Zirtual Alternative: Executive Assistant Support Options

Zirtual offers affordable virtual assistant (VA) services for businesses that want to delegate administrative tasks. However, the question many executives fail to ask is whether they just need a task executor or a VA who can add a strategic edge to their operations.

A fractional executive assistant helps with administrative tasks, but they also own the workflows and systems, allowing your business to operate more efficiently.

And for such support, you need to look beyond Zirtual.

In this guide, we cover the best Zirtual alternatives, including what they are best for, and how to transition seamlessly to a new VA.

TL;DR: Top Zirtual Alternative Picks

Can’t read the whole article right now? Here’s a snapshot of what to expect from each Zirtual alternative:

1. ProAssisting: US-based premium fractional EA service for busy C-suites, founders, entrepreneurs, and public figures.
2. Belay: US-based VAs for specific roles like social media management.
3. Boldly: W-2 VA matching service to avoid independent contractor management.
4. Double: AI-integrated EA support.
5. Prialto: Primary EA with a back-up assistant.
6. BaseHQ: US-based EAs service specialized in supporting startup founders.
7. Athena: Philippines-based VAs.

Why Businesses Look for Alternatives to Zirtual

Some businesses and executives considering VA support for the first time often go for Zirtual because of its cost savings. However, they quickly realize that they need strategic support beyond just delegating administrative tasks like scheduling and data entry. At this point, most businesses and executives are looking for premium EA support, prompting the transition from Zirtual.

Other reasons businesses outgrow Zirtual include:

• They Want Long-Term Partnerships: Zirtual’s model relies on transactional task completion, which explains why they base their monthly VA packages on the number of task hours. As such, they may assign you a new VA every few weeks/months, which can be disruptive for a busy executive. This prompts businesses to switch to a Zirtual alternative that lets them partner with a dedicated VA.
• They Need Strategic Support: Zirtual VAs are mainly task executors who excel at routine roles with clear instructions. However, busy executives want an assistant who can gain a deep understanding of the business and prioritize tasks by urgency and importance, leading them to seek VA support elsewhere.
• Their Executives Need Integrated Life Support: Zirtual positions itself as a VA service to help executives with administrative tasks like calendar and email management. This model fails to work for executives who need their VA to also function as a personal assistant for a better work-life balance.
• They Need Proactive Anticipation: Zirtual VAs support multiple executives simultaneously, which limits their ability to monitor their schedules and address disruptions before they occur. As such, businesses often look for Zirtual alternatives with a reasonable client-to-assistant ratio, so the VA isn’t overwhelmed with work.

What to Look for in a Zirtual Alternative

When looking to switch from Zirtual, your focus shouldn’t be on finding a more affordable solution, but rather on hiring an executive assistant with whom you can partner long-term.

The Zirtual alternative you choose should meet the following criteria:

• Experience Supporting Executives: Select a VA service whose assistants have experience partnering with executives in a similar or related role. For example, if you are a new founder, go for agencies that offer virtual assistants for startups.
• Reasonable Client-to-Assistant Ratio: Prioritize VA services that maintain an ideal client-to-assistant ratio for personalized support, as this allows the VAs to learn about your business and provide strategic support.
• Compensation Model: Enquire how much of the monthly retainer you pay goes to the VA, as this significantly impacts the support you receive. The best alternatives offer their VAs up to 75% of the monthly retainer to keep them satisfied and increase retention rates.
• Flexible Support Models: As with most executives, your workload is likely to fluctuate throughout the year. As such, look for a provider that lets you scale VA support to match your executive needs.

Top 7 Zirtual Alternatives for Executive Support

There are at least a dozen alternatives in the market, but not all would be a good fit for you. 

Here’s an in-depth review of the top-ranked ones:

1. ProAssisting

ProAssisting is a US-based premier executive assistant agency founded by Ethan and Stephanie Bull in 2018.

They built the company to address gaps in traditional VA support models, drawing on their decades of experience supporting C-suites at leading brands in the finance, healthcare, and advertising sectors.

ProAssisting stands out from other Zirtual alternatives for several reasons:

• 3-to-1 EA Model: ProAssistants support a maximum of three clients at a time, which allows them to gain a deep understanding of your business.
• Customizable Support: You can scale support to your needs by utilizing ⅓, ½, or ⅔ of your ProAssistant’s capacity.
• Market-Leading Compensation Rates: The ProAssistant retains up to 75% of your monthly retainer, which is why most partnerships last for years.
• Strategic Support: Your ProAssistant undertakes all five performance multiplier roles, functioning as a business partner, chief of staff, project manager, scheduler, and personal assistant. This helps you reclaim your time so you can focus on strategic tasks, such as closing new deals or expanding business operations.
• Responsiveness: Your ProAssistant responds within one hour during US business hours and is available for after-hours support in case of urgent requests.

Plans start at $3,300 for a fractional executive assistant.

Best If: You are a C-suite executive, board member, entrepreneur, founder, or public figure who needs strategic support to focus on core business functions. 

See if ProAssisting is the right fit for you or your business.

2. Belay

Belay is a virtual staffing company that helps businesses hire verified US-based independent contractors for social media management and general VA support. 

Their VA pool comprises 1,500+ assistants spread across 48 states and reports a 93% first-match rate.

