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BELAY vs Virtual Wizards for Executive Assistant Talent (2026)
The short answer: BELAY gives you U.S.-based executive support for part of the week, matched and supported by BELAY, at a custom flat monthly rate. Virtual Wizards helps you hire a full-time Latin American executive assistant directly, for a one-time $2,000 fee. After that, you pay the EA's salary and nothing else.
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Our pick
VS
BELAY
Executive assistant talent • Checked November 11, 2026
$2,000
one-time placement fee
~173 hrs
a month from a full-time EA
100%
of salary goes to your EA
6 months
free replacement guarantee
Quick verdict
Which one fits you?
So the real question isn't which one is cheaper. It's whether you need 10–20 hours a week of U.S.-based help or a full-time EA who works your whole business day.
Our pick
Choose Virtual Wizards if
✓
You need a full-time EA who covers your entire U.S. business day.
✓
You want to know your cost up front: $2,000 once, then a salary you set.
✓
You want the EA to work for you, with no ongoing agency layer.
✓
You're comfortable directing the EA's work yourself.
Alternative
Stay with or choose BELAY if
•
You specifically want a U.S.-based assistant.
•
You need 10–20 hours a week, not a full-time person.
•
You want month-to-month flexibility with a vendor that handles matching and rematching.
•
You'd like bookkeeping, controller, or CFO services from the same company.
Disclosure: Virtual Wizards publishes this comparison. BELAY details come from BELAY's public website, checked November 11, 2026. BELAY doesn't publish a standard executive assistant rate, so we don't quote one here. Confirm current terms in writing before you sign.
Side by side
BELAY vs Virtual Wizards at a Glance
Virtual Wizards
BELAY
What you're buying
Virtual Wizards
Help recruiting and hiring a dedicated EA who then works directly for you
BELAY
Matched executive support from a U.S.-based assistant, managed through BELAY
Talent location
Virtual Wizards
Latin America (UTC-3 to UTC-6)
BELAY
United States
Typical starting scope
Virtual Wizards
Full-time, dedicated to your company
BELAY
Many clients start at 10–20 hours a week, per BELAY
Pricing
Virtual Wizards
$2,000 one-time placement fee, then the EA's salary (typically $1,500–$2,200/month) paid directly by you
BELAY
Custom flat monthly rate, quoted after a scoping call
Public price list
Virtual Wizards
Placement fee published; salary ranges published
BELAY
No standard EA rate published
Commitment
Virtual Wizards
No ongoing contract with Virtual Wizards after placement
BELAY
Month-to-month, per BELAY
If it's not a fit
Virtual Wizards
6-month free replacement guarantee
BELAY
Right-Fit Guarantee: rematch at no extra cost
Who manages the assistant
Virtual Wizards
You direct and manage the EA
BELAY
You direct the work, with BELAY's support behind the relationship
Absence coverage
Virtual Wizards
Not included; you plan coverage as with any direct hire
BELAY
Rematching is advertised; confirm temporary backup coverage
Other services
Virtual Wizards
Executive, operations, real estate, property management, and other industry-specific roles
BELAY
Bookkeeping, accounting, controller, and CFO services
Company profile
How BELAY Works
BELAY was founded in 2010 by Bryan and Shannon Miles. The original idea was part-time remote help for leaders who didn't need, or didn't want, a full-time employee. The company consolidated several brands under the BELAY name in 2017, Tricia Sciortino (its first employee and first assistant) became CEO in 2020, and in 2024 it acquired three CFO and controller firms. Today it sells assistant support alongside bookkeeping and financial services.
The executive assistant offer works like this, according to BELAY's website:
1
You describe your needs on a scoping call.
2
BELAY matches you with a U.S.-based assistant.
3
You pay a flat monthly rate based on the hours and support you need. Many clients start at 10–20 hours a week.
4
The engagement is month-to-month.
5
If the match isn't right, BELAY's Right-Fit Guarantee promises a rematch at no extra cost.
BELAY's public job listings describe its executive assistants as contractor roles. That's a common structure for fractional U.S. support, and it's worth understanding when you compare options.
What BELAY does well
✓
U.S.-based assistants, with no time-zone or cultural adjustment
✓
More than 15 years of operating history in remote executive support
✓
Month-to-month flexibility
✓
Fractional hours, so you're not paying for a full-time seat you don't need
✓
Financial services under one roof if you also need bookkeeping or CFO support
What you can't see before you call
BELAY doesn't publish a standard executive assistant price. Its educational articles mention that U.S. virtual assistants typically cost $1,200–$3,000 a month and note that services like BELAY may cost more, but that's a market range, not a BELAY quote. You'll need a call to learn your actual cost.
Company profile
How Virtual Wizards Works
Virtual Wizards is a direct-hire recruiting partner for Latin American executive assistants.
1
We scope the role: your calendar, inbox, tools, travel, and the projects you want handed off.
2
We source and screen candidates for C1+ English, EA experience, tool fit, and availability in your time zone.
3
You get a shortlist, typically within 72 hours, and you interview and choose.
4
You pay a one-time $2,000 placement fee.
5
Your EA works full-time, for you only, and you pay them directly. 100% of what you pay goes to your EA.
6
If the hire doesn't work out in the first six months, we replace them at no cost.
