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How to start a virtual assistant business in Otago

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Otago asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In New Zealand dollars 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for New Zealand: researched US figures converted to New Zealand dollars by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are New Zealand's own.

To startNZ$1.4k–3kLean to full setup

Per monthNZ$4.1k–14kOnce established

Profit margin85–95%After software, insurance and payment fees

First customer1–6 weeksFrom today

DifficultyOffice skills you can learn fast

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you're organized and like helping people get things done

Small business owners drown in admin: email, scheduling, invoices, travel and follow-ups. As a virtual assistant you take it off their plate from home, and clients who trust you tend to keep you for the long run.

You'll like it if

You're organized and reliable
You write clear, friendly emails
You like learning new apps
You want to work from home

Think twice if

You don't like juggling many small tasks
You'd rather not answer messages during the day
You need the same work every day
You find it hard to keep things confidential

02What it costs

From NZ$1,385 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to startNZ$1,385

What	Cost
LaptopAn everyday laptop runs everything a VA needs	NZ$960
Headset and second screenClear calls and room to work in two apps at once	NZ$25
Software, first three monthsBusiness email, plus a design app in the full figure	NZ$30
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	NZ$0
Insurance, first three monthsProfessional liability, plus general liability in the full figure	NZ$250
Website and marketingWebsite, domain and business cards	NZ$120
Total	NZ$1,385

Once you're running: about NZ$120 a month, plus about 3% of what you earn. Insurance, email and your website every month, plus card or bank fees on each payment.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per hour NZ$50 NZ$18NZ$140

Hours a week 25 150

Monthly costs NZ$120 NZ$0NZ$480

Typical in Otago: NZ$35–NZ$70 per hour, 10–32 hours a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustleNZ$1.4k–2.1k

About 10 hours a week

Full-time, on your ownNZ$4.1k–6.9k

25–30 billable hours a week

With a small teamNZ$8.2k–14k

Other assistants take some clients

04Step by step

11 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Choose your services
2–3 days Free

List what you already do well, such as inbox and calendar help, customer emails, travel booking, research or simple bookkeeping.
- 3–5 core services
- The kind of client you'd like
- Check other VAs' prices
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Your own name works well for a VA, or pick a business name that says what you do. Make sure no one in Otago has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
3
Register your business in Otago
1 day to 2 weeks NZ$0–NZ$148

Most owners start as a sole trader; registering a company with the Companies Office keeps business debts separate.
- Start as a sole trader: free
- Register a company: NZ$148.05
4
Get your IRD number
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Inland Revenue, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Inland Revenue
- Open a business bank account
5
Sort out GST
1–3 days Free

You must register for GST once your sales pass NZ$60,000 a year. The rate is 15%.
- Know when to register for GST
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- Professional liability
- General liability
- Cyber liability
7
Set up your office
2–3 days NZ$1k–2k

A reliable laptop, a quiet place for calls and safe ways to handle clients' passwords and files.
- Laptop and headset
- Business email
- A password manager for client logins
8
Set your prices
1 day Free

Monthly blocks of hours are easier to sell than single hours, and they give you steady income. See the prices below.
- 10, 20 and 40 hour plans
- A rate for extra hours
- A simple written agreement
9
Put your business online
1 day Included

Clients hire assistants they can trust. A site with your services, prices and a way to book a call helps them say yes.
- Website with your plans
- Discovery call booking
- Your professional profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
10
Get your first clients
1–6 weeks Free

Your first clients usually come from people you know. Tell them exactly what you can take off their plate.
- Message 20 people you know
- Offer a short trial week
- Ask every client for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
11
Bill and keep track
Ongoing Included

Track your hours, invoice each month and see who's paid.
- Time tracking
- Monthly invoices
- Client list
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in OTA

What Otago asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Start as a sole trader

There's nothing to register: you tell Inland Revenue you're working for yourself.

Inland RevenueFree

Register a company

Reserving the company name and incorporating, including GST. A company also files a yearly annual return, for a fee.

Companies OfficeNZ$148.05once

IRD number

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

Inland RevenueFree

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

LaptopEveryday model with a good webcam

NZ$960–NZ$1,650Must have

HeadsetNoise-canceling microphone

NZ$15–NZ$100Must have

Second screenWork in two apps at once

NZ$80–NZ$190Later

Business email and files, a yearYour own address and shared drives

NZ$120–NZ$230Must have

Design app, a yearFor quick graphics and documents

NZ$0–NZ$200Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

10 hours

NZ$480 per month · About 2 hours a week

Inbox and calendar help
Weekly to-do check-in
Same-day replies on workdays

20 hours

NZ$930 per month · About 5 hours a week

Everything in 10 hours
Customer emails and follow-ups
Research and travel booking

40 hours

NZ$1,800 per month · About 10 hours a week

Everything in 20 hours
Invoices and simple records
Social posts and scheduling
Project tracking

Hourly rates for virtual assistants in OtagoTypical: NZ$25–NZ$90

Average NZ$50

NZ$0NZ$30NZ$60NZ$90NZ$120

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Your own network

Friends, former bosses and coworkers who run businesses are your fastest first clients.

Free

Local business groups

Owners at chamber and networking events often need a few hours of help a week.

Low cost

Partner with other freelancers

Web designers, bookkeepers and coaches meet clients who need admin help.

Partnership

Monthly plans

A block of hours every month gives clients steady help and you steady income.

Repeat income

Reviews

Ask every happy client for a review: trust is what VAs sell.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your services
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Get ready

Set up email and a password manager
Write your client agreement
Make a list of 50 people to tell

Week 3

Go live

Website with your plans
Discovery call booking
Set your prices

Week 4

First clients

Aim for 2 monthly clients
Offer a trial week
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to be a virtual assistant in Otago?

Usually not. You'll register your business and handle your taxes. If you take on regulated work, such as bookkeeping in some countries, check the rules shown above.

Do I need experience?

Office, customer service or admin experience helps a lot, but many VAs start with everyday skills: email, scheduling, research and being reliable.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Many VAs start with one or two clients for a few hours a week, then grow as those clients refer others.

Should I charge by the hour or by the month?

Monthly blocks of hours are common: clients get a set amount of help and you get steady income. Charge your hourly rate for anything extra.

How do I keep clients' information safe?

Use a password manager to share logins, turn on two-step sign-in, keep client files in shared drives rather than on your laptop, and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources