Guides for owners who want their week back
Every guide starts with a short answer and lists the sources we checked.
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- Start hereHow much does a virtual assistant cost?Published U.S. virtual assistant plans in October 2026 run from about $36 to $65 an hour. BELAY says most U.S. clients pay $1,200 to $3,000 a month. Freelancers and offshore teams cost less. Peachtree VA gives a custom quote after a free call, with packages from 25 hours a month.Read
- Start hereWhat is a fractional executive assistant?A fractional executive assistant gives you part of an executive assistant's time instead of a full-time hire. You buy a set number of hours a month and hand off the inbox, calendar, travel and follow-up. Peachtree VA starts at 25 hours a month on a month-to-month agreement.Read
- Start hereAI vs virtual assistant: which do you need?AI handles repeatable, rule-based work fast. A virtual assistant handles judgment, relationships and follow-through. AI cannot be held accountable for a missed client email, and a person can. Most small business owners get the best result from both, with a human checking every AI draft.Read
- Start hereHow do you delegate as a small business owner?Delegation is handing a task and its outcome to someone else. Sort your tasks with a delegation matrix, keep what only you can do, and hand off repeatable work first: inbox, calendar, data entry and follow-up. Give clear steps, a deadline and a check-in, then measure the hours you get back.Read
Hiring and working with an assistant
- How to Hire a Virtual Assistant: A Step-by-Step GuideTo hire a virtual assistant, audit your week, pick a model (freelancer, agency or managed provider), set monthly hours, vet for skills and fit, and onboard over 30 days. Review the results monthly. Most owners need 10 to 40 hours a week of support at first and can add hours later.
- What to Delegate to a Virtual Assistant: 40 Tasks by DepartmentDelegate tasks that repeat, follow clear steps and do not need your final judgment: email and calendar, data entry, scheduling, travel, invoicing support, social media posting and research. Keep strategy, hiring decisions, key relationships and anything that needs your signature. Start with three tasks, then add more.
- How to Onboard a Virtual Assistant in 30 DaysOnboard a virtual assistant in four weeks. Prepare goals and access before day one. Week one covers context and tools. Week two uses supervised tasks. Week three moves to independent work. Week four is a review. Use one weekly check-in and written feedback throughout, then decide whether to add hours.
- How to Write SOPs a Virtual Assistant Can RunAn SOP for a virtual assistant is a short, written, step-by-step guide to one task, with the goal, tools, steps, examples and a check for done. Start with tasks that repeat weekly. Use the template in this guide, add a screen recording, and review each SOP every quarter.
- How to Give a Virtual Assistant Access to Your Accounts SafelyGive a virtual assistant access safely in five moves. Sign an NDA first. Grant only the access the job needs. Use each tool's delegate or sharing feature instead of your password. Require a password manager and multifactor authentication. When the work ends, remove access using a written offboarding checklist.
- How to Delegate as a Business OwnerTo delegate as a business owner, pick one repeatable task, write the goal and steps, hand it to a capable person with clear limits, and check the first results closely. Then follow up on a set schedule and measure the time you get back. Start with three tasks and add more.
- Virtual Assistant vs Executive Assistant: Which Should You Hire?A virtual assistant handles tasks, usually remotely and for set hours. An executive assistant supports a senior leader with judgment, priorities and projects, and acts with more authority. Hire a VA for tasks you can define. Hire an executive assistant, in-house or fractional, when you need a partner who manages your priorities.
Bookkeeping
- Month-End Close Checklist for Small BusinessA month-end close checklist is the set of steps you run after each month ends to make the books accurate: record all activity, categorize it, reconcile accounts, check invoices and bills, review reports and hold a review. Peachtree aims to close the prior month and deliver statements by the fifth business day.
- Cash vs Accrual Accounting: Which Fits Your Small Business?Cash basis records income when money arrives and expenses when you pay them. Accrual basis records income when you earn it and expenses when you incur them, even if cash moves later. Accrual shows a truer monthly picture. Cash is simpler. Your CPA should confirm which method you may use.
- Chart of Accounts: What It Is and How to Set One UpA chart of accounts is the master list of categories your bookkeeping uses to record money. Every transaction lands in one account. The accounts fall into five types: assets, liabilities, equity, income and expenses. A clean, short chart makes your reports clear and your tax prep easier.
- Household Bookkeeping: How to Organize Your Family FinancesHousehold bookkeeping means recording your family's income and spending in one place, sorting it into categories, and reviewing it each month. It shows where money goes, supports a budget and makes tax time easier. Start with one tracker, a short category list and a monthly 30-minute review.
Full-time hiring
- How to Hire a Full-Time Executive Assistant, Step by StepTo hire a full-time executive assistant, define the role, research pay, write the job post, source candidates, interview with real work samples, check references and make an offer. Expect to spend weeks on it. BLS reports the May 2025 median pay for executive administrative assistants at $76,590 a year.
- Executive Assistant Job Description Template (Copy and Edit)A good executive assistant job description has seven parts: a title and summary, duties, required skills, tools, schedule, a pay range and how to apply. Use the template below, replace the brackets with your details, and add three screening questions. State the pay range so the right people apply.
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