Choosing the Right Virtual Assistant for You

Making the choice to engage a virtual assistant is a big step in growing your business. You have accepted that you are ready to let go of some tasks and even responsibilities. You have recognized that you do not have to do it all yourself. You are okay with someone else being involved with your business--your “baby”--and bringing a different voice and viewpoint to it. 

Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment. You are now going to be trusting someone else to care for something you have started from scratch, put your blood, sweat, and tears into, built your legacy around. 

Choosing a virtual assistant can be just as daunting as this accomplishment. Here are some tips for finding the right one for you.

Outline the tasks you want them to complete

Spend a day or a week carrying a notepad with you. Every time you do a task that someone else could do, jot it down. Afterward, review your notes and draft a repeatable workflow. 

You can also take our Task Audit for some ideas!

Determine your desired level of delegation for each task

At Freedom Makers, we tend to break up work into two categories: 1) Stay within the lines 2) Take it and run with it.

Some clients want someone who will do exactly what they said to do, how they said to do it, when they said to do it. They want an assistant who can stay within the lines. 

Others want someone who will be a thought partner, helping to flesh out ideas and then building the workflows and programs. They want someone who will take it and run with it. 

Both are great options. We found that when we mismatch the type of virtual assistant, there can be a lot of friction and frustration. So this is one of the things we consider when helping clients choose their virtual assistant. 

For more ideas on levels of delegation, check out Michael Hyatt’s blog here.

Ask your friends and colleagues who they use, how they found them, what they like/dislike about them

What better way to find a VA than to ask people you already trust. 

There are different types of VAs, ranging from independent freelancers to overseas companies to tech platforms to agencies. 

Think through your estimated time commitment expectations and budget

Virtual assistants can vary widely in price and expertise. Indeed, the term virtual assistant can be a bit of a misnomer. VAs can niche into specific areas such as social media/marketing, project management, executive administration, or bookkeeping.

Their price also depends on their type (see above). 

Before you start to reach out to VAs, it will be good to know what kind of time commitment you are expecting and what you are willing to spend. This can help narrow your search.

For instance, if you do not have a big budget but want an expert, you will need to really narrow what you will outsource. 

Speak with a few before making your choice



It is always good to shop around! Researching the type of VA you want to work with and then speaking with a few can give you a sense of what they can do for you and what you can accomplish in your business once they are onboard. 

It will also give you a chance to find the type of person you enjoy working with!

The important thing to remember is to go at your own pace. Letting go of your baby can be overwhelming. Do it only when you are ready.