How to Hire the Best Virtual Sales Assistant for Small Business in 2025?

If you run a small business, you already know how sales can take over your day. One moment you’re sending cold emails, the next you’re chasing follow-ups. And suddenly there’s no time left to actually grow your business.

That’s where a virtual sales assistant comes in. Think of them as your right hand in sales. They handle the busy work so you can focus on the important deals that matter.

In this blog, I’ll show you how to find and hire the best virtual sales assistant for a small business without wasting time, money, or energy on the wrong hire.

Running a small business means juggling too many things in a limited time. One day you’re pitching to clients, the next you’re updating invoices, and somewhere in between, you’re trying to follow up on sales leads. It’s a lot! 

And sales (the thing that actually keeps money coming in) often gets buried under admin work.

That’s exactly why small businesses bring in a virtual assistant (VA) for sales.

Case Study of Wishup Virtual Sales Assistants

How Virtual Sales Assistants Scaled a PR Firm in the US

Here are some of the benefits a virtual sales assistant brings to the table.

1. Virtual assistants free up your time

From building prospect lists to updating CRM to chasing cold leads, your VA handles them all. Offloading this routine manual churn saves a lot of time and energy. And you can finally focus on the high-value parts of your business like closing deals, nurturing relationships, and planning growth.

2. VAs save you money

Hiring a full-time, in-house sales rep can be expensive—salary, benefits, office costs, and training all add up. A remote virtual team of sales assistants gives you access to skilled sales support at a fraction of the price. You pay only for the hours or tasks you need, without overhead.

3. They help you scale faster

Sales is all about consistency. Miss a few follow-ups, and leads go cold. A dedicated virtual sales assistant makes sure the pipeline keeps moving. They ensure that scheduling meetings, sending reminders, and keeping prospects engaged are taken care of. That steady flow helps small businesses grow without losing momentum.

4. They keep your sales organized

Tireless grinding leads to messy spreadsheets and forgotten leads. A sales VA ensures your CRM is up-to-date with all accurate pipeline data. You won’t have to wonder, “Did I follow up with that lead last week?”

5. Sales VAs reduce stress

Sales are always overwhelming. Having someone by your side (even virtually) takes away that constant pressure. When you know someone’s handling the groundwork, it gives you the license to take big shots at the big picture. 

The best virtual sales assistant can be your sales partner. They give small businesses the edge by making sure no opportunity slips through the cracks, without draining your time or budget.

Here’s what you should look for when hiring a virtual sales assistant for your small business.

Must-Have Skills of Virtual Sales Assistants

A solid sales VA should be more than just an admin. They need hands-on sales skills that directly support your revenue goals. Look for someone who can:

• Work with CRMs: Whether it’s HubSpot, Salesforce, or Zoho, your sales virtual assistant should know how to manage contacts, update pipelines, and keep data squeaky clean.
• Generate leads: They should be able to research prospects, build targeted lists, and qualify leads so you’re not wasting time on bad fits.
• Expertise in AI tools: In 2025, a top sales VA should know how to use AI and no-code tools such as Mailchimp, ChatGPT, Pipedrive and a lot more to save time and work smarter. They can automate outreach, research prospects faster, and optimize messaging for better responses. AI skills help them handle more leads efficiently without compromising quality.

• Handle outreach: From cold emails to LinkedIn messages, they should know how to craft professional outreach to get responses. That makes them a great sales outreach VA!
• Stay on top of follow-ups: Sales is about persistence. A great sales VA won’t let leads slip through the cracks. They’ll keep nudging until there’s a yes or no.
• Support in closing deals: While they may not replace you in the final pitch, they should be able to prepare proposals, send contracts, and handle admin so you can focus on sealing the deal.

Soft Skills That Matter for a Virtual Sales Assistant

A great sales VA knows how to communicate, adapt, and build trust. Look for someone who can handle client interactions smoothly and stay proactive under pressure. Here are some more soft skills to consider before hiring.

• Clear Virtual Communication: They should be able to write crisp emails, craft LinkedIn messages, and explain updates in online calls or chats so everything is clear even when you’re not in the same room. No robotic templates; messages should feel human and professional.
• Persuasion Online: A sales VA  needs to keep leads engaged remotely. They should know how to handle objections over email, LinkedIn, or video calls, and nudge prospects toward booking meetings or taking action.
• Organization with Clarity: When working virtually, keeping track of tasks, follow-ups, and deadlines is critical. A top-class sales VA manages CRMs, pipelines, and calendars efficiently so nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
• Proactive Mindset: A strong virtual sales assistant doesn’t wait for instructions. They anticipate what’s needed, like prepping proposals, sending reminders, or flagging opportunities. And that makes your sales process move smoothly without you micromanaging.

