There’s a saying in business: If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur.

A few months ago, we touched base with a prospective client to place a fractional EA with him. He has a growing business with over a million in revenue and will likely double that in the next year or so. After going through our process, it was clear that he needed at least 20 hours of Executive Assistant support each week. He loved our subscription model and the idea of an EA who could integrate seamlessly into his business.

Then came the sticking point: cost. He’d just seen an ad on social media for a “full-time” virtual assistant at $16/hour and asked, “Why would I pay your rate when I can get double the hours for less?”

We explained our pricing, what’s included, and the level of professional he’d be getting. We’re not the cheapest, but if cost was his deciding factor, we encouraged him to give the $16/hour route a try and keep our contact info handy.

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Act 1: The Bargain Bin

He hired the $16/hour service. Two weeks later, the honeymoon was over.

• Clients started complaining about turnaround times.
• Emails were answered incorrectly and created additional work.
• Tasks were miscommunicated and botched.
• Quality control? Nonexistent.

It wasn’t that the assistant was a bad person, it’s just that the skill set didn’t match the role. This particular company sourced from overseas talent, which can be a great option for certain needs, but not when you require ongoing communication with clients, high-level specialized skills, and industry-specific problem-solving in real time.

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Act 2: The “Local” Solution

Determined to make it work, our now-frustrated friend posted his own $16/hour job listing, this time for someone who could work in-office 50% of the time.

That went… worse.

• First red flag: No-shows within the first month.
• Second red flag: Resume looked impressive, but the work didn’t match.
• Third red flag: Couldn’t take constructive feedback without getting defensive.

The grand finale? The assistant ghosted him completely… then threatened to sue for a “hostile workplace.” Apparently, they didn’t love the feedback and 1st month performance review.

‍Act 3: The Comeback

Four months after our first conversation, the client was back on our calendar. We laughed a little about the situation. Bottom line, his business is important and he realized that saving a few dollars an hour had cost him far more in lost productivity, frustrated clients, and unnecessary headaches.

This time, he understood our rates and was happy to hear we’d get him a skilled pro and fast!

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The Takeaway

It’s tempting to choose the lowest price, especially when the marketing promises the world. But with roles as critical as an Executive Assistant, you’re not just buying hours,  you’re investing in the right people to protect your time, your clients, and your sanity.

Because while $16/hour may seem like a bargain…
…it ended up costing him four months of frustration, lost clients, and a lawsuit threat.

And yes, he’s still with us today.

MPG Staffing: Because “Chief Everything Officer” isn’t a real job title.