Businesses are always on the lookout for cost-effective and flexible solutions to scale their operations. To keep the wheels of the business in motion, business owners work with remote professionals as a strategic approach. Whether for administrative tasks, customer service, or specialized roles, remote staffing provides access to skilled talent without the overhead costs of traditional in-office employees.

These days, the demand for remote talent is rising. However, choosing the right platform to find remote talent can pose a challenge, given the variety of available options, such as remote staffing agencies and online job marketplaces. Each platform offers different staffing models, pricing structures, levels of support, and security.

A remote staffing company like 20four7VA offers end-to-end services, handling the entire process from sourcing candidates to managing performance and handling payroll. In contrast, remote talent marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr act as self-service platforms where clients post job listings, review profiles, and negotiate contracts with freelancers directly.

But you may be wondering, which route is the best for your business? Let’s dive deeper by comparing these two popular choices. This guide will help you choose the best-fit option based on your staffing needs, budget, and long-term business goals.

Thinking of working with a skilled virtual assistant? Let 20four7VA help. Book a free strategy call with us to get started.

What is 20four7VA?

20four7VA is a full-service remote staffing company specializing in connecting businesses with pre-vetted virtual assistants (VAs). “We offer end-to-end staffing solutions,” shares Chin Espiritu, 20four7VA’s Director of Sales. “Our services help businesses by connecting them to pre-vetted, skilled VAs who are ready to contribute from day one.”

20four7VA’s remote staffing services include:

• Global talent pool of pre-vetted virtual assistants
• Free client-VA pairing service
• Onboarding assistance
• Dedicated account manager
• Free VA training
• Data security and privacy guarantee
• IT support
• HR support
• And more

20four7VA offers a no-fuss approach to VA staffing, which busy business owners can surely appreciate. By taking on the entire remote staffing process­–from sourcing and vetting candidates to onboarding and VA management–20four7VA uses its remote staffing expertise to help you scale and grow efficiently.

What is a remote talent marketplace?

An online talent platform or remote talent marketplace connects businesses with freelancers and independent contractors. Through marketplaces such as Upwork, Freelancer.com, and Fiverr, business owners can find and hire professionals for specific tasks or projects.

With remote talent marketplaces, clients must handle everything from posting job ads to vetting and onboarding. This means clients should be ready to invest a considerable amount of time and energy into the full remote staffing process.

Talent sourcing through remote marketplaces can be challenging, especially for businesses that lack the time or resources to work on a thorough recruitment process. This option may be a go-to for business owners who prefer a hands-on, budget-friendly approach.

Key differences: 20four7VA vs. remote talent marketplaces

There are multiple key differences between a VA staffing agency like 20four7VA and remote talent marketplaces. Knowing each of them will help you get a clearer idea of what you really need.

Recruitment process

• 20four7VA

20four7VA’s end-to-end staffing solution starts even before the actual search for remote talent. “We ensure our clients get the help they need from the get-go,” shares Espiritu. “Our process starts with a free strategy call where we get to know a prospective client.”

The 20four7VA Sales Experts will go on a free, no-strings-attached consultation call with you to learn about your business. This includes your industry, organization, and business goals. Knowing all these will give us a clear idea of the types of skills you need from a virtual assistant, providing a customized remote staffing solution instead of a one-size-fits-all package.

Here’s a quick run-through of the 20four7VA process:

1. We’ll take the information we have from the consultation call and draft a customized job offer (JO) based on your needs.
2. Upon approval of the JO, we will search our pool of pre-vetted remote talents for fitting candidates. If you have specialized requirements, we can widen our scope to include our trusted platforms and networks.
3. Our team will schedule interviews so you can further assess the shortlisted candidates. We’ll also administer test tasks to evaluate the candidates’ skills.
4. Once you’ve chosen the best-fit VA for your needs, we can start setting up your subscription. And just like that, your virtual assistant is now ready to work with you.

Our team of remote staffing experts has streamlined the entire process, meaning you can find a VA as quickly as 72 hours. In doing so, we can enable businesses to get the help they need quickly and seamlessly.

• Online talent marketplaces

With online talent marketplaces, business owners handle the whole screening and recruitment process. They start with identifying their needs then post a job ad on their chosen virtual recruitment platform. From there, businesses have to coordinate interview schedules, handle onboarding, and tracking performance.

Below is a quick checklist of what business owners usually go through when sourcing a virtual assistant through online marketplaces:

• Define manpower needs, including tasks, required skills, project duration, and hourly rates
• Craft a job post with a clear job description and terms
• Screen applications, portfolios, and client reviews
• Conduct interviews and skills assessments
• Finalize contract details
• VA onboarding and training
• Monitor performance, track progress, and provide feedback
• Payment processing and project management
• Regular communication and further skills training

Pricing structure

• 20four7VA

20four7VA classifies their VAs into different categories (based on their specialization) and tiers (based on experience and skill level). VAs with higher tiers will have higher hourly rates.

