3 Ways To Hire a Virtual Assistant for Your Business

Running a business often means juggling a lot on your plate. But what if you could take some of those tasks off your plate without adding a full-time in-house employee? That’s where virtual assistants (VAs) come in. But the question is: how do you actually hire one?

There are three main ways business owners typically hire VAs, each with its own pros and cons.

1. Do it yourself. If you want to be completely hands-on, you can use platforms like Upwork or Seek Online. These job boards let you browse resumes, shortlist candidates, and hire directly.

This method is best suited for people with experience working with international employees. One business owner, for example, has nearly 60 VAs—all hired directly. But he also employs a full-time recruiter to manage the process.

The DIY route is the most affordable, but it comes at the cost of your time. Expect to review around 200 resumes, narrow them down to 15–20 candidates, run interviews, and then make your hire. If the match doesn’t work out, you’ll start all over again.

This approach is best for experienced business owners comfortable managing international hires from scratch.

2. Hire through a company. Another option is to work with a big VA placement company. These firms have placed thousands of assistants and manage most of the process for you. You pay the company, they pay the VA, and you get a “done-for-you” service.

The catch is transparency. You don’t always know what your VA actually earns. For instance, if you pay $14 per hour, it’s likely that the VA only receives around $4, with the rest going to the company.

This approach can get expensive as you scale, but it’s convenient if you just need one VA for a short time and don’t want to spend hours in the hiring trenches.

This will work well with business owners who want convenience and don’t mind paying a premium.

3. Leverage Agent model. The third option blends affordability with support. With this model, you pay one flat fee that adjusts depending on the size of your team, whether you want just one VA, a small group of one to five, or a larger team of six to twenty-four.

From there, you pay your VA directly, negotiating rates with guidance on what’s fair. Some positions might run $3 to $4 an hour, while others may be closer to $6 to $7. The key advantage is transparency: you know exactly how much goes to your VA and how much goes to us. Here’s what sets Leverage Agent apart:

• Recruiting support: We sort through hundreds of resumes and bring you top candidates. If the hire doesn’t work out, we start again.
• Training & guidance: Ongoing coaching, hiring and firing support, and courses for both you and your VA.
• Scalability: For example, six VAs might cost around $49,000 per year, plus about $9,000 in training and support, which is much more affordable than working with a big company.
• Community: Access to mastermind groups with 4,000+ business owners sharing strategies and experiences with VAs.

This approach gives you autonomy; you can manage your team, pay them directly, give raises, while still having expert guidance and resources in your corner.

This approach best suits business owners seeking transparency, scalability, and support while maintaining cost efficiency.

Hiring a virtual assistant doesn’t have to be complicated. You have three main options, and the right choice depends on your goals, budget, and the level of involvement you want to have in the process.

If you have questions about which approach makes the most sense for your business, reach out to (480) 332-6468 or send an email to dave@zteamaz.com. I’m happy to help you find the right VA solution and build a team that truly supports your growth.