A virtual office assistant does the office jobs that keep a business running, from a remote desk. They manage email, diaries, files, data entry, invoices and research. MyRemoteVA assistants are trained people who use AI to work faster, from $5.62 an hour, and a team lead checks the work.
A virtual office assistant does the day-to-day office work of a small business without sitting in your office. You get the same help with email, files, invoices and diaries, but you pay for the hours you use. This guide covers the duties, a sample week, what it costs and how to start.
Duties of a virtual office assistant
- Email: sort the inbox, flag what matters, draft replies for your review.
- Calendar: book and move meetings, and send reminders.
- Files: name, sort and store documents so you can find them.
- Data entry: keep customer lists, price lists and records current.
- Invoices: prepare and send invoices, and chase late ones by email.
- Research: collect prices, suppliers and contact details into a simple sheet.
- Reports: turn raw numbers into a one-page summary.
- Event and travel admin: compare options and prepare bookings for your approval.
Office assistant, receptionist or executive assistant?
These roles overlap, but the focus differs.
- An office assistant keeps the back office running.
- A virtual receptionist handles calls and messages.
- An executive assistant supports one leader closely.
Most small firms start with an office assistant, because the work is steady and easy to hand off.
A sample week
- Monday: clear the weekend inbox, set the week's calendar.
- Tuesday and Wednesday: data entry, file clean-up and supplier research.
- Thursday: prepare invoices and payment reminders.
- Friday: send a short summary of what was done and what is next.
Where AI helps
Your assistant is a real person. AI helps them sort emails, draft text and tidy data faster. A person checks each output, and a team lead reviews the work before it reaches you. That mix is how the work stays fast and accurate.
What it costs
Pay-as-you-go is $12 an hour and the hours never expire. A dedicated assistant starts from $5.62 an hour on a full-time plan: 160 hours for $899 a month. A part-time plan is 80 hours for $500. A new registration can try it for $1 a month, which adds one hour each month.
Why a virtual office assistant fits small teams
Small teams rarely have enough office work for a full-time hire, but they have far too much for the owner. A virtual office assistant fills that gap. You buy hours when you need them, and you can add or drop hours as the work changes. Because the work is steady and rule-based, it is also easy to review. You see tasks and hours in your client portal, so you always know what was done and what is next.
It also protects your focus. When filing, data entry and invoice chasing are handled, you can spend your day on sales, clients and decisions.
UK and other hours
A virtual office assistant can work your hours, including UK hours. Shifts are planned around your day, so your assistant is online when your team is. Tell us your hours when you sign up.
How to start
- Write down five tasks you repeat every week.
- Share tool access with limited permissions.
- Hand off the first task and review it line by line.
- Add one task at a time as trust grows.
Next, read our guide to virtual admin support, see the administrative assistant service, or compare prices. Ready to try? Start for $1.
Frequently asked questions
What does a virtual office assistant do?
They handle the office tasks that need a person but not an office: email, calendars, filing, data entry, invoices, research, reports and travel or event admin.
Is a virtual office assistant the same as a virtual receptionist?
No. An office assistant does admin and back-office work. A receptionist answers and routes calls and messages. Many firms use both, for different tasks.
How much does a virtual office assistant cost?
Pay-as-you-go is $12 an hour. A dedicated assistant starts from $5.62 an hour on a full-time plan, which is 160 hours for $899 a month. New registrations can try it for $1 a month.
Can a virtual office assistant work UK hours?
Yes. Shifts are planned around your working day, including UK hours, so your assistant is online when your team is.
What is doing this yourself costing you?
Doing it yourself: $2,165 a month of your time.
The same hours at our $12/hr pay-as-you-go rate: $520. Dedicated plans start at $5.62/hr.
Simple maths from the numbers you enter. It assumes a VA can take on those hours.
Start for $1Written by the MyRemoteVA team. Search-trend figures come from Google Trends. Prices shown are our current plans. Last updated October 9, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact us.
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