When you decide it’s time to get some administrative help, the first instinct is often: I should hire someone.
And that makes sense. That’s the model most of us grew up watching. You need help, you hire a person, they come to work for you.
But for a solo or small practice, that model comes with a cost structure that’s worth understanding before you commit.
A part-time administrative employee typically means an hourly wage plus payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, and any benefits you offer. If they work in your physical office, you’re also absorbing their equipment and workspace. That part-time hire can easily cost $25,000 or more per year — even for limited hours.
A virtual assistant works differently. You pay for the hours and services you actually need. If your admin load is ten hours a month, you pay for ten hours. If it grows to twenty, you scale up. No payroll taxes. No equipment. No workspace.
For administrative work specifically — inbox management, scheduling, data entry, bookkeeping support, document prep — the VA model is almost always more cost-effective for a small practice.
Where a traditional employee makes more sense is when you genuinely need a physical presence. Someone to greet patients at the front desk, manage in-person operations, or handle tasks that can’t be done remotely. For those roles, local hire is the right call.
But if what you need is reliable, professional administrative support that keeps your practice organized and your communications responsive? A VA gives you that at a fraction of the cost — and with far more flexibility.
The question isn’t which model is better in theory. It’s which one fits your practice right now.
Want to think through what makes sense for you? Book a free 30-minute consultation at my Contact Page