Do You Need a Virtual Assistant or Online Business Manager?

You hear it all the time: “You need to hire help! You need to outsource!” And you agree. You need help because right now, it feels like your business is buried under a pile of never-ending to-dos.

The problem isn’t that you don’t want to hire help, it’s that you don’t know what kind of help you need!

The online business world is full of confusing titles and roles that all start to blend together. And the two that get mixed up more than any others? Online Business Manager (OBM) and Virtual Assistant (VA).

I see CEOs make the mistake of hiring for the wrong role, expecting skills that don’t match the job description, and ending up frustrated when things aren’t improving despite spending good money on help.

It’s a difference that can mean getting somewhere with the backend and still being overwhelmed 5 months down the road. 

So how do you know what kind of help you need? Let’s clear the air! By the end of this post, you’ll know if you need a virtual assistant or an OBM. 

What is a Virtual Assistant?

In a nutshell, Virtual Assistants are the implementers of your business. Think of a VA as your right-hand person who swoops in to tackle those essential but time-consuming tasks that pull you away from your zone of genius. They lift that administrative burden off your shoulders and give you more space to focus more energy on the big, exciting vision stuff.

Virtual Assistants typically don’t strategize or create processes. They’re the ones taking the processes you’ve already created and putting them into action – like when you finally found that perfect email template system but have zero time to actually use it.

They can also help with things like: 

• Blog management and posting 
• Email management and scheduling
• Social media management and scheduling
• Email newsletter creation
• Podcast editing
• Basic bookkeeping tasks (depending on the VA)
• Calendar management

The range is pretty wide, but this is exactly what most business owners need when they first start to outsource. You need that “generalized” person to take things off your plate when you’re drowning in tasks that aren’t moving the needle.

Virtual Assistant Salary: What to Expect

Since the term “Virtual Assistant” covers such a wide range of services, the pay rate varies quite a bit, but generally, expect to pay between $10-35 per hour. Of course, these are estimates since every VA sets their own rates. But having helped CEOs hire a good amount of them, I’d say this pricing structure is pretty consistent.

What is an Online Business Manager?

Online Business Managers are the strategists of your business ecosystem. They stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you to map out the big picture and ensure your business is running like a well-oiled machine. They help you step fully into your CEO role by taking over the day-to-day operations so you can focus on vision and growth.

They act in many ways like a COO (chief operating officer). OBMs are the ones tracking and analyzing performance data to see what’s working, what’s definitely NOT working, and steering the business and team in the right direction to grow.

Since they work so closely with you, they typically work more hours with fewer clients. It’s common for OBMs to have only 2 clients at 15-20 hours a week each. Some only have one client! This focused approach allows them to really understand your business and perform at that higher strategic level.

Other OBM Job Functions

The OBM also acts as the point of contact for other team members, instead of you having to answer ALL the questions. So if your team includes a copywriter, blog manager, podcast editor, and tech VA – they would all report to the OBM instead of coming directly to you. 

They can also: 

• Make sure projects are moving along, and then completed correctly and on time
• Help with launch planning and assigning roles and responsibilities to team members
• Creating systems that keep your business grounded
• Outlining action plans for new projects and delegating tasks

For example, if you decide to launch a podcast – the OBM will find and hire the podcast editor, get your website designer to create a webpage for it, have your copywriter draft weekly show notes, and coordinate the whole production schedule using tools like Asana or ClickUp. All without you needing to take your eyes off the road ahead!

Online Business Manager Salary: The Investment

OBM salary ranges are a bit tighter than VA rates because the work they do is more specialized. Generally, expect to pay between $45-70 per hour. Other things to consider: 

• The $40-50/hour range: This typically covers VAs who have recently transitioned (or are still transitioning) into an OBM role.
• The middle range of $50-60/hour: OBMs with a proven track record of working with clients at this level who carry those 2-3 clients they work closely with.
• The high range of $60-70+/hour: Specialized OBMs who focus on specific areas like launching, systems creation, or scaling strategies. 

Again, these rates can vary as OBMs choose their rates based on experience and the value they bring. But when they help you scale effectively, they more than pay for themselves! Their expertise in identifying bottlenecks, implementing systems, and managing your team ultimately frees you to focus on your vision and can lead to significant business growth. 

Think of it as an investment, not an expense.

The Evolution: From VA to OBM

Many businesses start with a VA and later level up to an OBM as their needs evolve. Here are some signs you might be ready to make this transition to hiring an OBM:

• Your team has grown beyond 2-3 people
• You’re spending more time managing people than creating
• You find yourself constantly putting out fires instead of planning ahead
• You want to scale but feel operationally maxed out
• You’re dreaming of taking a vacation without your laptop

Other helpful questions to ask yourself:

• Do you need a task-doer (VA) or a strategist (OBM)?
• Do you need a team member (VA) or a manager (OBM)?
• Do you need an executor (VA) or a decision-maker (OBM)?
• Do you need a creator (VA) or an approver (OBM)?

Keep in mind that this evolution is natural and shows your business is growing! It doesn’t mean replacing your VA – it means adding an OBM to lead the team while your VA continues handling important implementation tasks.

So…What Kind of Support Do You Need? 

Remember, this isn’t just about hiring help; it’s about strategically building a business that serves your vision instead of draining it. 

If you’re still feeling stuck between options or aren’t sure where your specific operational gaps are, I’ve got you covered. Download the CEO’s Guide to a Chaos-Proof Business! This step-by-step resource will help you identify exactly where your operations need some fine-tuning, and which support role will give you the biggest return on investment right now.

It’s only a few pages long and will help you find the clarity you need! 

You can grab the guide, 100% free, here.