Virtual Assistants generally charge by the hour, at rates ranging from $25-50, depending upon the expertise required. You should expect to pay more, of course, for specialized services such as Web site design.

At first glance this may appear to be a high rate, but let's look at the "real cost" of employees: statistics show that employees actually cost 2 to 2 1/2 times their rate of pay when one factors in cost of :

• recruitment,
• base salary,
• employment taxes,
• mandatory insurance,
• benefits,
• space,
• equipment.

And don't forget the variables that are more difficult to price:

• time lost on socializing,
• the risk of lawsuits,
• personality conflicts,

There is also the expense of hiring the employee in the first place. Advertising, screening resumes, interviewing, re-interviewing, and paying two people for the training period. If you face the unpleasant experience of having to fire an employee, you have to go through the process all over again.

You're sure to pay considerably less for a virtual assistant. You could hire a VA for as little as one hour a week. Could you hire an employee for that?

Contracting out to a VA is a cost effective way to handle those office administrative tasks.

At e-quill, we prepare an estimate on a per project basis, depending on the needs of the individual client. Contact us now for a free estimate!