Your Virtual Assistant baseline rate is important because it directly influences what you charge for your services. That means you should calculate it while you are setting up your VA business and before you take on clients.
This post is part of The Ultimate VA Success Guide: How To Calculate Your VA Rates + Create Packages. Below you’ll find an overview of all blog posts it includes:
You Need To Know 2 Numbers To Calculate Your Virtual Assistant Baseline Rate
What numbers, you ask? How much you NEED to earn and how much you WANT to earn. These numbers should be different, in some cases vastly different. The amount you NEED to earn to keep the lights on is your Virtual Assistant baseline number.
I created a YouTube video series on pricing and setting your rates. It goes into detail about how to get your Virtual Assistant baseline rate using my Rate Calculation Sheet. I recommend watching at least the first two videos, as it goes through the exercise of figuring out how much you need to earn using my Rate Calculation Sheet.
Click here + download the Free Rate Calculation Sheet
I’d hate to see you undercharging for your expertise and having a hard time paying your bills because you followed advice from someone saying if you’re confused or don’t know what to charge start at $25 an hour! Do the work to find out your Virtual Assistant baseline rate and start there.
Tip #1: Don’t Ask Others On Social Media What You Should Charge
Others don’t know your numbers (NEED and WANT). You are the best person to decide what you should charge.
Tip #2: Know What To Charge Before You Get Your First Client
I get this question weekly from people either thinking of starting a Virtual Assistant business or someone who has landed their first client and has no idea what to charge. Now, in my honest opinion, you should know your Virtual Assistant baseline rate and what you are charging for your services before you get your first client.
The problem with waiting until after you’ve landed them is they can see you scrambling around trying to figure it out or they can sense that you don’t quite have it all together yet. Not a great way to start a relationship. This is why I’m always saying you need to have your business foundation in place before you start taking on clients.
If you need help setting up your Virtual Assistant business and learning all the necessary business skills like calculating your rates, packaging your services, marketing, getting clients, and much more – please consider investing in my VA Success System.
What Virtual Assistant Services Are You Offering?
What you charge is directly related to your skills and the services you offer. Regardless of what you may have been told, it takes more than administrative skills to be successful as a Virtual Assistant.
- The more Digital Marketing you know, the more you can charge, and the easier it is to get clients.
- The more experienced you are, the more you can charge!
What Is The Market Willing To Pay For These Services?
Here are average rates by type of service in US Dollars. Please note these rates are NOT guaranteed and are to be used as a guideline. Remember, the more experienced you are in an area, the more you can charge.
Administrative Skills: $25+
- Data Entry
- Calendar Management
- Email Management
Digital Marketing Skills: $35+
- Email Marketing Tools
- WordPress
- LeadPages
Specialized Skills: $50+
- Sales Funnels
- Project Management
- Operations
Once you’ve completed these exercises (how much you need to charge and your services) it’s time to create your action plan for getting clients and getting busy.
What do you think? Feel free to post below and let me know what action you’re taking today to figure out your Virtual Assistant baseline rate and how much want to earn. I’d love to hear from you. All comments and questions are welcome.
Thanks for reading – Susan
P.S. If you want to specialize in in-demand skills, learn how to package and offer them as a service to become a known Specialist and get those higher-paying clients, I recommend you have a look at my TechieU Training. You can try it for 5 USD for 5 days and see if it’s for you!
Wow Susan I love your work! I’m about to launch to VA website. My skills are little specialised and your info helped me lots! Thank you for info.
Hi Sharm, thank you, much appreciated. So glad you’re launching, be sure to keep me posted on how it’s going.
I love this article along with all of the other great advice you give. The biggest nugget I took away from this was having a business foundation in place before taking on clients. I started working with someone as an independent contractor and am handling social media management. I feel like she views me more of an employee and I should have negotiated for my services. I am in the process of creating a business foundation and will be specific about services and rates (with flexibility) as well as invoicing. Thanks Susan!
Awesome Sharon! So glad you found value from it. Please keep me posted on your success. And… if you are looking for a program to help you be sure to check out The Kick-Start System.
Thank you! I follow your media to soak up as much as I can from you. I wanted to share that I never understood the “cross out the items you don’t enjoy.” Well after being at this full time for a little over a year, I SO understand now. Thank goodness for networking! Now I don’t even bother with the items that I don’t enjoy and have learned to outsource. There’s always someone who likes to do it! Thanks for all your efforts!
Awesome Kellie, thanks for sharing 😉
Great blog Susan, thank you! Great advice on what to charge plus being able to download a copy of your Skills and Expertise exercise helps a lot to narrow everything down.
Thanks Marion 😉
Thanks for the average rates! I know you’re focused on the techy side so you might not know, but where would you put creative skills?
Hi Vivian, thanks for your question. Creative skills such as graphic design would in my opinion be in line with technical skills. Hope that helps, if not feel free to let me know.
Excellent post Susan
In addition I think you also have to include your IC (ideal client) in the equation. I am very successful as a local VA to Sole Traders and Small Businesses local to me.
The businesses who don’t want or need full time admin staff. Plumbers, glaziers etc
I therefore don’t do a great deal of highly priced or overly complex work for them. I deal with their back office tasks ~ bookkeeping, customer support, social media, marketing, invoicing, minuting etc. I know for a fact that they have come to me as many other VAs in the locality are asking far too high a price for them as small businesses.
We have to therefore think of the big picture where getting and retaining clients’ is concerned. I have a happy band of 9 loyal clients’ who I invoice on a regular monthly basis plus I also deal with ad-hoc work. I’m pretty much flexible on my approach to pricing and each request is judged individually.
I make enough to live a comfortable life and retain clients’ ~ what more can a VA ask 🙂
Thanks Karina for your comment. The averages are just a guideline especially for newbies. I agree – it’s up to each person to decide what works best for them. As I always say “Your Business – Your Choice”. 😉
Great post! Thanks for the info.
Thanks Jodi!
Glad to see you back Susan! Looking forward to your Vlogs. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise!
Thanks Kim!
Hello there to my Techie Mentor Susan, I just wanted to let you know that I thank God for you! I have been following you for years now. It is always an honor to be accepted into your circle…. I will always greatly appreciate YOU & YOUR Team’s support Susan just because…. Thanks for everything!! Happy, Happy 2016 to YOU & YOURS! Take care! 😉 <3
Aww, thank you Neenah for the kind words, much appreciated and it made my Friday! Blessing to you too and my 2016 be an awesome year for you!
Thanks Susan – always very valuable information!
Thank you Sylvana!