My hourly fee

I charge a flat fee of $30/hour + GST, regardless of what time of the day / day of the week I complete the work. I find that this keeps things simple and it's easier for you to work out just how much things are going to cost.

Special Rates

Students, registered charities and non-for-profit groups receive a generous 20% discount. Please include copy of relevant ID to claim your discount.

For companies / individuals paying the full rate, I will be happy to negotiate a discounted rate if you would like to retain me for a minimum number of hours per month.

How this hourly rate compares to the cost of a full time employee

Whilst my hourly rate appears higher than a full time employee's rate, you need to consider the considerable savings you will be making by not employing someone. By outsourcing your work, you can literally save thousands of dollars a year. Consider how much money you spend every year on things such as:

  • Office equipment. From computer hardware and software to desks and chairs.
  • Overheads. From software licences to phone calls and office consumables.
  • Fringe Benefits. From medical insurance and paid leave to the annual Christmas party.
  • Recruiting Fees / Training. What percentage of the employee's salary did you have to pay the recruitment consultant? how about the money invested in advertising the position, and the time spent interviewing candidates? how much does it cost you to train the new employee? and what happens if they leave after only a few months?
  • Unproductive time. Full time employees still get paid when they take a coffee break or are twiddling their thumbs because you don't have enough work to give them.

When you take all these factors into account (and this isn't even a comprehensive list!), it's easy to see how using a virtual assistant can work out more economical in the long run. Of course saving money is not the only reason why you may want to outsource your work.

Additional charges and Payment Terms

Please note that the terms below supplement our general Terms & Conditions. By commissioning us to do Work for you and making a payment, you are agreeing to be legally bound by this terms.

  • There will be a minimum charge of $30+GST, covering the first 60 minutes of work. Thereafter all work will be charged in 15 minute blocks.
  • Please note that you will also be responsible for ancillary costs incurred as a direct result of a project. These might include postal or courier charges, telephone calls, travel expenses, printing of documents, etc.
  • Payment will be accepted in NZ funds only, by cash on delivery, internet banking, direct bank deposit or paypal. If you want to pay by cheque please note I will need to wait for the cheque to clear before commencing Work and before final Work / paperwork can be released.
  • New clients are required to make a total or partial payment in advance.
  • Similarly, projects will need to be paid for in advance according to the following criteria:
    • Projects not exceeding $300+GST require 100% advance payment;
    • Projects exceeding $300+GST (or those which may extend over a period of a month or more) require a minimum advance payment of $300.00+GST or 50% of the total amount (whichever is the greater).
  • Overseas clients are required to make a total payment in advance.

In all cases, should any project change beyond the scope of the initial estimate, I will advise you of any additional charges before proceeding. Similarly, should the advance payment be in excess of the hours actually needed to complete the project, I will cheerfully refund the difference, or issue a credit note against future assignments, whichever you prefer.

Please note that work will only be delivered in PDF format until full payment has been received. Similarly, any documents you may have left in my posession will only be released upon receipt of full payment.