Comparing the Cost of Hiring a Local Assistant vs. a Virtual Assistant
For Canadian business owners, the decision to hire support staff often comes down to one critical factor: cost. While local, in-person assistants provide traditional on-site support, virtual assistants (VAs) have quickly become a smarter, more flexible, and more affordable alternative.
Let’s break down the true financial difference between hiring a local assistant and bringing on a virtual assistant.
The True Cost of a Local Assistant
Hiring an in-person assistant in Canada is about more than just the base salary. Here’s what most employers need to account for:
Salary: $40,000–$55,000 CAD annually (about $3,300–$4,600 per month).
Benefits & Payroll Costs: Add 20–30% for health benefits, CPP/EI contributions, vacation pay, and other statutory costs. That means an assistant earning $45,000 actually costs closer to $54,000–$58,500 per year.
Office Space & Equipment: Desk, chair, computer, phone, software, and utilities can easily add $3,000–$5,000+ annually.
💡 Total Cost of a Local Assistant:
Between $58,500–$65,000+ CAD per year, once all expenses are factored in.
The Cost of a Virtual Assistant
Now compare that to hiring a virtual assistant (VA):
Monthly Pay: $1,500–$2,500 CAD (depending on experience and hours).
Annual Cost: $18,000–$30,000 CAD.
Benefits & Payroll Costs: None — most VAs are independent contractors.
Office Space & Equipment: None — they work remotely using their own tools.
Flexibility: VAs can be hired part-time, full-time, or even project-based, so you only pay for the support you actually need.
💡 Total Cost of a Virtual Assistant:
Between $18,000–$30,000 CAD per year — less than half the cost of hiring locally.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Expense CategoryLocal AssistantVirtual AssistantBase Pay$40,000–$55,000/year$18,000–$30,000/yearBenefits & Payroll$8,000–$13,500/year$0Office & Equipment$3,000–$5,000+/year$0Total Annual Cost$58,500–$65,000+$18,000–$30,000
Why Virtual Assistants Make Financial Sense
Switching to a VA doesn’t just save money — it also creates flexibility. With a VA, businesses can:
Scale hours up or down depending on workload.
Access specialized skills without long-term commitments.
Avoid the risk and overhead of hiring full-time staff.
In short, virtual assistants cost less, offer more flexibility, and allow businesses to allocate resources where they matter most — growing sales, serving clients, and increasing profitability.
For Canadian companies, the math is clear: hiring a virtual assistant at $1,500–$2,500 per month is far more cost-effective than employing a local assistant at $58,000+ per year. Beyond the savings, VAs bring scalability and global expertise that local hires often can’t match.
👉 If your goal is to cut costs while keeping your operations efficient, now may be the perfect time to explore what a virtual assistant can do for your business.