UNITED STATES. YOUR PRIMARY MARKET
US businesses are paying too much to hire. There's a smarter way.
The average US cost-per-hire is $4,700, before the new employee does a single day of work. Add payroll taxes, health insurance, workers' comp, and benefits. A $50,000 salary employee actually costs $62,500 to $70,000 per year. Then factor in 36 to 42 days to fill the position and 3 to 8 months before they reach full productivity.
The OE Agency places elite South African VAs with US businesses. Native English speakers. Professionally educated. Culturally aligned. Available in your time zone.
World-class talent. US-friendly hours. A fraction of the cost.
Native English speakers who communicate like someone from your team
East Coast: SA VAs cover your full 9am to 5pm EST workday
West Coast: SA VAs cover 5am to 1pm PST, morning tasks done before you start
From $13 USD per hour, invoiced in USD with no currency complexity
All roles from 10 hours per week to full-time senior teams
THE US HIRING REALITY
What a US hire actually cost in 2025.
The math has shifted on US hiring. Cost-per-hire, time-to-productivity, and benefits load have all moved against the employer. Here are the three numbers every owner and operator needs to face honestly.
$4,700
Average Cost-Per-Hire
Spent before the new employee does a single day of productive work. Then add salary, benefits, and ramp-up.
Source: SHRM 2025
36–42 days
Average Time to Fill a Position
From job posted to offer accepted. Add 3 to 8 months before that hire reaches full productivity.
1.25–1.4×
True Cost vs Base Salary
When you load in FICA, health insurance, FUTA, SUTA, and workers' comp, a $50K salary becomes $65K to $80K.
THE REAL MATHS — A UK EMPLOYEE ON £30,000
FICA: $3,825/yr · Health insurance employer contribution: $7,500–$11,000 · FUTA / SUTA: $400–$1,500 · Workers' comp: $500–$3,000 · Cost-per-hire: $4,700
Total year-one cost: $65,000 to $80,000
An OE Agency South African VA at £15/hr full-time costs around £29,250/yr. Invoiced as a service. Zero employer NI. Zero pension obligations. Zero IR35 risk. Productive from week one.
Why VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS for UK Businesses
Four reasons UK client keep coming back.
Philippines and South Africa is the most overlooked talent pool in the offshore market. UK businesses are quietly using it to outperform.
East Coast
VAs work your full business day. Your morning email is answered before your first meeting.
Central
Your core workday, fully covered. Hand off at lunch, work continues seamlessly
Mountain
Your highest-productivity morning hours, completely supported by your VA team.
West Coast
Tasks, reports, and outreach are completed before your team starts. Your inbox is cleared before you open your laptop.
West Coast advantage:
SA VAs are dialing US East Coast prospects during their most receptive business hours. A genuine competitive edge for outbound sales teams in California, Oregon, and Washington.
US rates. In dollars . No surprises
Invoiced in GBP. No employer NI. No pension. No IR35. Monthly invoicing.
| Role | USD / Hour | Full-Time / Year (USD) | Saving VS US Hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admin / VA Support · SA · Native English | $13 – $18 | ~$25,350 – 35,100 | 45 – 60% |
| Appointment Setter / Cold Caller · SA | $18 – $23 | ~$35,100 – 44,850 | 30 – 50% |
| Senior Ops / Client Success · SA | $23 – $30 | ~$44,850 – 58,500 | 20 – 40% |
| Back-Office Admin · Filipino | $10 – $16 | ~$19,500 – 31,200 | 50 – 65% |
All rates assume a 40 hour week. Part-time engagements from 10 hours per week available. No placement fees. No hidden costs. No lock-in.
LOCALLY MANAGE
We don't place
and disappear.
The OE Agency has operations managers working locally. Directly with you and your VAs. They ensure ongoing performance. They manage issues quickly. They protect your investment.
You have a real human point of contact throughout the engagement. Not just during onboarding. Not just when something breaks. The full life of the placement.
The question US businesses ask before they hire.
Do I have to withhold payroll taxes for my VA?
No. VAs placed through The OE Agency are offshore contractors engaged through our managed services agreement. You receive a single service invoice. No W-2, no 1099, no US payroll tax obligations on your s
Are South African VAs really native English speakers?
Yes. English is the primary language of South African business, law, and education. SA VAs communicate natively. The accent is neutral and immediately accessible to US ears. For client-facing roles, this is a meaningful upgrade over other offshore options.
Are VAs available during UK business hours?
Yes, perfectl. The overlap with UK business hours is near-total. Your VA is available your full working day, every working day. No timezone compromise.
Can I hire a VA for just 10 hours a week?
Yes. We support part-time engagements from 10 hours per week. Many clients start at 10 to 20 hours and scale up as they see results. No minimum contractual commitment
How do I pay, and in what currency?
US clients are invoiced in USD. Clean, straightforward invoicing in your currency. Fortnightly or monthly billing depending on preference. The OE Agency handles all payments to the VA. You are never paying the contractor directly.
Stop paying US loaded costs for roles that can ship in week one.
30 minutes. No obligation. No pitch deck. An honest conversation about whether South African VAs are the right answer for your business.
