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The Smart Choice: Hire A Dedicated Virtual Assistant or a Team of VAs?

July 12, 2025 by
The Smart Choice: Hire A Dedicated Virtual Assistant or a Team of VAs?
Lewis Calvert

Introduction

The digital world fast today and businesses, even small and medium businesses SMBs are always searching for ways to cut down on overhead costs and automate their operations. One of the best and cheapest calls that entrepreneurs are taking in 2025, is to get a specialist virtual assistant. If, for example, you are buried in administrative work, customer support, or digital marketing efforts, a virtual assistant might be the piece of the productivity puzzle you are missing.

I am going to take you through the concept of a dedicated virtual assistant, why you would want to hire a VA like this, what tasks they can help you with, and how to get the best one for your business.

What Is a Dedicated Virtual Assistant?

A dedicated virtual assistant is a remote worker who services one client or company only in a part-time or full-time capacity. Unlike freelance VAs (who have several clients and may not completely understand your process), a dedicated VA only works for you and takes time to learn your system and even your working style, to even bring value into your business for long-term operations.

This system encourages continuity, loyalty and closer working. Full-Time Dedicated VAs This is a great way to find a VA who will be a valuable member of your team, without the overhead of hiring in the office.

Benefits of Hiring a Dedicated Virtual Assistant

Hiring a remote VA offers numerous advantages that go beyond just saving time. Let is break down the key benefits:

1. Cost Efficiency

There are costs associated with hiring an in-house team, (office space, equipment, benefits, and training). A full time VA scraps most of these expenses. It is a pay-as-you-go service, which means you are only charged based on the amount of time you use and the specific types of tasks you want completed – this makes it a great option for businesses who have limited capital.

2. Increased Productivity

Imagine delegating time-consuming responsibilities like email handling, scheduling appointments, and dealing with customers. You will be able to concentrate on more important strategies such as growth and innovation.

3. Access to Global Talent

You do not have to be geographically proximate with virtual assistants. You have potential employees available from everywhere in the world, expert in content writing, SEO, accounting, management of the social media, etc.

4. Scalability

Then, as your business grows, you can delegate more to your dedicated VA or even add more VAs to your team. This scalability enables growth with minimal disruption.

5. Reliability & Consistency

An appointed VA will work to build a detailed knowledge of your business. So there are fewer mistakes, better communication, and a continuity that’s hard to replicate with freelancers who bounce between projects.

What Tasks Can a Dedicated Virtual Assistant Handle?

A dedicated VA can handle a wide range of tasks based on your business needs. Here’s a list of popular services:

Administrative Tasks

  • Email and calendar management

  • Travel booking

  • File organization

  • Data entry and CRM updates

  • Online research

Customer Service

  • Answering emails and chat support

  • Managing orders and returns

  • Following up with leads or clients

  • Responding to FAQs

Social Media Management

  • Content creation and scheduling

  • Community engagement

  • Hashtag research

  • Analytics reporting

Marketing Support

  • Email marketing campaigns

  • SEO optimization

  • Blog writing

  • Paid ad campaign assistance

Bookkeeping and Finance

  • Invoice creation

  • Budget tracking

  • QuickBooks or accounting tool support

  • Payment follow-ups

Whether you're a solopreneur or a mid-sized business owner, there’s a virtual assistant ready to take the pressure off your shoulders.

Dedicated VA vs. Freelance VA: What's the Difference?

Feature

Dedicated VA

Freelance VA

Work Focus

One client only

Multiple clients

Availability

Set schedule

Varies based on workload

Commitment Level

Long-term collaboration

Short-term or project-based

Training/Onboarding

Learns your specific business processes

Minimal to none

Trust & Reliability

Builds over time

May fluctuate with client volume

If consistency and being able to rely on long-term support, as well as integrating someone into the flow of your business are what matter to you, then hiring a dedicated virtual assistant makes a lot more sense.

How to Hire the Right Dedicated Virtual Assistant

Hiring the wrong person can be frustrating and costly. Follow these steps to ensure you bring the right VA onboard:

1. Define Your Needs Clearly

Start by listing the tasks you want to delegate. Identify which areas take up most of your time or require skills outside your expertise.

2. Choose the Right Platform or Agency

You can hire VAs through platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or specialized VA agencies that vet and train candidates (like 20four7VA, Belay, or VirtualStaff.ph).

3. Conduct Interviews

Treat this like hiring an in-house employee. Evaluate communication skills, availability, reliability, and attitude.

4. Assign a Test Task

Before committing long-term, give the VA a small task to assess their speed, quality, and attention to detail.

5. Set Expectations & Tools

Clearly define working hours, tasks, KPIs, and communication tools (Slack, Zoom, Trello, etc.) from the start.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dedicated VA?

Pricing varies depending on the VA's experience, skillset, and location. Here’s a rough breakdown:

  • Basic admin VA: $5–$10/hour

  • Skilled VA (marketing, bookkeeping): $10–$20/hour

  • Specialized VA (technical, legal, high-level): $20–$50/hour

Many businesses find that the value they receive far exceeds the cost, especially when they measure it against saved time and increased revenue.

When Should You Hire a Dedicated Virtual Assistant?

Here are signs it’s time to make the move:

  • You’re constantly overwhelmed by small tasks.

  • You spend too much time on admin and too little on strategy.

  • You're scaling quickly but can’t afford full-time hires.

  • You’ve missed client deadlines or emails due to workload.

  • You want to improve work-life balance and reduce burnout.

Real-World Example

Case Study: A US-based eCommerce entrepreneur hired a dedicated VA to manage inventory, respond to customer emails and update listings. Within 3 months:

  • Customer response time improved by 70%

  • The owner saved over 15 hours/week

  • Monthly sales increased by 25% due to faster operations

Hiring a VA was not just helpful it was transformational.

Final Thoughts

By 2025 the most successful companies are not the ones who are working harder, but the ones who are working smarter. Hiring a committed virtual assistant means you have a dedicated partner who keeps you focused effective and competitive.

From admin and marketing through to customer service and bookkeeping, a great VA can be your secret weapon when it comes to growth. Make the jump today and be free to run a smarter leaner business.