Virtual assistant cost at a glance
These are KUYA's published staffing rates. Each role is a one-time placement setup fee plus a flat monthly rate, with no hourly billing surprises:
| Role | Hours | Monthly rate | Setup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Assistant | 20 hrs/wk | $1,697 | One-time (see pricing) | Part-time admin, inbox, scheduling |
| Dedicated Assistant | 40 hrs/wk | $2,797 | One-time (see pricing) | Full-time coverage of a whole function |
| HighLevel-certified VA | 20 hrs/wk | $1,697 | One-time (see pricing) | CRM workflows in HighLevel |
| AI Specialist | 40 hrs/wk | $3,297 | One-time (see pricing) | AI automation builds and maintenance |
Final fit depends on role complexity, hours, and coverage windows, and is confirmed after a Workflow Mapping Session. Usage fees, phone line charges, and third-party software subscriptions are billed separately.
What drives the cost of a virtual assistant
Five things move the number more than anything else:
- Hours. A part-time VA focused on a few tasks costs less than a full-time VA who owns a whole function.
- Role complexity. General admin costs less than a specialist seat, like a HighLevel-certified VA or an AI Specialist who builds automations.
- Coverage window. Roles that need tight overlap with US business hours, like lead response and customer support, need more careful scheduling than back-office work.
- Hiring model. Hiring a freelancer directly, going through a job board, and using a managed agency all price differently, and each shifts work onto or off of you.
- Tools. Software subscriptions and usage fees are usually separate from the VA's rate.
US in-house hire vs. Filipino VA vs. freelancer
The sticker price is only part of the cost. Here's what each option actually puts on your books, in general terms:
| Cost component | US in-house employee | Freelancer (direct) | Filipino VA through an agency like KUYA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wages | US market wage | Hourly rate you negotiate | Included in flat monthly rate |
| Employer payroll taxes | Yes | No (contractor) | No |
| Benefits (insurance, paid leave, retirement) | Usually | No | No |
| Recruiting and vetting | You | You | Agency |
| Onboarding and SOPs | You | You | Agency, against your SOPs |
| Office space and equipment | Often | No | No |
| Replacement if it doesn't work | Re-hire from scratch | Re-hire from scratch | Replacement guarantee |
Two numbers put the US side in perspective. Employers pay a 7.65% FICA share (Social Security plus Medicare) on top of wages, per the IRS. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, benefits made up 30% of private-industry employer compensation costs in June 2026. That's before recruiting time, equipment, and the weeks it takes a new hire to get productive.
Why Filipino virtual assistants usually cost less
Wages in the Philippines are generally lower than US wages for comparable admin work, and the country has a large, established outsourcing workforce with experience supporting US businesses. When you work through an agency, you pay a flat monthly rate for the seat instead of carrying employer taxes, benefits, and office overhead yourself.
That doesn't make the cheapest option the best one. See our page on Filipino virtual assistants for what to look for, and our remote staffing agency page for how managed placement works.
Freelancer vs. agency: where the hidden costs are
A freelance marketplace often shows the lowest hourly number. The hidden cost is your time: writing the job post, screening, testing, onboarding, managing, and starting over when the fit is wrong. A managed agency costs more per hour than the cheapest freelancer, but it takes on recruiting, vetting, onboarding, and replacement.
The most expensive VA is the one who gets hired into an undefined role. Without a workflow map and documented SOPs, you spend weeks answering questions, redo the work yourself, and conclude that delegation doesn't work. Our guide on how to choose a VA company in Houston covers the questions to ask before you sign.
How to estimate your own VA cost
- List the recurring tasks you want off your plate: inbox, scheduling, follow-up, CRM updates, support, research.
- Estimate the weekly hours those tasks take today.
- Choose part-time or full-time. If work piles up every day, full-time usually pays off; if it comes in waves, part-time is often the better start.
- Check what AI can take first. Routing, drafting, and reminders can often be automated, which can shrink the seat. See AI consulting for small business.
- Map it before you hire. KUYA scopes staffing after a 60-minute, $497 MapFlow session so the quote matches real workload, not a guess.
Not sure you're ready to hire at all? Read when to hire a virtual assistant.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a virtual assistant cost per month?
At KUYA, a Dedicated Assistant is $1,697 per month for 20 hours a week or $2,797 per month for 40 hours a week, plus a one-time setup fee. Specialist seats, like a HighLevel-certified VA or an AI Specialist, are listed on the pricing page.
How much does a virtual assistant cost per hour?
KUYA bills flat monthly rates for a set number of weekly hours rather than billing hourly. To compare with an hourly quote, divide the monthly rate by the hours you'd actually use, then add the recruiting, onboarding, and replacement work you'd be doing yourself with a freelancer.
Is a Filipino virtual assistant cheaper than a US employee?
Generally, yes. Philippine wages are typically lower for comparable admin roles, and working through an agency means you don't carry US employer payroll taxes, benefits, or office costs. The real savings depend on how well the role is defined and onboarded.
Are there extra fees beyond the monthly rate?
Each KUYA role has a one-time placement setup fee listed on the pricing page. Usage fees, phone line charges, and third-party software subscriptions, such as AI or messaging platforms, are billed separately.
Should I start with a part-time or full-time VA?
Part-time fits focused, flexible work, like a few recurring tasks or overflow help. Full-time fits an ongoing workload that needs dedicated daily coverage. A practical approach is to start part-time, document the work, and scale up when capacity is clearly the constraint.
Why does KUYA recommend a MapFlow session before quoting staffing?
Cost follows scope, and scope is a guess until the workflow is mapped. The $497 MapFlow session runs 60 minutes and produces a map of where your time goes, VA and AI recommendations, and a prioritized 90-day plan, so the staffing quote matches real work.
Get a real number for your business
See every rate on the pricing page, explore VA staffing, or book MapFlow, the $497 / 60-minute Workflow Mapping Session, to get a staffing plan scoped to your workload. Running HighLevel? See our GoHighLevel virtual assistant page. More answers are in the FAQ, or call (956) 828-4672.
About KUYA Solutions: KUYA Solutions LLC was founded by Slade Jones and is based in the Houston–Galveston area, serving small businesses across the US. We publish our staffing rates, place pre-vetted virtual assistants, and build AI workflows into the tools you already use.