Best Executive Assistant Services for New Founders

Author: Blendi Muriqi
Date Published: November 4, 2026
Time Read: 8 min read

TL;DR

The best executive assistant service for a new founder is one that matches your current workload, helps you decide what to hand off, and lets you leave if the match doesn’t work.

Full-time help plus support learning to delegate: Delegate. You get a shortlist of up to 5 vetted executive assistants in 3 to 5 days, an SOP consultation, and weekly success-manager check-ins in month one. It starts at $13 an hour, month to month.
Full-time EA with a delegation training library: Athena, at $3,000 a month after a 90-day initial commitment.
A few hours a week: Double (from 10 hours for $549 a month) or Time Etc (from 10 hours for $390 a month).
U.S. or European W-2 staff: Boldly, from $2,600 a month for 40 hours.
Lowest published monthly price: Wing Assistant, from $699 a month for 80 hours.
Full-time coverage, paying only once you choose: Magic. Prices aren’t published.

A first-time founder’s first executive assistant often starts with a one-line brief: “Help me get my time back.”

That’s a fair goal, and it’s hard to act on. With no list of what to hand over, the assistant waits for instructions while the founder keeps doing the work. By week three, both of them suspect it isn’t working.

So the best executive assistant service for a new founder does two jobs. It finds the right person, and it helps you work out what that person should own. Price and hours matter too, and they’re all in the table below.

What Matters More the First Time

You’ll judge every later hire against this one, so a few things carry more weight now than they will on your third assistant.

A plan sized for today’s workload. A pre-seed founder with eight hours of admin a week doesn’t need 160 hours. Check the minimum hours and how easily you can scale up.
Help deciding what to delegate. A training library, an SOP review, or a success manager who checks in. First-time delegators need structure more than they need speed.
A choice of person. Working with an EA is a close working relationship, so seeing more than one candidate lowers the odds of a mismatch.
An exit you can live with. Long commitments and buyout fees are a bigger risk when you’ve never managed an assistant. Short terms let you learn without being locked in.

If you’re still deciding whether you need an EA or a general virtual assistant, this breakdown explains the difference.

At a Glance

Service	Model	Published starting price	Commitment	Strongest fit for a new founder
Delegate	Dedicated, Philippines-based, managed	From $13/hour, plans from 80 hours a month	Month to month, 30-day notice	Full-time help, a shortlist to choose from, and SOP support
Athena	Dedicated full-time EA	$3,000/month	Monthly after a 90-day initial commitment	Ready for full time, wants a training library
Double	Dedicated, part-time plans plus an app	$549/month for 10 hours	Monthly plans; upgrade after month one	Light weekly admin
Time Etc	Dedicated U.S. assistant, hour-based plans	$390/month for 10 hours	Cancel anytime, no notice period	Low volume, U.S.-based
Boldly	Dedicated W-2 staff, North America or Europe	$2,600/month for 40 hours	Cancel anytime	Wants employees, not contractors
Wing Assistant	Dedicated, managed	$699/month for 80 hours	No long-term contract	Lowest published monthly price
Magic	Dedicated, 40 hours a week	Not published	No long-term commitment	Full-time coverage, pay after choosing

1. Delegate

Model: Dedicated executive assistants based in the Philippines, recruited, vetted, and managed by Delegate.
Best for: First-time founders who need real capacity and want help building the habit of delegating.
What they do: Inbox and calendar, meeting prep, travel, CRM updates, vendor follow-up, research, and the recurring admin that piles up between fundraising and product work.
Core capabilities:
- Choice: a shortlist of up to 5 candidates within 3 to 5 days, and you choose.
- Vetting: every candidate has completed paid work simulations, and only the top 1% of applicants get through.
- Delegation support: an SOP check and consultation, so your first assistant starts with written processes.
- Check-ins: a dedicated client success partner with weekly calls in month one, then twice monthly, then monthly.
- Replacement: free while you’re a client, through the same shortlist process.
- Pay: Delegate handles the assistant’s pay and benefits.
Pricing: Starting at $13 an hour, with plans from 80 hours a month. Month to month, with 30-day notice.
First-founder fit: The SOP consultation and month-one check-ins cover the gap most first hires fall into, which is not knowing what to hand off. The shortlist means you’re choosing, not accepting an assignment.

