Comparison of a VA to an Employee

When it comes to hiring help for your business, you have two main options: a virtual assistant or an employee. Both have their pros and cons, but which one is better?

Before deciding, it’s worth noting that both a Virtual Assistant (VA) and an employee bring something different to the table. A VA can be hired from anywhere in the world and can work remotely, meaning you don’t need to worry about providing office space or equipment. On the other hand, an employee is local and will be available for face-to-face meetings. What is best for your business will depend on your unique requirements.

Let’s take a look at some of the differences between a VA and an employee, and how that could affect your business:

Costs

Hiring an employee can be a daunting expense, with additional payments for things like benefits, taxes, pension contribution and office space. However, a virtual assistant offers an alternate solution that is both cost-efficient and practical. Not only do you pay solely for the hours they work, they also work remotely, saving the cost of having to provide a physical workspace. As well as that, since VAs are generally self-employed, they are responsible for their own taxes, benefits and pension contributions and they will provide their own equipment! Therefore, investing in a VA is a great way to take care of business without breaking the bank.

Flexibility

Since they’re not tied to a specific location or schedule, a VA can often accommodate last-minute requests or changes in workload. Plus, if you only need help for a few hours per week or month, it doesn’t make sense to hire an employee on a full-time, or even part-time basis. This flexibility is one of the main reasons why hiring a VA may be the best option.

Quality of Work

Some people might assume that an employee would be more dedicated and produce higher-quality work than a VA. However, this isn’t necessarily true. While many employees come with experience in their field of work, VAs are often highly skilled generalists who can offer a range of skillsets for whatever task needs completing. They may also specialise in certain areas (like social media management or bookkeeping), so they can often bring additional skills to your business.

Another advantage of working with a VA, because they are usually contracted rather than employed, is that they have a very strong motivation to work hard for the person they collaborate with and so they can be very loyal and committed workers.

Time Savings

The main advantage of hiring a VA is that they can help free up your time so that you can focus on important tasks. For example, if you’re a small business owner, you may find yourself constantly busy with administrative tasks like answering emails, making phone calls, and scheduling appointments. A VA can help take on these tasks so that you can focus on growing your business.

Although an employee can also do these tasks, by completely outsourcing it to a VA, you won’t be distracted by working alongside another person, and are less likely to be tempted to do some of the work yourself!

When is an Employee better than a VA?

Of course, there are some downsides to working with a VA. Communication can sometimes be more challenging when you’re not working in the same physical space. Also, if you need someone to be present for long periods onsite or to perform tasks that require physical presence (like running errands or answering phones), then an employee might be the better choice.

Weighing it up…

In the end, whether you choose to work with a VA or an employee depends on your specific needs and preferences. Ultimately, the decision boils down to your business needs and budget constraints. What works best for one business won’t necessarily work for another – so make sure you weigh up all your options before making your decision.

Remember, don’t underestimate the power of a good virtual assistant – they can provide excellent support and save you time and money in the long run. If you are looking for help with running your business, feel free to schedule a call!