Before you hire a virtual assistant in the Philippines or Malaysia: who employs them, what it costs and whose hours they keep

One dedicated assistant, based in the Philippines or Malaysia, on your working hours. We recruit, vet, employ, pay and equip them, and most clients start within two weeks.

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What does a virtual assistant in the Philippines actually cost each month?

You pay one monthly rate per assistant, from around $8.80 an hour. Hiring someone directly can cost less an hour, and then the contract, the pay, the laptop and the next hire are yours to sort out. Exact Catalyst pricing is on the pricing page.

  • From around $8.80 an hour, billed monthly, per assistant
  • Part-time 20 hours a week, or 160 hours a month full-time
  • Matched and onboarded in Two weeks or less, for most clients

Who employs them, whose hours they keep, and which law your agreement sits under

We're the employer

We recruit, vet, employ, pay and equip your assistant. Clause 11 of the Terms of Business says they stay with us and are never your employee, so there's no contract or payroll in another country for you to run.

Your hours, agreed up front

Your assistant works the hours you set when we match you. For a Singapore or Perth business that's their normal day. For London or New York, it's their evening or night.

A Singapore agreement

You sign with a Singapore company, headquartered at 60 Paya Lebar Road, and clause 16 puts the agreement under Singapore law.

Not the right fit? If it isn't working in the first two weeks, you can ask for a replacement (clause 7.2).

Crewhall, our workspace app, comes free with every assistant: chat, routines, shared logins and an end-of-day report with the hours worked.

Can an assistant in the Philippines or Malaysia work your time zone?

Yes. Clause 1.1 of the Terms of Business reads: "Catalyst provides outsourced Virtual Assistants based in the Philippines and Malaysia". Both countries keep UTC+8 all year, with no daylight saving, and your assistant works your hours.

Singapore and Perth

No time difference. Both are on UTC+8, like the Philippines and Malaysia.

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane

Two hours ahead, three while Sydney and Melbourne are on daylight saving time. Your 9am start is their 7am or 6am.

London and the UK

Seven hours behind in summer, eight in winter. Your 9am start is their 4pm or 5pm.

New York and the US East Coast

Twelve hours behind in summer, thirteen in winter. Your 9am start is their 9pm or 10pm.

How long does it take to start? About two weeks.

  1. Book a call

    Tell us the tasks you want off your desk and the hours you work.

  2. Meet your assistant

    We match you with a pre-vetted assistant for the work and your hours. You meet them before they start.

  3. Start within two weeks

    Most clients are matched and onboarded within two weeks, and we stay the employer from day one.

What a virtual assistant can actually take off your desk

Email and diary, bookkeeping, customer support, social media, design and lead research. If it's a repeatable task done at a desk, an assistant can take it.

Questions owners ask before hiring a virtual assistant in the Philippines

Where are your virtual assistants based?

In the Philippines and Malaysia. Clause 1.1 of the Terms of Business you sign says so, and you meet your assistant before they start.

How much does a virtual assistant from the Philippines cost?

From around $8.80 an hour, billed monthly per assistant, part-time or full-time. That's up to 70% less than a local hire. Rates by role are on the pricing page.

Is it better to hire a Filipino VA directly or through a company?

It depends on how much of the employer's job you want. Hire directly and you can pay less an hour, then you write the contract, run the pay, buy the equipment and find the next person if it doesn't work out. Through us, that's our job and you direct the work.

Will the assistant work my hours?

Yes. We match your assistant to your working hours. Both countries keep UTC+8, so a Singapore or Perth day lines up exactly, and a London or New York day is your assistant's evening or night.

Who employs the assistant?

We do. We recruit, vet, employ, pay and equip them, and clause 11 says they're never your employee. There's no payroll or employment contract in another country for you to run.

How quickly can I start?

Most clients are matched and onboarded within two weeks. If the assistant isn't suitable in the first two weeks, you can ask for a replacement (clause 7.2).

Can I hire a part-time virtual assistant?

Yes. Choose part-time, 20 hours a week, or full-time, which the Terms of Business set at 160 hours a month.

Will I always have the same assistant?

That's the aim. Clause 7.6 says we can't promise one person stays with you for good, and if someone leaves, clause 7.5 has us look for a suitable replacement.

Is my business information kept confidential?

Yes. Clause 8 binds both sides to keep business information confidential and has us take reasonable measures to protect yours. When the agreement ends, we return or delete your materials if you ask in writing.

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