2. Athena

Model: One dedicated, full-time executive assistant.
Best for: Founders who already have a full-time workload and want structured delegation guidance.
What they do: Executive and personal assistance for a single client.
Core capabilities: Ongoing access to Athena’s Delegation Training Library. Athena says it accepts 1% of applicants.
Pricing: $3,000 a month, billed monthly after an initial 90-day commitment. Athena says the process from sign-up through kickoff takes one to two weeks.
First-founder fit: The training library suits first-time delegators. The 90-day initial commitment is the term to weigh if you aren’t sure you need full-time help yet.

3. Double

Model: Dedicated assistants on monthly hour-based plans, with a mobile app, desktop app, and Chrome extension for handing off work.
Best for: Founders with a few hours of admin each week.
What they do: Executive and administrative tasks, routed through Double’s apps.
Core capabilities: Hour-based plans, with hours beyond your plan billed at your plan’s hourly rate. Double says data sent through its tools is encrypted at rest and in transit.
Pricing: Plans start at 10 hours a month for $549. You can move to another plan after your first month.
First-founder fit: A small starting plan suits a founder testing delegation. If your admin load is growing every month, check the larger plans before you start.

4. Time Etc

Model: A dedicated U.S.-based assistant on monthly hour-based plans.
Best for: Founders who want a small, U.S.-based starting point.
What they do: Administrative and executive assistance by the hour.
Core capabilities: Unused hours roll over on the 20-hour plan and above. Your first task is free, with no credit card required.
Pricing: 390for10hours(39 an hour), $760 for 20, $1,480 for 40, and $2,160 for 60. Plans renew monthly, and you can switch or cancel with no notice period.
First-founder fit: Easy to try and easy to leave. The hourly rate rises in practice if you need more than 60 hours a month.

5. Boldly

Model: Dedicated assistants who are W-2 employees, with a choice of North America or Europe-based staff.
Best for: Founders who want an employed, U.S. or European assistant.
What they do: Executive and administrative support, plus specialist tasks like project management, design, and web development at $79 an hour.
Core capabilities: Staff are Boldly employees, not contractors. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime.
Pricing: $2,600 a month for 40 hours, up to $6,500 for 100 hours. Payment is by ACH, with a 2.9% fee for card payments.
First-founder fit: The employment model is the draw. A 40-hour starting plan at this price is a larger first bet.

6. Wing Assistant

Model: A dedicated assistant with a customer success manager and quality control.
Best for: Founders deciding mainly on monthly cost.
What they do: General virtual assistance, managed through the Wing Workspace app.
Core capabilities: Free replacement, supervision, and an assistant who works your time zone. Wing says assistants can be live in 48 hours.
Pricing: $699 a month for 80 hours, or $999 a month for 160 hours. No long-term contract.
First-founder fit: The lowest published monthly price on this list. Before deciding on price, compare how many candidates you’ll see and how they’re tested.

7. Magic

Model: A dedicated assistant working 40 hours a week.
Best for: Founders who need full-time coverage quickly.
What they do: Executive and personal assistance on your schedule and time zone.
Core capabilities: Magic says you can hire in under a week, and you only pay once you’ve selected the assistant you want.
Pricing: Not published on its pricing page. Magic lists no long-term commitment and cancel anytime.
First-founder fit: Paying only after you choose lowers the cost of trying. Ask for the weekly rate before you start interviewing.

