FAQ: Hiring a Virtual Assistant
A Practical Guide for Business Owners
If you’ve always been a solopreneur, you know the drill. You do everything: client work, emails, scheduling, follow-ups, marketing, invoices — all while trying to keep your business moving forward. …and let’s be real, this “drill” isn’t working out that well!
At some point, things start slipping. Not because you’re failing — but because you’re maxed out.
That’s usually the moment business owners realize it’s time to get support… and immediately get overwhelmed with questions.
Where do I start?
What does a virtual assistant actually do?
How much does it cost?
How do I know I can trust someone?
Is this really worth it?
You’re not alone. Below are the most common questions we hear from business owners considering hiring a virtual assistant — along with honest answers from a team with a decade of experience!
What does a virtual assistant do?
A virtual assistant (VA) supports your business remotely by handling tasks that consume your time but don’t require you to do them. The term VA has evolved beyond the typical executive assistant role that comes to mind and now includes project management, marketing, personal assistant tasks, and more!
Depending on your needs, a VA may help with:
Administrative tasks
Inbox and calendar management
Marketing support
Social media management
Content creation and management
Copy writing
Customer communication
Project management
Website development
SEO and AI Recognition
The goal of hiring a virtual assistant isn’t just to “get help” — it’s to free up your time so you can focus on the work that actually moves your business forward while everything else is being completed with excellence.
How does working with a virtual assistant actually work?
Your virtual assistant works remotely and integrates into your existing workflows.
You decide:
What tasks they handle
How you communicate
What your priorities are
How their hours are used
A good VA doesn’t just complete tasks — they reduce mental load, bring structure, collaborate and step in as a thought partner, and support you in areas that may not align with your strengths.
When done well, a VA becomes an extension of your team, not just an extra set of hands.
What tasks should I delegate to a virtual assistant?
A helpful starting point is to identify:
Tasks you dislike doing
Tasks that drain your energy
Repetitive or time-consuming work
Work that falls outside your strengths and passions
If someone else can do a task better than you would — and it frees you to do higher-value work — it’s a strong candidate for delegation.
At Rock Solid, we use a short internal assessment with our clients that helps quickly identify what should be delegated first — based on energy, time, and impact. It’s one of the ways we ensure each assistant is set up for success from the start.
How much does it cost to hire a virtual assistant?
Rates vary depending on experience, skill set, and scope of work. In general, virtual assistants typically charge $35-50+ per hour.
As with most professional services, you get what you pay for. More experienced VAs often cost more — and usually save you far more time and money in the long run.
At Rock Solid Virtual Assistants, we offer flexible packages rather than a one-size-fits-all pricing model.
Typically, our smallest retainer package is 10 hours per week. Beyond that, we are very flexible. You can increase by any increment at any time. Also, if you have a big launch (for example) and need to increase for a month and then drop back down to your baseline, that works, too.
That said, we do our best to custom-fit the hours to your actual needs and don't always hold hard and fast to the 10-hour minimum! We strive to be as accommodating as possible to meet your needs and will never offer something you don't need!
We also offer project-based packages for those who need assistance with only one or two projects. These can include setting up a CRM, designing a brand or logo, or writing and setting up an email campaign.
This flexibility allows your support to scale with your business.
How are virtual assistant hours tracked?
Our virtual assistants track their time using a task-based timer. This provides transparency and clarity around:
What tasks were completed
How long each task took
How hours were used overall
You can choose the level of reporting you prefer — whether that’s a weekly summary or a daily breakdown.
Clear expectations and communication are key. When you know your goals, your VA can align their work to support them effectively.
How do I find the right virtual assistant?
Finding the right VA is about more than skills. Experience matters — but so does personality, communication style, and work style.
You can search online, post in groups, or ask for referrals. However, the most reliable way to find a high-quality VA is to work with a vetted team that handles the screening and matching for you.
Why work with Rock Solid Virtual Assistants?
At Rock Solid Virtual Assistants, we do the heavy lifting for you.
Our assistants go through:
A rigorous 7-step application process
Skills testing and evaluations
An in-depth video interview
We don’t just match skills — we match people. That means pairing you with a VA who aligns with your business needs, personality, and work style.
We also:
Handle contracts and compliance
Manage end-of-year tax reporting
Provide ongoing support to you and your VA
Help with onboarding and integration
You’re never left to figure things out alone.
Is hiring a virtual assistant worth it?
For most business owners, the answer is yes — not just financially, but mentally.
Hiring a virtual assistant creates:
More time
Less overwhelm
Better focus
Greater consistency
Sustainable growth
The right support lets you operate as a business owner—not just a task manager.
Ready to hire a virtual assistant?
If you’re ready to explore what support could look like for your business, we’d love to connect.
Click below and let’s chat. We can’t wait to meet you — and help make your workdays lighter, more focused, and more sustainable.
