How it works: from first call to a working assistant in about two weeks
You tell us the work. We find, vet, employ and equip the person who'll do it, and you direct them from day one. Here's every step, what you still do yourself, and what happens if it isn't working.
Book a call, meet a shortlist of pre-vetted assistants and choose one. Most clients are onboarded within two weeks. The assistant works for us, never as your employee, a trained backup covers their leave, and you can ask for a replacement in the first two weeks. Prices start from around $8.80 an hour, billed monthly. Sources: [1]
Last checked 7 October 2026
What happens from your first call to their first task
Book a call
Tell us the work you want off your desk, the tools you use and the hours you need covered. If an assistant isn't the right fit for the work, we'll say so.
We find and vet candidates
We look for people who fit your role. New applicants record a video interview with the role's questions, and everyone is screened for the skills you asked for, English and reliability, and tested before anyone reaches you.
Meet your shortlist and choose
You meet the shortlisted assistants on a call and pick the one you want. Nobody starts until you've chosen.
Onboard and start on live work
Your routines go into Crewhall as steps, logins go into its shared vault, and your assistant starts on real tasks in your working hours. Most clients get here within two weeks.
You only meet people who've already cleared our screening
Before you see anyone, we screen candidates for the skills your role needs, their English and their reliability, and test them on the work. So your call is about fit: how they'd handle your tasks and your hours.
And it doesn't stop at the hire. If the first two weeks show they're wrong for the role, you can ask for someone else.
You direct the work. We employ, pay and equip the person doing it.
| You | Catalyst | |
|---|---|---|
| Finding the person | Tell us the role, meet the shortlist, choose | Open the role, screen, test and shortlist |
| Employment | Nothing: they're never your employee (clause 11) | Employ, pay and equip them |
| The daily work | Set the tasks and priorities, answer questions, approve | Provide Crewhall and the time tracker, free |
| Access | Share the logins and tools the work needs (clause 6) | Crewhall's vault shares each login with one person and revokes it in a click |
| Leave and sick days | Tell us when they're out | Arrange a trained backup for those days |
| If it isn't working | Tell us why | Find a suitable replacement (clauses 7.2 to 7.5) |
| The agreement | Sign the proposal and our Terms of Business | A Singapore company, under Singapore law (clause 16) |
That split is what you pay for. With a freelancer or an employer of record, finding, covering and replacing the person stays with you.
Onboard your assistant in about two weeks
Onboarding happens in Crewhall, the app your assistant works in. It comes free with every Catalyst assistant.
Write each routine once
The Monday jobs become routines with steps. Your assistant runs them on schedule and ticks off each step.
Share logins once
Give each login to your assistant from the vault, not in a chat. Take it back in a click.
Start with one real task
Hand over something live in week one, then add the next routine when it runs without you.
Read the end-of-day report
Each day ends with what they did and the hours they worked, so you don't have to ask.
Backup and replacement, in writing
When your assistant is away, a trained backup covers. Your routines, steps and logins sit in Crewhall, so the backup works from the same instructions instead of starting from scratch.
In the first two weeks you can ask for a replacement if the assistant isn't suitable, with your reasons (clause 7.2). After that we look at each request on reasonable grounds (clause 7.3) and make commercially reasonable efforts to find a suitable replacement (clause 7.5). We can't promise the same person for ever, and clause 7.6 says so. Sources: [1]
The terms, in plain words
Price
From around $8.80 an hour, billed monthly in advance (clause 3.2). Full-time is 160 hours a month (clause 5.2); part-time is 20 hours a week.
Deposit
One month's fees before the start, used as credit against your last month or two (clauses 4.1 and 4.2).
Minimum term
Set in your signed proposal, then month to month (clauses 2.1 and 2.2).
Leaving
30 days' written notice once the minimum term is done (clause 12.1).
Hiring them yourself
A conversion fee of 12 months' fees if you want to employ the assistant directly (clause 9.2).
Your files when you leave
On written request, we return or delete the materials you gave us, apart from anything we must keep by law (clause 8.3).
How it works, answered
How long until my assistant starts?
Most clients are matched and onboarded within two weeks of the first call.
Do I get to choose my assistant?
Yes. You meet the shortlist and pick. Nobody starts until you've chosen.
Who employs the assistant?
We do. Our Terms of Business say an assistant is never the client's employee (clause 11), so you don't run payroll, buy equipment or handle employment paperwork. Sources: [1]
What happens when my assistant is sick or on leave?
A trained backup covers the days they're out. Because your routines live in Crewhall as written steps, the backup follows the same steps your assistant does.
What if it isn't working?
Tell us why. In the first two weeks you can ask for a replacement (clause 7.2); after that we review each request on reasonable grounds (clause 7.3). Sources: [1]
Will they work my hours?
Yes. We match each assistant to your working hours before they start.
Do I need to train them?
You show them your way of doing things once. Write the steps into Crewhall as routines, and your assistant follows them from then on.
What does it cost?
From around $8.80 an hour on a monthly plan, up to 70% below a local hire. The pricing page has the rate for each role.
Sources
- Catalyst Outsourcing: Terms of Business, read 7 October 2026