Why Hiring a Dedicated DBM & VA is Smarter (and Cheaper) Than an In-House Hire
If you’ve been thinking about bringing on an in-house admin, operations manager, or general support person, you might be surprised at how much it really costs to hire someone full time.
Spoiler alert: It’s not just their hourly wage.
Let’s break down what a typical in-house hire actually costs—and why hiring a dedicated Digital Business Manager (DBM) and Virtual Assistant (VA) can be a smarter and more cost-effective move for growing businesses.
What You're Really Paying for With an Employee
When you hire someone in-house, the salary you offer is just the beginning. On top of their hourly rate, you’ll also need to cover:
Payroll taxes
Health insurance and benefits
Paid time off and holidays
Equipment and office space
Training and onboarding time
Downtime (yes, you’re paying even when they’re not actively working)
These “hidden” costs add up quickly.
Let’s Compare the Numbers
On average, a skilled Digital Business Manager and Virtual Assistant working independently charges between $40–$60 per hour, depending on experience and scope. If you brought on a professional at $50/hour for 20 hours a week, you’d spend about $52,000 a year—and that’s it. No benefits, no payroll taxes, no paid vacation, no office space, no wasted time.
Now compare that to hiring in-house:
An experienced admin assistant at $25/hour working 40 hours per week costs around $52,000 per year—and once you add benefits, taxes, and other overhead, the real cost is closer to $65,000–$70,000 annually.
An operations manager often earns between $35–$60/hour. At 40 hours per week, that’s $72,800–$124,800 per year—again, before benefits and other costs.
If you try to hire one person to handle admin, marketing, and operations, you’ll likely pay $62,000–$100,000+ annually, and it’s rare to find someone equally strong in all areas.
When you hire a dedicated DBM + VA, you’re paying only for the hours and skills you actually need—and you’re getting high-level strategy plus execution without the full-time price tag.
The Cost of a DBM vs. a VA vs. Me
Let’s look at the three main options for business support:
Digital Business Manager (DBM)
A DBM is a strategic partner who oversees operations, team management, and systems.
Typical rate: $60–$120/hour (or $96,000–$192,000/year for full-time)
Best for: Businesses needing high-level strategy and leadership.
The downside? They usually don’t handle smaller admin tasks or day-to-day execution.
Virtual Assistant (VA)
A VA handles administrative, scheduling, and task-based work.
Typical rate: $20–$40/hour (or $41,600–$83,200/year for full-time)
Best for: Businesses needing task support but not strategic leadership.
The downside? They typically require oversight and direction—you’ll still be the one managing projects and planning the big picture.
Me — Your DBM + VA Hybrid
I bring both strategic operations management and hands-on administrative support.
Typical rate: $40–$60/hour (or $41,600–$62,400/year for part-time at 20 hours/week)
Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses that need leadership and execution without hiring two separate people.
The upside? You get one person who can set the strategy and implement it—saving you both time and money.
Why This Makes Business Sense
When you hire me, you’re getting:
No overhead: You don’t need to worry about benefits, insurance, taxes, or office space.
No downtime: You only pay for productive hours that move your business forward.
No hiring headaches: I’m already trained, experienced, and ready to jump in.
No waste: You’re not stuck with a full-time salary if your support needs shift.
Whether you need 5 hours one week or 20 the next, I’m flexible and focused on giving you high-value support, not just checking boxes.
The Real Win: You Get a Strategic Partner
Unlike a traditional VA, I also bring Digital Business Management (DBM) skills to the table—meaning I can help you streamline your operations, manage your team, and implement systems that scale.
Instead of juggling 2–3 different hires (or stretching a single employee too thin), I can help cover:
Admin support
Project & task management
Client onboarding
Systems & SOP development
Team coordination
And I’ll always tell you when it’s time to bring in additional support. I’m here to grow with you, not keep you dependent.
Want to See If It’s the Right Fit?
Let’s hop on a quick call and talk through where your time is going, what you actually need help with, and how I can plug in.
Book a free Ops Assessment Call here
Or shoot me an email - ren@renvirtual.com
Let’s find the smarter (and leaner) way to grow your business—without the overhead.