If you're at that stage in your small biz when you've accepted that you need help if you want to progress in your business, then you might be wondering whether you should hire an employee or outsource to a Virtual Assistant.
It's a difficult decision to make and can be hard to understand the pros and cons of each. You want to make sure that you're making the right choice for your business. So what is the difference?
The Key Difference
The main differentiating factor between hiring an employee and outsourcing your tasks to a Virtual Assistant is the flexibility of it all. When you take on an employee as a member of staff, you are required to give them a set amount of hours at a set rate of pay and are responsible for all of their employee benefits. When it comes to using a Virtual Assistant, you can set tasks as and when you require them, based on your agreement with them during the onboarding process. They will charge you a set rate for the tasks that they actually do and do not require holiday pay, sick pay, or any other employee benefits.
The Difference in Cost
Once you've understood the flexibility of it all, you'll realise that utilising a Virtual Assistant works out a lot more cost-effectively. Hiring a virtual assistant requires zero overhead costs. You are required to pay your employee a continuous wage, irrespective of the workload. Whereas you only pay a Virtual Assistant for the actual work they have done and the time they have spent.
Skills and Knowledge
Hiring an employee will most likely involve a training period where you spend your own valuable time training the member of staff to competently manage all tasks. Whereas a Virtual Assistant is generally already highly skilled in these areas and will most likely bring new suggestions and knowledge to your business procedures.
Freedom of Location
Virtual Assistants work remotely, meaning you can work with absolutely anyone, anywhere! Whereas with an employee you will have to look in your local area, which narrows down the choice massively. Most VAs are quite happy to work with business owners in different time zones, so unless you require your VA to work regular business hours, you have the possibility of working with anyone in the whole world!
So, what's best for you?
When it comes to making the choice, only you know what will benefit both you and your business the most. A Virtual Assistant is perfect to delegate tasks to and increase your business productivity, whilst still keeping outgoings to a minimum. An employee is easier when it comes to effective communication, working and interacting in person and more constant work duties.
If you have any questions about working with a Virtual Assistant and would like to know about my services, feel free to comment below and I'm happy to help!
L x
Laura Mackenzie
Creative Virtual Assistant at Kelp Collective
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