Choosing your support
U.S. Based vs. Global Virtual Assistants: Which Fits Your Business?
Choosing between a U.S. based and a global virtual assistant starts with the job you need done. Location matters, but so do experience, communication, and the hours when you need support.
In this guide
Define the role before choosing the location
Write down the responsibilities you want to hand off. Then note what each one requires: live conversations, a response during a certain part of the day, knowledge of a particular tool, or access to client information.
This gives you something useful to compare. “I need help with admin” is a starting point. “I need someone to coordinate appointments between 9 a.m. and noon Pacific time, update our CRM, and follow our client response templates” is a role you can actually discuss and scope.
What the two options mean at Lazar & Company
| What to compare | U.S. based assistance | Global assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant location | United States | Philippines or India |
| Agency point of contact | U.S. point of contact | U.S. point of contact |
| 20-hour starting plan | $799 per month | $399 per month |
| Working hours | Agreed in the proposal | Agreed in the proposal |
| Task documentation and reporting | Defined responsibilities and regular reporting | Defined responsibilities and regular reporting |
Those starting plans each include 20 assistant hours and 1.5 hours of account oversight separately. Matching depends on the actual role, staffing, working window, and permitted access. The assigned country and responsibilities are confirmed before work begins.
Working hours matter more than a broad label
A U.S. based assistant does not automatically cover every U.S. time zone or your entire business day. Global assistance does not automatically mean overnight coverage. If you need overlap with U.S. business hours, ask for the specific window you need; availability must be confirmed.
Some work needs a live response, such as coordinating a last-minute appointment. Other work can be completed between agreed check-ins, such as organizing documents or updating a recurring report. Separating those tasks helps you choose coverage that fits the job.
Evaluate communication and experience directly
Use the same standards for either option. Look for someone who can follow your process, ask useful questions, communicate clearly, and recognize when a decision belongs to you.
If the role includes calls, writing, or specialized software, ask how those requirements will be assessed. A relevant sample task and an agreed review process tell you more about fit than assumptions about a country. Specialized experience should be confirmed for the individual assignment.
Check access requirements before matching
Identify which accounts and information the assistant needs. Confirm whether your clients, contracts, or software impose any location restrictions before sharing access. Where a requirement is unclear, resolve it with the appropriate account owner or adviser first.
For either option, use individual accounts, limited permissions, and a password manager where appropriate. Define which actions need approval, especially anything involving payments, sensitive information, or a message sent on your behalf. Keep access limited to the agreed responsibilities.
Compare the full scope, not just the price
Global assistance has a lower starting price in our plans. That can be useful when you want support for defined recurring tasks within a smaller budget. U.S. based assistance may fit a role with a specific location requirement or a preference for an assistant working in the United States.
Compare what is included: assistant hours, account oversight, agreed availability, reporting, and the work itself. Ask how handoffs, approvals, and changes in priorities will be handled. Do not assume a package includes specialist services or backup coverage unless the proposal says so.
Choose the option that fits the work
You do not have to know the answer before speaking with us. Bring your task list, budget, preferred working hours, and any access restrictions. We can discuss which option may fit and confirm what is available.
The right starting point is a clear role and a workable handoff. Once those are defined, location becomes one part of the decision instead of the whole decision.