Time Etc is a US and UK-based virtual assistant company that has been around since 2007. They’re one of the most popular VA companies too — having saved their clients more than 1,032,559 hours so far!
Important Note: This Time Etc review is geared toward those looking to hire an assistant. Click here to learn more about how to become a virtual assistant.
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Table of Contents
About Time Etc Virtual Assistants
The company is proud of the assistants they offer. Each one has to pass a very strict, 10-step selection process, and less than 1% of applicants are approved.
All of them are college-educated and have an average of 12 years of experience. These Time Etc assistants have worked for Facebook, Apple, IBM, AOL, and other major corporations.
Most Time Etc VAs serve customers from their home offices in either the US or UK — depending on your location.
A Celebrity Advisor
One interesting thing about Time Etc is that Sir Richard Branson’s former assistant, Penni Pike, is a special advisor. She served as the billionaire mogul’s assistant for three decades, and is probably as close to a celebrity as they come in the world of personal assistants.
Now, you’re not likely to score Penni as your VA when you sign up, but she has helped train and mentor the rest of the crew.
Customer and Assistant Feedback
Time Etc is known to look after their assistants and customers.
The company has earned a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Glassdoor from assistants, and a 4.92/5 customer rating here on Virtual Assistant Assistant.
The Hard Work Myth
Time Etc was founded by Barnaby Lashbrooke, with the intention of helping busy entrepreneurs and leaders achieve more. As you know, it’s not always about working harder, but more often about working smarter and pulling the right levers for big gains.
This is a cause Barnaby is particularly passionate about. In fact, he wrote a book on the topic called The Hard Work Myth.
Special Offer: If you sign up for Time Etc through this link, Barnaby will send you a free copy of The Hard Work Myth ($13.97 on Amazon) to say thanks.
Pretty sweet that Sir Richard even tweeted it out!
How Time Etc Works
When you sign up for Time Etc, you can expect to be assigned a dedicated assistant with whom you can begin to establish an ongoing relationship.
However, you can also build a team of multiple assistants, each with different skills, for no additional cost.
Time etc doesn’t use a one-size-fits-all approach and instead pride themselves on fully understanding the client’s requirements, challenges and personality before carefully matching them to a suitable assistant.
They put a lot of effort into this matching process because they believe that having an assistant that truly understands you and your business is the key to succeeding.
Time Etc Founder Interview
I had the chance to sit down with Barnaby to get the inside scoop on how the company works and who they best serve.
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Time Etc Services
Time Etc virtual assistants can handle a wide variety of tasks you throw at them, including:
- Help with your to-do list
- Manage your diary/calendar
- Book accommodation and travel
- Find products and services
- Check and respond to emails
- Research
- Social Media
- Writing and blog posts
- Sort your expenses
- Chase late payments
- Issue invoices
- Transcribe audio
- Edit and format documents
- Data entry
- Help with marketing
- …and more
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Time Etc Plans and Pricing
Rates range from $36-33 hour, and you can sign-on with a dedicated virtual assistant for as little as $360 a month.
Naturally, the more time you need, the more attractive the rates become, and to the extent your VA is available, you can scale up or scale back your hours as needed at any given time.
The rates are a pretty good value when you consider they include:
- a dedicated virtual assistant
- the ability to add more assistants to your team with different skills
- the ability to share your assistant with other people in your business
- a built-in task-management system to help you keep track of everything
Like with most other virtual assistant companies, you don’t have any long-term obligation, contract, or overhead.
To help ease the fears of first-time outsourcers, Time Etc is offering a free $50 credit for Virtual Assistant Assistant visitors to test out their service risk-free (with no credit card required), and a 100% money back guarantee.
You won’t find that with a freelancer and definitely not with an in-house hire!
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Time Etc Alternatives
At these rates, Time Etc compares favorably to other premium assistant services.
| Prialto | Time Etc | MyTasker | Boldly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Rating | ||||
| Established | 2009 | 2007 | 2012 | 2012 |
| Hourly Rate | $27 | $24-27 | $7.50-14 | $59 |
| Minimum Package | $1500 for 55+ hours | $270 for 10 hours | $140 for 10 hours | $2360 for 40 hours |
| Dedicated Assistant | ||||
| Minimum VA Experience | Extensive in-house training | 5 years | In-house training | 7 years |
| Team Access | ||||
| Rollover Hours | *does not charge overage | |||
| Free Trial | ||||
| Learn More | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
In the US and Europe, the nearest competitor would be Wishup, ClearDesk, Prialto, or Boldly, which has a similar set-up if you’re interested in making a comparison, though at noticeably higher rates.
