Remote employment

Remote virtual or executive assistant (employed)

A salaried or retained assistant role for one company or executive: inbox, calendar, travel, documents and follow-ups.

Some evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026

See how this fits you, freeAbout 6 minutes, no sign-up.

Is this for you?

Best for

Organised, discreet, strong written English, comfortable with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.

In South Africa: Strong for time-zone overlap with the UK and Europe.

What you need

  • A laptop or computer
  • Reliable internet
  • No camera needed
  • No cold selling
  • At least 20 hours a week · age 18+
  • Admin & organising (competent or better)

The money

What it can earn

  1. Pocket money
  2. A top-up
  3. A second income
  4. Can become a full income

Part time, this can become a meaningful second income once you have regular customers.

What people charge

No reliable SA figure yet

No reliable published salary data for South African remote hires. Compare listings that state a range.

Costs to plan for

Start-up
R0 to R3 000
Every month
Fibre or uncapped data, backup power.
Payment fees
None when employed locally or through an employer of record. Contractor payments from abroad carry payout fees.
Margin
N/A.

How it is paid: Monthly salary, or a contractor fee paid via an employer of record. Our viability score for it: 65 out of 100 (how we score).

How to start

  1. Test it cheaply Before you spend

    • Apply to 15 assistant roles with a tailored CV
    • Success signal: two interviews within three weeks

  2. First week Days 1 to 7

    • One-page CV listing the tools you use
    • Two short work samples (a tidy itinerary, a meeting summary)
    • Apply to 10 roles

  3. First month Days 8 to 30

    • Interview practice: scenario questions about prioritising
    • Apply to five roles a week and track replies

  4. By three months Days 31 to 90

    • Employed, or switch to freelance VA work
    • Ask for feedback after interviews and add one tool skill

Applications, interviews and notice periods before the first salary. First income usually takes 21 to 90 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.

Step-by-step guide

Remote virtual or executive assistant (employed): your step-by-step start

18 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.

See what is inside

Customers and demand

Who pays

Employers in South Africa, the UK, Europe and the US.

Busy founders and managers losing hours to admin.

Is there demand?

Assistant roles open to remote candidates are listed on Pnet and global boards such as Working Nomads.

Pnet (work from home filter)Working NomadsLinkedIn

Getting customers

Job applications, referrals and recruiters.

Applying for jobs or platform roles

Risks and rules

Watch out for

  • Fake "assistant" adverts that ask you to buy equipment or pay for training
  • Unpaid trial tasks: keep them short

Competition: High for entry roles; lower for executive assistants with references.

Room to grow: Grows through career progression and raises rather than scale.

Legal and tax in South Africa

  • Employed: PAYE and UIF are deducted.
  • Paid as a foreign contractor: register for provisional tax with SARS and keep records.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start remote virtual or executive assistant in South Africa?

Our research puts start-up costs at about R0 to R3 000. Recurring costs: Fibre or uncapped data, backup power.

How long until the first income?

Typically about 45 days, and between 21 and 90 days. Applications, interviews and notice periods before the first salary.

Can I do it with only a phone?

Not really. You will need a laptop or computer for most of the work.

What about tax and legal rules?

Employed: PAYE and UIF are deducted. Paid as a foreign contractor: register for provisional tax with SARS and keep records.

Sources (4)

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Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy