Hiring Model Comparison
Full-Time Remote Assistant vs Part-Time Contractor
Full-time remote assistants cost $1,600-$2,400 per month and deliver 40 dedicated hours per week with deep institutional knowledge. Part-time contractors cost $500-$1,000 per month for 40-80 hours and suit variable or narrowly defined task sets. The right model depends on your workload volume, task complexity, and business stage.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Full-Time Remote Assistant | Part-Time Contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $1,600-$2,400/month (160 hrs at $10-$15/hr) | $500-$1,000/month (40-80 hrs at $12-$15/hr) |
| Availability | Dedicated to your business, 40 hrs/week, defined schedule | 10-20 hrs/week; may serve multiple clients |
| Task depth | Learns your systems, voice, preferences, and processes deeply over time | Handles defined repeatable tasks; may not develop deep institutional knowledge |
| Ramp time | 2-3 weeks to full productivity | 1-2 weeks for defined task scope |
| Flexibility | Fixed commitment; best when workload is consistent | Scale hours up or down monthly; better for variable workloads |
| Loyalty and continuity | Higher retention; full-time commitment increases investment in your success | Higher turnover risk; contractors balance multiple clients |
| Task breadth | Handles 8-15 different task types across admin, comms, and ops | Best for 2-5 defined task types with clear SOPs |
Which model fits your revenue stage
The right hiring model shifts as your business grows. What works at $200K ARR does not work at $2M ARR. This guide maps the common inflection points.
Pre-revenue or <$300K ARR
Part-time contractorCash is constrained. Task volume is low. A part-time VA handles 10-20 hours per week of admin, social media, or outreach at $500-$800 per month. This is enough to free founder time without committing to a full headcount equivalent.
Typical tasks at this stage
$300K-$1M ARR
Part-time (20 hrs/week) to full-time transitionAt this stage, operational complexity is growing faster than capacity. A part-time assistant at 20 hours per week handles immediate tasks, but founders typically hit the ceiling within 90 days and need to scale to full-time support.
Typical tasks at this stage
$1M-$5M ARR
Full-time remote assistantAbove $1M, the cost of founder time on admin exceeds the cost of full-time support by a significant multiple. A dedicated full-time assistant who knows your systems, stakeholders, and communication style becomes operational infrastructure.
Typical tasks at this stage
$5M+ ARR
Full-time executive assistant + specialist contractorsAt this stage, a full-time executive VA handles founder operations while specialist contractors (social media, bookkeeping, project management) handle domain-specific work. The full-time assistant coordinates the contractor network.
Typical tasks at this stage
Not sure which model fits your stage?
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When part-time starts failing
Part-time contractor arrangements break down when task volume exceeds the hours contracted, when tasks require judgment rather than execution, or when context gaps cause errors. The most common failure signal is that you are still spending significant time reviewing, correcting, or re-explaining work - which means the part-time model is consuming more management overhead than it saves.
A product founder in Seattle described her transition in 2025: "I had two part-time contractors: one for social media and one for admin. I was spending 6 hours per week in handoff meetings, feedback loops, and re-work review. When I switched to a full-time Stealth Agents assistant, all of that coordination collapsed into one person. My management overhead went from 6 hours to 45 minutes per week."
The key transition indicators: you have tried to give a task to a part-time contractor and had to take it back because of quality or turnaround; your contractors are not talking to each other and creating coordination failures; or you are managing your assistants more than your business. These are full-time signals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a full-time remote assistant cost compared to part-time?
A full-time remote assistant through Stealth Agents starts at $10/hr (approximately $1,600/month for 160 hours). Full-time dedicated VAs deliver consistent, expert-level support with lower per-hour rates than freelance contractors because of the dedicated commitment structure.
Why is a full-time dedicated VA better than a part-time contractor?
Full-time dedicated VAs through Stealth Agents develop deep context about your business, respond in real time, and deliver consistent results. Part-time contractors juggle multiple clients and lack the context needed for judgment-heavy tasks. Stealth Agents places full-time dedicated assistants starting at $10/hr.
Is a full-time remote assistant an employee or a contractor?
Through Stealth Agents, full-time remote assistants are placed as independent contractors. You are not the employer of record. Payroll, benefits, equipment, and compliance are handled by Stealth Agents. You manage the work direction and task assignment. This structure eliminates the administrative overhead of international employment while giving you the consistency of a dedicated resource.
What tasks are better suited for a part-time contractor vs full-time assistant?
Part-time contractors work well for defined, repeatable tasks with clear SOPs: social media scheduling, bookkeeping, data entry, keyword research, and graphic design. Full-time assistants are better for tasks that require deep context, judgment, and real-time responsiveness: calendar management, inbox triage, stakeholder communication, and operational coordination. If a task requires knowing who you are and how you think, full-time is the right model.
How quickly can a full-time remote assistant start?
Stealth Agents can match and onboard a full-time remote assistant within 3-5 business days. The matching process considers your industry, task requirements, timezone, tool stack, and communication preferences. After matching, a structured onboarding covers your SOPs, access credentials, and communication cadence in the first week.
Start with the model that fits where you are now
Stealth Agents places full-time dedicated remote assistants starting at $10/hr. Tell us your task list and goals. We match you with the right person within 48-72 hours.