and supervision.
• Virtual assistants can work from anywhere, so they typically take less time off and are more readily available.​​​

Virtual Assistant Disadvantages:

• Generally, VA’s work with multiple clients simultaneously, so your work might not be the only thing they have to focus on. This can mean slightly less availability on average and longer response or task completion times. 
• Virtual assistants tend to have slightly higher hourly rates than in-person assistants. 
• When using large online platforms to recruit virtual assistants, it can be troublesome to verify references and experience (working with an agency can alleviate this problem).
• You do not have the option to train, meet with, or interact with your virtual assistant in person.
  
  

In-Person Assistant Benefits:

• When working with an in-person assistant you can ensure that you are their only client, meaning you will receive 100% of their time.
• Ability to meet, train, and work in person. 
• In-person assistants can work on your set time schedule and are more able to transition to full-time work if needed.
  
  

In-Person Assistant Disadvantages:

• In-person assistants will cost you more than a virtual assistant over time. 
• In-person assistants will likely require at least a base level of benefits, including medical, retirement, and paid time off.
• You will be responsible for paying for training your in-person assistant, especially if they are new or inexperienced.
  
  

Deciding whether you’d rather have an in-person or virtual assistant can be a challenging decision. Think about how much work you really need done, whether you work in-person or remotely (and if you’d like to transition into one or the other in the near future), and what your budget parameters are. If you are still unsure, schedule a free consultation with us here to chat about your options in more detail. ​