Managed Assistant Pricing Explained: What a Monthly Fee Should Include

Managed assistant services package recruiting, employment logistics, management and replacement into a monthly fee. That's convenient — but it also makes comparisons tricky, because providers bundle different things and describe them differently.

This guide explains what a monthly fee should cover, what to ask any provider and how ExecWing's published pricing works.

What you're paying for

A managed fee generally covers some combination of:

1. The assistant's compensation. Pay to the assistant, which in a responsible model is fair for the local market and role.
2. Recruiting and vetting. Sourcing, screening, skills testing and reference checks.
3. Employment or contractor administration. Payroll, local compliance and benefits where applicable.
4. Quality management. Onboarding support, performance reviews and quality checks.
5. Replacement. Back-fill if the assistant leaves or isn't a fit.
6. Infrastructure requirements. Equipment standards, internet backup expectations and security practices.
7. Provider margin. The provider's operating costs and profit.

When a price looks very low, ask which of these is missing.

Ten questions to ask any provider

1. Is the assistant dedicated to me, or shared across clients? Shared models are cheaper but behave differently.
2. Is the assistant full-time? How many hours per week?
3. What hours will they work? Are US business hours standard?
4. Do I choose the assistant? How many candidates will I meet?
5. What happens if it doesn't work out? How fast is replacement, and is it free?
6. What's the contract term? Monthly, annual, or longer? What's the notice period?
7. Is there a setup or placement fee?
8. Can I hire the assistant directly later? What does a buyout cost?
9. How is quality measured? Is there a regular review?
10. What security controls apply? NDAs, device policies, password management.

ExecWing's published pricing

We publish our prices because comparison shopping should be easy.

Dedicated, full-time assistants:

• Core — $1,900/month. Well-defined work for one leader or team.
• Growth — $2,300/month. Adds research, reporting, project follow-through and specialist workflows.
• Executive — $2,700/month. Senior assistants with 3+ years of executive-support experience.

Bookkeeping:

• Dedicated: $2,100/month (full-time bookkeeper) or $2,600/month (senior).
• Fractional: $450, $850 or $1,400/month.

ExecWing does not provide tax preparation or CPA services.

Terms:

• Month-to-month, 30-day cancellation.
• You interview two to three pre-vetted candidates and choose.
• Back-fill included.
• $3,000 buyout if you want to hire your assistant directly.
• Founding-client offer: 50% off the first month for our first five clients.

See the full pricing page.

How to compare providers fairly

Build a simple table:

Fill in each column from the provider's written terms, not sales conversations.

Watch-outs

• Hourly pricing that hides minimums. An hourly rate can look low until you see the monthly minimum.
• Long lock-ins. Annual contracts reduce your flexibility if the fit isn't right.
• Large buyout fees. Some providers charge substantial conversion fees; know the number up front.
• Vague quality promises. Ask how quality is measured and how often you'll get feedback.

Is the cheapest option the best value?

Not necessarily. The cost that matters is cost per unit of useful work. A cheaper assistant who needs heavy supervision, or who leaves after two months, can cost more in your time than a slightly more expensive, well-matched one. Compare total value, including your management time.

Reading a provider's agreement

Pricing pages are summaries; the agreement is what binds you. When you review any provider's contract, look for:

• Fee and invoicing terms. When you're billed, whether fees are in advance, and late-payment terms.
• Term and termination. The minimum term, notice period and whether notice is required before a renewal date.
• Replacement. How replacement requests work, how long they typically take and whether there's any cost.
• Conversion or buyout. What it costs to hire the assistant directly, and whether non-solicitation clauses apply. ExecWing publishes a $3,000 buyout.
• Confidentiality and data protection. Whether assistants sign confidentiality agreements, and what security obligations the provider accepts. For healthcare roles, whether a Business Associate Agreement is offered.
• Work product ownership. Who owns work created by the assistant. It should be you.
• Hours and schedule. Whether a full-time schedule is defined and how changes are handled.
• Liability. Any limitation of liability and what it covers.

Have counsel review the agreement if the role will handle sensitive data or critical workflows.

Budgeting for the first year

A simple budget for one dedicated assistant:

• Monthly fee × 12 (for example, Growth at $2,300 × 12 = $27,600 per year).
• Any additional software seats you'll need for the assistant.
• A small allowance for tools that make delegation easier, such as a team password manager.

If you're a founding client, the first month is 50% off (first five clients). Because plans are month-to-month, you can also budget a three-month trial and decide based on results rather than committing to a full year up front.

Pricing for bookkeeping versus assistants

Bookkeeping is priced separately because the skills, scope and review requirements differ. A bookkeeper's work is checked against reconciliations and close checklists, and the role ranges from a few hours a week to full-time. That's why ExecWing offers fractional bookkeeping packages ($450, $850, $1,400/month) alongside dedicated bookkeepers ($2,100 or $2,600/month), while assistant roles are always full-time. See choosing a fractional bookkeeping package.

Quick answers

Why is ExecWing month-to-month? Because the best evidence of value is the work itself. Month-to-month terms let you decide based on results rather than a long commitment.

Can I pause a plan? Talk to us about your situation. Plans can be cancelled with 30 days' notice; pausing depends on whether your dedicated assistant can be held, which isn't always possible.

Key takeaways

• A fair fee bundles recruiting, administration, quality management and replacement.
• Compare written terms, not sales conversations.
• Watch for hidden minimums, long lock-ins and large conversion fees.
• Compare cost per unit of useful work, including your own management time.

The bottom line

A managed fee should cover recruiting, administration, quality management and replacement — not just the assistant's time. Ask the ten questions, compare written terms side by side and watch for hidden minimums, lock-ins and buyout fees. Our prices and terms are on the pricing page; if you have questions, we'll answer them on a fit call.