Charge Your Worth: How To Set Competitive Rates As A Virtual Assistant

Charge Your Worth: How To Set Competitive Rates As A Virtual Assistant

So you finally did it!

You started your virtual assistant (VA) business. You picked a name, created a logo, and even decided what services you want to offer.

Then reality hits…

“How much should I charge?”

Welcome to one of the biggest struggles new VAs face—pricing.

Set your rates too low, and you’ll be overworked and underpaid. Set them too high, and you might struggle to land clients in the beginning.

So how do you charge your worth without scaring off potential clients?

Let’s break it down.

KNOW YOUR VALUE

First things first—you need to know what you bring to the table.

Your skills? Valuable.

Your experience? Priceless.

Your time? WORTH CHARGING FOR.

Think about it—have you spent years working in administration, customer service, marketing, or another industry? Many of those skills are transferable to your VA business.

✔️ If you’ve been an executive assistant, you can offer inbox and calendar management.

✔️ If you’ve worked in customer service, you can offer client support.

✔️ If you’re great at Canva, you can offer social media graphics.

Your experience is something NO ONE can take from you—and that alone makes your services valuable. 

Understanding the range of services you can offer is crucial in assessing your value. Not sure what other services VAs can offer? Read all about it here!

But it’s not just about what you can do. It’s about what’s in demand.

Before setting your rates, take a step back and ask:

• Are my skills niche-specific or highly sought after?

• What’s the going rate for similar services?

• What kind of clients am I targeting?

Once you’ve nailed down your skills and market demand, it’s time for step two.

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH

Guessing your rates? Not a strategy.

To set competitive pricing, you need to know what other VAs are charging.

✔️ Look at freelancer platforms – Sites like Upwork and Fiverr show you real-world pricing for different VA services.

✔️ Check out other VAs’ websites – See what experienced VAs charge for similar skills.

✔️ Join VA communities – Facebook groups, LinkedIn forums, and industry discussions can give insight into fair rates.

But here’s the key—don’t just copy someone else’s rates.

Your pricing should reflect:

• Your experience level (New? Start competitively. Skilled? Charge accordingly.)

• Your skill set (More specialized = higher rates.)

• Your client base (Solopreneurs have different budgets than large businesses.)

Building a compelling portfolio can also help in justifying your rates to potential clients. I break it all down in this post—click here to read!

And remember—setting your rates isn’t permanent. As you gain experience, you can (and should) raise your prices.

CHOOSING A PRICING STRUCTURE

Now that you’ve researched rates, it’s time to decide how you want to get paid.

There are three common pricing models for VAs:

1. HOURLY PRICING (Great for beginners)

If you’re just starting, hourly pricing is the easiest way to charge.

Example:

💰 $30/hr for 10 hours = $300 per client

💰 $30/hr for 20 hours = $600 per client

This is great for new VAs who want to gain experience and work with different clients. But the downside? Your income is tied to your time—more hours = more money, but your income is capped by how many hours you work.

2. PACKAGE PRICING (Best for long-term growth)

Instead of charging per hour, you charge for the value of the work you provide.

Example: Instead of $30/hr for social media management, you offer:

✔️ A $750/month package for 3 posts per week

✔️ A $1,200/month package for 5 posts per week + engagement

Clients love packages because they know what they’re paying upfront. And YOU love packages because your income is more predictable.

3. PROJECT-BASED PRICING (Great for one-time work)

Some clients don’t need ongoing help. They just need a one-time project completed.

Example:

✔️ A $500 project for setting up an email automation

✔️ A $1,000 project for building a website

This is perfect for specialized skills like graphic design, website building, or automation setup.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Setting your VA rates isn’t about guessing—it’s about knowing your value, doing market research, and picking a pricing structure that works for you.

Whether you start with hourly rates, package pricing, or project-based work, the goal is the same: build a profitable business that reflects your worth.

Because trust me—when you start charging what you deserve? Your business (and bank account) will thank you.

If you want to become a virtual assistant...

If you have been thinking of becoming a Virtual Assistant, there truly hasn’t been a better time to start! More businesses than ever are turning to freelancers and virtual assistants today.

You can turn the skills you already have into a service-based business, work from the comfort of your own home, work with clients you genuinely enjoy working with, and have more freedom than a regular 9-5 job. 

As someone who’s been in the game for 8 years, I can tell you - it’s a pretty fun gig!

If you want to learn how to become a virtual assistant, you CANNOT miss this free training I created for you. I deep dive into the world of freelancing, tell you how I started my virtual assistant business, and give you the absolute BEST tips for getting started and finding clients.

Want me as your coach? Join my online course, Virtual Freelancer Academy, where I teach you EVERYTHING you need to know and give you all the tools you need to succeed as a VA (just like I've done for hundreds of students just like you).

Have more questions? Message me here!