Virtual Assistants Vs. Traditional In-Office Assistants: Pros And Cons To Make Your Best Choice

Every leader needs a trusted partner, and the right assistant makes all the difference.

To find the right fit, start by asking:

• What kind of help and support do I need? Whether you’re looking for calendar support, project coordination, or help keeping your day on track, your assistant should complement how you work and what you need.
• Would in-office or virtual support better suit my needs and workflows?
• What are the pros and cons of both options?

Below, we’ve laid out the strengths and challenges of each approach so you can choose the right hiring choice for your team.

Hiring A Traditional In-Office Assistant

Traditional assistants work from your office. These assistants can be on-site for every shift or work in a hybrid mode, working from home part-time and working in the office part-time. Traditional in-office assistants can be hired as full-time or part-time employees of your company.

In-Office Assistant Pros:

1. Pro: Traditional assistants can talk to staff and clients in person. This can help them make personal connections, which are vital to business success. While making a personal connection virtually is certainly possible, it can be more complicated.
2. Pro: They can also help with on-site tasks. Greeting customers, attending meetings, handling mail, and many other office management tasks may need a person on-site.
3. Pro: People tend to be more familiar with the expectations and duties of in-office roles. This can reduce the learning curve in some ways and decrease the number of expectations that have to be set. However, this isn’t always the case and depends on the role and person.
4. Pro: In-person work helps with quick communication and teamwork. This is key for complex or creative tasks that need fast back-and-forth discussion.

In-Office Assistant Cons:

1. Con: Traditional assistants will need to live within a commutable distance of your office. This limits who you can hire. Instead of being able to hire the best pick overall, you’ll need to hire the best person who lives within a certain distance from your business.
2. Con: The same personal and social connections that help your business thrive can also be distracting. It’s hard not to get pulled into office drama and chit-chat when you’re right there!
3. Con: Traditional assistants require office space, desk space, office supplies, a computer, and more. This adds to IT and office management costs.
4. Con: In-office employees must provide enough work to keep them busy for the hours they’re in the office. Whether it’s slow or busy season, they’re typically working the same hours as usual, regardless of the actual work hours needed.
5. Con: Office spaces have more interruptions and less flexibility. This can hurt focus and productivity compared to remote work.

Hiring A Virtual Or Remote Executive Assistant: Understanding What Virtual Assistant Means

Virtual assistants (VAs) work from their homes or office spaces. They can be full-time or part-time. They can even be high-level remote executive assistants.

Virtual Assistant Pros:

1. Pro: The VA role can be for a personal or office assistant, or for an executive assistant (EA). The EA role includes more demanding managerial responsibilities, often helping execute growth strategies and fulfill their executive’s priorities.
2. Pro: VAs work often on-demand when you need them. You can hire fractional executive assistants for a set number of hours per day, week, or month. You can even hire them on an as-needed basis or for specific projects. There are even virtual assistant companies that provide 24/7 service, meaning your virtual assistants can work in a team to provide round-the-clock support.
3. Pro: Virtual assistants provide their own equipment and software. You may have to provide specialist software if your company requires it.
4. Pro: Virtual assistants don’t have to be based near your office — you’re no longer limited by geography. You can hire the best person for the job wherever they’re based.
5. Pro: Remote workers can be 13-47% more productive than their in-office peers. This boost comes from quieter workspaces, fewer breaks, and fewer sick days. Remote assistants also make about 40% fewer mistakes compared to office-based workers.
6. Pro: Virtual assistants have higher job satisfaction and about 50% lower turnover rates. This means less time spent on hiring and training new people.

Virtual Assistant Cons:

1. Con: They’re limited in how they can help with in-office tasks (although this may be less than you think — we’ve compiled our top tips for handling in-person tasks with a remote assistant).
2. Con: Developing strong communication with your VA might have a learning curve for you or your company. However, a good remote staffing agency is well-equipped to offer support here. The increased focus on communication can even become a strength.
3. Con: Most virtual assistant companies hire their workers as 1099 contractors, which means you’re still liable in most situations. The good news — Boldly hires all of our team members as W2 employees, which means you (and your HR team) can have compliance peace of mind.

Hire The Right Person

Remote support offers more flexibility and access to premium talent, but only if it aligns with how you and your team operate. The key is finding a setup that supports your pace and priorities.

Now that more and more companies are evaluating whether they want to stay remote, return to the office, or go hybrid, deciding on an in-office or virtual assistant is more important than ever.

Which assistant is right for your business – in-office or virtual?