How Much Does A Virtual Assistant Cost in the UK? 2025 Guide

How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost in the UK? (2025 Guide)

If you’ve been thinking about hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) this year, one of the first questions you’ll ask is: how much will it actually cost me?

The short answer is: it depends.

The longer answer (and the one I’ll dive into here) is that costs can vary based on the type of work, the VA’s experience, and whether they’re UK-based or overseas. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear idea of what to budget, what affects the price and how to make the most of your investment.

What is a Virtual Assistant (VA)?

A Virtual Assistant (VA) is a professional who provides remote administrative, technical or creative support to businesses and entrepreneurs. From managing your Inbox to coordinating events, VAs help you save time and stay organised all without the costs of hiring full-time staff. In the post, we'll explore what a VA does, how much they cost and where to find the right one for your needs.

Average Virtual Assistant Rates in the UK (2025 Snapshot)

Here’s a quick look at typical VA rates in the UK right now:

Entry-Level UK VA £20–£25 per hour typically offer Basic admin, scheduling and social media posting/email management.

Experienced/specialist UK VA £25–£50 per hour typically offering Customer service, project support, bookkeeping or social media management services.

Overseas VA (Philippines, India) £5–£15 per hour typically offering Data entry, admin, research etc.

So if you only need 10 hours a month, you could realistically hire a reliable VA in the UK for around £250 per month. For more specialist roles or to go with someone more experienced expect to pay around £350 in the month in the UK.

What Affects the Cost of a Virtual Assistant?

A few key factors determine whether you’re paying closer to £25/hour or £50/hour:

Experience & Expertise: A seasoned VA who can manage your inbox with the confidence that comes from experience or run an actual social media strategy will charge more than someone just starting out.

Type of Tasks: General admin is cheaper than specialised tasks like marketing funnels, bookkeeping or web design.

Location: UK-based VAs usually charge more, but you’ll get someone in your time zone, often with more familiarity for client-facing work. Overseas VAs can be a good option for basic admin and back-office support however consider if you want to go down this road from a brand point of view. Whilst many of the biggest companies do it, ask yourself if you'd prefer someone here in the UK (if you can afford it).

Agencies: These can often cost more. They often have a vast pool of self-employed contractors working under their banner. This can be handy if you always need someone on tap and to tap into a multitude of services but it often comes with a higher price point than sourcing one individual.

UK vs Overseas: Which is Right for You?

UK-based VAs: Great if you need someone that's quick to respond or need a quick call with during UK working hours.

Overseas VAs: Cost-effective for repetitive or back-office tasks, but may require more time spent on training, communication and managing the time difference.

Hidden Costs You Might Not Have Considered

Beyond the hourly rate, there are a few things to factor in:

Onboarding and Training It’ll take time to get your VA up to speed with your systems and practices. As a guide I usually spend 2 weeks familiarising myself with your current setup to start with.

Software and Tools Business applications, password managers or CRMs may need extra licences.

Minimum Commitments Some VAs ask for a minimum number of hours or a retainer depending on their availability.

Real-Life Examples

A solo psychologist hires a UK VA for 10 hours a month (£350) to manage their diary and client emails.

A small e-commerce business outsources product listings to an overseas VA for £8/hour, saving 15 hours of admin per week freeing up more time for revenue generation.

A psychiatrist uses a specialist VA at £40/hour + VAT to handle social media strategy and content scheduling, trusting an established agency, freeing them up to focus on growth.

How to Make the Most of Your Budget

Start with just a few hours per week and build it up as you gain confidence in your VA.

Be clear on the tasks you don’t need to be doing yourself and if you have any set KPI's you want to measure the person against.

A pink piggy bank with coins beside it.

Decide on communication channels (will you just use email or WhatsApp or will you have daily/weekly check-ins on the phone?)

Remember when going for the cheapest option - there's usually a reason certain individuals and companies cost more.

Final Thoughts

Hiring a Virtual Assistant in the UK in 2025 can cost anywhere between £20/hour for basic support and £40/hour+ for more specialised roles. The right option for you depends on your business needs, your budget and how much of your time you want to reclaim.

If you’re on the fence, start with small tasks. Even 5-10 hours of support a month can make a big difference to how you feel, your productivity and your mental health.