Virtual Assistant Pricing: Hourly, Retainer or Dedicated Models Compared
By TalentDock Editorial Team · Updated 19 September 2026 · 5 min read
How virtual assistant pricing works
Every virtual assistant price you see is built on one of three models. Knowing which one you are being quoted stops you comparing unlike figures.
| Factor | Hourly | Retainer | Dedicated |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Per hour worked, invoiced monthly | Fixed fee for a block of hours | Flat monthly fee for a full-time VA |
| Typical UK cost | £25-£35 an hour (freelance) | Often discounted against hourly | From £1,195 a month offshore, £2,800-£3,200 in-house |
| Unused hours | Not charged | Usually lost or partly rolled over | Yours to fill, no per-hour meter |
| Focus | Shared across the VA's clients | Shared, with reserved capacity | Works only for you |
| Best for | Occasional or unpredictable work | Steady part-time workloads | Full-time, embedded support |
Pay-as-you-go: when hourly pricing makes sense
Hourly pricing has no commitment and no wasted hours, which makes it ideal for testing whether a VA relationship works. The trade-off is that cost scales linearly. At £25-£35 an hour, 20 hours a week is £2,000-£2,800 a month and 40 hours a week is £4,000-£5,600 a month, according to rates from Teambuild Consultancy’s UK guide.
Watch for minimum billing increments, out-of-hours surcharges and charges for calls and setup. Ask whether time spent waiting for your reply is billed.
Retainers: a reserved block of hours
A retainer reserves a set number of hours for you each month at a lower effective rate. It gives you priority access and predictability. It works well when you know you need, say, 30 hours a month of inbox and diary support.
The catch is unused hours. Check whether they expire, roll over or are refunded, and what happens if you exceed the block. A retainer is still a shared resource: the VA serves other clients too.
Dedicated pricing: one VA, one flat monthly fee
A dedicated VA works full time for one client. You pay a flat monthly fee, so there is no meter running when you delegate one more task. This is the model TalentDock uses: from £1,195 a month, all-in, with Skilled roles from £1,695, and a dedicated VA who is employed and managed by TalentDock. See pricing for the bands.
Because the fee is flat, the effective hourly cost falls as you delegate more. At about 160 hours a month, £1,195 is roughly £7.50 an hour, against £25-£35 for a UK freelancer. The trade-off is that you need enough work to keep a full-time person busy.
Where each model wins
Using the figures above, the crossover sits in a predictable place. A UK freelancer at £30 an hour costs £1,195 at about 40 hours a month, roughly 9-10 hours a week. Beyond that, a flat monthly fee is cheaper for the same hours.
| Weekly hours | UK freelance at £30 an hour | Dedicated offshore VA |
|---|---|---|
| 5 hours (about 22 a month) | About £650 | £1,195, so hourly is cheaper |
| 10 hours (about 43 a month) | About £1,300 | £1,195, roughly break-even |
| 20 hours (about 87 a month) | About £2,600 | £1,195 |
| 40 hours (about 173 a month) | About £5,200 | £1,195 |
Figures are illustrative arithmetic using a £30 mid-range rate. Real cost differs with the seniority and skills you need.
How to choose a pricing model
Estimate weekly hours
Track a typical fortnight of admin you would hand over. Be honest about the hours, not the aspiration.
Check predictability
Steady, recurring work suits retainer or dedicated. Spiky or one-off work suits hourly.
Count the all-in cost
Add software, management time, vetting and replacement to any quote before comparing.
Ask what is included
Confirm tools, cover for absence, data-protection paperwork and notice terms.
Start small
Use a two-week trial, then move to the model that fits the hours you actually delegate.
For a wider view of rates by route, see virtual assistant cost in the UK. For a direct comparison of the freelance and dedicated approaches, read dedicated vs freelance virtual assistant, or go back to the complete hiring guide.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main virtual assistant pricing models?
Hourly, retainer and dedicated. Hourly charges for time used, a retainer reserves a block of hours for a fixed monthly fee, and a dedicated model gives you a full-time VA for a flat monthly fee.
Is a virtual assistant retainer worth it?
A retainer is worth it when you have steady, predictable work and want priority access at a lower effective rate. It is poor value if hours expire unused or you regularly exceed the block.
How many hours does it take for a dedicated VA to beat hourly pricing?
At a £30 an hour UK freelance rate, a dedicated offshore VA from £1,195 a month becomes cheaper at around 40 hours a month, or 9-10 hours a week.
What does dedicated virtual assistant pricing include?
It varies by provider. With TalentDock the monthly fee covers a dedicated, employed and managed VA with no recruitment fee. Always ask what is included in tools, cover and compliance.
Are virtual assistant prices negotiable?
Retainers and long-term dedicated arrangements are often negotiable. Marketplace hourly rates are usually less flexible, though volume can help.
Should I choose the cheapest virtual assistant?
Compare all-in monthly cost and reliability rather than the lowest rate. Cheap rates often exclude vetting, management, compliance and replacement time.
- Teambuild Consultancy: Virtual assistant costs in 2026, UK and Philippines
- Executively: How much should I pay a virtual assistant in the UK
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures are indicative and were checked on 19 September 2026; confirm your own position with a qualified UK adviser.
More on hiring a virtual assistant
Ready to hire an offshore virtual assistant?
Tell us the tasks, hours and tools and we will send a vetted shortlist. One all-in monthly fee, no recruitment fee.
Offshore teams for UK businesses, managed end to end. Dedicated talent in Sri Lanka & the Philippines, trained to your standards.
© 2026 TalentDock. Built for UK businesses. Delivered from Sri Lanka & the Philippines.
All rights reserved.