Tasks

What Can a Virtual Assistant Do? 30 Tasks to Delegate

3 min read

Illustration of a checklist with two completed tasks

A virtual assistant can handle almost any task that can be done on a computer and described in writing. The best tasks to delegate first are repetitive, rule-based and low-risk, such as managing your inbox, scheduling and data entry.

Below are 30 tasks grouped by area, followed by a simple way to choose where to start. If you are ready to hire, follow our step-by-step hiring guide.

Admin and inbox

  1. Sort and label email, and draft replies for routine messages
  2. Unsubscribe you from low-value newsletters
  3. Schedule meetings and manage your calendar
  4. Book travel and keep itineraries up to date
  5. Prepare meeting notes and follow-up lists
  6. File documents and keep shared drives tidy

Customer support

  1. Answer routine support emails and chats using approved templates
  2. Triage tickets and escalate urgent ones
  3. Update help-centre articles and FAQs
  4. Follow up on refunds, shipments and reviews

Sales and lead generation

  1. Build lead lists from public sources
  2. Update your CRM after calls
  3. Send follow-up emails from your templates
  4. Research prospects before a call

Marketing and content

  1. Schedule social posts from a content calendar
  2. Format and upload blog posts
  3. Reply to comments and direct messages with approved responses
  4. Create simple graphics from templates
  5. Edit and caption video clips

E-commerce

  1. List products and update descriptions
  2. Process orders and track shipments
  3. Monitor stock levels and prepare reorder lists
  4. Manage marketplace listings and customer questions

Finance and operations

  1. Enter and categorise transactions for your bookkeeper
  2. Send invoices and payment reminders
  3. Reconcile receipts and expenses
  4. Prepare reports from your tools

Research and projects

  1. Research suppliers, tools or competitors and summarise findings
  2. Organise documents and build simple spreadsheets
  3. Track tasks and deadlines in your project manager

What not to delegate early

Some work needs more trust or expertise than a new VA should have on day one:

  • Final decisions on money, pricing or hiring
  • Legal advice or contracts
  • Access to your main bank account
  • Anything that needs your personal judgement and your name on it

You can move into these as trust builds. Even then, give the least access needed. See the onboarding checklist.

How to choose what to delegate first

  1. Track your time for one week. Note every task and how long it took.
  2. Highlight the repetitive ones. If you did it three times this week, it is a candidate.
  3. Write a short step-by-step for the top two. Screen recordings work well.
  4. Start there. Add tasks as your VA proves reliable.

A good rule is to delegate tasks that cost you less than your hourly value but still need doing.

Generalist or specialist?

A generalist VA is good for admin, inbox and scheduling. If you need bookkeeping, e-commerce operations, SEO or design, hire a specialist, which usually costs more. Our cost guide has typical ranges by role.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours should I start with?

Ten to twenty hours a week is a common start. You can increase it once processes are in place.

Can a VA handle confidential information?

Yes, with the right controls: a signed confidentiality agreement, a password manager, two-factor authentication and the least access needed.

What tools should my VA know?

Email and calendar tools, a spreadsheet, a project manager such as Trello or Asana, and a communication tool such as Slack. Specialists will also need role-specific software.