Virtual Assistant Cost for Small Business: Hourly VA vs. Digital Assistant
What a virtual assistant costs a small business, compared side by side: a part-time hire, an hourly VA, and a set-up digital assistant, plus how to tell which one pays for itself.
Virtual assistant cost depends on the model. You can pay by the hour, hire someone part time, or set up a digital assistant that handles the repeatable follow-up. The right choice depends on whether your bottleneck is judgment work or follow-up work.
Three ways to get help
Part-time hire
Hourly wages plus payroll taxes, training, and scheduling. Great for in-person or judgment-heavy work, but nights and weekends cost extra and coverage stops when they're off.
Hourly virtual assistant
Rates vary widely by experience and location. You pay for time, so costs climb as you hand off more. Response speed depends on their hours.
Set-up digital assistant
A one-time setup plus a flat monthly fee. It handles the repeatable work: lead replies, quote follow-ups, invoice reminders, review requests, appointment reminders. It works at any hour and the price doesn't rise with volume.
Ten hours a week of follow-up at $25/hour is about $1,000 a month. A digital assistant at $199/month plus a $950 setup costs about $3,340 in the first year and $2,388 each year after, and it answers leads at 9pm too. These are illustrative numbers. Check real quotes in your area.
Which one pays for itself?
If you need someone on site or making judgment calls: hire
If you need flexible project help: an hourly VA
If you're losing jobs and cash to slow follow-up: a digital assistant
To see what follow-up is worth to you in dollars, use the worked example in [what a virtual assistant is worth](/blog/virtual-assistant-for-small-business-roi). And if bookkeeping is the other task eating your evenings, compare [what a bookkeeper costs](/blog/how-much-does-a-bookkeeper-cost).
LedgerFast Assistant: $950 one-time setup + $199/month. Books + Assistant: $950 setup + $278/month. Scope and access are agreed with you before anything is charged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a virtual assistant cost a small business?
It depends on the model: hourly VAs and part-time hires bill by time, while a digital assistant usually charges a setup fee plus a flat monthly fee. LedgerFast Assistant is $950 setup + $199/month.
Is a digital assistant cheaper than a part-time employee?
For repeatable follow-up work, usually. For on-site or judgment-heavy work, a person is the better fit.
Are there hidden fees?
LedgerFast Assistant is a one-time setup and a flat monthly price. Scope is agreed in writing before setup.
LedgerFast Assistant follows up with leads, chases unpaid invoices, requests reviews, and sends appointment reminders, set up for your business with access you authorize. $950 one-time setup + $199/month.