At some point, almost every solo founder faces the same decision: I need help, but should I hire someone properly or bring in a virtual assistant? It’s a bigger question than it sounds, because the two options have very different implications for your time, your finances, and the way your business runs day to day.
Here’s how to think through it properly.
The real cost of hiring an employee in the UK
Most founders underestimate what an employee actually costs. A part-time administrator working 20 hours a week at the UK Living Wage earns around £16,000 a year gross. But as an employer, you’re also paying:
- Employer National Insurance contributions (13.8% on earnings above the threshold)
- Pension contributions (minimum 3% employer contribution)
- Holiday pay (statutory minimum is 28 days pro-rata including bank holidays)
- Sick pay obligations
- Recruitment costs, which average £3,000 to £5,000 for a small business hire
- Onboarding time, which can easily absorb four to six weeks of your attention
A part-time administrator who appears to cost £16,000 typically lands closer to £20,000 to £22,000 once everything is factored in. And that’s before you consider what happens if the hire doesn’t work out.
What a virtual assistant actually costs
A VA package at £350 to £500 per month costs £3,000 to £6,000 per year. There is no employer NI, no pension, no holiday pay, no sick pay, no recruitment fee, and no lengthy notice period if things change. You pay for the support you use and you stop when you don’t need it.
When a VA makes more sense than an employee
- You need flexible support that scales up and down with your workload
- You need specific skills like social media management or bookkeeping rather than a generalist
- You want to test whether outsourcing works before making a permanent commitment
- You don’t have the headspace to manage someone properly right now
- You’re spending money on tasks that don’t directly generate revenue and want to reduce that cost
When hiring an employee might make more sense
- You need someone full-time, on-site, and deeply embedded in your day-to-day operations
- You have consistent, predictable work that justifies a permanent hire
- The role requires physical presence that remote working can’t replicate
For most solo founders in the early stages of growth, a VA is the smarter first move. You get professional support without the complexity of employment, and you can always hire someone in-house later once the business has grown enough to justify it.
How to get started without the risk
Creative VA’s one-week trial lets you experience what it’s like to have a VA in your corner before committing to anything. At £99 with no contract, it’s the lowest-risk way to find out whether outsourcing works for your business.
