If you’re running a small business in Scarborough, ON, you know how busy things can get: client work, email, scheduling, customer calls, social media, bookkeeping… the list goes on. At some point, you start asking, “Who can take this off my plate so I can focus on growth?”
That’s where virtual assistant (VA) companies come in. The right one near Scarborough can make a big difference in freeing up your time while keeping things running smoothly. From my experience working with entrepreneurs here, I’ve learned what matters most in a VA partner, and I’ve found some solid local / near-local companies and services you might want to explore.
What Scarborough Small Businesses Need in a VA
Before you choose, here are the things I believe are especially important for businesses in Scarborough:
- Local / Ontario-based or at least very familiar with Canadian / ON business norms (tax, holidays, work hours, customer expectations)
- English & French capability (if you serve clients in both languages)
- Flexible / scalable services so you can start small and grow as needed
- Transparent pricing (hourly, retainer, packages), no hidden fees
- Good communication and consistency — same VA or small team, so there’s continuity
- Tools & tech compatibility (CRM, project management, shared drive, etc.)
- Trust & reliability (references, reviews, secure handling of data)
How to Compare & Choose the Right VA Company for You
Here are some specific steps and questions I use (and recommend) to decide between the options above (or others you find):
- Make a list of tasks you want to delegate
The more precise you are about what you want off your plate, the better you can compare. Is it calendar & email? Customer service? Social media? Bookkeeping? French communication? - Decide your priority: cost / flexibility vs consistency / control
If you’re just getting started or have tight budget, a freelancer or more flexible VA company may be best. If you need reliability, consistency, or need someone deeply integrated, a local VA company might give you more peace of mind. - Ask for sample work or references
If possible, get a business in Scarborough or GTA who uses them. Ask how they handle communication, tardy deadlines, or tasks going wrong. - Check language / bilingual capacity
If you have French-speaking clients (or may have), ensure the VA company or freelancer can write and speak well in both languages. - Understand how onboarding & tools work
How will the VA learn your system? Do they use your tools (Google Workspace, Asana, Trello, CRM)? What is their process for receiving tasks / feedback? - Make sure pricing is transparent
Ask: hourly rates, packages, minimum hours, fees for extra tasks, cancelation / exit policies. Hidden fees kill ROI. - Trial period or small project first
Start with a small batch of tasks to see how well they understand, how reliably they deliver, how much supervision is needed.
My Take: What I Bring When Working With Scarborough Businesses
Because I’ve worked with clients across Scarborough and nearby areas, I try to build my services to fill gaps I often see:
- I aim for clear, bilingual support where needed (English & French).
- I keep communication tight: frequent check-ins, same person handling your work whenever possible.
- Transparent pricing with flexible packages so you can scale up or down.
- Taking care of onboarding so your time is minimized.
- Understanding Ontario business norms, time zones, holidays, etc., so fewer surprises.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a small business in Scarborough and you’ve got too much on your plate, bringing in a virtual assistant company (or a skilled local freelancer) can be a game changer. The key is to pick someone who matches your style, values, and business needs.