Is the virtual assistant business viable? How much can you earn?
These are questions I'm often asked and recently, I was asked if the income of a virtual assistant was comparable to that of a salaried executive assistant. So, how much can a virtual assistant earn?
The first thing to understand is that I’m not talking about salary, because a virtual assistant is considered a freelancer (their business is typically a sole proprietorship at the start)
Your earnings depend on several factors
It is complicated to compare a freelancer to an employee, because many factors come into play and the income will also depend on these aspects:
your area of expertise
the amount of work you take on
but mainly your pricing strategy
Before becoming a virtual assistant, I worked as an executive assistant in large international companies, earning a very comfortable salary. However, the workload was intense—I often worked far beyond 100% capacity, not to mention the hours spent commuting and I am not even going to get started on the amount of time I spent working on corporate events! It obviously was great, but it was a loooooot of hours.
Today, working for myself provides me with an incomparable quality of life—no more wasted time in traffic, no more corporate pressure. This freedom is well worth it and cannot be financially compared!
And that's why it's hard to compare the salary of an employee with the turnover of a freelancer.
A real business, not a side hustle
Becoming a virtual assistant isn’t just a side job, it’s a real business venture.
If you’re only looking to make a little extra money, be aware that finding clients requires a significant investment of time and effort. Building a solid client base, delivering high-quality services, and ensuring a sustainable income all require strategy and dedication.
If you’re serious about your business and committed to making it work, then yes, you can absolutely make a living as a virtual assistant and sometimes even a very good one!
How to set your rates as a virtual assistant
One of the most important things you need to do when starting out is to define your rates. You need to find the right balance between the value of your work, your skills and your customers' expectations.
In Switzerland, virtual assistants generally charge between CHF 60 and 90 per hour. This range can vary according to your experience and specialisation.
Don’t undervalue your services
I strongly advise against lowering your prices just to attract clients. This is not a sustainable long-term strategy. Pricing too low can:
devalue your work, making it seem less professional
make your business unprofitable, as you may struggle to cover expenses
Instead, aim for fair pricing that reflects your expertise and the quality of your services !
How to calculate your hourly rate
To set a fair rate, consider:
your fixed and variable expenses (insurance, taxes, software, marketing, etc.)
the number of hours you plan to work per month
your desired net income
market rates and your level of expertise
This website: www.magicheidi.ch explains very well how to calculate your rates precisely, and gives a clear overview of the rates charged by various freelancers in Switzerland.
Structuring your offer
Hourly rate
You can choose a fixed hourly rate or a sliding scale based on the number of hours booked.
For example:
1 hour: 85 CHF/hour
4 hours: 80 CHF/hour
8+ hours: 75 CHF/hour
Let's do a quick calculation: with a customer who hires you for 4 hours a week at CHF 80 an hour, that's a potential income of CHF 1'280 a month, with just one customer.
This simple calculation already gives you a good indication of the viability of the business should you have 3-4 clients per week for example.
Service packages
Service packages are particularly well-suited for one-off projects, often for creative or specialized tasks. For example:
content creation package – blog writing, newsletters, social media content
design package – visual assets, presentations, branding materials
digital strategy package – social media management, marketing plans
Of course, everything is customisable pending your expertise and packages can be tailored to client needs. The goal is to offer clear, attractive service bundles for specific tasks.
Finding the right pricing strategy
Your pricing should reflect your expertise, dedication, and service quality. Take the time to assess your positioning and don’t be afraid to charge what you’re worth.
Need help setting your rates?
If you're just starting and need guidance, check out my training program: Becoming a Virtual Assistant, which walks you through building a profitable and sustainable business.
Already launched your business but struggling with pricing and client acquisition? I offer personalised coaching to help you structure your services and maximize your revenue.
👉 Feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to help you succeed!