If You’re This Founder, Start Here

“I have maybe ten hours of admin a week.”
Double and Time Etc both start at 10 hours a month. If those hours are growing each month, pick a service you can grow into, so you aren’t searching again in six months. Delegate’s plans start at 80 hours a month, which fits founders whose admin already fills about 20 hours a week.

“I just raised, and my calendar is full.”
Investor updates, hiring loops, and board prep add up quickly. You need full-time capacity, and you need it to stick. Delegate gives you a shortlist of up to 5 in 3 to 5 days, month to month, with free replacement. Athena and Magic also offer full-time assistants. Athena comes with a 90-day initial commitment.

“I’ve never delegated anything.”
Look for a service that helps with the handoff. Delegate starts with an SOP consultation and weekly success-manager calls in month one. Athena gives clients a delegation training library. Before either one, list your recurring tasks. These are the ten most founders hand off first.

“I want someone employed in the U.S.”
Time Etc offers dedicated U.S. assistants. Boldly employs its staff on W-2 in North America or Europe.

“Budget decides this.”
Compare what each price includes before comparing totals. Ask how many candidates you’ll see, how they’re tested before you meet them, and who checks in during the first month. Delegate includes a shortlist of up to 5, paid work simulations, and weekly success-manager calls, starting at $13 an hour. For a wider view of rates, here’s what a virtual assistant costs in 2026.

Where First EA Hires Go Wrong

Hiring before writing anything down. An assistant can’t own work you haven’t described. Start with the tasks that interrupt you most. These nine bottlenecks are a good place to look.

Handing over every password on day one. Give access one tool at a time, through accounts you own. A zero-trust setup keeps this simple.

Skipping onboarding. A new EA learns your preferences from documented processes. Use a 30-day onboarding plan and SOPs your assistant can follow.

Judging the hire in week two. Set two or three measures, like inbox response time or meetings booked without your input, and review them weekly. Here’s how to structure check-ins.

Signing terms you haven’t read. Check the minimum term, the notice period, and what happens if the match doesn’t work. This contract guide covers what to include, and these red flags apply to agencies as much as candidates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best executive assistant service for a new founder?

It depends on your workload and how much help you want with delegating. For full-time-capable support with a shortlist to choose from, SOP help, and month-to-month terms, Delegate starts at $13 an hour. For a few hours a week, Double and Time Etc offer 10-hour plans. For W-2 staff in the U.S. or Europe, Boldly starts at 40 hours a month.

How many hours of EA support does a first-time founder need?

Track your admin for one week. Under 10 hours a week, a small hourly plan works. Around 20 hours a week or more, a plan of 80 hours a month or larger gives the assistant enough time to own recurring work.

What’s the difference between an executive assistant and a virtual assistant?

An executive assistant supports one leader directly, with inbox, calendar, meetings, and priorities. A virtual assistant covers broader admin and operations. This guide covers the difference in detail.

How much does an executive assistant service cost?

Published prices on this list range from $390 a month for 10 hours (Time Etc) to $3,000 a month for a full-time EA (Athena). Delegate starts at $13 an hour, with plans from 80 hours a month.

Can I cancel an executive assistant service if it doesn’t work out?

Most services here are month to month or cancel anytime. Athena requires an initial 90-day commitment. Delegate is month to month with 30-day notice, and it replaces your assistant for free while you’re a client.

For more on choosing support as a founder, see what founders should know about executive assistants, a dedicated VA versus an in-house admin, and the best VA agencies for U.S. startup founders.

What Would You Hand Off First?

If you can name three tasks you’d give away tomorrow, you’re ready for your first executive assistant. If you can’t, that’s the first thing Delegate helps with.

Your success partner reviews your processes with you and helps turn the recurring work into SOPs. You then choose from up to 5 vetted executive assistants within 3 to 5 days, each one already tested through paid work simulations. It’s month to month, starting at $13 an hour, with free replacement while you’re a client. Schedule a discovery call and bring the list, even if it’s half finished.