Being a solopreneur is no joke. You’re the CEO, the marketer, the accountant, the customer service rep and sometimes even the janitor. At first, wearing all the hats might feel empowering. You’re bootstrapping your dream and calling the shots. But sooner or later there comes a point when doing everything yourself starts to feel like running on fumes.
So, should you tough it out solo or bring in a virtual assistant (VA) to lighten the load? Let’s break it down.
Time is Your Most Limited Resource
There are only 24 hours in a day, no matter how many cups of coffee you drink. Every minute you spend buried in emails or scheduling Instagram posts is a minute you’re not building your business, closing deals, or brainstorming your next big offer.
A VA can step in and take those repetitive, time-sucking tasks off your plate. Think inbox zero, calendar management, research, and customer follow-ups.
Here’s what you could stop doing if you delegate repetitive tasks to a VA:
- Inbox triage and replies
- Social media scheduling
- Data entry and CRM updates
- Creating SOPs
- Booking appointments
Just imagine how much brain space you’d free up if someone else handled that stuff. No more wasting your creative energy on tasks that don’t move the needle.
Cost vs. Value: Is a VA Worth It?
Yes, hiring help costs money. But burnout? That costs way more.
Let’s say your time is worth $75 an hour (a conservative estimate if you're running your own gig). Spending 10 hours a week on admin work is basically throwing $750 down the drain. A skilled VA might cost you $20-$40 an hour, depending on experience and task complexity. That’s a no-brainer trade.
Plus, a VA doesn’t need benefits, a desk, or paid time off. You pay for the hours they work and that’s it.
Hiring a VA isn’t just about saving time. It’s about buying back your focus, your energy, and your sanity.
DIY? Sometimes That’s the Right Move
Let’s be fair, there are times when doing it yourself makes more sense.
If you’re in the early grind phase and cash flow is tighter than your old jeans after quarantine, bringing on a VA might feel like a stretch. And hey, there’s value in knowing how every piece of your business works before handing it off. That knowledge helps you train your VA better down the line.
Here are a few tasks you might want to DIY:
- Branding and voice development
- Product or service creation
- Financial tracking (until you're ready to hand it to a pro)
- Customer interaction to get a feel for pain points
But the trick is knowing when to quit DIY mode before it wrecks your momentum.
Signs You're Ready to Hire a VA
Still not sure? You should ask yourself:
- Are tasks falling through the cracks?
- Do you spend more time working in your business than on it?
- Have you hit a growth ceiling you just can’t push past?
- Are you exhausted by Friday and not in a “wow, I crushed it” kind of way?
If you're ready to stop drowning in the busywork and start focusing on growth, it might be time to delegate repetitive tasks to a VA and finally get back to doing what you actually love.
Being a solopreneur doesn’t mean doing it all alone. It means knowing where your genius zone is and staying in it as much as possible. Whether you're just starting out or scaling fast, learning to delegate isn’t a luxury. It’s a survival skill.
