Choosing your support
Virtual vs. In Person Assistance: How to Choose the Right Support
The easiest way to choose between a virtual assistant and an in person assistant is to examine the work one responsibility at a time. Some tasks can be completed wherever there is authorized access to the right system. Others depend on someone being in a particular place. A clear split helps you buy the support you actually need.
In this guide
Start with presence, not the title
Ask whether the task requires a physical action or an on site judgment. Updating an authorized client record is usually remote work. Meeting an approved vendor at a property requires a person at that location. Researching a reservation may be remote; collecting an item is a separate local task.
A personal assistant can perform online work, and an executive assistant may work remotely. Those titles describe responsibilities, not a guaranteed delivery method. Specify the result, the location requirement, the deadline, and the authority involved before choosing the arrangement.
Compare common responsibilities
| Responsibility | Possible delivery | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Inbox sorting and routine scheduling | Virtual | Account permissions and approval rules |
| Client record updates and follow ups | Virtual | Templates, working window, and escalation |
| Local errands or an item collection | In person | Location, travel, authorization, and expenses |
| Household vendor coordination | Virtual, in person, or a mix | Whether attendance or only scheduling is needed |
| Meeting preparation | Virtual or in person | Documents, room setup, attendance, and privacy |
| Antique research or inspection | Virtual review or agreed in person examination | Evidence, object handling, and review limitations |
These are planning examples. Each assignment still depends on the provider's accepted scope, the assistant's skills, permitted access, and availability. Combining tasks in a table does not make them part of one package.
Separate monthly hours from availability
A 20 hour monthly allowance does not create coverage throughout every working day. A part time in person assignment does not automatically include last minute visits. For either delivery method, discuss when tasks will be handled, when you can expect updates, and what happens when something falls outside the working window.
Distinguish a deadline from an immediate response requirement. A document update due Friday can often be scheduled around other agreed work. A vendor arriving at 10 a.m. needs a fixed commitment. The second request may affect matching and pricing differently even if it takes fewer minutes to complete.
A practical example of combining both
Imagine a Las Vegas business owner who needs help with appointment scheduling, client follow ups, and a recurring vendor visit at a private home. The first two responsibilities could be assigned to a virtual assistant using agreed systems and templates. The vendor visit could be scoped separately as local support.
Use one shared task list with a named owner for every step. The virtual assistant might confirm the appointment; the local assistant might attend if expressly agreed; the client might approve any extra work. Record the handoff and completion in the same place so that one person does not assume another has already handled it.
This is an illustrative arrangement, not a bundled offer or a guarantee that the same person or account oversight allowance covers both. Confirm each service, its fees, and the point of contact in writing.
Treat access as part of the delivery decision
Remote work still needs a deliberate permission plan. If inbox access is involved, review the capabilities of the tool before granting it. For example, Google's Gmail delegation guidance explains that a delegate can read, send, and delete messages. Delegation is useful, but it is not the same as a read only view.
Physical access needs similar clarity: who may enter, what they may access, and how that access ends. For either arrangement, record the decisions that remain yours. If a task involves regulated information or a contractual location restriction, resolve those requirements with the appropriate adviser or account owner before the handoff.
Compare the full proposal
Compare responsibilities, assistant hours or scheduled attendance, account oversight, reporting, expenses, and change approval. A low hourly figure means little if it excludes the working window or coordination you need. Ask how a missed appointment, a blocked task, or a request outside scope will be handled.
Lazar & Company offers U.S. based and global virtual assistance, greater Las Vegas in person assistance, and exclusive Monterey area personal assistance. Regional services are custom quoted separately from the monthly VA plans. Start with your task list and let the required work guide the discussion.