An advantage of working with 20four7VA is that businesses can easily expand their VA team without setting up multiple payment schemes. 20four7VA handles payment processing to VAs and regularly bills the client based on their subscription.

20four7VA’s key pricing features include:

• Customized pricing – Rates are based on the number of VAs, skill level, expertise, and scope of work.
• Secure payment channels – Clients work directly with 20four7VA, a reputable and award-winning company, ensuring that all transactions are safe and professionally managed.
• All-inclusive cost – It’s like paying for a whole support team for the price of one. The pricing covers VA wages, payroll processing, VA training, account management, and data security measures.
• No hidden fees – 20four7VA Sales Executives will clearly explain the pricing package to clients, eliminating any surprise costs.

• Online talent marketplaces

Online talent marketplaces operate on a pay-per-hire model, where businesses negotiate with and pay freelancers directly for their work. These platforms can also require businesses to pay additional processing fees.

Key pricing features of online talent marketplaces:

• Hourly or fixed rates – Clients can work with freelance VAs on an hourly basis or negotiate a fixed rate for projects.
• Initiation fees – Platforms like Upwork charges an initiation fee of up to USD 14.95 for new Marketplace contracts.
• Platform processing or service fees – Platforms also charge administrative fees, which can be around 5% of the contract amount.
• Platinum subscription – Upwork and Fiverr offer premium memberships to business owners for higher visibility and lower admin fees.

Staffing options

• 20four7VA

20four7VA offers simple staffing options depending on the client’s requirements. Clients who need occasional administrative or specialized support can opt for a 10-hour/week VA subscription. On the other hand, businesses that need full-time support can work with a virtual assistant who works thirty (30) or forty (40) hours a week.

20four7VA’s talent pool also houses a diverse range of pre-vetted remote professionals, including those who specialize in the following:

• Administrative
• Business support
• Marketing
• Technical support
• eCommerce
• Construction
• Podcast
• Telehealth
• Real estate
• Lead generation
• IT services
• Call center services

• Online remote talent marketplaces

Online talent platforms like Fiverr and Upwork also offer a wide variety of virtual assistants (VAs). However, since these platforms have a self-service model, businesses must do their own screening and vetting to land the right VA for them.

Support

• 20four7VA

The team’s remote staffing experts offer a clear advantage over online talent marketplaces by providing ongoing support well after a VA is onboarded. They help ensure long-term success for both client and virtual assistant.

Here’s what you can expect from 20four7VA:

• Dedicated account manager
• Performance management
• Free VA training or upskilling
• IT helpdesk
• HR & payroll processing

• Online remote talent marketplaces

Business owners must handle the bulk of the VA management and conflict resolution when recruiting a VA through remote talent marketplaces. However, some marketplaces offer dispute resolution services for conflicts concerning contract terms and payment.

Here are some of the types of disputes you can file with Upwork, according to its official website:

• Request a refund from a freelancer
• Dispute about hours rendered
• Get an escrow refund
• Contract issues
• Report unresponsive freelancers

For disputes where the VA and client cannot reach an agreement through Upwork’s mediation assistance program, they can enter into the arbitration process. Arbitration involves paying for an independent arbitration company to help resolve the issue. This fee has to be covered by both client and freelancer.

Which option is for you?

Working with a VA (or a team of VAs) can help your business expand your operations, increase productivity, and, of course, achieve your business goals! But when it’s time to find a VA, which route should you pick?

• 20four7VA is for you if…

• You prefer full-service remote staffing for hassle-free staffing, secure payment channels, and ongoing support.
• You need after-sourcing support to ensure a positive client-VA working experience.
• You prefer customizable packages that are tailored to your staffing needs.
• You prioritize working with a reputable company like 20four7VA for secure payment processing, data protection, and minimized risks.

Want access to pre-vetted and highly skilled global talents ready to contribute to your success.

• Online talent marketplaces are for you if you…

• Prefer a self-service approach to VA staffing where the client handles the entire VA sourcing and management process.
• Don’t require minimal after-sourcing support.
• Are looking for short-term or project-based VA assistance.
• Prefer to negotiate directly with remote workers.

“We’re confident that our award-winning staffing solutions can help businesses scale efficiently and achieve milestones,” shares 20four7VA President and CEO Catherine vanVonno. 20four7VA’s VA staffing experts are dedicated to helping business owners like you reap the benefits of a seamless remote staffing experience.

If you’re ready to find a highly-skilled VA with expert backend support, then it’s time to schedule a free discovery call with our team.