A senior, high-trust relationship built around the founder. Not a task list. A right hand who thinks ahead, protects your time and keeps everything moving without being asked. IdealPa provides executive PA support for UK founders who are ready for that level of relationship.
Founders often think about the cost of a VA before they think about the cost of not having one. Here is what the numbers actually look like when you compare a 30 Hour IdealPa retainer against hiring a part-time admin employee in the UK.
Figures based on a part-time UK employee earning £28,000 pro-rata, April 2026 NI rates and minimum pension contributions. Recruitment fee is an average estimate. IdealPa cost based on 12 months at £1,100 per month.
The questions we get before almost every first call. If yours is not here, book a call and we will answer it in 15 minutes.
IdealPa retainers start from £500 per month for LinkedIn Engagement and from £750 per month for admin and operations support. Executive Assistant support starts from £3,500 per month. Additional hours can be added at £40 per hour. Every package is a fixed monthly cost with no hidden fees.
Yes, significantly. A part-time UK employee costs an employer over £18,000 in the first year once you factor in National Insurance, pension, recruitment fees and equipment. An IdealPa 30 Hour retainer costs £13,200 per year with none of those overheads. No employer NI, no recruitment fee, no sick pay liability and no notice period beyond 30 days.
Every retainer is scoped around your business before you start. Depending on the package this can include inbox and diary management, CRM management, operations support, LinkedIn engagement, sales administration, SOP development and more. The scope is agreed in your onboarding session and reviewed regularly.
Yes. Retainers flex with your business. You can move between packages with 30 days notice and add additional hours at £40 per hour whenever you need more. Most clients start on 20 hours and move up within the first few months.
Most clients are up and running within a week of their discovery call. It starts with a free 15 minute call, followed by a scoping session and then onboarding with your assigned team member.
No. IdealPa operates on a rolling monthly retainer with 30 days notice to cancel or change. There is no minimum term and no long-term lock-in. Retainers are invoiced monthly in advance. Most clients stay because the support works, not because they have to.
A virtual assistant handles the recurring admin and operational work that needs doing but does not require the founder. An Executive Assistant operates at a higher level — embedded in the business, managing the founder's priorities, stakeholders and diary at a senior level, thinking ahead and protecting focus time. IdealPa offers both.
Book a free 15 minute call with the team. We will listen to what your business needs and tell you honestly which package is the right fit and what the first month would look like.