Virtual Assistants Vs. In-House Staff: Which Is ight for You?
Business priorities and expenses are rapidly changing and show no signs of stopping. Costs such as office space rent, raw materials, advanced tools, and other unexpected expenses have all increased over the years, making it more important than ever to maintain a strict company budget.
This is how hiring virtual assistants or VAs became standard practice for companies. VAs are pitched as a good alternative to hiring in-house staff, as it’s generally considered to be less expensive than maintaining a full-time employee. That said, while it certainly does help businesses save money, it’s not a solution that fits every situation. That’s why doing a proper staffing comparison between virtual assistants and in-house hires is crucial before making a decision. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is a Virtual Assistant?
Virtual assistants are multitalented remote workers who provide services to clients from a separate location, usually overseas. You can hire a virtual assistant NZ business owners trust to handle a wide range of tasks, such as scheduling meetings, managing emails, bookkeeping, handling customer support, and many more. Depending on the needs of the company, a business owner may need to hire one or more VAs for a specific project, either in a full-time or part-time position.
While they can handle things on their own sometimes, most companies don’t hire VAs directly. Instead, businesses approach virtual assistant staffing agencies such as Outshore, which assess potential VAs for their unique skillsets, vet their qualifications, and assign them to the company where their expertise can be best used.
What is In-House Staffing?
On the other end of the spectrum, in-house staff are regular employees who work directly for the company. Whether in-house employees end up working remotely or onsite at a physical office is up to the company’s policy. Employees may also be part-time or full-time, and are entitled to additional compensation beyond the basic pay, such as health insurance, paid leave, professional development opportunities, and other benefits.
Since in-house staff are hired directly into the company, it’s up to them to find, interview, and hire talent based on their unique criteria. This allows business owners to more directly manage and monitor the employees’ work, making it a good choice if the business is collaboration-oriented.
Pros and Cons of Hiring Virtual Assistants
The biggest advantage of hiring virtual assistants is the affordability. Getting VAs for your team can save you plenty of money on office space, utilities, equipment, and employee benefits, without sacrificing the quality of their output. It’s also a more flexible option if you only need an extra pair of hands for a particular project. Plus, you don’t have to worry about creating a hiring process to find the perfect member for your team. Instead, the VA staffing agency can match you with a VA based on your needs and their skills.
On the other hand, one downside of hiring VAs is the reduced means of management and communication. Getting in touch with someone remotely is often more difficult, as differing time zones can cause delays in getting and receiving messages. If you’re used to giving direct feedback, a remote worker may also not be an ideal choice.
Pros and Cons o Hiring In-House Staff
Hiring in-house staff makes it easier to supervise and track their progress, especially if they can work on-site. Their consistent presence in an organisation also encourages a stronger company culture, which could help build loyalty, foster better teamwork, and create a sense of shared purpose among employees. Finally, employees are able to understand the brand’s overall goals and current situation better because of how ingrained they are in the business every day.
However, there’s no doubt that hiring in-house staff is an expensive investment in both time and money. Companies will have to create a job listing, determine an ideal compensation package, interview, hire, and onboard several employees, and pay for additional expenses such as training and equipment. They also have limited flexibility; since they’re most likely going to be working in the same timezone as you, you may not be able to ask for assistance outside of business hours.
Which Is Best for Your Business?
At the end of the day, whether you should hire VAs or in-house staff depends entirely on your situation and your priorities. If you don’t mind a remote work setup, are on a tight budget, in need of skilled support, and don’t have the time or resources to invest in recruitment, then it’s better to hire virtual assistants to help keep your company running. On the other hand, if your business needs in-person collaboration or you want to prioritise investing in a full-time team with a strong company culture, then your company would benefit more from hiring in-house staff.
Alternatively, you could use a combination of both by outsourcing specific tasks to VAs so that your in-house staff can focus on specialised duties and core operations. Make sure to plan carefully so that you find the best setup for your organisation.
If you’ve determined that hiring a VA is the best move for your organisation, Outshore can help you get started. You can send us a message through our contact form or call +64 27 392 9428 for enquiries. You may also send us an email at hello@outshore.co.nz.
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