Your Turn
Have you worked with Time Etc? If so, please share a quick review of your experience below to help others with their decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Time Etc?
Time Etc is a leading US and UK-based virtual assistant company established in 2007. Check out the full profile on Virtual Assistant Assistant to read reviews from real Time Etc customers.
Is Time Etc legit?
Yes, Time Etc is a legitimate provider of virtual assistant services. The company has a roster of more than 16,000 clients and has saved those clients more than 700,000 hours so far. Check out the full profile on Virtual Assistant Assistant to read reviews from real Time Etc customers.
How much does Time Etc cost?
Among US and UK-based virtual assistant companies, Time Etc is among the most affordable. Depending on how many hours of support you anticipate needing, you’ll find packages ranging from $21-26 an hour. Check out the full profile on VirtualAssistantAssistant.com for more information.
Cho is on top of actions and follows through taking that stress away from me. thanks Cho
Traci Tinnon
Time Etc, would lose one of the BEST ASSISTANTs
If she ever were to leave your firm
I’ve been using Time, Etc for virtual assistance for almost 1 year now, and overall it’s been fantastic for my part-time needs. The platform offers a range of services and helps streamline tasks efficiently. However, there are a few aspects that potential users should be aware of before making a purchase decision.
Pros:
Flexible Part-Time Assistance: Time, Etc is excellent for those with part-time assistance needs. Whether it’s managing emails, scheduling appointments, or handling research tasks, the virtual assistants on the platform have proven to be reliable and efficient.
Diverse Skill Sets: The virtual assistants available on Time, Etc bring diverse skill sets to the table, allowing users to find the right match for their specific needs.
Cons:
Limited Hands-On Education: One area where Time, Etc falls short is in providing hands-on education for users. While the platform is user-friendly, there’s a learning curve that could be smoothed out with more comprehensive tutorials or guidance. As a user, I found myself wishing for more detailed instructions on maximizing the platform’s features.
Better Suited for Part-Time Tasks: It’s important to note that Time, Etc is better suited for part-time assistance rather than full-time needs. For users requiring extensive daily support, it might be beneficial to explore other options that cater to a more comprehensive range of tasks.
Recommendation:
Before diving into Time, Etc, I would suggest potential users take the time to familiarize themselves with the platform through additional educational resources or perhaps a guided onboarding process. ASK FOR HELP FIRST YOU WILL WASTE SO MUCH MONEY NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW LONG A TASK ACTUALLY TAKES. This would undoubtedly enhance the overall user experience and ensure that users can make the most of the available services.
In conclusion, Time, Etc is a valuable resource for part-time virtual assistance, offering flexibility and a pool of talented assistants. However, improvements in the onboarding process and educational support would make it an even more compelling choice for users looking to optimize their experience. I almost feel like you should be taken through a task hour by hour first so you know properly.
If you are considering getting a virtual assistant don’t procrastinate, contact Timeetc and see what they have to offer. I have had my wonderful VA, Chloe, for a year now, and am so very grateful for her help as we have achieved so much together and she has saved me SO much TIME! Go for it!!
I am thoroughly impressed with Keeley, my virtual assistant from TIME Virtual Assistant service. Her consistent support, adaptability, and remarkable productivity in handling assigned tasks have been truly commendable. Keeley’s dedication to delivering high-quality work is evident in every task she undertakes. Her proactive approach and willingness to go the extra mile have greatly contributed to streamlining my workload and boosting overall productivity. Working with Keeley has been an absolute pleasure, and her professionalism and effectiveness have made her an invaluable asset to my team.
Nikki is very responsive to all requests and she is a valued team member. She quickly learned my patterns, asks great questions, and implements feedback immediately. Her willingness to be a thought partner and share perspective has been remarkable alongside the work that I do as an executive.
Excellent assistant – self motivated, responsive, and easy to work with!!
Much need help! I will use them again!
I love how communicative Laura is. She handles the projects with ease and always lets me know if she has any other questions or suggestions. Her professionalism and friendliness has made my life so much easier and I am grateful to have her help me.
I’ve been working with my virtual assistant for a year now and it’s been nothing short of amazing! I am so grateful for her and the support she provides to our team.
I am a Freelance trainer with ADHD and I have been using Time etc. for 7 months now and I am delighted with the support I receive. I have daily meetings with my VA, unless I am client facing first thing, and we plan my day and talk about what I have on. If I have any little jobs for her then I will let her know at these meetings too. Recently I have simply used my VA to sit and Body Double with me while I work on things that I am resisting or struggling to complete. I have come to depend on her and I am so grateful to Time Etc. for their service.
Jeffie is the best assistant I’ve ever had. She is always on time and creating new ideas. She is solution oriented and always professional. I love working with her.
Hannah is reliable, polite and efficient. She always goes the extra mile to make things work for my business.
Hannah’s personality is helpful, kind and positive, so she makes relationships work with all the stakeholders for our business.
She is a delight as a colleague and invaluable to the success of my business.
My virtual assistant, Lee is great to work with. She is always on schedule.
She is there when I need her!
Time Etc was very fantastic with Implementing my VA. Took no time for us to get up and running.
Can’t imagine going back now.
Alison is sharp, professional and a hard worker. She has excellent written and verbal communication skills and a great attention to detail. I recommend her highly.
Time.etc VAs are amazing. It’s like having an employee or coworker that actually shows up and works everyday!
It’s all about finding someone who is a great fit. Once you have that, it’s off to the races.
It may take some time to find your person, but once you do, you’ll be happy you chose Time!
Allyson is a wonderful person and always positive with a truly can do attitude. She is a very strong and positive influence in getting the work done. She is reliable and patient – it is so important to be able to connect with the person one is working with and she is a joy to work with.
My assistant Laura has exceeded all my expectations for a virtual assistant. She is highly intelligent, intuitive, kind, and hard-working. She completes tasks quickly and thoroughly and goes above and beyond to help me. I am continually impressed and grateful to have her!
We’re so happy with our virtual assistant through Time etc. We wouldn’t be able to get through the work week without her!
I love my VA’s at Time Etc. Time Etc. puts a lot of extra work into helping you as an entrepreneur understand how to leverage a VA appropriately… and it has added rocket boosters to my business. The communication is great and I’m very pleased.
I’ve used other Virtual Assistant services in the past — but none compare to Time, Etc. My assistant is the BEST. Communication with her is easy, efficient and makes my day run so much smoother. We’ve only worked together 3 months and I am constantly thinking of new ways for her to help me out.
These guys are GREAT! I feel supported, heard, and seen. The efficiency and organization have been wonderful. I feel a great weight has been lifted by contacting them and working with them. Give it a try! You will thank yourself (and me!) for doing so.
Working with Time Inc has been so easy! They found me an amazing assistant and I’ve had no issues. Being a small business owner I don’t have time for management issues. Time Inc is there if I do have an issue and they will handle it. Their pricing for the value I receive has been phenomenal. Highly recommend!
A really great company that provides a necessary service for small to medium companies at an affordable price. They also eliminate the hassle of payroll for an assistant!
UPDATE: After seeing my review below, the TimeEtc COO personally contacted me to issue a full refund for all of my payments to them. She also sent flowers! I explained a little more about my experience, and she noted a number of changes they’ve made recently to address these kinds of issues (for example, new assistant onboarding, a new dashboard). While of course this doesn’t change what I experienced below, it’s great to hear that they’ve made changes to address the types of problems I’ve experienced. More important, I really appreciate when a company/leader is able to graciously acknowledge past mistakes and address them. While my rating still reflects my 2021 experience of using TimeEtc, I would give them 5 stars for how they’ve retroactively addressed my initial review.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
I’ve worked with probably a dozen personal VAs through different services (RedButler, Zirtual, Delegated), and about that many in-person EAs in my career as a corporate executive before I became an independent entrepreneur. I realize that it’s completely normal for assistants to be variable in quality, and to need training and support. However, TimeEtc. has been by far my worst experience. I worked with them across a little over six months in 2021. I managed to get a refund for my last month with TimeEtc after I complained and sent evidence about lack of professionalism, constant errors, and frequent turnover. I wasn’t going to write a negative review since they had issued me the refund for my last month where the service was particularly bad. However, I am writing this review now, because almost a year later, I KEEP FINDING more errors that I hadn’t realized that even the very best of my TimeEtc VAs had made (for example, people I’d asked to get added to my email newsletter database that the VA told me she added, but she did not actually tag to get the newsletter). If you’re using TimeEtc for more personal things where the stakes are lower (i.e., dinner reservations), by all means go ahead (even though there were some mistakes for those things too). But if you’re relying on TimeEtc to help you with your business and your brand, it is not worth the risk.
Can’t say enough good things both about my assistant (whose enthusiasm and helpfulness have been peerless) and the company’s customer service and account management generally. Couldn’t be happier.
Really glad I used Time ETC for my tasks. Assistant was skilled, helpful, and took initiative in areas I needed. Super helpful, good communication, and saved time/added value.
