Great Starter Company - Virtual Assistant BELAY Employee Review

3.0
May 8, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Belay does a good job of connecting clients with VA's and offering support as the engagement begins. If you have never worked as a VA this is a great way to learn the ropes.

Cons

Once the engagement is well on it's way Belay continues to take a significant portion of the monthly stipend but the VA is working independently. There are minimal opportunities for salary raises and pay caps keep contract earnings significantly under what you can earn as a true independent contractor, which is how you file your taxes. 1099.

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BELAY Response
6y
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this review! We truly value your feedback. We can't be successful without you, and we know that. As you know, BELAY puts a lot of effort in serving both our contractors and our clients well. The nature of being a contractor enables you to choose how much you take advantage of the services and support we offer all of our contractors here at BELAY. Some contractors stay connected, and others do not, and that's okay. We believe we provide a valuable service for everyone we support, and that takes time, effort, and, of course, salaries for our team who works so hard to support our 800+ contractors. That's no small feat. Regarding pay increases, all contractors are eligible to request pay increases during their time here at BELAY. Be sure to reach out to the Contractor Services team for help in initiating this discussion. Some people love the freedom and flexibility that comes with being a 1099 contractor, while others find that a traditional W-2 role is best. Being a contractor isn't a fit for everyone. Finally, yes, the corporate team does get together once a year for a two-day "Summit" so that we can have some valuable face-time and cast vision for the upcoming year. That time together is very important for our team. We're not sure, however, that we'd call Atlanta "exotic." Regardless, we did increase our pay range for VAs this summer, so we hope you were able to benefit from that increase! Thanks again for this feedback!

Explore other reviews about BELAY

5.0
Jun 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working for Belay has completely changed our family! We now have the ability to truly prioritize what we find most important. Belay also makes the onboarding process so smooth. They were with me and so encouraging through every step!

Cons

None - I have been nothing but impressed with Belay!

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BELAY Response
2w
Thank you for sharing your experience as a Executive Assistant! We’re thrilled that you appreciate our remote work lifestyle and culture. Your feedback motivates us to keep building a great environment. Thank you for being a part of BELAY!
2.0
May 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Somewhat Flexible Work from Home

Cons

Low Pay Clients pay Belay $50-$60/hr for Virtual Assistant but they don't know that Belay is only paying the VA $20/hr so they expect $60 attention. High expectations and desired attention for very low pay. VA's are in contract with Belay. So if one of their engagements want them to work for them to work for them full time outside of Belay they have to buy out the VA'a contract with Belay that could be up to $20k. If the engagement can't afford to do that they have to wait 2 years after their contract and after the VA's contract ends with Belay.

1
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BELAY Response
1mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for partnering with BELAY. We’re glad to hear that the opportunity to work remotely was a positive part of your journey, as flexibility and access to meaningful work are foundational to our model. We also appreciate your honest feedback regarding compensation. Client needs and scope of work vary widely, and those factors directly influence role expectations across engagements. BELAY’s role is to thoughtfully match contractors with clients whose needs, complexity, and investment align with the contractor’s experience and preferences, while also providing support beyond placement alone. Our model is designed to reduce many of the challenges independent contractors face by handling client acquisition, vetting, matching, contracts, invoicing, and collections, allowing contractors to focus on delivering excellent work rather than managing backend logistics. That said, we recognize that compensation expectations evolve and that market conditions continue to change. We regularly review the pay rate of our contractors to ensure it reflects both client demand and the value our contractors bring. Contractors are also encouraged to bring any concerns regarding their pay rate directly to their BELAY Talent Specialist. We’re grateful for your feedback and for your partnership with BELAY. Input like this helps inform ongoing improvements as we work to create sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships for both contractors and clients. Warmly, The BELAY Team
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