If you’ve been thinking about hiring a VA and the first thing you googled was the price, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions founders ask before they take the leap. The honest answer is that costs vary, but understanding what drives the price makes it much easier to know what you’re actually paying for.
Here’s a straightforward breakdown.
The two main pricing models for UK VAs
Hourly rates
Most freelance VAs in the UK charge by the hour. Current rates range from around £20 per hour at the entry level to £50 or more for experienced VAs with specialist skills like social media strategy, bookkeeping, or project management. The average across the market sits at around £30 per hour as of 2025.
Hourly can work if you have irregular needs or you’re testing a VA for the first time. The downside is that it creates a clock-watching dynamic that often means tasks get rushed or you end up managing the hours rather than the outcomes.
Monthly retainer packages
Most established VA services, including Creative VA, work on monthly packages. You agree a scope of support, a set of priorities, and a monthly investment. Creative VA packages start from £350 per month.
Retainers work better for most founders because you get consistent, planned support rather than reactive help. The VA can learn your business properly, anticipate what you need, and produce better results over time.
What affects the price?
The type of work
Basic admin tasks sit at the lower end of the market. Specialist support like social media strategy, light bookkeeping, CRM management, or client onboarding coordination commands a higher rate because it requires more skill and judgement. A VA with an accounting background, for example, is a different proposition from a general admin VA.
Experience and background
A VA with five years of experience and a professional background in finance or marketing will charge more than someone who recently started out. That premium is usually worth it because experienced VAs require far less hand-holding and make fewer mistakes.
Whether they work directly with you or via an agency
VA agencies often charge more per hour than solo VAs because there’s a management layer in between. Some founders prefer the reliability of an agency. Others prefer working directly with one person who knows their business inside out. Creative VA is the latter: you work directly with Dami, not through a team.
How does the cost compare to hiring someone in-house?
Hiring a part-time employee in the UK at the minimum wage costs around £14,000 per year once you factor in employer National Insurance, holiday pay and pension contributions. A senior administrator in a UK city costs considerably more. A monthly VA package at £350 to £500 works out to £3,000 to £6,000 per year with none of those additional employment costs.
For most solo founders, that comparison is the moment the decision becomes obvious.
Is a trial worth doing before committing to a package?
If you’re unsure whether a VA is right for you, a trial is the most sensible starting point. Creative VA offers a one-week trial for £99 so you can experience real support before committing to a monthly package. There’s no contract and no obligation to continue.
