Roles

VA

Virtual Assistant — a remote contractor who handles repetitive operational work (support tickets, order processing, listing data entry). Typically $5-$15/hr.

A VA is a remote contractor who handles the repetitive operational work of a store: customer support tickets, order processing, supplier communication, product listing data entry, catalog maintenance, and report generation. Typical rates in 2026 range from $5-$8/hr (Philippines) to $12-$20/hr (Eastern Europe or Latin America) for general-purpose VAs, and $15-$25/hr for specialists (paid ads, Klaviyo, creative briefing).

The leverage from a VA comes not from the hourly savings but from founder time reclaimed. A founder spending 15 hours/week on customer tickets is a founder not spending 15 hours/week on creative, product research, or retention strategy. That's the opportunity cost.

Most operators hire their first VA at around $15-$30K/month in revenue — specifically for customer support, because it's the first task where templates and SOPs can replace the founder's presence.

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