Here are solid virtual‑assistant (VA) options for small businesses, sorted by common needs, plus quick pros/cons and how to choose. I pulled current provider details and buying‑tips from recent reviews and vendor pages.

Top picks by use case

• Best for broad, ongoing admin + high vetting: MyOutDesk — full‑service VAs (sales, admin, marketing, real‑estate roles), all‑in pricing and onboarding support. Good if you want a managed hire quickly. (myoutdesk.com)
• Best for US‑based executive/skillful assistants (premium, white‑glove): BELAY — U.S. professionals for bookkeeping, social, exec support; strong match/onboarding process. (belaysolutions.com)
• Best for reliable, experienced U.S./UK assistants with transparent hourly plans: Time etc — dedicated assistants, good for ongoing admin and content tasks. (timeetc.com)
• Best for low‑commitment / ad‑hoc tasks: Fancy Hands — request‑based plans (per task), fast and inexpensive for quick one‑offs. (fancyhands.com)
• Best for live phone/reception/lead intake: Smith.ai — 24/7 live reception, call intake, scheduling, lead screening (per‑call plans). Ideal if missed calls/booking cost you business. (smith.ai)
• Best for structured, managed teams (high touch, predictable capacity): Prialto — dedicated assistants + engagement managers and set monthly “units” (good for professionals/teams). (prialto.com)
• Premium fractional/experienced assistants for long‑term partnerships: Boldly (formerly Worldwide101) — senior assistants, higher price but high experience and W‑2 model. Good for owners who want executive‑level support. (wingassistant.com)
• Good US‑based dedicated assistant service (plans by monthly hours): Zirtual — US college‑educated assistants; clear monthly plans for small teams. (zirtual.com)
• If you want automation/AI for lead follow‑up or 2‑way conversational tasks: Conversica / Interactions — AI conversational assistants for lead follow‑up, web chat and automated outreach (better for sales/marketing automation than general admin). (resources.conversica.com)
• Other options: marketplaces (Upwork/Fiverr) or lower‑cost offshore companies (WoodBows, TaskBullet, MyTasker) if budget is primary—good for one‑off or specialized tasks but require more vetting. (See vendor sites/reviews for details.) (savedelete.com)

Why these (short justification)

• Reputable review coverage and vendor pages show these cover distinct needs (ad‑hoc vs dedicated vs phone vs managed teams). Use the category that matches the bulk of tasks you want to outsource. See roundup reviews for comparisons. (techradar.com)

Quick buying checklist (how to choose)

1. Define the work: recurring admin, customer calls, bookkeeping, marketing, lead follow‑up, or ad‑hoc tasks. (Different providers specialize.) (timeetc.com)
2. Decide location & compliance: US‑based VAs cost more but simplify privacy/compliance (HIPAA, PCI). Offshore VAs cut cost but require stronger SOPs/security. (belaysolutions.com)
3. Hours & pricing model: task/request bundles (Fancy Hands) vs monthly hour blocks (Time etc, Zirtual) vs full monthly managed units (Prialto, MyOutDesk). Match billing cadence to your expected load. (fancyhands.com)
4. Trial and onboarding: prefer vendors with a trial or short‑term plan and a client success/onboarding manager. Agencies with backup VAs reduce risk. (leverageassistants.com)
5. Vet for security: require NDAs, background checks, and ask about data handling (encryption, access control) if they’ll handle sensitive customer/financial data. (myoutdesk.com)

Pros/cons summary (one line each)

• MyOutDesk: robust + fast hire; offshore mix and all‑in pricing — good ROI for SMBs. (myoutdesk.com)
• BELAY: U.S. vetted pros + white‑glove onboarding; premium pricing. (belaysolutions.com)
• Time etc: strong for solo owners; clear hourly packages. (timeetc.com)
• Fancy Hands: cheapest for small ad‑hoc needs; not ideal for deep, ongoing projects. (fancyhands.com)
• Smith.ai: excellent for calls/leads; pricing per‑call or plans — replaces receptionist. (smith.ai)
• Prialto: good for teams needing consistent coverage + account manager; higher entry price. (prialto.com)
• Boldly: senior assistants, W‑2 model, premium rates. (wingassistant.com)
• Zirtual: US VAs with monthly hour bundles — predictable for small teams. (zirtual.com)
• Conversica/Interactions: automates lead outreach and chat; not a human VA replacement for general admin. (resources.conversica.com)

If you want a single recommendation (general small business, moderate budget, need admin + occasional calls)

• Start with Time etc (for dedicated admin) + Smith.ai (for call handling) OR choose an all‑in provider like MyOutDesk if you want one vendor to cover admin, sales support, and scale quickly. Those combos balance cost, coverage and onboarding support. (timeetc.com)

Sources I used (high‑level)

• Recent comparison/review roundups (TechRadar, Forbes Advisor). (techradar.com)
• Vendor pages for current plans/features: MyOutDesk, BELAY, Time etc, Fancy Hands, Smith.ai, Prialto, Zirtual, Conversica, Interactions. (myoutdesk.com)
• Hiring/selection tips: Entrepreneur, industry VA guidance. (entrepreneur.com)

If you’d like, I can narrow this to a 2–3 vendor shortlist based on:

• monthly budget (what you want to spend), and
• main tasks to delegate (email & calendar vs calls vs bookkeeping vs marketing).

(If you want that shortlist, tell me budget and the top 3 tasks and I’ll pick the best 2–3 fits and note expected monthly cost ranges.)