If you've ever looked at your overflowing inbox, your backlog of quotes, or the invoice that still isn’t sent and thought, “I know I need help, but I just can’t afford it right now,” - you’re not alone.
For many small business owners, especially in trades or service-based industries, hiring a virtual assistant (VA) feels like a luxury reserved for when the business hits a certain size or revenue. But here’s the truth: support isn’t something you earn after you’ve made it. It’s how you get there.
Let’s reframe what support actually is, and why waiting until you “can afford it” might be keeping you stuck.
What if support paid for itself?
Most people think of hiring help as a cost. But the right support isn’t just another expense, it’s an investment that gives you back time, energy, and capacity.
Let’s say your hourly rate (what your work is worth when you're on the tools or with clients) is $150. If you're spending 10 hours a week on admin tasks a VA could do for $70/hr or less, you’re not saving money by doing it yourself - you’re losing potential income.
Support should earn its keep. The right VA helps you move faster, stay on top of the details, and focus on the parts of the business only you can do.
You don’t need to start big
Here’s a common myth: you have to go all in from the start.
Support can start small. Maybe that looks like:
Inbox triage two hours a week
Formatting quotes or following up overdue invoices
Booking your jobs into a calendar (without five back-and-forths)
Those two or three hours a week? That’s your breathing room. It’s time you can use to chase new work, finish existing jobs faster, or even (gasp) knock off early on Friday.
You don’t need a VA working 10+ hours a week (or anything close to full-time) to feel the shift. You just need the right person doing the right things.
DIY-ing everything isn’t free, it’s costing you
Time you spend formatting documents or chasing quotes is time you’re not spending building the business. Or resting. Or being present at home.
And here’s the thing: as a business owner, you’re expected to wear all the hats. But no one can be good at everything. Sometimes you need specialised help, like someone who knows their way around bookkeeping software or can wrangle your inbox in half the time it takes you.
It’s easy to forget that “just doing it yourself” has hidden costs:
Missed leads that didn’t get followed up
Invoices sent late (or not at all)
Jobs slipping through the cracks because your system’s a mess
Constant overwhelm is a signal something needs to change.
Can’t afford to get help - or can’t afford to keep going like this?
We get it. Spending money when cash flow is tight feels risky.
But if you’re hitting the same wall month after month, running on fumes, and still can’t step away without things falling over… the real question isn’t whether you can afford help. It’s whether you can afford not to have it.
Sometimes, the smallest change (like having someone book jobs into your calendar or reconcile your receipts) can be the thing that finally tips the scales in your favour.
When a virtual assistant isn’t the right fit
If you need in-person support, aren’t using cloud-based tools and apps, or just don’t feel ready to delegate yet, we might not be your next step - and that’s okay.
What could help right now is:
Tracking where your time’s going each week
Listing the tasks you dread, delay, or don’t do well
Taking our Business Support Quiz to figure out whether an employee, a VA, overseas support, or automation is the best fit for where you’re at
Clarity should always come before delegation.
Want to start small? That’s how most of our clients begin.
You don’t need a fully documented SOP library or a team of five to hire a VA. You just need a task or two you’re ready to hand off.
At Strictly Savvy, we help clients start small, test what works, and build from there. Whether that’s two hours a week or more consistent, high-level support across your day-to-day operations, we’ll meet you where you’re at.
Because getting help shouldn’t feel like another mountain to climb, it should feel like finally being able to breathe.
Takeaway: If “I can’t afford a VA” has been your default answer, it might be time to rethink what support means for your business. It’s not about hiring a team, it’s about buying back your time, reducing stress, and giving yourself the breathing room to grow.
Need help figuring out what to hand off first? Start with the one task you’re dreading this week. Then book a quick chat with us and we’ll help you find your starting point.
