Best Fancy Hands Alternatives for Busy Executives

Modern business complexities have increased most executives’ strategic workload, raising the need for an assistant to handle administrative tasks. Fancy Hands is among the best platforms offering virtual assistant (VA) support.

However, the platform rarely assigns executives a dedicated VA, but instead uses a first-come, first-served model, where tasks are delegated to the available assistant. This is often a deal breaker if you want a VA you can partner with long-term, and may prompt you to look for Fancy Hands alternatives.

This guide covers what many executives like or dislike about Fancy Hands, the platform’s best alternatives, and how to compare them so you can settle on the best option for your business.

TL;DR: The Best Fancy Hands Alternatives

There are several alternatives to Fancy Hands. However, the ones you should consider at the top of your list are:

1. ProAssisting: Premium US-based executive assistants for founders, entrepreneurs, and public figures.
2. Boldly: W-2 employed virtual assistants.
3. Get Magic: On-demand VA support.
4. Time Etc: VAs for consultants and independent contractors.
5. Task Expert: Off-site, office-based VA support.
6. Athena: Philippines-based VAs.

What Fancy Hands Does Well and Where It Needs More Support

Fancy Hands is a US-based virtual assistant provider that provides flexible packages and access to multiple VAs at a time to help businesses offload their administrative tasks.

Clients only have to submit requests, and available assistants complete them. However, while the platform offers quick turnaround times, many fault it for lacking assistants that can handle complex tasks.

Let’s explore its strengths and dealbreakers in detail below:

What Fancy Hands Does Well

Fancy Hands may be a good fit for you if you are mainly looking for:

• Affordable Monthly Plans: Fancy Hands uses a per-task pricing model, unlike other platforms that charge users based on hourly increments. Packages are reasonably priced, with the lowest subscription costing $35 per month for 3 tasks lasting 20 minutes each.
• Fast Turnaround for Simple Requests: Fancy Hands excels at handling basic, individual tasks, such as making phone calls, scheduling appointments, and tracking down hard-to-find items.
• No Long-Term Contracts: Since Fancy Hands assistants mostly deal with on-demand and one-off tasks, you do not have to enter into long-term contracts with assistants. This offers the flexibility to switch VAs whenever you feel unsatisfied with one assistant’s services or need one with a specific expertise.
• US-Based Assistants: Unlike many other VA agencies that source assistants from the Philippines, Colombia, or Argentina, Fancy Hands relies solely on US-based assistants. This improves coordination due to a smaller time zone difference.

Where Fancy Hands Falls Short

Even with its strengths, Fancy Hands struggles in the following areas:

• No Long-Term Dedicated Assistants: As an executive, you will rarely work with the same assistant more than a few times. This disrupts the consistency and continuity of work because the VAs don’t have enough time to gain a deep understanding of your business for strategic support.
• No Complex or Specialized Projects: Fancy Hands limits the standard work interval to 20 minutes per task. This makes it challenging to delegate tasks that require significant time, such as research or preparing your briefing notes.
• Poor Assistant Compensation: Fancy Hands pays below-market rates, contributing to high assistant turnover. Additionally, it means that you are very likely to partner with a junior VA with little experience supporting busy executives. 

Top 6 Fancy Hands Alternatives for More Consistent Support

Fancy Hands is a decent VA agency if you are looking for an assistant who can handle quick, on-demand tasks. However, most executive tasks are ambiguous, requiring a proactive assistant who can build and own systems and workflows to make requests more predictable.

We have compiled a list of the best Fancy Hands alternatives on the market today:

1. ProAssisting

ProAssisting provides dedicated executive assistants (ProAssistants) specifically trained to support C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. 

The services you can expect from a ProAssistant include:

• Executive calendar management
• Inbox triage
• End-to-end travel coordination
• Board meeting preparation and stakeholder communication
• Project coordination

ProAssisting stands out from its competitors for the following reasons:

• Rigorous Screening: The strict vetting process results in less than 5% of applicants becoming ProAssistants.
• EA Support Experience: ProAssistants have at least 5 years of experience supporting busy C-suites at reputable organizations like the WNBA, Comcast, and Target.
• US-Based Assistants: All ProAssistants are located in the US, which helps with time zone coordination and cultural fluency for effective stakeholder management.
• Optimal Client-to-Assistant Ratio: ProAssisting limits each executive assistant to a maximum of 3 clients at a time. This allows them to learn your strategic priorities and become a true business partner with whom you can bounce off ideas.

Schedule a consultation to learn how partnering with a ProAssistant can help boost your productivity and performance.

2. Boldly

Boldly partners executives with EAs with a minimum of seven years of experience supporting busy C-suites. The platform does not hire independent contractors; instead, clients receive long-term staff who become integrated into their operations.

The agency emphasizes that its EAs come in to offload administrative tasks, such as calendar management, email management, bookkeeping, and project coordination.

Boldly also offers flexible, risk-free subscriptions where you can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel plans at any time.

3. Get Magic

Get Magic offers on-demand VA services for executives who need 24/7 support. Usually, you get assigned a VA who works 40 hours a week. However, you can still request support even when your VA is offline, as the agency assigns your tasks to a backup assistant.

Additionally, you can select between a generalist VA or onboard an assistant for specific niches, such as e-commerce, Saas, warehousing, and construction.

4. Time Etc

Time Etc mainly offers VAs to support self-employed executives, such as small business owners, consultants, and independent professionals. The virtual assistants are based in the US and the UK, which negates any language barriers and guarantees a strong understanding of Western business culture.

