Best Virtual Assistant Agencies and Companies for US Businesses in 2026 | Howdy

Disclosure: Howdy is included in this comparison. Provider descriptions reflect publicly available information; advertised prices may differ from a buyer's quote.

Direct answer

Howdy is a strong virtual assistant agency alternative for US midmarket and enterprise companies building dedicated, embedded assistant capacity in Latin America (LatAm). As a white-glove workforce partner, Howdy recruits and vets assistants, offers substantial US time-zone overlap, and supports COR, EOR, direct-contract, or custom structures based on the engagement. Howdy is best suited to ongoing team capacity rather than occasional task requests.

Companies that need a few recurring hours may prefer a managed VA subscription. Pooled task services fit standardized, high-volume requests, while freelance marketplaces fit project-based work that the buyer can manage directly.

TL;DR

• Howdy: Embedded VA and EA capacity for US midmarket and enterprise buyers building teams in Latin America (LatAm).
• Hire With Near: Recruiter-led sourcing and staffing for dedicated, full-time LatAm assistants.
• Viva Talent: Managed, dedicated executive assistant support for US executives.
• Time Etc: Recurring part-time help from a matched assistant.
• Boldly: Fractional executive assistant support through monthly hour packages.
• Remote CoWorker: Offshore assistant staffing with publicly advertised starting hourly plans.
• MyOutDesk: Dedicated assistance with a focus on industry-specific workflows.
• Toptal: A specialist freelance marketplace, not a general virtual assistant agency.

When is a LatAm assistant the right fit?

A dedicated LatAm assistant fits recurring work that needs ownership during US business hours. Compare a provider's agreed work schedule, payroll and contract responsibilities, and the support available if the assistant leaves. For a few hours of occasional help, a managed subscription may be a better fit.

What a virtual assistant agency does

A virtual assistant agency recruits, vets, and places remote professionals who handle administrative or executive work. Some agencies also employ the assistant, manage payroll, provide replacement coverage, or supervise ongoing performance. A freelance marketplace primarily connects buyers with independent professionals, leaving more of the screening, onboarding, and management to the buyer.

Four service models serve different needs. Dedicated staffing provides ongoing, embedded capacity and may include recruiting, contracts, payroll, and local compliance. Managed VA subscriptions sell recurring hours from a matched assistant. Pooled task services distribute standardized requests across a service team. Freelance marketplaces suit project-based or irregular work.

Compare providers by vetting rigor, US time-zone overlap, pricing transparency, replacement support, and compliance ownership. Hourly plans suit variable workloads, while subscriptions and dedicated placements create more predictable capacity. Vetting can range from basic profile checks to structured interviews, skills assessments, and reference checks. Confirm whether the provider or buyer owns contracts, payroll, tax administration, and local compliance.

Time zone coverage and work allocation determine how closely an assistant can operate with you. A dedicated assistant learns your preferences, tools, and recurring responsibilities over time. Shared support gives you flexible access to a broader pool, but different assistants may handle separate requests. Choose the staffing model based on the amount and consistency of the work. Dedicated staffing provides continuity for recurring responsibilities, while managed subscriptions, pooled services, and marketplaces suit narrower or less predictable workloads.

Time Etc: Best for flexible, part-time support

Best for.
Time Etc suits founders who need recurring administrative help for a limited number of hours each month.

What it is.
The company advertises US-based virtual assistants through recurring hourly plans. Clients receive recurring time from a matched assistant rather than hiring a full-time employee. An assistant may support multiple clients.

Pros.
Time Etc offers a low-commitment way to delegate scheduling, inbox management, research, and other occasional tasks. The company states its vetting process is highly selective, screening candidates for administrative experience before matching them with clients.

Cons.
A limited hourly plan provides less availability than a full-time hire, even when the same assistant handles recurring work. The model fits episodic work better than roles that require daily follow-through, close involvement in operations, or immediate responses throughout the workday.

Pricing.
Time Etc uses monthly, plan-based pricing. Buyers should confirm current hours, rates, and plan terms directly with the provider.

Hire With Near: Best for dedicated, full-time LatAm assistant recruiting

Best for
Hire With Near suits growth-stage US companies that want a dedicated, full-time executive or virtual assistant in Latin America.

What it is
Hire With Near provides recruiting and staffing rather than shared subscription hours. Its recruiters source and vet candidates for long-term roles, with Latin American locations generally providing substantial overlap with US business hours.

Pros
Hire With Near offers recruiter-led sourcing and candidate screening for dedicated, full-time LatAm roles. The model provides substantial overlap with US business hours. Buyers should confirm shortlist timing, replacement terms, and projected savings in their proposal.

