Do $1/hour virtual assistants still exsist?

Abudence

Abudence

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So it's been like 3 years since I personally have paid someone over the internet $0.95/hour. That one particular person does not charge that rate anymore and is sticking away from the VA feild all together.

Was that the last of his kind or are there still cheap little guys out there? I used him for link building and creating accounts. He was nice and worked an hour for free every now and then which was how he let me know that he respected me. Good days, but I'm here wondering if that time has passed?
 
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Time has long gone. You'll probably get them for $2 now...the cheapest...
 
No, even the cheapest countries in the world $1/h is nothing.
 
Certainly. Most third world countries cost of living has risen significantly. This rate is no longer justifiable for the work involve. Furthermore, the economy of these countries are getting better. More and more jobs are taken from the West and transfer to these third world countries.

Maybe it is just my personal view but I find that if my VA can perform my job and my business make money, I don't mind giving them a bigger hourly rate. But $1/ hr is really too low nowadays. You might be better off paying them a fixed project rate and increase their earnings. Remember at the end of the day, VAs are human and they need to earn money to feed their family. It is our responsibility as business owners to take care of our staffs.

No doubt if you are newly starting out, every cent matter but I would rather have quality over quantities of workers. If my VA work well like in your case, I would make sure that my VA get paid market rate similar to my country where I reside. I would explain to him/ her that by paying this higher rate, his/ her work must justify.
 
I could get people to work for like $0.7/hour like 3-4years ago as well..
but these days its almost impossible :( for $1,5-2/hour I'm able to find someone tho
 
$1/hr in Bangladesh, if working full time, would have you earning 5x the national average wage.

So, yes, it's still possible.

But the question is - why don't you pay more?

Just because someone is poverty stricken and desperate doesn't mean you should take advantage of them in order to increase your own profits.
I was delighted to see that oDesk/Upwork increased their minimum hourly rate to $3/hr last year - there is absolutely no reason that you can't pay at least $3/hr.

If the success of your business depends on keeping other people in poverty, then fuck you.

(nothing personal OP, just a rant for others to see when they consider paying $1/hr).
 
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Damn, now you have to pay them a livable wage.
 
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I came across an independent VA in Philippines last month that was asking $2 per hour. most setups over there are teams of VAs where they charge $4 an hour. I wish there was a way to split a VA so you could get $1 for half the time
 
If you need to broker for $1 per hour wage, then I think you should seriously relook into your business. Most likely you are in a niche whereby profit is too low. Read about deep blue strategy, it will help you in terms of business thinking. In case you do not google, below is an extract of what this strategy is all about. Try to customize your product so that you differentiate from your competitor so that you can price higher with a bigger profit margain to pay beyond $1/ hr for a VA

Blue ocean strategy is the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost to open up a new market space and create new demand.

collegeguys4 said:
I came across an independent VA in Philippines last month that was asking $2 per hour. most setups over there are teams of VAs where they charge $4 an hour. I wish there was a way to split a VA so you could get $1 for half the time
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You can look into fiverr, but i doubt you will find anyone for 1$/hr. You can surely find someone for 2$/hr.
 
No, they don't anymore. Thanks to those who think these VAs deserve more than $1/hr.
 
$1/hr is pretty mean, Why don't you pay like $3 or something? Surely the worked would need to feed their families, but I get your point OP
 
I disagree with this statement. We should make money by providing great product/ services and not from milking off cheap labour (aka Foxconn style). Don't you find life more meaningful if you can produce a great product/ service that makes not just you money but also your employees?

Cherry said:
No, they don't anymore. Thanks to those who think these VAs deserve more than $1/hr.
Click to expand...
 
You get what you pay for, $1/hr is terrible. If they do good for you id feel bad
 
I work for one of my client at 1$\hour but my client will leave me soon as he is not satisfied with my work
 
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