Virtual Coworker

Virtual Coworker is a staffing company that connects US businesses with virtual assistants based in the Philippines, and also handles recruitment, HR and payroll for those hires. Its site says it has operated since 2011, with offices in West Hollywood, California and Sydney, New South Wales.

Clients start with a free consultation and a job description. Recruitment specialists in the Philippines then source and vet candidates, and the client receives a curated shortlist, holds video interviews and makes the selection. Onboarding is run by a customer success manager. Hires are tracked with an online time tracker that takes screenshots every 10 minutes and produces daily activity reports. The company says it screens with FBI-grade background checks and selects the top 1 percent of candidates (self-reported).

• Virtual assistants and executive assistants
• Customer service and technical support specialists
• Bookkeepers and accountants
• Marketing roles: social media managers and digital marketing managers
• Web developers and graphic designers
• Recruitment assistants

Industries served include eCommerce, financial services, marketing and media agencies, professional services, service businesses, technology companies and real estate. One named client is Allara Support Services, and the site carries testimonials from CEOs, founders and managers. It says it has been featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, Startup Smart, Startup Daily and BRW.

On pricing, the website states there are no upfront recruitment fees; clients pay an agreed hourly rate that includes the service fee. Placements run 20 to 40 hours per week with a 20-hour weekly minimum, and payment is accepted by Visa, Mastercard, American Express (with a card surcharge) or ACH debit, billed in USD for US clients. The company claims savings of up to 80 percent on staffing costs (self-reported).