It’s easy to make the case for an executive assistant, but executives these days don’t usually need full-time help — which is why companies are turning more and more to fractional executive assistants to support their leaders. With the workplace becoming increasingly hybrid, the demand for flexible fractional assistant support has never been higher.
Fractional work is on the rise — in fact, 74% of executives are interested in doing fractional work themselves.
This emerging interest makes sense. Remote work is now a standard option many companies offer as people seek better work-life balance. Almost 13% of full-time employees work from home, while 16% of companies operate fully remote.
As work shifts to the remote realm, a fractional executive assistant makes perfect sense in more ways than one.
Here’s everything you need to know and whether it will work for your team.
What Is A Fractional Executive Assistant?
A fractional executive assistant works on a remote, part-time basis to handle typical admin duties just like a full-time employee, but only for the hours you need. They typically work for multiple executives, dedicating portions of their time to each client.
At Boldly, we’ve seen a shift towards companies looking for a single EA to support multiple executives, often on the same team or department. However, a fractional executive assistant isn’t limited to working exclusively for one company.
Read more: Tips For Sharing An Executive Assistant
To be clear, “part-time” can sound a bit misleading — fractional work is different.
A part-time worker might have a few employers, but their schedule is a bit less flexible than a remote fractional EA. Additionally, a fractional EA isn’t the same as a freelancer or independent contractor. They aren’t generally a project-based hire.
It’s worth pointing out that fractional EAs aren’t only for the C-Suite, which is the beauty of the fractional model. Any leader who needs an executive assistant, even if only for an hour or two a day, can access one.
Understanding The Role Of A Fractional Assistant
The beauty of the fractional model extends beyond executive support.
A fractional assistant offers similar flexibility but often handles a wider range of tasks that blend professional and personal support. This makes them ideal for busy professionals seeking to reclaim time both at work and home.
A fractional assistant might manage your email inbox in the morning, schedule your business meetings for the week, and then help coordinate your family vacation plans or research gift ideas for an upcoming occasion. Because they’re immersed in your priorities on a professional and personal level, they’re able to balance your schedule in a way that works for you and the things that matter most.
This versatility is what makes this model so valuable in today’s blended work-life environment.
Comparing Fractional EAs To Full-Time Hires
When you’re weighing the decision between a fractional executive assistant and full-time assistant, it’s about more than just hours. It’s about how you work — and what kind of support truly moves the needle.
Fractional executive assistants give you the flexibility to scale support as your needs evolve. No wasted hours. No unnecessary overhead. Just highly skilled help, exactly when you need it.
Here’s what sets fractional support apart:
- Flexible support: Adjust hours based on real-time needs — no fixed 40-hour requirement.
- Cost-efficient: Only pay for the time you use. No benefits, no idle time, no extra admin.
- Faster time to hire: Get started in days, not weeks or months.
- Top-tier talent: Access experienced professionals without a full-time salary commitment.
- Reliable coverage: Built-in continuity and backup support so you’re never left in the lurch.
- Lower risk: We handle compliance and admin, so you can stay focused on what matters.
At Boldly, we see it every day: leaders choosing fractional support not because they want less — but because they’re ready to work smarter.
Read more: Hiring In-House Vs. Outsourcing Admin: A Short Handbook For Execs Making This Key Decision
How A Fractional Executive Assistant Can Benefit You
A fractional executive assistant can increase your productivity fairly quickly.
Your productivity takes a hit when you have so many tasks to do that you rarely get a chance to do a deep dive into the work that matters. Answering email and planning meetings aren’t the best use of your time.
Think of your day as consisting of a clock, with a limited number of hours and minutes. If you can shift some of the less important work to your fractional EA, even if only for an hour or two, that’s time you reclaim.
See also: How Much Does An Executive Assistant Cost?
But there are even more benefits to using a fractional EA than just the productivity boost:
- Talent and skills: You can get access to incredible talent you might not be able to budget as a full-time hire. This includes accessing specialized expertise or skills that you might need only for a lesser amount of time than a full-time hire could justify.
- Flexibility in time and cost: Fractional executive assistants provide flexibility in how you work and in how you budget. Instead of locked contracts, you can choose the hours you want from your fractional EA based on actual need.
- Avoid hiring constraints: You can avoid hiring expenses and delays that normally come with bringing on a new team member. No more long recruitment waiting periods; a fractional EA can be onboarded almost immediately.
- Team stability: You can avoid or reduce the disruption that happens when full-time team members leave.
With a fractional executive assistant, you quickly change your business to be growth-oriented and easily scaled in any direction. You add the flexibility necessary to meet changes because you avoid hiring delays and can adjust the time your assistants work based on your actual needs, not rigid contracts. This adaptability is exactly what many of our clients find most valuable about choosing the fractional path as opposed to a traditional executive assistant.
You add the flexibility necessary to meet changes because you avoid hiring delays and can adjust the time you have your fractional EA working for you based on needs, not contracts.
Making Fractional Work For You
If a “fraction of time” doesn’t seem significant, consider this: how would your day change if you had a skilled fractional assistant taking care of your admin work for just a couple of hours?
Would getting those hours back to focus on strategic work make a difference?
Would something as simple as having an executive assistant to respond to your email and schedule your meetings (tasks you probably don’t like) change the way you felt about your workday?
If your answer is yes, then know that there are three ways to make sure the fractional approach works for you.
- The most important element is trusting your fractional executive assistant. Without trust in place, the relationship won’t flourish. Your fractional assistant should feel empowered to truly manage your administrative workload, not just check off tasks from a list you provide.
- Be sure expectations are made clear. A few hours a day is productively viable for a fractional EA as long as they know what you expect, including deliverables and timelines.
- Keep communication flowing. This includes how you delegate. If you want a true EA who helps reduce your workload, but you struggle to delegate tasks and refuse to give up admin duties, a fractional approach may not work as effectively.
The best EA relationships don’t happen by accident. They’re built on clear communication, aligned expectations, and the right expertise for your specific needs.
When we match clients with a fractional executive assistant, we focus on finding someone who understands their industry challenges and working style. Whether you need someone for just a few hours a week or several hours each day, the right fractional assistant can transform your productivity almost immediately.
If you’d like to experience how a fractional executive assistant can help you reclaim your time and focus on what matters most, the fractional approach offers the perfect low-risk way to start.
We’ve made it our mission to connect busy professionals with exceptional support, making the entire process seamless from day one.
