# When should you hire a virtual assistant? Hire a virtual assistant when the cost of your own time spent on low-value work is higher than the cost of the assistant, and the work is repeatable enough to hand off. For most founders and small teams that threshold arrives well before they think it does. Offshore placements start at $1,200 a month, which lowers the bar further. Hire a virtual assistant when the value of your time on low-value work exceeds the assistant's cost, and the work is repeatable enough to hand off. For most founders that point arrives earlier than they think, and at **$1,200 to $2,800 a month** for a dedicated offshore hire the bar is low: even 10 reclaimed hours a week usually clears it. ## The signals it is time - You are doing work a $15-to-$25-an-hour US role would do, at your own effective rate - Inbox, scheduling and admin are pushing real work into evenings - Leads or clients wait because no one owns the follow-up - Repeatable processes exist only in your head - You have said "I will get to it" about the same task three weeks running If two or more of these are true, the delegation is already overdue. ## How to think about the ROI The math is simple: estimate the hours a week the work takes, value them at what your time is actually worth, and compare to the monthly cost of the assistant. At $1,200 to $2,800 a month for a dedicated offshore hire, even 10 reclaimed hours a week usually clears the bar comfortably. The point is not the lowest rate; it is the hours you get back for higher-value work. ## What to hand off first Start with the work that is repeatable, rules-based and low-judgment: - Scheduling and calendar management - Inbox triage and first-draft replies - Data entry and CRM upkeep - Research and document prep - Routine client or lead follow-up Keep judgment-heavy and relationship-defining work until trust is built, then expand scope. ## How hiring works A short intake call, then a shortlist of candidates with one-way video intros so you hear phone presence and English before you interview. A deposit confirms the hire, then a flat monthly retainer with no placement fee, full EOR, and a 30-day no-cost replacement. ## Frequently asked questions ### When should I hire a virtual assistant? When the value of your time spent on low-value work is higher than the assistant's cost, and the work is repeatable enough to hand off. For most founders that point arrives earlier than they think; offshore placements start at $1,200 a month. ### What should I delegate first? Repeatable, rules-based, low-judgment work: scheduling, inbox triage, data entry, CRM upkeep, research and routine follow-up. Keep judgment-heavy work until trust is built. ### How do I know it is worth it? Estimate the weekly hours the work takes, value them at what your time is actually worth, and compare to the monthly cost. At $1,200 to $2,800 a month, even 10 reclaimed hours a week usually clears the bar. ### Full-time or part-time to start? Either. Part-time is a reasonable start for a smaller load, and scope expands as trust builds. ## Related reading - [How to work with a virtual assistant](/resources/how-to-work-with-a-virtual-assistant/): onboarding and delegation. - [How much does a virtual assistant cost in 2026](/resources/virtual-assistant-cost-2026/): the ROI numbers. - [First 30 days of VA onboarding](/resources/first-30-days-virtual-assistant-onboarding/): the week-by-week plan. - [VirtuHire US pricing](/pricing/): the full role-by-role rate band. ### Think it is time? Get a shortlist of pre-vetted South African virtual assistants matched to the work you want off your plate. Zero recruitment fees, 30-day replacement guarantee, full EOR handled. Book a 15-minute call.