While starting a business is exhilarating, it’s also usually quite chaotic. With all the demands of managing clients, advertising the company, running the daily business and a big to-do list, a person can become overwhelmed. That’s when employing a virtual assistant from the Philippines can be extremely helpful. A good VA helps you stay on top of your work, move quicker and use your time more efficiently.
Still, how can you make sure you’re picking the correct one? You need a VA who matches what your business intends to achieve, the work environment you prefer, and how much you are willing to pay.
Finding the Right VA For a New Venture
Let’s take a deeper look at this.
Be Aware of What You Should Buy
The most important thing at the start isn’t hiring but clarity.
Before you begin hiring, ensure you know what tasks will be added to the candidate’s workload. Is your inbox getting too full of emails? Feeling challenged with social media planning, studying or speaking with clients?
First, create a list of 5–10 activities that are done repeatedly, take much time or are something you’re not good at. As a result, you should be able to hire a VA that focuses on general office help, customer service, content management or any other field.
Match Skills to Your Industry
You can’t treat all virtual assistants in the same way. If your business involves consulting, look for someone with expertise in generating leads or organizing calendars. To set up an online store, you’ll benefit from a VA who knows about product listings, Shopify and order tracking.
When you are very clear about your industry and the tools you use (Canva, Google Docs, Trello), you increase your chances of finding a qualified new employee.
This is especially true when you’re looking to hire Filipino virtual assistants. Many virtual assistants in the Philippines specialize in particular industries—real estate, eCommerce, digital marketing, and more. You’re not hiring a generalist—you’re hiring someone with real, relevant experience.
Set Your Budget and Expectations
Remote help is especially valuable because it gives employees flexibility. You aren’t required to demand 40-hour workweeks or create full-time roles right from the beginning. Spending at least 10 to 20 hours on your business is common for new owners.
The amount you are paid depends on your experience and what field you specialize in. For example, when you hire Philippines virtual assistant talent, general admin VAs often charge between $5 to $8 per hour. At the same time, specialized roles (such as bookkeeping, executive assistance, or marketing) may pay $8 to $ 12 per hour or more.
Ensure you know your budget, but also expect to gain a lot: a trustworthy VA not only saves you time but also lets you grow your business more rapidly.
Look for Professionalism, Not Just Skills
A polished CV is helpful, but it’s not everything. You want someone who communicates well, follows through, and fits your work rhythm.
During the hiring process, pay attention to:
- How fast they respond
- How clearly they answer questions
- Whether they ask smart follow-up questions
- If they’ve researched your business
It’s better to hire someone who’s eager to learn and dependable than someone with a long resume but poor follow-through.
Use a Trial Project to Start
Avoid a long-term agreement and first ask the freelancer to do a paid trial task. For example, you could arrange a spreadsheet, send out a brief email campaign or do some research into potential leads. You can study their methods, observe how they interact, and determine if what they create meets your expectations.
As long as you’re happy with their work, you can give them more tasks and schedule them for more time. Several business owners have discovered that hiring a virtual assistant is crucial for achieving lasting growth.
Communication Is Everything
Building great relationships depends on having open conversations. If your VA works remotely, you should regularly discuss progress, clearly communicate expectations, and provide ongoing feedback.
You can easily collaborate by using Slack, Trello, Google Docs and Loom videos. Let your team know at the start about checking in, asking questions and what to do when errors occur.
Most Filipino professionals seeking home based jobs for Filipino workers are used to working across time zones. If you help them be flexible, utilize online teamwork, and provide them with long-term goals, you’ll have committed employees.
Final Thoughts: Make It a Smart First Hire
A VA should be hired so you can ease off a little, send the right tasks and develop trust that will help you achieve your objectives. If you are just starting your business or seeing growth, a virtual assistant might be one of the smartest hires you make early on.
Determine what you are looking for, interview your candidates carefully and begin with clear aims. After you get a perfect fit, you won’t remember how you managed on your own.