Simplify your business operations with Albro Virtual Assistance. As your trusted partner, I provide expert support tailored to your unique needs — whether that's managing admin, keeping your e-commerce site updated, or handling day-to-day tasks that eat your time. Hiring a virtual assistant means efficient, scalable support that lets you focus on growing the business, not running it. Let's connect and talk through what that could look like for you.

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The cost comparison if you're at the point where the workload is building, it's natural to think hiring someone is the next step.

But hiring isn't just a salary — it's a full financial commitment. UK administrative salaries currently average £26,000–£31,000 in base pay (source: PayScale, Glassdoor, Indeed, 2026). Add Employer National Insurance (15% above £5,000/year), minimum 3% pension contributions, recruitment costs (CIPD benchmarks average £3,000–£6,125 for non-management roles), and onboarding, training and equipment in the first year, and the realistic all-in cost lands around £36,000–£42,000+ annually — for a fixed number of hours, whether you need them that week or not.

Compare that to working with a virtual assistant. No salary, no employer contributions, no onboarding costs, no long-term contract.

At £45/hour on a pay-as-you-go basis, or from £450/month on a 10-hour retainer, the difference isn't marginal — it's an order of magnitude. A 10-hour monthly retainer runs to £5,400 a year. Even a 20-hour monthly retainer — enough for most businesses well into their growth phase — comes to £10,800 a year, still a fraction of a single junior hire's true cost. And if your workload drops, your costs drop with it. No paying for quiet periods, no wasted capacity.

On top of that, I cover my own software, insurance, systems and ongoing training. No hidden extras, no surprise costs — just clear, predictable support that fits around your business.

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What you still get is everything that actually moves your business forward: the day-to-day admin that builds up and slows you down, project organisation, documentation, keeping communication flowing, and handling the tasks behind the scenes — all the moving parts that keep things running properly without you having to chase them.

This is hands-on, task-level support: I do the work you hand over.

 

If your business has grown to the point where you need someone owning the operational side — systems, oversight, team coordination, the strategic "management" layer rather than the tasks underneath it — that's Online Business Manager territory, not VA. See OBM support

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Because I'm already experienced with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Shopify, and Wix, I step straight in without training or hand-holding. Things get done quicker, and they get done properly.

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​The real advantage isn't just cost — it's flexibility. You're not locked into paying for time you don't need. You're not taking on the risk of hiring too early. And you're not adding another layer of management to your already full plate.

Instead, you've got reliable support that adapts with your business. When things get busy, I'm there. When things are quieter, you scale back. Simple as that.

It's a lighter, smarter way to get the support you need — without the weight of employment sitting behind it.

If you're open to a more flexible way of handling your admin, I'd love to have a chat and see how I could support you.

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FAQs

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What's the difference between a Virtual Assistant and an Online Business Manager?

A VA handles hands-on, task-level work — the day-to-day admin, e-commerce upkeep and time-eating jobs you hand over. An OBM steps into the operational side — systems, oversight, team coordination and the strategic "management" layer rather than the tasks underneath it. Most businesses need a VA first; OBM support comes in once you've grown past that.

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What does a virtual assistant do for entrepreneurs?
For an entrepreneur, a VA takes on the tasks that eat your time but don't need to be done by you specifically — email and diary management, customer service, general admin, invoicing, and social media or website upkeep. The goal is to free you up for the parts of the business only you can do, like sales, strategy and client relationships.

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How much does a virtual assistant cost in the UK?
Pay-as-you-go is £45 per hour. Retainer packages start from £450 per month for 10 hours, with a 20-hour package at £900 per month — both far below the £36,000-plus first-year cost of hiring an admin employee in the UK.

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How do I get started with Albro Virtual Assistance?
Book a free 15-minute VA chat or 30-minute OBM chat to talk through what you need before committing to anything.

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