Spoiler alert: you’ll be paying them a little differently than a project-based freelancer.
We reckon this may be unfamiliar territory to you, so we made a list of best practices to guide you. And as a bonus, we also share our top payment platform recommendation.
Let’s get right to it:
This post may contain affiliate links. Find out more about our partnership with Veem here.
Your assistant counts on their salary to settle their bills and other expenses. It’s the main reason they go to work every weekday and help you grow your business. As the boss, you need to hold up your end of the deal and ensure they’re properly compensated.
Here are things you want to keep in mind:
Hint: don’t go for the first platform you find. Shop around for the one that can offer you the best experience. We’ll talk about these in more detail later, but here are some points to consider:
Manage your VA’s salary expectations right from the get-go. The job description may have indicated a range, so clarify how much they’ll actually be getting in the offer letter.
You’ll also want to specify if they’ll be paid in dollars or in pesos (the local currency in the Philippines). Then, there are platform fees. Will you be shouldering these or will it be taken out of your assistant’s salary?
How often is payday? Every 5th and 20th, or at the end of the month? Is there a certain time they can expect their pay to come in?
It’s best to decide on payment dates before you hire your Filipino virtual assistant so that you can manage expectations from the start.
Automate your payments to make sure that they get sent on time, every time. You have to stick to the payday you set because a) it’s what they deserve for their hard work and b) it shows you value them as an individual.
Can’t pay them as scheduled due to something beyond your control? Give them a heads-up and, if possible, an estimate of when their pay will come in.
Picking the right payment platform is a big deal for obvious reasons — with number one being your money reaching the right hands, and at a close second, having that cash arrive as scheduled.
To help you narrow down your choice, think carefully about these factors:
Double-check whether the platform you’re eyeing serves the Philippines. Venmo and Stripe, for example, may be popular in the US but they aren’t available in the Philippines.
If you need a cheat sheet for payment platforms, just check out the next two sections. We share our top recommendation as well as other popular vendors.
Not a tech-savvy person? Better find a platform with an easy-to-use interface.
The last thing you want is to spend an unnecessary amount of time figuring out how to connect the account to your bank, where to send money, and how to view the transfer status.
There’s always a chance something can go wrong with money transfers, even if you pick the most reliable payment vendor.
That’s why you need to look at different platforms and find out what their customer support is like. Are they available 24/7? How fast do they resolve issues? You can check reviews, or if you have a buddy who’s also using VAs in the Philippines, you can ask them.
Depending on the vendor, your payment method (e.g., linked bank account or wallet), and the recipient’s location, both you and your virtual assistant may have to shoulder a transaction fee.
The amount will depend from platform to platform, so do your homework and compare rates. Consider meeting your team halfway and picking a vendor that doesn’t deduct too much from their salary but also charges you a reasonable rate.
The more VAs on your team, the more transactions you need to make, and the more money you may shell out on fees. But don’t only think about your current team. Take future plans into account. Your chosen payment platform should scale with your business.
Some payment platforms offer same-day transfers, while others take around 2-5 business days to send. Look for the one that can clear your team’s salaries by payday to avoid inconveniencing everyone.
At Shepherd, we use Veem to pay our own team of Filipino VAs. We’ve done so for years, and don’t have any regrets about partnering with this payment platform.
Here are some of the things we love about it:
To sign up for Veem, you only need to provide your bank details and personal information, and then verify the account through your email. It’s that easy.
A free account would be enough for your needs if you’re a small business owner. But as your business takes off, you can upgrade your account for $14.99 a month to enjoy more features, including:
Related: Why should you choose Veem to pay your Filipino VAs?
Muti-rail technology combines various payment methods like mobile wallets and credit card networks to give the transaction more flexibility versus old-school wire transfers. In simpler terms, this means if one network is down, another network will automatically take its place and process the payment.
Read more about multi-rail technology here.
Veem is available in the Philippines and in over 100 other countries. Plus, it can send money in 70 currencies.
Have an urgent concern? Get in touch with Veem’s multilingual support anytime. They’re available 24/7 via email, live chat, and phone.
Premium Veem users have access to its mass payment feature, which can send 10 to 1,000 payments at once.
Aside from Veem, you can also pay your Filipino virtual assistant via the following payment platforms:
Each has its pros and cons, so it’s a matter of weighing the benefits vs. the risks.
You don’t have to jump through hoops to give your VA their salary. As long as you’re clear about their salary, set a payment schedule, and choose a good payment platform, you shouldn’t have much of a problem.
There are plenty of platforms that can send to the Philippines, but if you want our advice, pick Veem. It’s fast, safe, and hassle-free. Sign up for an account now to experience the difference.
You can pay your Filipino virtual assistant weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. It’s up to you. You can send their pay via any of these payment platforms:
Virtual assistant salary Philippines will depend on experience and the scope of work. But typically, a Filipino VA working full-time earns $800 to 1,500 a month. That’s around 80% less than local counterparts!
Here’s a guide to help you get a better idea of salary ranges for remote workers in the Philippines.
Just use a headhunter agency like Shepherd. We’ll take care of screening and reaching out to applicants. All you have to do is pick from the candidates we shortlisted, attend the interviews, and hire your new VA. Get in touch with us now to discuss the role you have in mind.
We'll find you amazing remote employees in the Philippines.
