HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK DO I NEED A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT?
- SMI Vault Collective
- Jan 5
- 2 min read
It usually starts with a quiet calculation.
A business owner stares at their to-do list late in the evening, mentally adding up hours and wondering, “Do I really have enough work to justify a virtual assistant?” The assumption is always the same: It must be a lot. Maybe too much.
But that assumption is often what keeps people stuck, overworked, stretched thin, and doing tasks that quietly drain time and focus.
That’s why this is one of the most common and most important questions business owners ask:
How many hours a week do I actually need a virtual assistant?
The short answer? Fewer hours than you think.
Start With Your Task Load
Ask yourself:
How many tasks can be delegated?
How repetitive are they?
How often do they occur?
This determines your ideal VA hours.
Recommended VA Hour Guidelines
5–10 Hours Per Week
Best for:
Email management
Scheduling
Research
Light admin work
Great for first-time VA users.
10–20 Hours Per Week
Best for:
Customer support
E-commerce operations
Social media scheduling
CRM updates
Ideal for growing businesses.
20–40 Hours Per Week
Best for:
Executive assistance
Full store management support
Dedicated customer service
Project coordination
Perfect for scaling companies.
Why Start with Small Work
You can:
Test workflows
Build trust
Refine processes
Scale hours gradually
There’s no long-term commitment required.
Signs You Need More VA Hours
Tasks are piling up
Response times are slowing
You’re still working nights or weekends
Your VA is always fully booked
Final Thought
The right number of hours is flexible and grows with your business.
Not sure how many hours you need?
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