My assistant is exactly what I was looking for! She is incredibly timely, smart, intuitive, and a great pleasure to work with. I couldn’t be happier with the match and working with her. Hiring Time Etc. has saved me a ton of time managing my unwieldy personal and family calendar, booking appointments, and making travel arrangements.
I am so thankful to Danelle and Time Etc just after a few days. My life is already feeling more manageable!
Time Etc. has been a great find for me. I needed help with the community management of my client’s social media accounts that was affordable and flexible. I am not at a place where I want to bring on employees (maybe someday), but right now, Time Etc. is the perfect solution for me. My assistant is thoughtful, professional, proactive, smart, and above all doesn’t take herself too seriously (because in social media, you have to be able to roll with the punches). Getting that time back to work ON my business versus IN my business has been invaluable.
Laura has been absolutely incredible! She just jumps right in and is willing to handling (or figure out) anything I throw at here. Definitely has made life a lot easier!
Time Etc has been a valuable partner in their providing high quality, reliable virtual assistants. I have found their screening to be superior to other providers. They are always ready to add value when needed.
Extraordinary Platform and Highly Recommend!
The Best Decision Ever!!
Thank you 🙂 10 Gold Stars
Heather has been great. She has done 2 tasks for me so far. She is competent, flexible, cooperative, patient and quick.
I’m so grateful for the support of Tayla! She is communicative, trustworthy, and does wonderful work. Thank you Time Etc!
I really enjoyed my conversation with Sharon today! I’m looking forward to working with her. I’m confident that she will be a great asset to helping me get more work done!
Really well completed and timely delivery. Didn’t require a lot of direction and delivered exactly what i was looking for!
Would definitely recommend and use Paula again!
My personal assistant has helped with calendar management and various professional and personal tasks. She is punctual to our weekly Monday morning meeting and is great at follow through. Taking the time to give them all the info they need to be successful is key to maximizing the benefits of a VA.
Patty has become a valuable member our our team. She provides multiple services, support during sessions (much needed during zoom!), transferring survey results into powerpoint which requires a great attention to detail, organizing and setting up zoom links and surveys on multiple platforms. She is always impeccably professional, adaptable, flexible, and a pleasure to deal with! We are thrilled with Time Etc.!
Amber is simply an extraordinary assistant! Her professionalism, organization, responsiveness, consistent communication, and commitment to accurate and thorough work products are of a high caliber. So grateful for the opportunity to work with her!
Excellent experience, great customer service.
Sam has become an expert in our product, knowledgeable of our customers and an essential part of our team
TimeEtc has excellent VAs who are eager to assist you to reach your goals and their engagement plan allows you the flexibility that benefits your business.
Capable assistants! Time savings! Quality work! Great attitudes! Good friends! Great skills — I’ve even learned from them!
We first started using Time Etc when we started up the company – our EA was able to really add bandwidth in an efficient way (frankly it’s so cost effective!) When COVID hit, we had to scale back. But Time Etc was the first thing we added back in when the business started to stabilize! We’re very happy to be working with our EA and Time Etc again.
Time Etc. is fabulous! They are reliable, consistent, dependable and trustworthy. The assistants they provide are vital to the success of SFOI. When the topic of Virtual Assistants comes up I always tell people about the success I’ve had with Time Etc. Hannah and the ladies do an outstanding job of communicating; if you are looking to be a VA or looking to hire a VA Time Etc. is the place.
I have been blown away by how easy it was to start with our incredible virtual assistant through Time Etc. Thank you Malak for the wonderful work you do as it has saved our organization from many headaches. Malak has been polished, professional, hard working, and has been a very fast learner. Thank you for your great work, Malak!
Keri is a wonderful assistant who always delivers! Wonderful value for the money. 🙂
Darcie has been such a great help and is always on top of it. She has handled my emails for quite some time now and my inbox has never looked more organized.
I’d recommend her to anybody who is looking for a great assistant for any task you might need, big or small.
TimeEtc. has truly been a Godsend. The team of VA’s I have acquired through TimeEtc. feels like it was designed just for my needs. My VA’s are always on top of the work, and sometimes they beat me to the punch, which is exactly what I need! If you’re looking for an assistant, TimeEtc. has an eclectic selection of VA’s and you cannot go wrong.
Hannah and the ladies at TimeEtc are tremendous! They are there to help you and consistently demonstrate this goal. Amazingly cooperative and willing to learn and serve.
Without our VA our business would not be as successful – we would be drowning in admin and would be far less effective at what we really do. Before deciding to hire a VA we worried about the cost – but within a couple of weeks the cost was no longer an issue – we realised we couldn’t afford NOT to have a VA and should have hired one so much earlier.