Why Consider a VA From the Philippines?
A Swiss business owner's guide to hiring a virtual assistant in the Philippines: what it costs, what to delegate, and how to keep a good hire for years.
This article is also available in German.Read the German version
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?
Full-time VA in the Philippines
CHF 250 to 500
Per month
Comparable Swiss role
CHF 4,000 to 8,000
Per month
What else makes it work
- Many VAs are highly educated and speak excellent English
- Long term loyalty, reliability and attention to detail are common values
- Many are open to working Swiss business hours
What My VAs Do (And It’s a Lot)
I now have three full-time VAs. Together, they:
- Handle all incoming customer emails in four languages: Swiss German, French, Italian, and English (with the help of ChatGPT).
- Manage returns, warranties, and pre-sale advice.
- Update and optimize products in the online shop.
- Fulfill all dropshipping orders.
- 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
How I manage the relationship
- I created manuals for repetitive tasks to standardise the process
- I stay polite, especially when something goes wrong
- When there is a mistake, I first assume I did not explain it clearly
- I ask "did I explain that correctly?" to keep the dialogue open
- I praise good work honestly and consistently
The Compensation Model (That Works)
| Element | What it is |
|---|---|
| Salary growth | Doubled after several years |
| 13th month pay | Standard practice in the Philippines |
| Loyalty bonus | CHF 1,400 every 14 months, 14 times CHF 100, inspired by Amazon's leadership bonus |
| Admin | They invoice monthly and handle their own taxes, pension and health contributions locally |
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:
- You don’t want a middleman controlling access, payment, or creating legal ambiguity.
- It’s better to work directly with the VA.
- 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.