How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost in the UK? | TaskOrbit Ltd

How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost in the UK? | TaskOrbit Ltd

Well, that’s up to you really! I don’t mean you can tell a VA you’re going to pay them in Freddos (although, give it a few years and the price of one might be equal to an hourly wage!). I mean one of the best things about hiring a virtual assistant is that you can scale your support up or down depending on your workload.

So, how much does a VA actually cost?
The average UK virtual assistant rate was £34 per hour according to the Society of Virtual Assistants’ 2026 survey. Rates vary depending on experience, the services you need and how you choose to work together.
Now, this might sound expensive at first, but working with a VA can actually be a cost-effective way to get support for your business.
Unlike employing a member of staff, you don’t usually have to worry about employer’s National Insurance contributions, workplace pension contributions, holiday pay or sick pay. You’re paying for the services you need, without taking on all the responsibilities that come with employing someone.
And let’s be honest, you’re not paying us to sit around waiting for work or finding out what Sandra is having for dinner!

What are the different ways to work with a VA?
Most virtual assistants offer a few different ways to work together, depending on what suits your business best.
1. Ad-hoc support
Need a helping hand every now and then? Ad-hoc support is ideal if your workload changes from week to week. You can send your VA a list of tasks to complete, ask them to help manage your inbox or get them to tackle those jobs that keep falling to the bottom of your to-do list.
You simply pay for the time spent working on your business, according to your VA’s pricing terms.
2. Monthly retainers
If you need regular support, a monthly retainer could be the way to go. You agree on a set number of hours each month, giving you a clearer idea of your monthly costs and helping you plan ahead.
It also means you can reserve time with your VA. And if you need a little extra help one month, you can usually arrange additional hours, subject to availability and your agreement.
3. One-off projects
Sometimes you don’t need ongoing support; you just need a particular job done. Perhaps you need your spreadsheets organised, your processes streamlined or a backlog of admin cleared.
Many VAs offer one-off projects at an agreed price, rather than charging by the hour. This means you know what the project will cost upfront, provided the scope of work stays the same.

Is hiring a virtual assistant worth the money?
If you’re spending hours every week on admin instead of concentrating on running and growing your business, bringing in a VA could be a worthwhile investment.
Whether you need a few hours of help each month or regular ongoing support, the beauty of working with a virtual assistant is that you can find an arrangement that fits your business and your budget.

At Task Orbit, we believe your time is better spent doing what you do best. Let us help take some of the admin off your hands, so you can focus on the things that really matter.

Want to find out how we could help? Get in touch with Task Orbit and let’s have a chat about what you need.