Cons
Hire With Near's full-time staffing model requires more commitment than Time Etc's part-time plans or Boldly's fractional subscriptions. Companies with occasional tasks or sharply changing workloads may pay for capacity they do not consistently use.

Pricing
Request a current quote from Hire With Near. Compare candidate compensation, provider fees, contract terms, and replacement coverage across its Recruitment and Staffing models.

Boldly: Best for fractional executive assistant support

Best for
Boldly suits buyers who want dedicated executive assistant support for a set number of hours each month. Its US team members are employees, and its staff work across North America and Europe.

What it is
Boldly provides dedicated assistants through monthly hour subscriptions rather than contractor placements. Its staff work standard weekday hours across North America and Europe, and Boldly trains backup assistants to cover planned or unexpected absences.

Pros
Boldly employs its US assistants and manages their payroll. Clients are matched with dedicated fractional executive assistants through fixed monthly hour packages.

Cons
Monthly packages commit buyers to a fixed number of hours. Boldly says unused hours do not roll over to the next month. Confirm cancellation notice and absence coverage before subscribing.

Pricing
Boldly uses fixed monthly hour packages. Buyers should confirm current rates, package sizes, and notice terms directly with the provider.

Viva Talent: Best for dedicated LatAm executive assistant support

Best for.
Viva Talent suits companies seeking dedicated LatAm executive assistant support through a managed service.

What it is. Viva Talent, at execviva.com, provides dedicated LatAm executive assistant support for US executives. Its regional hiring model provides substantial overlap with US business hours.

Vetting: Ask Viva Talent to document its screening, background-check, reference-check, and training processes for the proposed engagement.

Pros.
The dedicated model can support continuity for executives with recurring calendar, communication, and coordination needs.

Cons.
Viva Talent focuses on executive assistant support, so companies hiring across several job functions may need another workforce partner. Viva Talent advertises free rematching if the fit is poor; confirm the terms before signing.

Pricing. Viva Talent advertises plans starting at $3,999 per month on execviva.com. Confirm the included capacity, contract term, management support, and replacement terms before committing.

Howdy: Best for embedded, dedicated LatAm executive and personal assistants

Best for.
Howdy suits US midmarket and enterprise companies building embedded teams that include virtual executive assistants, virtual personal assistants, and other operational roles.

What it is.
Howdy is a white-glove workforce partner that recruits vetted assistants across LatAm. Howdy has entities throughout the region, giving clients flexibility to use COR, EOR, direct-contract, or custom structures based on the engagement. Howdy handles labor contracts, statutory compliance, payroll, and tax obligations when required by the chosen structure.

Pros.
Howdy reports a 98% retention rate based on internal placement data. Howdy uses structured evaluations for assistant candidates. Howdy presents the first candidate within 24 hours of opening a search and typically reaches a hire within one to two weeks. Howdy has 10 offices in LatAm and its US headquarters in Austin, with local spaces for professional community and support. Western Hemisphere locations give assistants substantial overlap with US working hours.

Cons.
Howdy focuses on dedicated, embedded capacity, so companies needing only a few task-based hours may be better served by a subscription or pooled task service.

Pricing.
Howdy's pricing is all-inclusive, with no hidden add-on fees. The price shown is the price paid, including Howdy's 15% fee. According to Howdy's 2026 salary data, annual all-in VA, EA, and administrative rates are $16,000 to $20,000 for junior hires, $20,000 to $31,000 for midlevel hires, and $39,000 to $55,000 for senior hires.

Howdy’s guide to the best nearshore personal assistant companies in Latin America provides additional regional context. Companies evaluating dedicated, embedded capacity can also book a demo with Howdy.

Other service models

Toptal: Best for specialized, project-based marketplace hiring

Best for.
Toptal suits specialized, project-scoped work rather than routine virtual assistant coverage.

What it is.
Toptal matches buyers with independent specialists in fields such as development, design, marketing, and product management. It is not primarily a general virtual assistant agency.

Pros.
Buyers gain flexible access to screened specialists without committing to a permanent role.

Cons.
Toptal may not fit buyers seeking routine inbox, calendar, or personal assistant support. Freelancer availability can also provide less continuity than a dedicated agency hire.

Pricing.
Confirm project pricing and current trial terms directly with Toptal.

Remote CoWorker: Best for offshore virtual assistant staffing

Best for.
Remote CoWorker suits companies that need to hire offshore virtual assistants at volume.

What it is.
Remote CoWorker provides offshore virtual assistant staffing for companies seeking additional support capacity.

