Virtual Assistant Rate Calculator: What to Charge Clients
Work backwards from your take-home goal to an hourly rate and retainer price
By the Monthly Income Booster editorial team · Updated · How we research and fact-check
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Virtual Assistant Rate Calculator: What to Charge Clients
Printed 2026-10-27 from billorganizingapp.com/income/calculators/virtual-assistant-rate/ — an estimate for planning, not financial or tax advice.
Retainers beat hourly billing: predictable income, and you stop logging every minute.
Keep your budget and bills on track month to month in the free Bill Organizer app.
Most new VAs pick a rate by copying a forum post, then discover admin time, tools and tax eat the difference. This works the other way round: start from the money you want to keep and calculate the rate that gets you there.
Unpaid Time Is Real
Proposals, onboarding, invoicing and inbox triage are unbilled. If a fifth of your week is unpaid, your rate must cover it.
Retainers Over Hourly
A fixed monthly retainer for a set block of hours gives you predictable income and clients a predictable bill.
Specialists Charge More
General admin competes globally on price. Inbox management for a specific industry, podcast production or bookkeeping support does not.
Raise Rates on New Clients
Test a higher number on the next enquiry before touching existing retainers.
You may also find this useful: Virtual Assistant Income.
Official sources
Tax rules, limits and pay data change. Check the current figures with the primary source before acting on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a beginner virtual assistant charge?+
Rather than a generic starting rate, calculate it: enter your take-home goal, available hours and expenses above and the tool returns the rate that supports them.
Hourly or monthly retainer?+
Retainers usually earn more and cause fewer billing arguments. Hourly makes sense only for short, unpredictable projects.
Do VAs pay self-employment tax?+
In most cases yes, as independent contractors. Build the percentage into your rate rather than absorbing it later.
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