Great Assistant

Great Assistant takes a fundamentally different approach to virtual staffing. Instead of providing managed assistants on a subscription basis, the company acts as a specialized recruiter, handling the end-to-end process of finding, screening, and presenting qualified assistant candidates who will then work for you directly.

The recruitment process is thorough and well-structured. Great Assistant uses a combination of skills testing, personality assessments, and structured interviews to build a shortlist of candidates matched to your specific needs and working style. This approach goes beyond resume screening and helps identify assistants who are not just capable but compatible.

The one-time fee model is the most distinctive aspect of the service. At approximately $2,500 for a full recruitment cycle, the upfront cost is significant, but there are no ongoing platform fees or salary markups. Once you hire your assistant, the full salary goes to them, which can result in significant savings over time compared to managed services that charge 30 to 50 percent markups.

For experienced managers who are comfortable directing their own staff, this model is highly attractive. You get a vetted candidate without the ongoing overhead of an agency sitting between you and your assistant. The direct relationship also tends to foster stronger loyalty and better communication.

However, the model has clear drawbacks. If the hire does not work out within the first few months, you are back to square one and may need to pay another recruitment fee. There is no backup assistant, no management layer to handle performance issues, and no replacement guarantee of the kind that managed services provide.

The service also does not include any ongoing support. Once the placement is made, Great Assistant steps back. This means you handle onboarding, training, performance management, and any HR issues entirely on your own. For first-time managers of remote staff, this can be a steep learning curve.

Great Assistant is best suited for experienced entrepreneurs and executives who know what they want in an assistant and are confident in their ability to manage the relationship. If you prefer a hands-off, fully managed experience, a traditional VA agency will be a better fit. But if you want to build a long-term, direct relationship with a carefully vetted assistant without paying ongoing agency premiums, Great Assistant delivers solid value.