Managed, not matched
Grow your team, with our team.
A dedicated virtual assistant in South Africa, chosen with you and managed by us for as long as you work together. Your VA's day overlaps with your US mornings.
30-minute call with our team. No deposit, no consultation fee.
- 17+ years of managed remote talent
- 250,000+ hours delivered
- 98% client retention over 14 months
- 13 reviews on Clutch
17+ years: founded 2008. 250,000+ hours: cumulative client hours. Retention: from our invoice records.
What stood out most was the quality of the recruitment process and the calibre of the virtual assistant provided.
I was most impressed by VA Connect’s professionalism and the way they matched me with exactly the right support. Their onboarding was smooth, communication was clear, and their talent is exceptional.
Why VAConnect
One person in your business, and our team behind them.
You get a dedicated VA who learns how you work. We do the hiring and keep your VA accountable, so you never have to manage the manager.
Thirty minutes on the work you need covered, with no deposit or consultation fee.
The same person every month
Your VA gets to know your tools and the way you like things done. If two people in your business need help, they can share those hours.
Clear English on every call
Every VA we place is fluent in English, and South Africans are known for a neutral accent. You interview them yourself before you choose, because your VA will be speaking for your business.
We manage, you get the work
A client success manager checks in with you. A team success manager looks after your VA's coaching and KPIs.
If it isn't working, we fix it
If your VA isn't performing to the agreed standard, we find a new candidate and manage the handover at no additional cost.
How it works
What happens after you book a call
From your go-ahead to your VA's first day usually takes one to two weeks.
Discovery call
Thirty minutes about the work you want off your plate and the hours you need covered.
We search for you
Nikki runs a search for your role from our pool of pre-screened professionals.
The Boiler Room
Candidates sit a 45-minute simulation of a day in your role. Only those who score 80% or more reach your shortlist. How the Boiler Room works »
You interview and choose
We encourage you to speak to every shortlisted candidate. They all have the skills, so the interview is about who fits your team.
Onboarding, then check-ins
We build a standard operating procedure with you, so your VA knows your way of working from the first day. Then we keep checking in.
Booking the call is step one. No money is passed over while Nikki searches.
Hiring a VA for the first time? Read our guide to hiring a virtual assistant in the USA.
What our VAs do
Pick the kind of help you need
We place VAs in four areas, and each one looks different from client to client. That's why we ask what you need before we search.
Executive support
Calendar, inbox, travel and meeting prep for founders and leaders who need someone keeping the day in order.
Project management
A project manager who owns timelines and follow-up in your tools, so work gets across the line.
Marketing
Social media, your content calendar, email campaigns and reporting, done in your brand voice.
Sales
Lead research, CRM updates, follow-ups and appointment setting, so your pipeline stays clean while you close.
We also place real estate VAs, paralegal VAs and general VAs.
Time zones
Your VA's afternoon is your morning
South Africa is 6 to 7 hours ahead of US Eastern time. Cover until midnight in South Africa is included at standard package rates, and Pacific teams can plan a later shift with us.
There's a guide for each region we cover: the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia.
- 9 am in New Yorkis 3 pm or 4 pm in Johannesburg, depending on US daylight saving time
- Midnight in Johannesburgis 5 pm Eastern in winter and 6 pm in summer, still at standard package rates
Packages
Choose how much you want to hand over
Each package gives you a dedicated assistant for a set number of hours a month, with managed quality, backup cover and replacement at no fee if the assistant isn't performing. On half-day packages and smaller, your VA tracks their time in an online tool. Prices are on our pricing page.
Dedicated VA
One trained assistant for the hours you choose, in executive support, project management, marketing or sales.
Dedicated VA pricing »Growth Accelerator
Several VAs working to one point of contact. You give one brief and we coordinate the rest. Starts from 160 hours a month.
Growth Accelerator pricing »Carol Programme
Our always-on executive tier, for leaders with complex days. Not every client needs it.
About the Carol Programme »
Client reviews
What clients say about us on Clutch
They take the time to understand the needs of the business and match clients with assistants who are reliable, capable, and well-suited to the role.
VA Connect is extremely helpful and responsive. They really try to understand what the client is looking for, and are quick to address issues when they arise.
The first VA we hired struggled with the work but the business replaced her quickly and we couldn't be more happy with the person we've had since May
Read all 13 reviews on Clutch » Read CodingIT's review on Clutch »
On the call, we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit.
Meet the founder
Karen van Zyl
Karen founded the business in 2008 as Limetree Consulting Solutions. In 2014 she rebranded it as VA Connect, because she saw that the managed virtual assistant model was the future.
Karen never set out to build the biggest VA company. Her aim is one that clients and VAs don't want to leave.
Questions
What founders ask us before they start
Do you charge a deposit or an upfront fee?
No. We don't ask for a deposit, and we don't charge a consultation fee. No money is passed over while we search for your VA.
What if my VA isn't the right fit?
We fix it, or we replace them. If your VA isn't performing to the agreed standard, we find a new candidate and manage the handover at no additional cost.
Am I locked into a long contract?
No. We work month to month, with no long lock-in.
How soon can my VA start?
Usually one to two weeks from your go-ahead. We don't rush the screening, because that's what makes the match last.
How do you check candidates before I meet them?
Candidates are skills-tested and background-checked. They also sit the Boiler Room, a 45-minute simulation of a day in your role, and need 80% or more to reach your shortlist.
How will I know the hours are being worked?
On half-day packages and smaller, your VA tracks their time in an online tool, so you can see where the hours went. Above half day we don't track minute by minute. You judge the work on your KPIs and output, as if the person is there in the office with you.
Will their English be clear enough for my clients?
Every VA we place is fluent in English, and South Africans are known for a neutral accent that's easy to follow on the phone. You interview your shortlisted candidates yourself, so you'll hear them before you decide.
Does the time difference work for a US business?
Yes. South Africa is 6 to 7 hours ahead of US Eastern time, and cover until midnight South African time is included at standard package rates. Pacific teams can plan a later shift with us.
Can my VA use our email, Slack and other tools?
Yes. Your VA learns your workflow and works on the platforms you already use, like Slack, Asana, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
Can two people share one VA?
Yes. Your VA is one dedicated person, and two people in your business can share those hours.
Who owns our data?
You do. You set up your own CRM and calling system, so the data stays yours even if we part ways. Our Non-Disclosure Policy and Data Protection policy are published in full, so you can read them before we start.
Ask anything we haven't covered on the call. There's no deposit and no fee to talk to us.
Book a discovery call
Tell us where the gap is in your team
Book a 30-minute discovery call. We'll talk through the work and the kind of person who would fit. We don't ask for a deposit or a consultation fee. If you're happy after that, let us know and Nikki starts the search.