Virtual assistants (VAs) are remote contractors who can take on various administrative tasks, helping small business owners manage their workload and prevent burnout. To determine if hiring a VA is necessary, consider signs such as working long hours on repetitive tasks, losing customers due to delayed responses, spending time on lower-value tasks, or doing work you dislike. VAs can help with tasks like social media management, email response, scheduling, and data entry. When evaluating potential VAs, assess their rates, experience level, client testimonials, and availability. Before hiring a VA, prepare by creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and templates to streamline the onboarding process. Automation tools like Zapier can also help with tasks, making it easier to delegate work to a VA or temporarily take off tasks while searching for an assistant. By doing research, hiring well, and laying groundwork, business owners can reap financial and mental benefits from working with a VA.