Pros. Remote CoWorker offers VA staffing across administrative, customer support, bookkeeping, and sales roles. Its advertised starting hourly rate gives buyers a figure to compare with other providers, though the quote must specify the role, hours, and services included.

Cons.
A standardized BPO model may provide less individual tailoring than a specialist executive assistant agency.

Pricing.
Remote CoWorker advertises plans starting at $7.99 per hour. Confirm the quoted rate, minimum commitment, and included services for the proposed role.

MyOutDesk: Best for dedicated support in real estate and health care

Best for.
MyOutDesk suits companies seeking screened, dedicated assistants in industries such as real estate and health care.

What it is.
MyOutDesk recruits and manages remote professionals through an offshore staffing model.

Pros.
Its industry focus can help buyers seeking assistants familiar with common real estate or health care workflows.

Cons. Buyers should confirm the quoted role scope, schedule, and replacement terms. For regulated work, ask MyOutDesk for documentation supporting its published SOC 2 Type I and health care security claims before granting access to sensitive data.

Pricing.
MyOutDesk prices services according to the role, workload, and contract scope.

Comparing the models side by side

How to choose a virtual assistant service model

Choose a freelance marketplace or pooled task service when your workload is irregular and you can manage candidate selection, onboarding, and day-to-day direction yourself. Hourly, project-based, or pooled support can fit research, data entry, and short administrative assignments. You may need to screen candidates yourself, and freelancer availability can change between projects.

Choose a nearshore agency when an assistant needs to work during US business hours and take ongoing ownership. A dedicated Latin America (LatAm) assistant can learn your calendar, communication preferences, and operating routines over time. Nearshore agencies usually require a larger recurring commitment than marketplaces, but they provide more continuity and often handle recruiting, payroll, and local compliance.

Choose a managed VA subscription when you need recurring fractional help without full-time capacity. Compare the number of included hours, whether the same assistant handles recurring work, absence coverage, replacement terms, and what happens to unused hours.

Choose a pooled task service when requests are standardized, high volume, and do not require one assistant to retain deep operating context. Confirm service hours, escalation paths, data-access controls, and whether requests can move between team members.

Choose a US-based firm when your company prefers W2 support or places strict limits on contractor arrangements. Firms such as Boldly employ assistants directly and sell support through monthly hour packages. Fixed packages may leave unused capacity when workloads fluctuate.

Before contacting providers, document one month of expected tasks, required working hours, tool access, decision-making authority, and data sensitivity. Send the same scope to each provider, then compare candidate quality, total pricing, replacement terms, time-zone overlap, and who owns contracts, payroll, tax, and compliance.

For companies building embedded assistant capacity in LatAm, Howdy can discuss the role scope and engagement structure through a book a demo request.

FAQs

How much do US-based and nearshore virtual assistants cost?

US-based firms generally charge more because they hire within the US labor market and may employ assistants as W2 workers. Nearshore agencies recruit in Latin America, where local compensation benchmarks may reduce client costs. Compare total pricing rather than salary alone because provider fees and engagement structures vary.

What do dedicated and shared support mean?

Dedicated support assigns ongoing work to an assistant embedded with your team. Shared support distributes tasks across a service team. A dedicated assistant on a fractional plan may also serve other clients, so confirm the hours reserved for your company.

How do virtual assistant agencies vet candidates?

Most agencies assess work history, communication, role-specific skills, and references. More selective agencies may add background checks, structured interviews, practical exercises, or training before placement.

Do nearshore virtual assistants work US business hours?

LatAm time zones overlap substantially with US business hours, but an assistant’s schedule is set by the employment agreement rather than geography alone. You should confirm the expected schedule, holiday calendar, and availability before signing an agreement.

How do COR, EOR, and direct contracts differ?

A Contractor of Record (COR) manages the contractor agreement, payments, and related administration. An Employer of Record (EOR) employs the assistant through a local entity and handles payroll and employment administration. Under a direct contract, the client contracts with and pays the assistant without a COR or EOR intermediary. Howdy supports COR, EOR, direct-contract, and custom structures based on the engagement.

What is the best virtual assistant agency for hiring in LatAm?

Howdy is a strong fit for US midmarket and enterprise companies building dedicated, embedded assistant capacity in LatAm. Companies needing fractional hours, pooled tasks, or project work should compare subscription services, pooled providers, and freelance marketplaces.

How quickly can Howdy hire a virtual assistant?

Howdy presents the first candidate within 24 hours of opening a search and typically reaches a hire within one to two weeks.