What’s the Real Cost of Outsourcing Virtual Assistance?

Outsourcing a virtual assistant—especially from the Philippines—sounds like a cost-saving move, and often, it is. Many businesses looking for reliable and skilled support are turning to virtual assistants in the Philippines for their strong work ethic, English fluency, and affordability. But there’s more to the equation than just the hourly rate. If you’re thinking about hiring a VA offshore, it’s worth taking a closer look at what you’re really investing in. 

Here’s what makes up the real cost of outsourcing virtual assistance—and why it’s still one of the smartest moves a business can make. 

1. The Obvious: Base Hourly or Monthly Rate

Let’s start with the easy part. Offshore virtual assistants generally cost less than hiring locally. You might pay anywhere from $8 to $20/hour depending on the VA’s experience, skill set, and level of support required. 

Compared to full-time local staff (with salaries, benefits, and overhead), hiring a virtual assistant in the Philippines offers a significant saving. 

2. The Overlooked: Training and Onboarding

While most VAs come with strong foundational skills, you’ll still need to invest time into onboarding—just like any other team member. Expect to spend the first couple of weeks aligning on tools, processes, tone, and communication style. 

• Build in time for onboarding sessions and walkthroughs
• Document SOPs so they can ramp up faster
• Assign someone internally for questions and feedback 

3. The Hidden: Management and Oversight

Even the best VAs needs clear direction. If you’re managing them yourself, consider the time you or your team spends assigning tasks, providing feedback, and reviewing work. 

Using a managed service can help reduce this hidden cost by providing support, structure, and performance tracking. 

4. The Value: What You Get in Return

Now, here’s the other side of the cost—the return. A skilled VA can save you hours a week, reduce admin backlog, improve customer response times, and free up your team to focus on growth. 

• Lower operational costs
• Higher productivity
• Flexibility to scale based on demand 

In most cases, the return far outweighs the cost—especially when you choose the right partner. 

The real cost of outsourcing virtual assistance isn’t just about dollars per hour. It’s about the time, tools, and support you invest to make it work—and the value you get in return. 

If you factor in everything, it’s clear why so many businesses are turning to virtual assistants: the ROI is real, and the competitive edge is hard to ignore.