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Determine a sustainable hourly rate for virtual assistant services based on your income goals and expenses.
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Virtual assistants provide a wide range of services, from basic admin tasks to specialized executive support. The key to pricing is understanding that you're saving clients far more than your rate costs them. This calculator helps VAs set rates that are fair to both sides.
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Virtual assistant pricing should match the complexity of the work, not the title. Inbox cleanup and calendar management may sit closer to $25-$40 per hour, but executive support, launch coordination, CRM cleanup, bookkeeping support, and systems administration often justify $45-$85 because the client is buying judgment and reliability. If a founder trusts you with revenue-adjacent operations, you are no longer a basic admin line item.
Monthly retainers usually beat pure hourly billing for both sides. A 10-hour support block with response-time expectations, recurring tasks, and an overage rate makes revenue more predictable and stops clients from treating you like an always-on inbox monitor. Many VAs should require a minimum monthly commitment because tiny ad hoc requests create the worst scheduling friction and the lowest margin.
Documented systems are how VAs raise rates without working harder. Build SOPs, templates, canned replies, and onboarding checklists so repeated client tasks take half the time without lowering the client-facing value. Once your delivery becomes organized and proactive, you can justify moving from task pricing to operations-partner pricing.
US-based virtual assistants typically charge $25–$75/hour depending on specialization. General admin VAs charge $25–$40/hr, while specialized VAs (bookkeeping, tech, executive) charge $45–$100+. Experience, industry knowledge, and niche expertise drive rates higher.
Packages (e.g. 20 hours/month for a flat fee) provide predictable income and simplify billing. Start with hourly to understand your capacity, then transition to packages once you know how much time each client type needs. Offer a small discount (5–10%) for package commitments.
VAs typically bill 30–35 hours per week since most of their work is directly for clients. However, budget time for email management, invoicing, and finding new clients — especially early on.
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Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only. Your actual tax obligations and expenses depend on your jurisdiction, deductions, and individual circumstances. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.