Working with an assistant to manage your business can be a great way to free up time and focus on what matters most, your business! But how do you know which type of assistant is right for you? In this article, we'll look at the main differences between Virtual Assistants (VAs) and office-based Assistants.
The biggest difference between the two roles is that a physically present Assistant is usually a full-time employee based in an office, and a Virtual Assistant works as a self-employed contractor, typically from home. With the rise of internet technology, the demand for Virtual Assistants has significantly increased, and many businesses are embracing the flexibility and freedom of being able to collaborate with a VA instead of employing an office-based assistant.
Both types of assistants tend to work in areas such as administrative support and customer service. Yet, Virtual Assistants will typically offer support to their clients (business owners) with specific expertise on projects such as social media, copywriting, research, scheduling, and more. Let’s say Office Assistants are more generalists who focus on admin-based tasks, whereas VAs tend to take on those same admin duties, but are also specialised in other areas of business such as marketing, social media, etc.
At EVA, we understand that every business is unique. We'll work with you to create a package that best suits your company’s needs, so you’ll get exactly what you need from your VA. Our experienced team of superhero VAs will take care of all of those time-consuming tasks so you can focus on what matters most – growing your business!
What is an Office Assistant?
An Office Assistant, or Administrative Assistant, is an individual who performs administrative duties on behalf of the staff who work in the office. They work on tasks such as scheduling meetings, answering phone calls, and sorting and distributing the company’s mail. An Administrative Assistant also takes care of all the filing, data entry, and various lists within the office.
Office Assistants are employed by the company and therefore entitled to a host of employee benefits such as:
✅Anual Leave
✅Sick Pay
✅Maternity Pay
✅Office Equipment
✅And Other Payroll Costs
What is a Virtual Assistant?
A Virtual Assistant is a remote worker who provides professional administrative and creative assistance to their clients (kinda like your business's very own superhero)
In contrast to a traditional Office Assistant, a Virtual Assistant may never meet you in person. They work remotely from their own office (or home) and are generally available only when you need them to be.
Hiring a VA means that you only pay for the hours you need, plus the advantage of not having to worry about:
✅Payroll Costs (NI, pension, or sick/maternity/holiday pay, etc)
✅Additional office space
✅Equipment costs
✅Training overheads
✅Employee insurance
As you can see, there are a lot of similarities between a Virtual Assistant and an Office Assistant. In fact, many people who work as VAs have some sort of background in administration.
If you're looking for a Virtual Assistant, it's important to find one with the right skill set for your business. Perhaps you need someone who has experience in handling clients and scheduling appointments. Or maybe you're more interested in hiring someone who knows how to create content for social media accounts, write emails and other professional correspondence, manage customer support tickets and oversee your email marketing campaigns, etc.
On the other hand, if you need more hands-on assistance with your day-to-day tasks and projects, then hiring an Office Assistant may be best for your needs. However, no matter which type of assistant works better for your business or lifestyle needs and budget (whether virtual or office-based) it is important that all parties involved understand each other's expectations before beginning work together so there aren't any misunderstandings.
We get it - You want the best for your business...
Collaborating with a VA can really empower your business! From increased productivity to the ability to outsource tasks that would otherwise take time away from your business, it’s clear why so many small business owners choose to collaborate with a VA.
Whether you run a business and need help with social media management or have an event to put on and need an assistant to help with the planning, EVA is here to help. Our UK-based expert virtual assistants are on hand to offer flexible support options for any size of business. We've got you covered!
