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How to hire a personal assistant

Reviewed by the VirtualAssist team · Updated 20 October 2026 · Editorial policy

A personal assistant takes the life admin off your plate: bookings, errands, bills, travel, family logistics and the hundred small tasks that fill evenings. Here's how to decide between remote and in-person help and how to hire well.

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How much time could you get back?

Move the sliders to the hours you spend each week on tasks an assistant could take over.

Inbox and email: 5 h/weekScheduling and calendar: 3 h/weekPhone calls and messages: 4 h/weekAdmin, data entry and documents: 4 h/weekInvoicing and bookkeeping: 2 h/weekCustomer follow-ups: 3 h/week

0 hback every month

0 daysof working time a month

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What you get

Life admin handled

Bookings, bills, renewals and appointments taken care of.

Travel and plans

Trips, restaurants and events researched and booked.

Household logistics

Contractors, deliveries and home services coordinated.

Work overlap

Calendar and inbox help when work and life collide.

Remote or in-person?

Most personal assistant work today happens online or by phone: booking, researching, paying, scheduling, chasing and arranging. A remote personal assistant can do all of that and arrange the hands-on parts, such as cleaners, deliveries, repairs and drivers.

An in-person assistant makes sense when you need someone physically present every day. For most professionals and families, a virtual personal assistant covers the bulk of the work for far fewer hours.

How to hire well

List what took your time last month outside work. Group it into bookings, money, household and travel. That list becomes the brief for your assistant and the first month's plan.

Agree confidentiality in writing, use a password manager to share access safely, and start with low-risk tasks before moving to payments and accounts. A managed service handles vetting and cover, so you're not left without help when your assistant is away.

Remote vs in-person personal assistant

	Remote (virtual) PA	In-person PA
Errands that need hands	Arranges them	Does them
Bookings, bills, research	Yes	Yes
Hours	From 10 h a month	Usually part or full time
Hiring and payroll	Handled by a service	You, as the employer
Best for	Busy professionals and families	Households needing daily hands-on help

Who it's for

Executives and business owners
Busy professionals and families
Frequent travellers
Anyone whose evenings go on admin

How it works

Tell us what you need

Tasks, hours and where your assistant should be based.

Free consultation call

A short call to understand your business and goals.

Get matched

With the right assistant for your work, tools and time zone.

Questions

What can a personal assistant do?

Bookings, travel, bills and renewals, gift and event planning, household and contractor coordination, and calendar help.

Should I hire a virtual or in-person personal assistant?

If most tasks happen online or by phone, a virtual PA is simpler and more flexible; choose in-person for daily hands-on help.

How do I vet a personal assistant?

Check references, test with a few real tasks, agree confidentiality in writing and give access to accounts step by step.

How many hours does a personal assistant need?

Many people start with 10 to 20 hours a month and adjust once routines are in place.