How much does a virtual assistant cost? Through Skale Bak, $13 an hour for every role, which is $260 a week at 20 hours or $520 a week at 40.
That is the whole price. Finding the person, training them, their equipment and software, and a replacement if it does not work out are all inside the hourly rate.
If you have been doing the admin yourself after dinner, the better question is what that is already costing you. More on that at the end.
How much does a virtual assistant cost per month?
About $1,127 a month at 20 hours a week, or about $2,253 at 40. Billing is weekly for hours worked, so a month is 52 weeks divided by 12.
| Package | Hours a week | Per week | About per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part time | 20 | $260 | $1,127 |
| Full time | 40 | $520 | $2,253 |
There are only 2 packages: 20 or 40 hours a week.
What does the $13 an hour include?
Everything it takes to get a working assistant into your business and keep them there:
- Finding, screening and interviewing your candidates
- Your systems, written down and kept current
- Their training, equipment, software and backup power
- The same person every day
- A dedicated account manager
- A free replacement if it is not working
And there are costs you never pay: a placement fee, a setup cost or deposit, anything during recruitment, overtime, or a minimum term. The full list is on the pricing page.
Is a virtual assistant cheaper than hiring locally?
Yes, by about 70% for an executive assistant at 20 hours a week. A local hire at the published United States average wage costs about $3,793 a month once benefits, payroll tax, equipment, software and hiring are counted. Through us, the same 20 hours is $1,127.
| What you pay | Local hire | Skale Bak |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly cost to you | $41.33 (wage plus benefits and payroll tax) | $13 |
| Equipment, software, hiring | About $211 a month | Included |
| Monthly total at 20 hours | About $3,793 | About $1,127 |
Every figure, and where it comes from, is on how we work out the savings. The local figure also leaves out office space and the cost of hiring again when someone quits. With us, a replacement is free.
What does the price of a virtual assistant depend on?
Mostly on hours and on what is included. With us the rate never changes with the role, so the only choice that moves the price is 20 or 40 hours.
When you compare quotes from anywhere, check 4 things:
- What is in the rate. Ask whether recruiting, training, equipment and replacement are inside it. At Skale Bak they are.
- Fees before day one. Placement fees and deposits change the real first month.
- The contract. A long minimum term is a cost if it does not work out.
- Who carries the risk. If the person leaves, who pays to find and train the next one?
How much should you pay a virtual assistant from the Philippines?
Through Skale Bak, you pay $13 an hour and that is the whole cost to you. Recruiting, training, equipment and backup power are inside it. If you hire someone directly, the rate is only part of the cost. Owners tend to forget the hours spent recruiting, the training, the equipment and the cost of starting over when someone leaves.
If you are not sure yet what you would hand over, start with what to delegate to a virtual assistant first. Knowing the first job makes the number easy to judge.
Is a virtual assistant worth the cost?
Yes, when it gives you back hours for the work only you can do. At 20 hours a week it is $260, and the first week is refunded if it makes no difference.
Even Baklid founded Skale Bak after building a real estate team from 3 agents to 32. He frames the decision with one question:
"If you could duplicate yourself, would you make more money? That is what a great assistant does. They take the work you should not be doing off your plate, so your time goes into growing the business instead of catching up on admin at 7pm after dinner."
"Bringing on your first assistant can feel like a leap of faith. In my experience, it is a leap worth taking."
The first week carries a guarantee, so the leap is smaller than it looks. How it works walks through the 4 steps, and the Handover Playbook shows what an assistant can take first.
Questions people ask
Is there a setup or placement fee?
No. There is no placement fee, no setup cost, no onboarding fee and no deposit. You pay nothing until your assistant starts working.
Do different roles cost different amounts?
No. An executive assistant, a marketing associate and a custom role are all $13 an hour.
Is there a minimum contract?
No. There is no minimum term. You can leave with 30 days notice at any time.
What if the assistant is not the right fit?
If you do not feel the difference in the first week, we refund that week. And a replacement is free for as long as you work with us.