60 tasks to delegate to a virtual assistant
Quick answer
The best tasks to delegate to a virtual assistant are repetitive, rule-based and done on a computer: inbox and calendar management, data entry, invoicing, customer emails, social media scheduling, lead research and CRM updates. Start with the 3 to 5 tasks that take most of your week and need the least of your judgment.
What should you delegate to a virtual assistant first?
Use a simple test. A task is a good first handoff when it is:
- Repetitive: you do it every day or week.
- Rule-based: you could write down the steps.
- Low-risk: a small mistake is easy to fix.
- Time-consuming: it eats at least an hour a week.
Inbox triage, scheduling and data entry pass all four tests, which is why most clients start there.
Admin & inbox tasks
- Sort and label incoming email
- Reply to routine emails with saved templates
- Unsubscribe from newsletters you never read
- Book and reschedule meetings
- Send meeting reminders and agendas
- Take meeting notes and send action points
- Book travel and build itineraries
- Manage your to-do list and follow-ups
- Organise files and folders
- Format documents and presentations
See what a virtual executive assistant covers.
Finance & bookkeeping tasks
- Create and send invoices
- Chase overdue payments
- Record expenses and receipts
- Reconcile bank transactions
- Prepare monthly profit and cash reports
- Track subscriptions and renewals
- Organise supplier bills for approval
- Prepare data for your accountant
- Collect timesheets for payroll
- Audit software spend
Learn more about a virtual bookkeeping assistant.
Customer & support tasks
- Answer customer emails
- Cover live chat
- Manage helpdesk tickets
- Process returns and refunds
- Reply to online reviews
- Send order and delivery updates
- Write help-centre articles
- Collect customer feedback
- Onboard new clients
- Send renewal reminders
See our customer support VA page.
Marketing & social media tasks
- Plan a monthly content calendar
- Design posts in Canva
- Write captions and hashtags
- Schedule posts
- Reply to comments and DMs
- Repurpose videos into short clips
- Format and upload blog posts
- Send email newsletters
- Update your website content
- Report on what performed best
Explore social media and video editing assistants.
Sales & research tasks
- Build prospect lists
- Research companies and decision makers
- Keep your CRM up to date
- Send personalised outreach
- Follow up with warm leads
- Book sales calls
- Prepare proposals and quotes
- Research competitors and prices
- Submit your business to directories
- Build simple sales reports
See our lead generation VA page.
Operations & e-commerce tasks
- Upload products and descriptions
- Process orders
- Update stock levels
- Follow up with suppliers
- Manage marketplace listings
- Write process documents (SOPs)
- Screen CVs and schedule interviews
- Prepare onboarding paperwork
- Move data between tools
- Set up AI tools and prompt libraries
Running a store? See Shopify and Amazon assistants.
What should you not delegate to a virtual assistant?
- Final decisions on strategy, pricing and hiring.
- Work that needs a licence, like legal advice, tax filing or medical advice.
- Relationships only you can hold, such as key clients and investors.
- Anything you can't yet explain. Write it down first, then hand it off.
Frequently asked questions
What tasks can a virtual assistant do?
Almost anything done on a computer: email and calendar management, data entry, bookkeeping, customer support, social media, research, CRM updates, e-commerce operations and document formatting.
What should I delegate to a virtual assistant first?
Start with repetitive, rule-based, low-risk tasks that take at least an hour a week, such as inbox triage, scheduling and data entry.
How many hours of work should I give a virtual assistant?
Most small business owners start with 10 to 20 hours a week. Use the checklist to add up your tasks, or try our savings calculator.
What can't a virtual assistant do?
They shouldn't make final business decisions or do work that needs a professional licence, such as legal, tax or medical advice.
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Ready to hand off your first tasks?
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