• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Passion For Business Logo

Small Business Consulting for the Self-Employed

  • About Us
    • Meet Karyn Greenstreet
    • Meet Aly Greenstreet
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Home
  • Consulting
    • Small Business Development & Strategy Consulting
    • Marketing Strategy Consulting for Small Business
    • Small Business Consulting Programs
    • Compass Master Program
    • How to Select a Small Business Coach or Consultant
    • Industries We Serve
    • Small Business Coach vs Consultant?
    • FAQ
  • Coaching
    • How Coaching Works
    • Quiz: Are You Ready for Coaching?
    • Small Business Coach vs Consultant
    • Small Business Consulting Programs
    • Mentor Coaching For Coaches
  • Blog
  • Free Resources
    • Discover the Missing Link
    • Setting and Raising Your Fees
    • Speed Up Growth: Start a Mastermind Group
    • Are You Ready to Take the Leap and Grow Your Business?
  • Training
  • Speaking
    • Meet Karyn Greenstreet
    • Clients
    • Locations
    • Testimonials
  • About Us
    • Meet Karyn Greenstreet
    • Meet Aly Greenstreet
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Home
  • Consulting
    • Small Business Development & Strategy Consulting
    • Marketing Strategy Consulting for Small Business
    • Small Business Consulting Programs
    • Compass Master Program
    • How to Select a Small Business Coach or Consultant
    • Industries We Serve
    • Small Business Coach vs. Consultant – What’s the Difference?
    • FAQ
  • Coaching
    • How Coaching Works
    • Quiz: Are You Ready for Coaching?
    • Small Business Coach vs Consultant
    • Small Business Consulting Programs
    • Mentor Coaching For Coaches
    • FAQ About Small Business Coaching and How it Works
    • Industries We Serve
  • Blog
  • Free Resources
    • Discover the Missing Link
    • Setting and Raising Your Fees
    • Speed Up Growth: Start a Mastermind Group
    • Are You Ready to Take the Leap? Business Self-Assessment
  • Compass Master Program
  • Speaking
    • Meet Karyn Greenstreet
    • Clients
    • Locations
    • Testimonials
Home > Self-Employed Success Blog > Running a Strong & Efficient Business > What Should You Pay For Help?
What Should You Pay For Help?

What Should You Pay For Help?

Karyn Greenstreet

A colleague recently asked me what she should expect to pay a Virtual Assistant. Another colleague asked me the going rate for a Website Designer. Someone asked me if they could get a Copywriter for less than $10 an hour.

As your business grows it become apparent that you can’t do it alone. Finding skilled consultants and assistants greatly increases your efficiency and your revenue. This is one area where the maxim “You get what you pay for” applies.

Before worrying about the cost of getting help, first decide what you want your help to do for you. I’ve written two articles that may help you with this process:

  • How to Choose a Virtual Assistant
  • How to Choose a Website Designer

While these are just two of the possible types of consultants you’ll want to hire, the process is the same for thinking through what work you want them to do, what skills you want them to have, and what personality type you work best with.

Then you can begin thinking about what to pay them. It’s natural for a small business owner to want to save money, but you’ll be disappointed if you hire someone at a low hourly rate only to find that they either can’t do the work or their quality and timeliness suffers.

Think about it this way: these sub-contractors are small business owners, too. If they charge $30 per hour, they have to work many more hours in order to make a living. Will they give you and your projects the attention they deserve? If they can’t make a living, will they go out of business?

Here are some of the common fees you can expect to pay for help. As skill level rises, so does the hourly fee. Often sub-contractors will give you a discount if you commit to a certain number of hours per month (a “retainer”). Others will charge you by the project, or in the case of copywriters and transcriptionists, by the page or by the word.

  • Virtual Assistant: $35 – $70 per hour
  • Website Designer: $50 – $150 per hour
  • CPA: $125 – $200 per hour
  • Attorney: $125 – $450 per hour
  • Technology Consultant: $65 – $250 per hour
  • Business/Marketing Consultant: $100 – $300 per hour

Here are some other people you already hire, though you may never have thought about their “hourly rate” in this way:

  • Car Mechanic: $80 – $150 per hour
  • Massage Therapist: $60 – $120 per hour
  • House Cleaner: $30 – $50 per hour
  • Doctor: $200 – $500 per hour
  • Hair Stylist – $50 – $150 per hour

Decide up-front whether the person you hire is an “expense” or an “investment.” An investment implies that the work they do for you either directly increases your income or indirectly saves you time.

Having a support team around you can grow your business. Choose wisely and watch your business blossom!

Filed Under: Running a Strong & Efficient Business

Previous Post: « The Green Office: Library Books The Green Office: Library Books
Next Post: The Green Office: Opt-Out of Your Paper Catalogs »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paula G

    November 20, 2007 at 10:26 pm

    Great post Karyn. The planning piece is key. That is why the planning classes you offer are so valuable. So many people come to me and say “I want a website, how much?”. That is like saying – “I want a house. How much?” How many rooms do you want in your home? What part of the country? How much land? etc etc…. That can be a range from a $100,000 home to a multi million $ home.

    Plan and get clear on why you want help and what you want them to do…then the hiring part becomes much easier and cost effective.

  2. John Moore

    November 28, 2007 at 9:11 am

    This is such a great info. Thank you.

Footer

Services

  • Small Business Consulting
  • Small Business Coaching
  • Compass Master Program
  • Mentor Coaching for Coaches

FAQ

  • What is Coaching?
  • Small Business Coach vs Consultant
  • Industries We Serve

Resources

  • Self Employed Success Blog
  • Free Ebook: Discover the Missing Link
  • Free video tutorial: Setting and Raising Your Fees
  • Free Tutorial: Start a Mastermind Group

Connect

+1 (610) 381-4332

Email Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Site Footer

Copyright © 2022, Karyn Greenstreet, All rights reserved. This entire website copyrighted: United States Copyright Registration Number PAU3-147-048.
Privacy and Cookie Policy