Additionally, Time Etc has a flexible VA model allowing executives to scale their packages instantly based on their support needs.

5. Task Expert

Task Expert functions like a VA marketplace, where you can browse through profiles and select your preferred assistant. Each VA is then paired with a success manager who monitors the quality and continuity of support.

Task Expert offers in-person, office-based VAs. The platform provides quick onboarding, allowing you to match with a VA and onboard them within 24 hours.

6. Athena

Athena partners executives with VAs from the Philippines to help them offload day-to-day administrative tasks like email management and document organization. 

Additionally, they offer flexible support models allowing you to choose between a part-time and full-time (dedicated) VA, depending on your administrative workload.

How to Compare Fancy Hands Alternatives

Whether hiring your first executive assistant or looking to switch from Fancy Hands, the first step is choosing the right EA agency. 

If you’re considering replacing Fancy Hands, here’s what to look for that differentiates its alternatives:

• Choose Between Task-Based vs. Dedicated Support: This depends on whether you want a VA to handle small, on-demand administrative tasks or an EA who can function as your extension. As such, if you want an assistant who will learn your communication style, preferences, and long-term priorities, you need a service provider that offers dedicated long-term assistants. 
• Evaluate the Level of Proactivity: Most VAs wait for instructions before they act. However, if you want a VA who anticipates your needs, identifies problems early, and suggests improvements before issues arise, you need to find a service provider that trains its assistants to work proactively rather than simply executing requests.
• Assess VA Experience: If you need a VA to handle simple administrative tasks, several platforms offer such assistants. However, if you want an assistant who can handle confidential information, executive communications, and complex scheduling, then you need to find an agency whose EAs have experience supporting high-level, busy executives.
• Consider Long-Term Scalability: The Fancy Hands alternative you choose should be able to meet your evolving executive support needs as your business grows. That’s why, prioritize agencies with fractional executive assistant models that let you scale support to match your workload.
• Review Technological Skills: The agency you pick should guarantee that its assistants are proficient with widely used executive assistant tools or can quickly learn how to leverage the platforms you use, especially the CRM and project management software.

When Task-Based Assistance Is No Longer Enough

For many executives, task-based assistance works well in the early stages of business growth. However, transitioning to a dedicated assistant becomes necessary when your responsibilities become too interconnected, resulting in a need for strategic workflow management. 

Below are signs that you have outgrown a task-based model and instead need a strategic EA:

• You Require Strategic Coordination Across Teams: Most VAs are mainly task executors, which means you still need to coordinate teams, increasing your workload. However, if you need strategic support, you need an EA who can build workflows and coordinate efforts across departments, only escalating urgent matters.
• You Want an Assistant with Independent Judgment: Most VAs require constant guidance and reassurance, which can seem like additional workload for you. In this case, you should partner with an EA who can prioritize competing requests, protect your time, and resolve scheduling conflicts without needing your constant oversight.
• Managing Stakeholder Relationships Is a Top Priority: VAs can create and send emails to stakeholders, but may not understand the complexity and nuances of managing these relationships. What you need is an EA to manage stakeholder relationships through timely communication, personalized follow-ups, and maintaining high-touch hospitality during meeting coordination and travel logistics.
• You Need Integrated Support: Given your busy executive schedule, it can be challenging to protect your personal time. An EA can help you achieve work-life balance by doubling up as your personal assistant. This includes handling tasks, such as coordinating family travel, personal appointments, and household management. 

ProAssistants function as your extension by taking on roles such as project manager, scheduler, chief of staff, business partner, and personal assistant, allowing you to focus on your core strategic tasks.

Schedule a call to discuss how you can shift from a task-based to a strategic assistant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are answers to common questions executives ask about Fancy Hands alternatives:

Is Fancy Hands Still Worth It for Busy Executives?

Fancy Hands may no longer be worth it for busy executives, especially if they need strategic support. The platform assigns executive tasks to multiple VAs at a time, which can result in inconsistent support quality.

Instead, you would receive better support from a dedicated assistant who learns about your business and leverages the knowledge to prioritize tasks that have a strategic impact on your performance.

Does Fancy Hands Provide a Dedicated Assistant?

Yes. Fancy Hands offers a dedicated assistant service, but it’s not the first option, which may be a red flag for some executives. 

This often prompts them to look for alternatives that allow them to partner with a dedicated EA long-term. 

Can You Switch From Fancy Hands to a Dedicated Assistant Without Losing Continuity?

Yes. You can switch from Fancy Hands to a dedicated assistant without losing continuity by creating and documenting your processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs). 

This allows the new VA or EA to quickly learn your preferences and workflows, fitting into the role faster.

What Tasks Does a Dedicated Assistant Cover That Task-Based Plans Do Not?

A dedicated assistant undertakes strategic roles, such as being your business partner, chief of staff, and project manager, which task-based plans do not cover. 

Conclusion – Which Fancy Hands Alternative Is Right for You?

Fancy Hands is still an option for VA support with repetitive administrative tasks. However, if you need a dedicated assistant who will treat the role as a long-term partnership, you are better off considering Fancy Hands alternatives.

At ProAssisting, we partner you with EAs who have at least 5 years of experience supporting busy C-suite executives, including undertaking project management and coordination roles. Additionally, our thorough vetting process guarantees top-performing EAs with the right balance of soft and hard skills.

Book a call today to explore partnership options with one of our skilled ProAssistants.