More and more, companies are choosing to hire virtual assistants rather than in-house assistants. What’s really the difference? Which one will be better for a business? There are benefits of both a virtual assistant and in-house assistant, but there are also major differences. Here are some basic virtual assistant and in-house assistant differences.

Pay

Virtual assistants and in-house assistants make about the same hourly rate – between $20 and $75 an hour. The difference is with a virtual assistant, businesses don’t have to pay benefits. Hiring an employee can be expensive and many of those expenses do not apply to the services of an assistant.

Another difference in pay is that companies only pay VAs for the hours when actually work is being done. In-house employees are paid just to be at work whether they are on-task or not, VAs are only paid for the work they do.

Work Load

In-house assistants typically work an average of 30-40 hours a week. Businesses should not expect this from a VA. Virtual assistants only work about 10-30 hours a month. Which one is going to work for a company depends purely on how much work there is for the assistant to do. If the services of an assistant require nearly 30-40 hours worth of work, then an in-house employee may work better than a VA

Reasons to hire

Why someone wants an assistant should contribute to choosing between a virtual assistant and in-house assistant. If a company has a large office where clients visit, a receptionist or secretary might be a good idea. If the employer is just looking for someone to help with day-to-day tasks so they can focus more on the client, then a VA may be a better pick.

Type of Work

In-house assistance can help with whatever businesses need whenever businesses need it. Virtual assistance can only help with services that can be done remotely. This includes administrative, creative and technical services. They can make calls for businesses, write memos, do research, or perform any other office tasks that can be done online, but businesses shouldn’t expect them to ever come to the office or help with events.

Equipment Necessary

For an in-house assistant, companies need to purchase a full office including computer, phone, and software. This is not necessary for a virtual assistant. A VA provides all their own office equipment. This saves employers money in equipment and overhead costs.

Perfect Clients

VAs work best with small businesses and individuals who don’t have a need for a full time assistant, but would like to focus more on customer service than basic office information. In-house assistants work better in larger offices that need the full-time support of a reception or secretary.

Whether businesses choose a full time assistant or a VA depends on their specific needs. There are many virtual assistant and in-house assistant differences, including price, so companies need to know what to expect. Becoming a VA is a great way to earn some money at home as long as you have the proper equipment and attitude to do a good job.

News Reporter