A virtual secretary does the office work of a secretary from a remote desk: email, diary, bookings, notes and filing. You pay for hours worked, not a salary and a desk. At MyRemoteVA, a team lead reviews the work.
A virtual secretary does the office work a secretary used to do, from a remote desk. They sort your email, keep your diary, book meetings and tidy your files. You pay for the hours you use. You do not pay for a desk, a salary or holiday cover.
What a virtual secretary does
- Inbox. Sort email, draft replies and chase answers.
- Diary. Book meetings, move clashes and send reminders.
- Travel. Research and book trips, and keep itineraries in one place.
- Notes. Type up meeting notes and send the action list.
- Files. Name, sort and store documents so you can find them.
Virtual secretary services vs a full-time hire
A full-time secretary costs a salary, tax, leave and a desk. Many small teams only need ten or fifteen hours of help a week. Virtual secretary services fit that gap. You buy a block of hours and add more when work is busy.
Remote secretary or virtual receptionist?
A remote secretary works on your inbox, diary and documents. A receptionist answers calls and takes messages. If missed calls cost you work, add a virtual receptionist. Many firms start with a secretary and add reception later.
Tasks to keep for yourself
Keep decisions about money, hiring and big client deals. Your helper can prepare the facts and draft the reply. You make the call and press send. Share your tone and a few sample emails, so drafts sound like you from the first week.
Who gets the most from this help
Consultants, agents, clinics, founders and small agencies feel the gain first. Their days fill with meetings and messages, and the admin piles up behind them. A few hours of steady help each week clears that pile and keeps it clear.
How to hire a virtual secretary
- List the five tasks you repeat every week.
- Share one short guide for each task.
- Start with a small paid test, such as one week of inbox sorting.
- Review the first results and give clear feedback.
Give access through your own email and calendar settings. Do not share your main password.
What a virtual secretary costs
Pay-as-you-go is $12 an hour, and hours never expire. A dedicated virtual secretary starts from $5.62 an hour. See the pricing page for every option. You can also read our guide to outsourcing a virtual assistant.
At MyRemoteVA, your secretary is a trained person. AI helps with first drafts and sorting, and a team lead reviews the work before it reaches you.
Ready to hand off the paperwork? See pricing or start for $1.
Frequently asked questions
What does a virtual secretary do?
A virtual secretary manages your inbox and diary, books meetings and travel, types up notes, formats documents and keeps files in order.
How much does a virtual secretary cost?
Pay-as-you-go is $12 an hour with hours that never expire. A dedicated virtual secretary starts from $5.62 an hour.
Is a virtual secretary the same as a virtual receptionist?
Not quite. A secretary handles your inbox, diary and documents. A receptionist answers your phone and takes messages. Many businesses use both.
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 2, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact us.
Executive & Administrative Support
A remote executive assistant for inbox triage, calendar management, travel booking and the recurring admin that keeps founders and execs focused on decisions only they can make.
Explore this service