Industry-Specific Expertise of Virtual Sales Assistants:

The best sales VA for a B2B SaaS founder isn’t going to be the same as the best sales VA for an eCommerce store. That’s why industry experience matters.

• Sales VA for B2B businesses: Look for someone comfortable with long sales cycles, nurturing leads, and handling multiple stakeholders.
• Sales VA for Ecommerce brands: A VA here should know product listings, customer follow-ups, and cart recovery strategies.
• Sales VA for service providers (consultants, agencies, coaches): They should understand appointment setting, proposal drafting, and upselling services.

A virtual sales assistant can perform a variety of sales tasks from outreach to lead generation. Here’s a complete breakdown of the tasks they can handle:

Lead Generation & Prospecting

A sales VA can dig through databases, LinkedIn, and industry directories to build targeted prospect lists. They’ll make sure you’re talking to people who actually match your ideal customer profile, which in turn helps in lead generation.

Cold Emailing & LinkedIn Outreach

A sales virtual assistant can research prospects, personalize messages, and send cold emails or LinkedIn connection requests at scale. They also track responses, so you’re only stepping in when a lead shows genuine interest.

CRM Management & Pipeline Updates

Your sales VA keeps the CRM clean by logging calls, updating deal stages, and making sure no lead gets lost. This means you always have a clear picture of your pipeline without having to dig through messy spreadsheets.

Appointment Scheduling & Follow-Ups

They handle scheduling calls, sending reminders, and following up with leads at the right time. Consistency here is what keeps your pipeline alive. Ever missed a follow-up that could’ve turned into a sale? A VA makes sure that doesn’t happen. 

Sales Reporting & Analytics Support

A virtual assistant for sales can pull reports, track KPIs, and share insights on your outreach campaigns or sales funnel. With regular updates, you’ll know exactly where to double down and where to adjust.

If you want a sales VA who actually grows your sales and doesn’t become another headache, you need a clear plan. Here’s how to do it right.

Define Your Sales Goals and Pain Points First

Before you even start searching, get clear on why you need a sales VA. 

Are you getting stuck with follow-ups?
Is your CRM a mess?
Do you need someone to consistently run cold outreach?

List out your top 3–5 sales challenges. This will help you write a better job description, ask sharper interview questions, and find someone who’s a fit for your actual needs.

Where Do You Want to Hire Your Virtual Sales Assistant From—Freelance Websites or a Dedicated VA Company?

You’ve got two main options when hiring the best virtual sales assistant:

Freelancers: They might look cheaper upfront, but you’re on your own when it comes to training, reliability, and backup if they disappear. Plus, vetting them for actual sales skills can be tricky. Nobody can be held accountable if they trick you during interviews, but mess up later with your business operations.

Dedicated/Managed VA companies (like Wishup): Hiring a virtual sales assistant from a VA company like Wishup is way better, because they 

• perform stringent vetting with 6 interview rounds 
• match you with only experienced assistants (3-5 years)
• train them for 8 weeks on 120+ AI and no-code tools 
• give you replacements in 24 hours if someone doesn’t work out 
• hire only the top 0.1% virtual sales assistants
• handle the payroll and background verification
• implement strict security policies (HIPAA, GDPR)

You save time, reduce risk, and get consistent quality. For small businesses that can’t afford trial-and-error, managed VA services are the safer bet.

Red Flags to Avoid While Trying to Hire a Sales Virtual Assistant

Watch out for these signs when you are about to hire a sales VA. 

• They’ve never worked with CRMs before.
• They avoid giving concrete examples of past sales tasks.
• Their communication feels slow or sloppy during the hiring process.
• They can’t explain how they handle follow-ups or objections.
• They promise results that sound too good to be true (like “I’ll close 100 deals a month for you”).

If you spot more than one of these, move on.

Interview Questions to Test Sales Skills of a Sales Virtual Assistant

Ask these questions that reveal how they think and work in real situations:

• “How do you handle a prospect who ignores your first email?”
• “Walk me through how you’d update and manage a CRM pipeline.”
• “What’s your process for personalizing cold outreach?”
• “If you had to schedule 10 follow-ups in a week, how would you keep track of them?”
• “Tell me about a time you helped convert a lead into a client.”

