Three Hiring Arrangements for Virtual Assistants
Three Hiring Arrangements for Virtual Assistants
Outsourcing is a learned skill, and it's best to ease into it gradually. When working with a Virtual Assistant (VA), there are three common hiring arrangements that allow you to start small and scale up as you gain comfort and experience.
1. Task-Based
This is the best starting point for learning the ropes of delegation. In this arrangement, you assign your VA an individual task with a specific deadline and a maximum number of hours.
- Pros: Low commitment, pay only for the work you need.
- Cons: Higher hourly rate, less predictable availability.
2. Part-Time
Once you have a steady stream of work and are comfortable delegating, you can move to a part-time arrangement. In this model, a VA is dedicated to you for a set number of hours per week (e.g., 10, 20, or 30).
- Pros: Lower hourly rate than task-based, more predictable availability.
- Cons: Requires a consistent workload to keep the VA busy.
3. Full-Time
A full-time VA is a significant commitment, but it can be a powerful asset for a growing business. This arrangement offers the lowest hourly rate, but it requires a large and consistent workload to be cost-effective.
- Pros: Lowest hourly rate, fully dedicated resource.
- Cons: High level of responsibility, requires a large and consistent workload.
By starting with a task-based arrangement and gradually moving to part-time and full-time as your needs grow, you can ease into the world of outsourcing and build a successful long-term relationship with your VA.