6 Companies Like BELAY for Executive Assistant Support

Executives today are often overwhelmed by administrative workloads, such as email and calendar management, reducing the time they spend on strategic tasks. As such, they often approach executive assistant (EA) companies like BELAY for coordinated support.

However, BELAY’s lengthy EA matching process often involves multiple calls, adding to the executive’s workload. As such, they often switch their focus to other EA agencies with reasonable vetting and onboarding timelines.

This guide reviews BELAY alternatives for executive assistant support, including what to look for in an agency and when to consider a fractional EA model.

TL;DR: Top 6 Companies Like BELAY

Here is a snapshot of other agencies that partner executives with EAs:

1. ProAssisting: Best overall executive assistant support provider for board directors, C-suite executives, and business owners. 
2. Boldly: Back up EAs in case of emergencies. 
3. Wishup: Task-specific EAs for calendar, inbox, or social media management.
4. Time Etc: Vetted US-based assistants specializing in finance and real estate.
5. Delegated: College-educated assistants.
6. BruntWork: Columbia- and Philippines-based VAs.

What BELAY Does Well and Where Other Providers May Be a Better Fit 

BELAY provides experienced executive assistants to help you manage complex business calendars, coordinate stakeholder relationships, and oversee email correspondence. However, it also has limitations, such as unclear client-to-assistant ratios, which may be a deal breaker for some executives.

What BELAY Does Well

Here are areas where BELAY excels:

• US-Based Talents: You get access to US-based EAs with local business context and language fluency, which helps with stakeholder management. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about time zone differences affecting the quality of support you receive.
• Long-Term Assistant Matching: BELAY assigns you a dedicated executive assistant with whom you can partner long-term.
• Candidate Pre-Screening: BELAY handles all vetting and scrutiny, ensuring they match you with someone who has the right executive assistant skills and experience.
• Specialized EAs: You can partner with a generalist EA or a specialist in niches, such as marketing, social media management, and financial services.
• Client Support: BELAY regularly checks in with you to determine whether you are happy with the EA pairing or would prefer a replacement.

Where BELAY Struggles

While BELAY excels in some areas, it falls short in other ways, such as: 

• Strategic Support: While BELAY positions itself as an EA agency, most assistants function more like traditional VAs, focusing on administrative tasks. This means you may need to switch to another agency to partner with an EA who can learn about your business and prioritize tasks without your constant guidance. 
• Rigid Pairing Models: Unlike BELAY, other companies offer hourly, on-demand, or project-based assistants, making them ideal for executives with fluctuating workloads. 

Top 6 Companies Like BELAY for High-Level Support

If you feel that BELAY’s model doesn’t match your executive support needs, you can consider other agencies that offer strategic EA and more flexible plans. 

We have compiled a list of top-rated EA agencies, including what sets them apart.

1. ProAssisting 

Founded in 2018, ProAssisting offers high-level EA services to busy executives and C-suites, including founders, CEOs, board members, and entrepreneurs.

ProAssisting’s outstanding performance resulted in the EA agency being included in the Inc. 5000 list (ranked #2466). 

What makes ProAssisting stand out is: 

• Personalized Matching: Executives are matched with EAs who meet their communication style, work rhythms, and executive preferences to ensure a long-term partnership. 
• 3:1 Ratio: One ProAssisting EA (ProAssistants) supports a maximum of three clients. This is the ideal client-to-assistant ratio for personalized support, as your EA takes the time to learn about your business and preferences so they can provide strategic support. 
• Business and Personal-Level Assistance: ProAssistants handle your work schedule while providing personal-level assistance, such as organizing family trips, to improve your work-life balance.
• Fair Pay: 75% of your retainer goes to the assistant, ensuring long-term EA satisfaction and retention.
• Flexible Support: You have the option to utilize ⅓, ½, or ⅔ of an EA’s capacity based on your support needs.

Schedule a free call to explore the available EA support options.

2. Boldly 

Unlike standard VA agencies, Boldly hires EAs as W2 employees with retirement benefits and paid time off. This is convenient for executives who would want to avoid the additional administrative workload of hiring an EA as an independent contractor.

Additionally, Boldly offers a backup EA to support you if your assistant is sick or on leave. 

3. Wishup

Wishup is an international VA staffing agency with presence in the US, Europe, and the United Arab Emirates.

It helps executives partner with part-time/full-time VAs and EAs, or onboard assistants, to handle specific administrative tasks, such as inbox management, phone answering, and scheduling.

4. Time Etc

Founded in 2007, Time Etc offers EA services to self-employed professionals, including consultants and entrepreneurs.

The agency offers flexible models that let you scale services based on your support needs. 

5. Delegated 

Delegated offers US-based, college-educated assistants specializing in supporting small business owners and company executives. 

