Running an online business often means juggling endless tasks – emails, scheduling, research, and more. A virtual assistant (VA) can handle these routine chores in the background, giving you back valuable time to focus on strategy and growth. For example, delegating just 15 hours of weekly email and scheduling work to a VA frees that time for product development or investor meetings. Using VAs also slashes costs: studies show businesses save up to 78% on operating expenses by hiring virtual assistants instead of in-house staff. In short, virtual assistants enable entrepreneurs and C-level executives to work smarter – handling administrative support while leaders drive innovation and revenue.
Online service providers – from e-commerce shops to SaaS startups – rely on agility and efficiency. Virtual assistant services have surged in demand as remote work became mainstream. In fact, the global VA market is projected to grow from about $5 billion in 2023 to nearly $16 billion by 2028, reflecting how companies worldwide are embracing outsourced support. Remote-capable teams are more productive too: one Forbes survey found 77% of remote-capable workers reported increased output. Notably, 74% of businesses outsource specifically to tap specialized expertise unavailable internally. By partnering with VAs, online businesses gain that on-demand expertise – whether it’s graphic design, multilingual support, or data analysis – without long local hiring cycles. This lets company leaders reclaim hours each week for high-value work.
Virtual assistants offer multiple strategic advantages for growing businesses:
Online service providers can delegate a wide range of tasks to virtual assistants. Common duties include:
By assigning these tasks to virtual assistants, busy founders and executives can focus on strategic decisions, product development, and scaling – while ensuring daily operations continue smoothly.
It’s important to distinguish between virtual assistants and executive assistants. Executive Assistants are often full-time roles (sometimes on-site or dedicated) that provide high-level support to senior executives. They manage complex calendars, confidential communications, and may oversee special projects or office operations. They typically require stringent hiring and a deep understanding of the company’s strategic needs.
In contrast, Virtual Assistants are remote professionals who handle administrative or specialized tasks on a contract or hourly basis. They are very cost-effective: “hiring a virtual assistant can be a more cost-effective option compared to a full-time, in-house executive assistant”. VAs commonly manage routine work like email filtering, scheduling, data entry, customer inquiries, and social media management. They often serve multiple clients or projects at once. Their flexibility and lower cost make them ideal for startups and small teams.
Many businesses now use Virtual Executive Assistants, who combine aspects of both roles – they work remotely but provide higher-level support. For example, a virtual executive assistant can handle strategic planning, take on project coordination, and manage a leader’s calendar from afar. In practice, choose an executive assistant when you need deep, dedicated support with an on-site presence. Choose a virtual assistant when you prioritize flexibility, specialized skills, and lower cost. Both roles can be crucial, but for scaling online businesses, virtual assistants often deliver the best ROI.
Virtual assistants are a cornerstone of modern remote staffing solutions. By tapping into a global talent pool, startups and growing companies can scale rapidly. There’s no need to post local job ads or wait through a long hiring process – skilled professionals worldwide can start supporting you in days or weeks. As Paul Østergaard, MySigrid’s founder, points out, his platform lets entrepreneurs “handpick your dream team of experts” with a few clicks.
The impact on growth can be dramatic. Research shows that startups leveraging outsourcing (including VAs) achieved roughly a 15% higher growth rate than those keeping everything in-house. Lower overhead and more hands on deck translate to faster project delivery, expanded sales efforts, and better customer reach. And by distributing work across time zones, your operations can run almost 24/7.
Moreover, managed virtual assistant services handle HR and training behind the scenes. For example, with MySigrid, you don’t have to worry about international compliance or benefits – the service provides full-time remote staff worldwide with continuity and quality control. This infrastructure lets you treat remote team members like in-house staff, giving you true “scalable growth” as noted by MySigrid’s leadership. In short, using VAs and remote project managers turns virtual teams into a strategic advantage for rapid expansion.
Virtual assistants thrive on cloud tools and collaboration platforms. They’re comfortable using the most popular remote-work technologies, which makes integration seamless. Key tools include: Slack or Microsoft Teams for instant messaging; Zoom or Skype for meetings; Trello, Asana, or Notion for project management and content calendars; and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive) for document sharing. For content-specific tasks, VAs often use Grammarly to polish writing and Canva to create branded graphics. Social media scheduling is done via platforms like Buffer or Hootsuite.
Because these tools are cloud-based, a VA can immediately jump into your workflow – drafting in your Google Docs, moving cards on your Trello board, or organizing plans in Notion. MySigrid notes that they train their assistants on each client’s preferred systems and SOPs. The result is that your virtual assistant feels like an extension of your team, using the same apps and processes you already trust. Harnessing these “best remote work tools” ensures communication is smooth and your team stays aligned no matter where everyone is located.
Not all VA providers are alike. When evaluating options, look for a partner that prioritizes quality, training, and support. For example, MySigrid stands out by hiring all its assistants as full-time employees (with benefits) rather than freelancers, ensuring consistent, long-term service. This “people-first” approach builds trust – in fact, MySigrid leadership highlights that a well-supported VA “delivers efficiency, creativity, and initiative” in supporting clients.
Another key is technology and oversight. Top firms equip their VAs with AI and automation tools. MySigrid, for instance, provides its staff with ChatGPT and other platforms so tasks like data analysis or report generation happen almost instantly. They also use quality-control workflows so that every task is reviewed to meet high standards. These systems lead to consistent output: as one review noted, MySigrid’s team “enables clients to focus on more important tasks” by handling the rest.
Finally, consider culture fit. Paul Østergaard’s vision emphasizes ethical outsourcing and family stability – his team works to “keep families together” by offering stable jobs and benefits. If that resonates with your values, a service like MySigrid (which is built around these principles) could be a good match. Ultimately, choose a VA provider whose strengths (be it deep project management expertise, e-commerce support, or executive assistant training) align with your goals.
Ready to explore virtual assistant support? Start by identifying tasks you want off your plate. Track your weekly schedule for a few days and list all recurring admin or marketing duties. These are prime candidates for outsourcing. Next, decide how you want to hire: directly freelance, through an agency, or via a managed service. (Managed services like MySigrid or Prialto handle recruitment, payroll, and training for you, making it easier to start quickly.)
Once you select a provider, schedule a trial or onboarding consultation. Provide clear instructions and access to your tools. MySigrid, for example, will train the assistant on your preferred apps and processes. Use shared tools like Slack and Trello to collaborate from day one. As you work with your VA, give regular feedback and refine tasks. Within weeks, you should see tasks seamlessly shifting to your assistant, freeing up your time.
A virtual assistant can be a cost-effective, flexible extension of your team. They accelerate projects, let you focus on high-impact activities, and let your business scale without the usual overhead. To see how this works in practice, consider booking a consultation with MySigrid. Their experts can outline a plan tailored to your business goals. You can also connect with MySigrid founder Paul Østergaard on LinkedIn to learn more about building a high-performing remote team. By partnering with the right virtual assistant service, online service providers unlock new capacity and growth potential – all while keeping costs and complexity in check.
CTA: Ready to reclaim your time and boost your business? Book a free consultation with MySigrid today and discover how a dedicated virtual assistant can transform your operations. Learn more and connect with industry leader Paul Østergaard on LinkedIn to get expert advice on scaling with remote teams.