How to Hire a Virtual Assistant & Free Up 10+ Hours a Week

Drowning in Busywork? Your to-do list never seems to shrink. Every time you cross one thing off, three more pop up. You start your day intending to focus on big-picture strategy, but before you know it, you're deep in emails, scheduling, invoices, and endless administrative work. The real work — the work that drives revenue, growth, and innovation — gets pushed to “later.”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals often spend too much time on low-impact tasks instead of focusing on what really moves the needle. The solution? Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) to take those tasks off your plate, giving you back 10+ hours a week to focus on growth, strategy, or even just breathing room.

Let’s walk through how to hire the right virtual assistant and finally reclaim your time.

Why Hire a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant isn’t only an extra set of hands – they’re a game-changer for productivity. Whether you're a solopreneur, startup founder, or seasoned business owner, a VA can handle the time-consuming tasks that hold you back from scaling.

Tasks a Virtual Assistant Can Take Off Your Plate

1. Administrative Tasks: Email management, appointment scheduling, travel booking

2. Bookkeeping & Invoicing: Managing invoices, reconciling accounts, handling payroll

3. Marketing Support: Social media management, content creation, email campaigns

4. Customer Service: Responding to inquiries, managing support tickets, client follow-ups

5. Project Management: Keeping track of deadlines, coordinating with teams, organizing files

6. Personal Tasks: Research, event planning, online shopping, personal scheduling

The bottom line? A VA helps you to focus on high-value activities that grow your business.

How to Hire the Right Virtual Assistant in 5 Steps

Not all VAs are created equal. To truly free up your time, you need the right assistant for your needs. Here’s how to find the perfect fit:

1. Identify Your Biggest Time Wasters

Before hiring, track your time for a week. Write down everything you do in a day and categorize tasks into:

1. High-value tasks (business strategy, sales, client relationships)

2. Low-value but necessary tasks (emails, scheduling, invoicing)

3. Time-draining tasks (things that don’t move the business forward)

The last two categories? Those are the tasks your virtual assistant should handle.

2. Define Your Ideal Virtual Assistant

Once you know what you want to delegate, consider the skills, experience, and personality you need in a VA. Ask yourself:

• Do they need specialized knowledge (e.g., bookkeeping, social media, project management)?

• Should they have experience in my industry?

• Do I need someone highly independent, or do I prefer more oversight?

• What time zone or availability works best for me?

Pro tip: Writing a clear job description will help you attract the right candidates faster.

3. Choose the Right Hiring Platform

There are multiple ways to find a VA:

1. Freelance Marketplaces: Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour

2. VA Agencies: Agencies offer pre-vetted, trained assistants who match your needs

3. Referrals & Networking: Ask your connections for recommendations

4. Social Media & Job Boards: LinkedIn, Facebook groups, and industry job boards

Agency vs. Freelancer: If you want a hassle-free experience with built-in support, a VA agency might be the best choice. If you prefer more flexibility and control, hiring a freelancer could be a better fit.

4. Test with a Trial Task

Before committing long-term, assign a small test project (like scheduling a meeting, drafting an email, or organizing files). This allows you to assess:

1. Communication skills

2. Attention to detail

3. Ability to follow instructions

4. Turnaround time

It’s better to find out early if a VA isn’t the right fit rather than realizing it after investing weeks of onboarding.

5. Set Clear Expectations & Processes

Once you’ve chosen your VA, set them up for success with:

1. Clear communication: Define roles, responsibilities, and preferred communication channels (Slack, email, Zoom).

2. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Document key tasks so they are able to execute them efficiently.

3. The right tools: Use task management software like Trello, Asana, or ClickUp to keep things organized.

4. Regular check-ins: Weekly or biweekly meetings ensure alignment and productivity.

Remember: A virtual assistant isn’t merely a contractor — they’re an extension of your team. Investing in clear communication and processes will maximize their effectiveness.

What Will You Do With 10 Extra Hours a Week?

Hiring a virtual assistant isn’t just about offloading tasks—it’s about reclaiming control of your time. Imagine what you could do with an extra 10+ hours a week:

1. Focus on high-level strategy

2. Grow your client base

3. Launch a new project

4. Improve work-life balance

5. Take a well-deserved break

The best part? The sooner you hire a VA, the sooner you get to focus on what truly matters.

Let Us Match You with the Perfect Virtual Assistant!

At Milrich Virtual Professionals, we know how valuable your time is. That’s why we connect busy professionals like you with highly skilled, U.S.-based virtual assistants who are ready to hit the ground running. Whether you need administrative support, bookkeeping, marketing assistance, or customer service, our VAs can handle it all – so you can get back to what you do best.

Schedule a free consultation today to find the perfect virtual assistant for your needs. Let’s free up your time so you can focus on what truly matters!