While you’re presented with a smart staffing solution with virtual assistants, you don’t really understand what they are. Now, you’re contemplating whether or not you should hire them. You have all these questions running in your head that you don’t have answers to.

You’re not alone—tons of entrepreneurs and business owners go through the same dilemma as they try to make the right decision.

Today, we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about virtual assistants that clients have. This includes what they can do, how to work with them effectively, and more.

Let’s get to it!

20+ General Questions about Virtual Assistants

What Is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant is a virtual professional who offers business-related assistance to individuals and businesses. They operate from a remote location, usually in a home office, collaborating with clients via digital tools and software.

What Types of Tasks Can a VA Handle?

A virtual assistant can handle a comprehensive set of duties shaped by your needs. Most VAs manage administrative work like email management, research, database management, customer support and travel arrangements.

There are also remote professionals with skilled expertise who work on specialised tasks. This includes accounting, content creation, software development and website management.

How Do I Find a Good Virtual Assistant?

You’ll find that there is no shortage of virtual assistant hubs. They have become so popular that you’ll find them thriving almost everywhere.

Take a look at some ways to find a VA:

Freelance marketplaces. Online marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr have a massive pool of virtual assistants that you can connect with. This may take longer than usual, though, since you will be doing all the groundwork, from the screening to onboarding.

Virtual assistant company. In our view, this is the best path. Trusted VA companies provide pre-screened candidates who have worked with many global clients. They are trained and experienced, able to keep up with your changing needs.

Agencies, like VAV, will take care of all the groundwork, allowing you to continue your business without interruption.

Referrals. If you know someone who works with a virtual assistant from families, friends and colleagues, you can ask them for recommendations. The people that you know have a deeper understanding of your requirements; thus, they can make concrete referrals that suit your needs.

Social media groups. This is another good recruitment tool to find your remote assistant. You can post straight from your social profiles on the internet, like Facebook or LinkedIn. This may be tedious, but it’s a great way to find virtual professionals in a niche field.

Read further: How to Hire a Virtual Assistant in 2025

What Are the Unique Advantages of Collaborating with a Virtual Assistant?

One strong advantage of virtual assistants is better productivity. When you hand off the routine tasks, your focus is sharpened on core functions—and then output takes off.

Another benefit is the contract flexibility. You can hire remote professionals on your own terms, either part-time or full-time. Depending on the terms and your needs, you can pay them by the hour or by the project.

For many startups and small business owners, though, the massive cost reduction on the overhead is the most appealing perk of working with VAs. You only pay for the service you use and avoid all the employee-associated costs.

What Separates a VA from a Freelancer?

These remote professionals may provide services outside a central office, but they’re pretty different. VAs provide continuous support to clients and are more well-integrated into the workflow.

On the other hand, freelancers typically offer services on a project basis. Although they can handle various tasks, they are recruited specifically to do one job.

How Do I Know if I Need a VA or a Personal Assistant?

First of all, consider the tasks that you’re going to delegate. Can they be handled remotely? If possible, hiring a virtual assistant is the ultimate power move.

These remote professionals are modern PAs. They can manage a full list of administrative chores just like your personal assistant, despite being physically distant. Then again, they’re much better because they cost half the price of your on-site assistant.

Are VAs Employees or Contractors?

Virtual assistants are contractual workers, which means you don’t have the same obligations as you would with an employee. You don’t have to provide healthcare, vacation pay and other compensation benefits that in-house, full-time staff enjoy.

How Do I Communicate with My VA?

In a remote environment, one of the toughest hurdles is communication. Thanks to modern technology, there are so many ways to ensure effective communication. You can leverage email and video conferencing tools like Zoom and send instant messages through Slack and other communication platforms. This way, you can stay in the loop with projects and ensure clear messaging.

How Do I Manage My VA?

It can be challenging to manage a spread-out team like VAs. However, there are numerous strategies that you can utilise to make sure everyone is engaged and productive.

Here are some steps to follow to ensure a successful partnership with your virtual assistant:

• Establish clear expectations from the get-go
• Schedule regular check-ins
• Provide regular feedback
• Utilise project management tools to monitor progress
• Invest in technology to enhance communication and efficiency

What if I Need to Change My Requirements or Scale Up/Down?

