Smiling assistant working on a laptop in a bright home office
South African virtual assistants

Skilled support on your time, at a price that makes sense.

We connect businesses in the UK, US and Europe with experienced South African assistants. Hire directly, or let us manage everything on one simple monthly invoice.

Roles we place

Every AltAssist assistant has at least 3–5 years' experience in their field.

Assistant organising documents at a desk

Executive & admin support

Inbox and diary management, travel, documents, client communication and day-to-day admin.

Man working on a laptop at a desk

IT & tech support

User support, system set-up, troubleshooting and keeping your tools running smoothly.

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Marketing

Social media, content, email campaigns, SEO and reporting on what's working.

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Business development & sales

Lead generation, outreach, CRM management and support for your sales pipeline.

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Recruitment

Sourcing, screening, interview scheduling and keeping candidates moving.

Freight truck on an open road at sunset

Logistics & operations

Order and supplier coordination, scheduling, tracking and process admin.

How it works

From first call to first day

  1. 1

    Discovery call

    We talk through the role, your tasks, your office hours and which way of hiring suits you.

  2. 2

    We search and shortlist

    A £500 deposit starts your search. We source, screen and vet experienced candidates.

  3. 3

    Meet before you pay

    Interview your shortlist and choose the right person before paying anything beyond the deposit.

  4. 4

    Your assistant starts

    Working Monday to Friday, aligned to your office hours, from their own equipped setup.

Assistant wearing a headset working on a laptop
Pricing

Two simple ways to hire

Direct hire

We recruit, you employ

For businesses that want to employ their assistant themselves.

From 10% of first-year salary

A one-off recruitment fee of 10–25%, based on the assistant's salary. No monthly charges from us.

  • We find, screen and shortlist your candidates
  • You run payroll, contracts and equipment
  • 6-month guarantee: one free replacement if it isn't the right fit
  • £500 deposit credited against your fee
  • Invoiced once all contracts are signed
Talk to us about Direct Hire
Fully managed Managed assistant

We recruit and manage, you focus

For businesses that want great support without the admin of employing.

Their pay + one fee

You pay your assistant's pay plus a single management fee. Both are shown separately on every invoice, so you always see what your assistant earns.

  • We find, vet, pay and look after your assistant
  • One monthly invoice, paid in advance
  • Plans from 40 hours a month, up to full-time
  • 3-month minimum term, then rolling with 30 days' notice
  • Unlimited replacements during your contract
  • £500 deposit deducted from your first invoice
Get a Managed quote
Plan rules

Clear rules, no surprises

These apply to every Managed Assistant plan, so you know exactly where you stand from day one.

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  1. 1

    40 hours minimum

    Plans start at 40 hours a month. Part-time plans are priced on your assistant's pay for the hours you book.

  2. 2

    Hours don't roll over

    Unused hours expire at the end of each month, so plan your work with your assistant.

  3. 3

    3-month minimum term

    Then your plan rolls on monthly with 30 days' notice.

  4. 4

    Leaving early

    If you cancel before 3 months, you pay your assistant's notice period plus our management fee for the rest of the term.

  5. 5

    No free trial

    Instead, you meet and interview your assistant before you pay.

  6. 6

    Own equipment

    Assistants work from their own setup. We don't supply laptops, screens or headsets.

  7. 7

    Monday to Friday

    Your assistant works weekdays, aligned to your office hours.

  8. 8

    Monthly in advance

    One invoice each month, showing your assistant's pay and our fee separately.

Deposit & payments

How payment works

£500 deposit

Starts your search. It comes off your recruitment invoice (Direct Hire) or your first monthly invoice (Managed). It's refunded if we can't find you a suitable candidate.

Simple invoicing

Direct Hire is invoiced once all contracts are signed. Managed plans are invoiced monthly, in advance. All prices are in pounds sterling.

Ways to pay

Direct Debit and bank transfer are free. Payments on commercial or corporate cards carry a 2.9% fee.

Based in South Africa.
Working on your time.

South Africa works well with UK, European and many US time zones, and every AltAssist assistant aligns to your office hours.

Assistant smiling while typing on a laptop
Why AltAssist

Experienced team, honest pricing

Experienced, not entry-level

Every assistant has at least 3–5 years' experience in their field.

Personally matched

We match on skills, experience and the way you like to work.

Fluent English

English is one of South Africa's main business languages.

Transparent fees

On Managed plans, you see your assistant's pay and our fee on every invoice.

Meet before you pay

Interview your shortlist before paying anything beyond the deposit.

Guarantees on every hire

A replacement guarantee on Direct Hire, and unlimited replacements on Managed.

Our promise

Great team.
Real support. No surprises.

Experienced assistants, fair and transparent pricing, and a guarantee we stand behind. That's the AltAssist difference.

  • Free discovery call
  • No obligation
  • Meet before you pay
Smiling man working at a laptop at a wooden table

Skilled support on your time, at a price that makes sense.