The largest freelance marketplace in the world and still one of the most legitimate places to find ongoing VA work — if you use it correctly. The mistake most new VAs make is going straight to the lowest-priced end of the market. That’s a race to the bottom you will not win. Your headline should describe the outcome you create, not your job title. “Virtual assistant” is a title. “I help online service providers keep their operations running so nothing falls through the cracks” is a positioning statement.

Belay finds and vets clients on your behalf, handles contracts, and manages the relationship on the business side. In exchange, they set your rate and take a cut. The trade-off is real: you give up income per hour in exchange for not having to find your own clients. Clients tend to be executives and established business owners who are serious about support. If you have 3–5 years of relevant experience and want reliable income without hustling for clients, this is worth applying to.

Works similarly to Belay but with lower rates and a more accessible application process. The hourly rates won’t sustain a full-time income, but the experience and reference are worth something when you’re starting out. Don’t plan to stay here long. Use it to get real client hours under your belt, then use those to justify higher rates on Upwork or through direct outreach.

Dramatically underused by virtual assistants — and that’s your opportunity. Most businesses that need VA support aren’t posting on Upwork. They’re posting on LinkedIn, or mentioning it in comments, or in conversations with their network. Follow and comment thoughtfully on content from coaches, consultants, and small business owners. Not to pitch — to be visible. The client who hires you often isn’t the first person you engaged with. It’s someone who saw you, clicked your profile, and came back months later when they were ready.

These platforms list remote positions at actual companies — startups, small businesses, agencies — who are hiring for ongoing support roles. The work tends to be more structured than typical freelance VA work. For VAs who want the flexibility of remote work without the uncertainty of running their own client base, these are worth bookmarking. Search terms that surface relevant listings: “executive assistant,” “administrative assistant,” “operations coordinator,” “project coordinator.”

Not technically a job board — but it consistently outperforms most formal platforms for finding first clients. The groups that matter aren’t VA groups. They’re business owner groups. Online entrepreneur communities, industry-specific owner groups, local business communities. Someone posts “I’m completely overwhelmed, does anyone know a good VA?” at least once a week in these spaces. Show up, answer questions helpfully, and when the timing is right — reach out directly. Clients from this channel tend to be warmer, easier to work with, and more loyal. Worth 30 minutes a day.