In truth, scaling operations with virtual assistants is easy. You can increase or decrease their involvement depending on your current workload without financial consequences.

Anyhow, if you’re working with a VA agency like VAV, you can discuss this matter with us, and together, we’ll explore the possibilities. We can offer flexible packages that align with your evolving needs, allowing us to manage these unexpected circumstances with efficiency.

How Do I Ensure Data Security and Confidentiality?

Talk to your virtual assistant and discuss security protocols with them. There are various methods that you can employ to maintain robust data security, such as password management tools, encryption, firewalls and secure networks.

In addition, when you hire a virtual assistant, make certain that they are experienced and knowledgeable with basic data security practises.

That’s why it’s highly recommended that you outsource VA services from reputable VA agencies like VAV. Our remote professionals are practised in the arts of cybersecurity. Rest assured, they know their way around handling sensitive information.

What if My VA’s Work Doesn’t Meet My Expectations?

The great thing about hiring VAs is that you can stop working with them altogether when you’re not satisfied with the output. As mentioned, these workers are individual contractors, which means you can terminate the collaboration immediately.

This arrangement is even more advantageous if you’re teaming up with a virtual assistant company. Why? Because agencies can offer support and address the issues promptly.

We can provide a replacement virtual assistant who checks all the boxes of your requirements. This way, you don’t have to do the legwork and find another assistant instantly, preventing disruption in your operations.

Specific Questions for VAs

Since all your questions have found answers, it’s time to evaluate the capacity of your virtual assistant.

Here are some questions to test your remote assistant’s skills and experience level:

• What are your skills and experience?

  Ask about the relevant experiences of your virtual assistant. The quality of their past experiences with specific tasks and tools will be a huge factor in the ways they can impact your business.

• How do you prioritise tasks?

  This will highlight your assistant’s ability to control their time and allocate it efficiently. If they know how to prioritise tasks, they can secure more work and enhance productivity.

• How do you handle confidential information?

  This question is critical for your data security. If they know how to handle confidential information, they can protect your company’s reputation and maintain customer trust.

• How do you handle feedback and criticism?

  This will showcase your VA's passion for learning. Their willingness to accept constructive criticism opens endless opportunities for improvement. This will be truly helpful in elevating performance with deeper involvement in the company’s goals.

• What is your preferred communication method?

  Your VA's preferred communication should be aligned with your chosen communication line. Alignment matters because mismatched tools don’t lead to smooth communication. There will be plenty of delays and miscommunication in between if it were the case.

Virtual Assistant Services FAQs: Pricing and Packages

So, you’ve decided to hire a virtual assistant—smart. Now, you want to know about the pricing structure and whether or not you can afford it.

Let these questions guide you so you know exactly what you’re paying for with no pricing jump scares.

How Do You Charge for Your Services?

VAV offers monthly packages—4 hours a day, 5 times a week. Meanwhile, if you choose to hire on freelance marketplaces, most freelancers charge per hour or project.

What Are the Different Package Options?

Some virtual assistant services are packaged inside a tiered pricing structure. This means that the services are priced at varying points depending on the support and features.

VAV’s tiered packages are well structured, so we can cater to the diverse needs of our clients and offer flexibility.

What Is Included in the Price?

You have to clarify this with your service provider. Know what’s part of the package and what might incur additional expenses.

Working with a virtual assistant company, you might find the price a little bit higher. This reflects the convenience, quality assurance service, and ongoing support that you receive from them.

We may cost more, but we significantly reduce the risk of collaborating remotely.

Are There Any Hidden Fees?

Straight out enquire about the potential pricing elements that might surge the costs. You don’t want to blow up your budget with the unexpected fees of the software and tools.

Remember, if you know what you’re paying upfront, you can make better financial decisions.

Final Thoughts

By asking these questions, you can effectively assess if a virtual assistant solution suits you.

Hopefully, understanding the answers to those enquiries made you finally decide on partnering with a virtual assistant.

If you need virtual assistants, VAV can help you find and select the right one. We can connect you with a reliable virtual assistant who can drive a meaningful change in your organisation.

Call VAV today, and let’s map out your perfect VA solution.