Companies using virtual assistants save $65,000 per year compared to hiring full-time employees.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about these two different options.
Quick Overview: Stealth Agents Vs Egon Zehnder
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Monthly Investment | $1,600/month (full-time, dedicated) |
| In-House Equivalent Cost | Executive support salary + benefits = $84,500/year |
| Your Annual Savings | $65,300 back in your business |
| Service Type | Virtual assistant vs executive search |
| Speed To Start | Days vs months |
| Ongoing Support | Daily tasks vs one-time placement |
| Backup Coverage | Included at no extra cost |
Both options serve different business needs, but virtual assistants give you daily help at a much lower cost.
Executive search firms typically charge between 25 and 35 percent of the placed candidate's first year compensation, and the average search takes four to six months to complete, which means companies are paying a premium while operating without critical leadership during the entire search process.
The Hidden Cost Of Executive Search Firms
Business owners spend 40 hours per week looking for the right person to hire.
Executive search firms like Egon Zehnder charge 30% of the first year salary for their service.
Most searches take 3 to 6 months to complete, leaving you without help during that time.
After you hire someone, 68% of new executives leave within 18 months.
Tasks Your Stealth Agent Can Handle Daily
| Category | Specific Tasks | Time Saved Per Week |
|---|---|---|
| Admin Support | Email, calendar, travel booking | 15 hours |
| Customer Service | Chat support, follow-ups, returns | 20 hours |
| Research Tasks | Market research, lead generation | 12 hours |
| Social Media | Posts, comments, content creation | 10 hours |
| Data Entry | CRM updates, spreadsheets | 8 hours |
| Sales Support | Proposal prep, client outreach | 18 hours |
Your virtual assistant starts working on these tasks right away.
Unlike executive search, you get immediate help with daily work.
This means your business keeps moving while you focus on big decisions.
Executive search firms only help you find someone – they don’t do the actual work. Virtual assistants jump in and start helping on day one.
The True Cost Comparison
| Cost Factor | Executive Search + Hire | Stealth Agent VA |
|---|---|---|
| Search Fee (30% of salary) | $25,500 | $0 |
| Base Salary | $85,000 | $19,200 |
| Benefits & Taxes (30%) | $25,500 | $0 |
| Office Space & Equipment | $6,000 | $0 |
| Training & Onboarding | $3,000 | $0 |
| Total First Year Cost | $145,000 | $19,200 |
| Annual Savings with VA | – | $125,800 |
| Backup Coverage | None | Included |
The numbers show that virtual assistants cost much less than executive search and hiring.
You save over $125,000 in the first year alone by choosing a VA instead.
How A Virtual Assistant Transforms Your Operations
Instead of waiting months for the right hire, you get help in days.
Your VA handles daily tasks so you can focus on growing the business.
Business owners who use VAs grow 2 times faster than those who do everything alone.
Here are the main benefits you get right away:
- More time for important business decisions
- Better customer service response times
- Organized systems and processes
- Cost savings compared to hiring employees
- Backup support when your main VA is away
- Easy to scale up or down as needed
A Day In The Life Of Your Virtual Assistant
Your VA starts each morning by checking your priority tasks and emails.
They handle customer questions, update your calendar, and prep for meetings.
During the day, they work on research, data entry, and social media posts.
By evening, they send you a daily report of what got done and what needs attention tomorrow.
Start with a list of your most time-consuming tasks. Give these to your VA first so you feel the biggest impact right away.
What Makes A Great Virtual Assistant
The best VAs have strong communication skills and ask good questions.
They know how to use the tools your business already runs on.
Great VAs take notes, follow up on tasks, and keep you updated on progress.
They also understand your business goals and suggest ways to improve processes.
Keys To Success With Your Remote Assistant
| Success Factor | How To Implement | Expected Results |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Instructions | Write step-by-step guides | Tasks done right the first time |
| Regular Check-ins | Weekly 30-minute calls | Stay aligned on priorities |
| Access To Tools | Share logins and passwords safely | VA can work independently |
| Feedback System | Daily or weekly progress reports | Know what got done each day |
| Growth Mindset | Give new tasks as trust builds | VA becomes more valuable over time |
Following these steps helps you get the most value from your virtual assistant partnership.
Industries We Support
Stealth Agents provides virtual assistants for many different types of businesses.
Real estate agents use VAs for lead follow-up and appointment setting.
E-commerce companies get help with customer service and order processing.
Professional services firms use VAs for admin work and client communication.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Some business owners try to train their VA on everything at once.
This overwhelms the VA and makes it hard for them to do any task well.
Start with 2-3 simple tasks and add more as your VA gets comfortable.
Also avoid giving unclear instructions – always write down what you want done.
The Stealth Agents Difference
We match you with a VA who has experience in your type of business.
Every VA goes through training on common business tools and processes.
You get backup coverage so your work never stops if your main VA is sick.
Our campaign managers help you get the most value from your VA relationship.
Common Questions Answered
How Is This Different From Executive Search?
Executive search finds you someone to hire as an employee. We provide virtual assistants who work as independent contractors and cost much less.
What Happens During VA Onboarding?
We introduce you to your matched VA within 3-5 business days. You spend the first week training them on your specific needs and processes.
Can My VA Work In My Time Zone?
Yes, we can match you with VAs who work during your business hours. This makes communication and collaboration much easier.
What If My Business Needs Change Over Time?
Your VA can learn new tasks as your business grows. We also make it easy to switch to a different VA if your needs change completely.
Executive search and virtual assistants solve different problems. If you need daily task support, a VA saves you more money and gets you help faster than hiring through a search firm.
Ready To Get Daily Business Support?
Virtual assistants give you immediate help at a fraction of the cost of executive search and hiring.
Companies that use VAs save over $65,000 per year while getting more work done.
Book a free call today to learn how Stealth Agents can match you with the perfect virtual assistant for your business.
