How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost in the UK? (2026 Guide)

“How much is this going to cost me?” is usually the first thing a business owner wants to know about hiring a Virtual Assistant, and it’s a fair question. Here’s an honest guide to what a VA costs in the UK, how the pricing works, and exactly what I charge.

The short answer

Most experienced UK Virtual Assistants charge around £30 an hour or more. The VA Handbook, which regularly polls UK VAs on their rates, puts the average at about £30 an hour and rising. Newer VAs sometimes charge less, and specialists often charge more.

My own monthly packages start at £300 for 10 hours. More on those below.

Hourly rate or monthly package?

There are two common ways to pay a Virtual Assistant in the UK.

• Pay as you go. You pay by the hour for one-off jobs. It’s flexible, but your VA can’t plan around you, so you may wait longer when they’re busy.
• A monthly package. You book a set number of hours each month. Your VA keeps that time for you, gets to know your business properly, and you know exactly what your bill will be.

If you need regular help with your inbox, diary or enquiries, a monthly package nearly always works better. The value comes from someone knowing how you like things done, not from explaining it afresh every time.

What I charge

I keep my prices on my website because I think you should know where you stand before you pick up the phone.

• Lighten the Load: £300 a month for 10 hours. A few hours a week to keep on top of things.
• Daily Support: £600 a month for 20 hours. Around an hour a day, so your inbox, diary and enquiries are always handled. This is my most popular package.
• Your Lifeline: £1,200 a month for 40 hours. For when you’re drowning in work.

Extra hours in a busy month are £40 an hour. You can see the full details on my Services & Packages page.

What you’re not paying for

An hourly rate of £30 can look high next to an employee’s wage, but it isn’t a like-for-like comparison. A Virtual Assistant is self-employed, so you only pay for the hours you actually use. There’s no employer’s National Insurance, no pension contributions, no holiday or sick pay, and no desk, laptop or software to provide.

For most small businesses that don’t have a full-time admin job to fill, that makes a VA the more affordable way to get experienced support.

Questions to ask before you sign up

Prices only tell you part of the story. Whoever you’re thinking of hiring, ask these too.

• Do unused hours roll over? With me they don’t, so we plan your hours together to make the most of them.
• When do I pay? My packages are paid monthly in advance, before work begins.
• Are there any extras? If a job needs travel, postage, printing or extra software, I agree the cost with you first and add it to your invoice. No surprises.
• How will we stay in touch? My packages include a weekly check-in, so you always know where things are.

Is a Virtual Assistant worth the money?

Here’s the simplest way I know to work it out. Think about what an hour of your own time is worth when you spend it on paying work, then count the hours you lose each week to emails, bookings and chasing. If handing those hours over costs less than you’d earn in them, or simply gives you your evenings back, a VA is paying for herself.

Not sure you’re there yet? Have a read of how to tell if you’re ready to hire a Virtual Assistant.