Belay doesn’t disclose its VA pricing on its website, making it difficult to compare it to other alternatives.

Best If: You need a VA for a specific role, such as social media management.

3. Boldly

Unlike Belay, which offers VAs as independent contractors, Boldly employs its executive assistants and then outsources them to clients/companies. 

Most of its VAs have at least 10 years of experience supporting executives at global brands. Additionally, Boldly trains its VAs to leverage AI to streamline their executives’ workflows.

Boldly charges tiered monthly retainers ranging between $2,600 and $6,500 based on the number of VA hours you need.

Best If: You need to onboard a VA quickly to help ease your workload.

4. Double

Double offers monthly EA support packages to help you delegate administrative tasks to improve your operational efficiency.

They assign you a remote EA who is local to your area to ensure cultural fluency and time zone alignment.

The tiered packages start at $549 for 10 hours of support per month. 

Best If: You want to integrate AI into your EA support.

5. Prialto

Prialto was founded in 2008 and uses a team-based VA support model, in which each executive partners with a dedicated assistant, supported by an engagement manager. 

You can select between a generalist VA or a specialized assistant knowledgeable in niches, such as real estate, financial services, or nonprofit organizations. 

Monthly plans start at $1,600 and increase with the number of support hours you need.

Best If: You need VA support with backup coverage.

6. BaseHQ

BaseHQ offers flexible EA support models for founders and entrepreneurs who need to delegate administrative tasks so they can focus on strategic growth.

The company emphasizes proactive EA support, which is necessary for startups, as they often experience frequent disruptions in schedules and priorities.

Pricing varies depending on whether you want a project-based EA or ongoing support.

Best If: You are a startup founder with a hectic schedule.

7. Athena

Athena helps you partner with a Philippines-based VA, with the monthly package covering an assistant and a relationship manager.

The agency is thorough in data security and confidentiality, including assigning its VAs a company-issued, secured laptop with remote-wipe capability. 

Pricing starts at $3,600 per month.

Best If: You prefer an overseas VA to benefit from the timezone difference.

VA Companies vs. Fractional Executive Assistant Services

Busy executives often wonder whether they should hire from a VA company or an EA service, or even whether there is a difference in the expected quality of support. 

While both options help you onboard an assistant to manage your administrative tasks, the type of support you receive is often different in the context of your work.

The table below illustrates how VA companies stack up against fractional EA services:

While VA companies often seem cost-effective, it often comes at the expense of stability and strategic support. 

On the other hand, EAs understand that the executive-assistant partnership is a marathon, which allows them to learn about the business and become your strategic partner over time.

How to Switch From Zirtual Without Starting Over

Proper planning can help you switch from Zirtual without any significant decline in the quality of support you receive. The new VA should be able to hit the ground running and undertake most, if not all, of the tasks the previous assistant did within a few weeks.

Below are practical tips to smooth the transition process:

• Document Your Processes: Create clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all tasks, outlining how they should be done and why they are important. This includes your preferences, such as how your VA should manage your calendar, the vendors you prefer to work with, and how you prioritize emails.
• Onboard the New VA Before the Current One Exits: If possible, ensure there is a few weeks’ overlap between the two assistants so that the outgoing VA can share their institutional knowledge with the incumbent and train them on your work rhythm, stakeholder relationship dynamics, and undocumented processes.
• Leverage Technology: Create system credentials for your new VA prior to onboarding them. This ensures that they have the required access to support you effectively, especially for tasks that don’t need training, such as email and calendar management. Additionally, ensure they have access to executive assistant tools, including CRM, project management, and productivity software.
• Introduce Them To Stakeholders Early On: Schedule introductory meetings between the new VA and your stakeholders, explaining that the new VA will be your point of contact going forward, ensuring continuity in support and information flow. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s answer common questions executives ask about Zirtual alternatives:

Does Zirtual Offer Dedicated Assistants?

It is unclear. Zirtual claims to offer dedicated assistants on its website, but limits support to 45 hours of work per month. 

This means that you may need to subscribe to multiple packages if you have an additional workload.

Can a Zirtual Alternative Provide Full-Time Support?

Yes. A Zirtual alternative can provide full-time support. 

Premium agencies let you onboard a full-time EA to support you during business hours.

Which Zirtual Alternative Is Best for Startups?

ProAssisting is the best Zirtual alternative for startups. 

Our ProAssistants double as business partners and project managers, which has a strategic impact on how you manage your startup. Additionally, they offer integrated life management, ensuring your founder role doesn’t hurt your work-life balance.

Do Zirtual Alternatives Require a Long-Term Contract? 

No. Most alternatives don’t require a long-term contract. 

Executives only need to pay a monthly retainer for EA support. However, some agencies may require prior notice before terminating services.

Conclusion

While Zirtual may feel like a bargain at first, you’ll need a proactive EA who can operate without frequent guidance if you are to reclaim your time for real. This will likely prompt you to consider Zirtual alternatives for strategic EA support so you can focus on company goals or growing your business.

ProAssisting addresses this need by partnering you with EAs who have at least 5 years of experience supporting executives at leading brands like Fidelity, Walmart, and JP Morgan. 

Our ProAssistants have valuable project management and coordination skills, which help them own tasks, such as end-to-end traveling and event planning workflows, without needing constant guidance.

Schedule a call to explore how skilled EA support can help you reclaim your time.