OBM vs. VA: What’s the Difference Between an Online Business Manager and Virtual Assistant?
Both an online business manager and virtual assistant are assets to boost your business. But, there are key differences that you should be aware of. If you’re trying to decide which type of support to hire, I’m here to give you a clear picture of both jobs! Or, if you currently offer services but don’t know what to market yourself as, check it out. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between OBM’s and VA’s.
Execution vs. Game Planning
Okay guys, this is a pretty easy one right out of the gate. Virtual assistants are team members that get sh*t done. And, they are super important for a fully-functioning business as you continue to scale and grow. VA’s complete tasks as they are assigned and are usually provided with detailed instructions so they know exactly what to do. They’re not involved in a lot of behind-the-scenes planning, but are an integral part of the business’ success.
Online business managers, on the other hand, are vital parts of the strategic thinking behind the brand. Basically, they create the game plan. OBM’s have to look at the bigger picture for the business itself. They are thought of as a partner to the entrepreneur and offer a ton of value in this role. OBM’s take control of many daily operations of the business and manage the other team members in place of the biz owner. With this type of support, the business is much more sustainable for the entrepreneur as they’re able to take a few things off their plate.
Team Member vs. Team Manager
The purpose of hiring a virtual assistant is to have support for business-related tasks that you’d like to outsource. That means the VA is part of the support team, but not part of any business management tasks. So, with a larger project for the business, a VA might be responsible for completing one or two parts on their own. They do not have more responsibility than completing their assignments on time and to the best of their ability.
An online business manager is just that – a business manager. Pretty simple, right? They take on much more active roles to run the business, and have many more responsibilities. The OBM is tasked with keeping an eye on all of the moving parts of the business. So, that means the OBM needs to make sure that every team member is on track for each of their own assignments. When a VA has an issue, who do they reach out to? The OBM! An online business manager works directly with the business owner to make sure that there is a strategy in place as well as managing the execution of that plan.
Level of Support
A virtual assistant typically works with many clients for fewer hours because they usually specialize in certain kinds of tasks. There are so many different types of VA’s, but some tasks might include things like scheduling and responding to client emails. Their tasks don’t require a lot of working knowledge of the business itself, so their role is not very in-depth. This allows them to work with a higher quantity of clients because they are more separated from the daily operations.
An online business manager, however, is very involved in running each business they support. This means that OBM’s generally support fewer clients because there is a lot more work included in their tasks. They need to be very aware of the big picture for each business they are managing. So, they have to dig deep and jump right into every aspect of the business. OBM’s also develop close working partnerships with entrepreneurs, which means that they dedicate more time to supporting them and helping them reach their goals. And, since OBM’s manage all of the other team members, they are required to put in many more hours of support.
Hourly Rates
Now that you know some of the key differences between OBM’s and VA’s, you might realize that their hourly rates look a little different as well.
A VA’s hourly rate tends to be lower than an OBM. This is because they aren’t as deeply involved in the businesses they support. Both positions could choose to provide their hourly rate and track their time as they go, but a lot of the time both positions choose to offer their services on a retainer basis. That way, they charge a fee for a set number of hours up front, and the payment is recurring. A monthly retainer is a great option if you’re looking to set up a regular budget for your business.
Now that you know the differences between an OBM and a VA, what are your thoughts? If you’re offering any of these services, what title do you give yourself? And, if you are working as a VA, do you ever find yourself completing management tasks? It’s definitely something to think about!
If you’re looking for more great information about online businesses, make sure to follow along with the blog! I’ll be putting out new content regularly, so keep an eye out for more biz wisdom.
Until next time, friends!