Additionally, you are assigned a dedicated success manager to monitor your partnership with your EA and ensure it boosts your productivity.

6. BruntWork

BruntWork is a staffing agency that helps companies outsource various functions, such as customer support, bookkeeping, social media management, and digital marketing campaigns.

The agency sources most of its VAs from the Philippines and Colombia, which works for executives who prefer huge time zone differences.

How to Compare Companies Like BELAY 

Once you shortlist BELAY alternatives for executive support, we recommend using a checklist to narrow down your options until you find the best-fit agency.

Here are the key factors to consider:

• Prioritize EA Experience: Look for alternatives that hire EAs with experience supporting executives or other high-profile individuals.
• Compare Prices: Set a budget for EA support and select a provider within that range. Additionally, ensure the alternative you choose offers flexible packages that let you scale support based on your workload.
• Determine if You Need Specialized VAs: Some companies offer industry-specific assistance, such as graphics design, Amazon support, and accounting, making them a better fit if you require specialized executive support. 
• Consider Dedicated vs. Shared Support: Determine whether you prefer a dedicated EA or are okay delegating tasks to the available VA, and select an agency that matches your preferred support model.
• Check the Vetting Process: Review each company’s screening process and training to ensure they offer qualified, skilled VAs who can support you effectively.
• Review the Service Scope: Check each agency’s virtual assistant service list to see whether they handle the tasks you want to delegate, especially for specialized niches like digital marketing, real estate, and legal support. 
• Check for Technology Integration: Some companies have in-house software that they impose on their clients, while others let you choose the executive assistant tools you are comfortable with.

When to Choose a Fractional Executive Assistant Over a Traditional VA

For many executives, hiring a VA is the first thing that comes to mind when they experience an increased workload. However, sometimes, what you need is to integrate an executive assistant into your world so they can build workflows and provide strategic support.

Even better, you might only need to hire a part-time EA, as they can handle up to 95% of what an in-house assistant does, while being 50% to 80% cheaper to maintain.

Here are a few signs that you should switch to a fractional executive assistant:

• You Need Integrated Support: A fractional EA can serve as your personal assistant as well, handling tasks like planning family trips and holidays, so you have time to recharge and refocus. 
• You Need Strategic Support: Get a fractional EA if you need an assistant who can gain a deep understanding of your business and leverage their institutional knowledge to provide strategic support, such as managing stakeholder relationships or prioritizing tasks based on importance.
• You Don’t Have Enough Time for a Full-Time VA: Go for a fractional executive assistant if your workload doesn’t justify hiring a full-time VA. This helps you manage your costs while receiving high-level strategic support. 
• You Want a Long-Term Partnership: VAs often have high turnover, which limits how long you can partner with them. In contrast, EAs understand that the executive-assistant partnership is a marathon that could span several years, making them the ideal option if you prefer long-term support.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Here are answers to common questions executives ask about BELAY and its alternatives:

Can Companies Like BELAY Support Multiple Executives? 

Yes. Companies like BELAY can support numerous executives. 

For example, our three-to-one EA model means one assistant can support up to three executives concurrently. 

Which BELAY Competitors Offer Dedicated Executive Assistants? 

BELAY competitors like ProAssisting and Boldly offer dedicated executive assistants, allowing the EA to learn about your business and preferences so they can support you effectively. 

Do Companies Like BELAY Require Long-term Contracts?

It depends on the EA services provider. Some companies require 90-day commitments, while others offer flexible options such as month-to-month and hourly arrangements. 

Review each company’s pricing structure before committing to ensure their payment policy aligns with your budget.

Can You Switch From BELAY Without Disrupting Your Workflow? 

Yes. You can switch from BELAY to another alternative with minimal disruption to your workflow. 

However, this requires documenting your workflows, preferred tools, and operating procedures so the new EA can learn them quickly and ensure continuity in support.

Conclusion

Companies like BELAY offer EA support services to let you delegate administrative tasks like email and calendar management that often take up several hours of your time every week. However, once you’ve delegated administrative tasks, you may still need strategic support to maximize your performance. 

What you need is a dedicated assistant (fractional EA) who will learn about your business and executive preferences, and then leverage this institutional knowledge to personalize support to your work rhythm and strategic goals.

At ProAssisting, we partner you with a dedicated EA with backgrounds in executive assistance, project management, and operations. ProAssistants have 5+ years of experience supporting busy C-suites at reputable brands such as Walmart, the WNBA, and Victoria’s Secret. Additionally, our customizable support model allows you to utilize ⅓, ½, or ⅔ of an EA’s capacity based on your support needs.

Book a call to discover how a dedicated executive assistant can give you a strategic advantage.