A few years ago, I found myself facing a dilemma. Like many solopreneurs out there, I was spending so much time running my business that it was hard to find time to focus on growing it. While extra help sounded great, I just couldn’t justify the expense of a full-time personal assistant. 

That’s when I discovered Belay Solutions, a virtual assistant (VA) staffing company that I’ve been working with for three years now. Here you’ll find my official Belay review. I hope it helps fill you in on what you need to know to decide if Belay is right for you!

What is Belay?

Belay Solutions is a staffing company that can match you with several different types of virtual assistants. Now, don’t get thrown by the word “virtual.” In this context, it doesn’t refer to AI bots, but human professionals who work from home in the United States. They are vetted and experienced professionals ready to work on a fractional basis.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the different types of professionals Belay offers and what they can do for you.

Virtual Assistants 

If you’re in need of admin, operational, or even creative support, then this may be the type of virtual assistant for you. They can help with all those little tasks that can add up to leave you feeling stretched thin. These can include things like:

• Returning calls and emails
• Appointment/Calendar management
• Proofreading and editing
• CRM and project management
• Client and/or team member coordination
• Social media management

Accounting Professionals 

If dealing with numbers isn’t your thing, then a virtual accounting pro may be able to take a lot of stress off your plate. Belay’s remote accounting professionals offer everything from tax and bookkeeping services to full-service payroll or CFO strategy solutions. They can help with things like: 

• Managing accounts payable and receivable
• Monthly and annual reports
• Bookkeeping and accounting
• Financial strategy
• Purchasing, invoicing, and payroll
• Asset management

Marketing Assistants

Belay also offers assistants for anyone who is looking for a helping hand with marketing. Remote creative assistants can come in handy whether you need help with content, results analysis, or anything in between. Here are some of the skills in a virtual marketing assistant’s wheelhouse:

• Conducting audience research
• Creating and managing paid ad campaigns
• Monitoring social media metrics
• Tracking and responding to customer feedback
• Developing, implementing, and monitoring social media campaigns
• Tracking and reporting on key success metrics

Belay Review: Best Features

Now that you have a better sense of what these various virtual assistants do, let’s dive into the heart of our Belay review. I would like to start by outlining some of the aspects I’ve most enjoyed about working with Belay.

Fractional VA Services

Think you can’t afford the expense of hiring a full-time assistant? Honestly, neither could I. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t really need one since I was only working part-time myself. 

Luckily, Belay’s flexible service options turned out to be a game-changer. You get to choose how many hours you need help each month, so you only pay for what you need.  

Flexibility

Belay also realizes that your needs are likely to change over time. If you’re just starting out, your business will likely grow. Or maybe, like me, you run a business that’s pretty seasonal. 

The great thing about Belay is that it’s easy to adjust the number of hours you need during a given month. It’s been no problem for me to go from 30 hours a month for a few months to 45 or 60 hours per month when I need extra help. 

New Business Owner Training

One of the most pleasant surprises of my Belay experience has been how much effort the company put into helping me become a better business owner. Belay doesn’t just match you with a VA and wish you the best. 

They also offer all kinds of great resources like articles, videos, and even one-on-one personal training to help you get the most out of their services. These have all been super helpful for me when it comes to learning how to delegate the small tasks so I can focus on growing my business. 

Vetting Process

This is another area where Belay really shines. They don’t just match you up with a random, qualified professional. Instead, they pair you with a Client Success Consultant who will dive into everything from your service needs to your personality so that they can match you with the right VA for you. 

What if it doesn’t turn out to be a good fit after all?  No problem. I actually had this happen early on in my relationship with Belay. My Client Success Consultant was able to seamlessly help me swap out for a better fit. That was two years ago, and I’ve been working with my fantastic new VA ever since. 

Your Client Success Consultant will also walk you and your new VA through their fully managed onboarding process. Plus, there’s no need to worry about paperwork, tax implications, or the other usual complexities of hiring an employee. Just pay Belay and you're good to go. 

Personal and Professional Assistance

Last but not least, my VA has been super helpful when it comes to setting personal appointments, like doctor or dentist appointments for my kids. You’d be surprised how much time you can free up by having someone to help tackle your to-do list! 

Belay Review: Things to Consider 

No well-rounded Belay review would be complete without mentioning potential drawbacks. Here’s a heads-up on several things to consider if you’re still on the fence about whether Belay is the right choice for you. 

Cost Considerations

Finding a virtual assistant through Belay may (or may not) be a little pricier than hiring one on your own. Working with a Belay VA costs about $42/hour, which can be on the expense side, depending on who you ask. 

For example, Upwork says the median hourly rate for their virtual assistants is anywhere from $10-$20/hour. But a look at their top-rated VAs reveals a pretty big price gap.

Some of Upwork’s VAs work for as cheap as $10/hr, while others charge as much as $100/hr. Indeed puts the average VA rate at closer to $28/hr, which is probably a little more realistic. 

Personally, it’s been worth it for me to go with Belay because I love their thorough vetting process and ability to easily swap VAs if it doesn’t work out. But if you’re up for doing the legwork yourself, it may be worth checking out other options before you jump on board.

In-Person vs. Remote

Even at the height of the digital age, there can be drawbacks to working with a remote assistant. If you’re looking for someone who can make coffee and copies, all while keeping your filing cabinets in order, then hiring a VA may not be for you. 

There are also potential drawbacks when it comes to things like not being able to show your VA how to do something in person. That said, there are so many screen-sharing and project management tools out there that I haven’t really found this to be a problem. 

Expensive Buy-Out Fees

While Belay is a great place to find a VA, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend using it to headhunt for your new full-time hire. While you do have the option to buy out your VA, it’s going to cost you a pricey fee of $20k! 

Final Thoughts on Belay Review 

★★★★★

Overall, I don’t hesitate to give Belay a 5-star review. Sure, it may not be the most cost-effective option. But the ability to connect with excellent talent without all the hassle has been worth it. 

Not only has Belay connected me with a great VA, but they’ve also helped me learn to be a better business owner and manager. If you’re looking for a virtual assistant staffing service that can help you grow your own business, then it’s definitely worth checking out Belay Solutions. 

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