What to hand to a virtual assistant: 60 tasks, grouped by area.

• Track a normal week and note what took the time.
• Circle anything you do the same way every time: that can be written down and handed over.
• Start with the two or three biggest. Add more after the first month.
• Keep for yourself: decisions about money, people and direction, and the relationships only you can hold.

• Sort the inbox every morning and flag what needs you
• Reply to routine questions with your saved answers
• Unsubscribe from and filter the noise
• Chase replies you're waiting on
• Draft replies for you to approve
• Keep a shared inbox at zero by the end of the day

• Answer customer emails and chat in your tone
• Handle where-is-my-order questions
• Process returns and refunds within your policy
• Reply to reviews on Google and Trustpilot
• Log complaints and pass on the serious ones
• Keep your help articles and saved replies up to date

• Book, move and confirm appointments
• Send reminders the day before
• Find times that suit several people
• Book travel and keep the itinerary
• Keep the team calendar tidy
• Follow up on no-shows

• Raise invoices and send them on time
• Chase unpaid invoices politely
• Match receipts to transactions in your accounting software
• Pay supplier bills you've approved
• Keep a simple monthly report of money in and out
• File documents where your accountant can find them

• Enter orders, leads or records into your systems
• Clean up a spreadsheet or CRM
• Research suppliers, venues or prices
• Build a list of prospects that fit your customer
• Check and update product listings
• Collect figures for a weekly report

• Upload new products with photos and descriptions
• Update stock and prices
• Watch for failed payments and fraud flags
• Answer pre-sale questions
• Process wholesale orders
• Keep marketplace listings in step

• Reply to new enquiries within the hour
• Book calls into your calendar
• Send proposals and follow up
• Update the CRM after every call
• Re-contact quiet leads
• Prepare a one-page brief before each meeting

• Schedule posts you've approved
• Reply to comments and messages
• Pull together a monthly newsletter
• Resize images and add captions
• Keep a calendar of what goes out when
• Track which posts brought enquiries

• Answer calls in your business's name
• Take messages and pass them on in writing
• Return missed calls
• Answer WhatsApp and Facebook messages
• Book appointments from calls
• Screen sales calls

• Keep checklists and how-to notes up to date
• Order office supplies
• Onboard new customers with your welcome steps
• Collect feedback after each job
• Keep supplier contracts and renewal dates in one place
• Remind you of deadlines

Add up the hours. Under 20 a week usually means part-time (£690 a month with us), around 40 means full-time (£1,250). How to hire, step by step, or see the prices.