What Virtual Wizards does well
✓
Full-time coverage of the U.S. business day, as a normal daytime schedule for the EA
✓
A cost you can see up front and plan around
✓
Direct relationship: the EA is part of your team, and you control pay, raises, and scope
✓
No recurring agency fee after placement
What stays with you
Virtual Wizards isn't a managed service. After placement, you direct the work, handle payment, and plan coverage for vacations and sick days. If you want a vendor to stay involved in the relationship, BELAY's model may suit you better.
Compare
The Real Difference: Part of the Week vs. All of It
Most BELAY clients start with 10–20 hours a week. That's the right amount of help for many leaders. But if you already feel like you need someone every day, fractional hours can leave gaps: an assistant who isn't on when the board deck needs to go out, or when your calendar falls apart at 3 p.m.
Your situation
Better fit
You need help a few hours a day with inbox and scheduling
Better fit
BELAY (fractional)
The assistant must be U.S.-based
Better fit
BELAY
You want someone on every day, all day, owning your inbox, calendar, travel, and projects
Better fit
Virtual Wizards (full-time)
You support more than one executive, or plan to
Better fit
Virtual Wizards (full-time)
You want a predictable, published cost before the first call
Better fit
Virtual Wizards
Cost
How to Compare Your BELAY Quote
Because BELAY quotes custom pricing, use this method once you have a number.
Step 1: Turn the quote into an hourly rate. Monthly quote ÷ monthly hours = your effective hourly rate. Example: a $2,500 quote for 80 hours a month (about 20 a week) = $31.25 per hour.
Step 2: Compare it with a full-time direct hire. A Virtual Wizards EA at $1,800/month works about 173 hours a month, or about $10.40 per hour. Year one adds the $2,000 placement fee, which is roughly $11.37 per hour across the first year.
Step 3: Compare annual cost at the hours you actually need.
Scenario (illustrative)
Year 1
Year 2
Fractional U.S. support, 80 hrs/month at a $2,500 quote
Year 1
$30,000
Year 2
$30,000
Virtual Wizards full-time EA at $1,800/month (~173 hrs/month)
Year 1
$23,600
Year 2
$21,600
The BELAY row is a hypothetical quote to show the math, not BELAY's price. Plug in your real quote. The Virtual Wizards row is $2,000 + 12 × $1,800 in year one, and 12 × $1,800 after that. It excludes optional bonuses and software.
Step 4: Ask BELAY these questions in writing.
✓
What are my monthly hours, and what happens to unused hours?
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Is there a setup or onboarding fee?
✓
What's the cancellation notice period?
✓
Who covers when my assistant is out sick or on vacation?
✓
How are hours beyond my plan billed?
✓
Can I hire my assistant directly later, and is there a conversion fee?
Why people switch
Why Leaders Look for a BELAY Alternative
These are the most common reasons, and none of them mean BELAY did anything wrong:
01
They've outgrown fractional hours.
Twenty hours a week was perfect at first, but now they need full-day coverage.
02
They want to see pricing first.
A custom quote makes it harder to budget or compare.
03
They want to own the relationship.
Some leaders prefer an EA who is simply part of their team, without an agency in the middle.
04
Cost per hour at full-time scale.
U.S.-based hours cost more. For full-time coverage, a LATAM EA hired directly typically costs much less per hour.
Decision guide
Who Should Choose What
Our pick
Virtual Wizards is the better choice for founders and executives who need a full-time EA, want a clear cost up front, and prefer to hire and manage their assistant directly. You get a dedicated EA for your whole business day, at a total first-year cost that's often lower than part-time U.S. support.
See how Virtual Wizards places executive assistantsAlternative
BELAY is the better choice for leaders who need a U.S.-based assistant, want part-time hours, and value having a vendor behind the relationship. It's also a natural fit if you want financial services from the same company.
FAQ
BELAY vs Virtual Wizards: common questions
How much does BELAY cost?
BELAY doesn't publish a standard executive assistant price. It quotes a flat monthly rate based on the hours and support you need, and many clients start at 10–20 hours a week. You'll need a scoping call to get your number.
Are BELAY assistants based in the U.S.?
Yes. BELAY provides U.S.-based assistants. Virtual Wizards places assistants based in Latin America who work U.S. business hours.
Does BELAY have a contract?
BELAY advertises month-to-month engagements. Confirm the cancellation notice period in your agreement.
What is BELAY's guarantee?
BELAY's Right-Fit Guarantee promises a rematch at no extra cost if your assistant isn't the right fit. Virtual Wizards includes a six-month free replacement guarantee.
Is a full-time LATAM EA cheaper than BELAY?
For full-time coverage, usually yes. A Virtual Wizards EA typically costs $1,500–$2,200 a month in salary, plus a one-time $2,000 fee, for about 173 hours a month. Compare that with your BELAY quote using the hourly method above.
What's the biggest difference between BELAY and Virtual Wizards?
BELAY provides U.S.-based, often part-time support through an ongoing service. Virtual Wizards helps you hire a full-time Latin American EA who works directly for you.
Keep reading
Related reading
Last verified November 11, 2026, from BELAY's public website. BELAY is a trademark of its owner. Virtual Wizards is not affiliated with BELAY. Contract terms, pricing, and policies can change; confirm everything in a written agreement.
Hire a full-time executive assistant directly
On a free 30-minute call you will…
✓
Map the inbox, calendar, travel, and projects you want to hand off
✓
See salary ranges for the EA you need
✓
Get a shortlist of vetted LATAM EAs, typically within 72 hours
$2,000 one-time fee. 100% of salary goes to your EA. 6-month replacement guarantee.