As a Swiss business owner running a B2C e-commerce company, I discovered one of the most cost-effective, impactful, and human-centered ways to scale sustainably: hiring full-time virtual assistants (VAs) from the Philippines.
This post isn't just about saving money. It's about building lasting, loyal partnerships that transformed not only my business, but the lives of the amazing people I work with.
Why Consider a VA from the Philippines?
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Massive Cost Savings: A full-time VA at CHF 250–500/month is a fraction of Swiss labor costs (CHF 4,000–8,000/month).
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Fluent in English: Many are highly educated and speak excellent English.
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Strong Work Ethic: Long-term loyalty, reliability, and attention to detail are common values.
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Flexible Timezones: Many are open to Swiss business hours.
What My VAs Do (And It’s a Lot)
I now have three full-time VAs. Together, they:
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Handle all incoming customer emails in four languages: Swiss German, French, Italian, and English (with the help of ChatGPT).
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Manage returns, warranties, and pre-sale advice.
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Update and optimize products in the online shop.
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Fulfill all dropshipping orders.
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Cover administrative and operational tasks throughout the year, even during high season.
We communicate daily via Google Chat (free) and WhatsApp. And once a year, I fly to Manila for a strategy recap and a few days of relaxation together at the beach.
How I Manage the Relationship
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I created manuals for repetitive tasks to standardize processes.
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I always stay polite, especially if something goes wrong. If there’s a mistake, I first assume I didn’t explain clearly.
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I ask, "Did I explain that correctly?" to encourage open dialogue.
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I praise good work honestly and consistently.
The Compensation Model (That Works)
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Doubled salaries after several years.
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13th month pay (standard in the Philippines).
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Loyalty bonus: Every 14 months, each VA receives CHF 1,400 (14 x CHF 100), inspired by Amazon’s leadership bonus.
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They invoice me monthly and handle their own taxes, pension, and health contributions locally.
Most rewarding of all: One of my VAs was able to buy her own house thanks to this job.
How I Found Them
Most platforms like VirtualStaff.ph or OnlineJobs.ph act as brokers. They hide direct contact details and stay between you and the VA.
Why I don't recommend that:
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You don’t want a middleman controlling access, payment, or creating legal ambiguity.
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It’s better to work directly with the VA.
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I highly recommend hiring full-time, not part-time. It avoids doubts about side gigs or distractions.
Pro Tip: Use Facebook Creatively
Agencies often post daily on their Facebook pages like facebook.com/remotevaph. Guess who likes those posts? The VAs themselves.
You can message them directly via Facebook Messenger. That’s how I found mine.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just outsourcing. It’s partnership. My VAs have been with me for years, and they’re the backbone of my e-commerce operations. If you treat people with respect, pay them fairly, and give them structure — you’ll gain not just productivity, but loyalty, joy, and real impact.
To other Swiss business owners: this works. You don’t need to scale with bloated costs. You can scale with heart, clarity, and long-term trust.