Note: Wishup is the only virtual assistant company that offers unlimited free direct VA interviews to help you choose the best virtual assistant.

Data Security and Compliance Awareness

A competent virtual sales assistant should be knowledgeable about data protection regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA, especially when handling sensitive customer information.

Integration with AI and Automation Tools

Virtual sales assistants should be proficient in using AI-driven tools for tasks like lead scoring, email sequencing, and performance analytics. Their ability to leverage these technologies can scale productivity and provide deeper insights into customer behavior. That’s why Wishup trains its sales virtual assistants on 120+ tools.

Proven Track Record and Client Testimonials

When evaluating potential sales VAs, consider their experience and client feedback. A strong portfolio showcasing successful sales campaigns, along with testimonials from previous clients, can provide confidence in their capabilities. 

Time Zone Compatibility and Availability

Ideally, your sales VA should have overlapping working hours with your team or your target market’s peak hours. This ensures timely responses to leads, smoother collaboration, and faster turnaround on urgent tasks. 

Skills and Experience

Hire a sales VA who brings the exact sales expertise your business needs, whether it’s generating leads, conducting market research, or managing outreach campaigns. The right skill set ensures they can make meaningful contributions from day one.

Budget 

Look for solutions that give you real value without breaking the bank. Services like Wishup provide skilled VAs at affordable monthly rates, and you don’t get tied into long-term contracts.

Specialized vs. General Support 

Decide if you need someone to tackle a specific sales task or a VA who can handle a broader range of responsibilities. Knowing this upfront helps you find the right fit quickly.

Scalability and Flexibility 

Your VA should adapt to your business’s changing needs. Whether you need to ramp up support during busy periods or scale down during quieter times, a flexible VA service lets you adjust without hassle.

The cost of hiring a virtual sales assistant in 2025 starts from just $9.99 per hour from premier virtual assistant companies like Wishup. This is significantly lower than the average base salary of a full-time sales assistant in the United States, which stands at $57,324 per year. A freelance sales assistant costs more than $20 per hour, which is 2x more than Wishup’s cost. 

Here’s a table of comparison that compares the costs and tasks involved to help you find the best place to hire your virtual sales assistant at an affordable price.  

Cost Comparison of Virtual Sales Assistants (2025)

Value and Support Comparison of Virtual Sales Assistants (2025)

Here are the top platforms and companies to consider when hiring a sales assistant: 

Managed Virtual Assistant Companies (Example: Wishup - Best Choice for SMBs)

Wishup stands out as the most small-business-friendly option. You get stringently pre-vetted, trained, and experienced virtual sales assistants starting at just $9.99/hour. Unlike freelancers, Wishup VAs are managed and supported by both an account manager and a client manager, and come with a replacement guarantee. It reduces your hiring risk to almost zero. For startups and growing companies, this is the most reliable and affordable way to scale sales operations without the overhead of a full-time hire.

Freelance Marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com)

While platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer flexibility, they come with inconsistent quality and a higher risk. You’ll often pay $20+/hour for freelancers, and there’s no guarantee of training, vetting, or long-term reliability. They may be ideal for short-term sales projects (like one month), but aren’t suitable if you need consistent, scalable support.

Full-Time Hiring (Traditional Sales Assistants in the U.S.)

Hiring in-house gives you more control, but it’s expensive. The average salary is $57,324/year, not including benefits, training, and overhead costs. For many small businesses, this simply isn’t practical. Full-time hires work best for companies with large sales teams and budgets, not lean startups.

If you’re looking for the best virtual sales assistant for a small business, Wishup delivers the strongest balance of affordability, training, and risk-free hiring. With pre-vetted, experienced VAs, backed by account management and replacement guarantees, Wishup gives founders a proven way to scale sales without burning through budgets or time.

Schedule a free consultation with Wishup to set up unlimited free direct interviews with our virtual sales assistants. And get $100 off your first hire, plus a FREE bookkeeper for your business.

Neelesh Rangwani · Co-founder at Wishup

With 10+ years in the virtual assistant space, Neelesh has helped 1000+ US and global founders build efficient remote teams by matching them with top 0.1% virtual assistant talent. He writes about virtual assistants, hiring frameworks, remote productivity, and scaling ops.

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