The business in one offer
Who it serves
Founders of small companies and executives at growing firms who have outgrown doing their own scheduling and email but cannot justify a full-time assistant. They value someone experienced who needs little training and can work across their existing tools.
What to sell first
A 20-hour monthly retainer: daily inbox triage with labels and drafts, calendar management, travel booking within an agreed budget, meeting preparation notes, and a weekly priorities check-in, with a response window during set business hours. Excluded: personal errands, approving payments, bookkeeping, after-hours work and tasks requiring professional licenses.
A fixed monthly block makes the price clear and lets executives budget for support. Defining the core tasks keeps your work focused and repeatable, while the response window sets expectations before urgent requests pile up.
What could it cost to start?
This is an original example budget for the limited pilot described above. It is not a researched market average or a complete quote for every location.
| Item to price | Example allowance |
|---|---|
| Password manager and security tools, one year | $60.00 |
| Time tracking and scheduling tools, three months | $90.00 |
| Laptop backup and secure cloud storage | $100.00 |
| Professional liability insurance allowance | $450.00 |
| Business registration and bank account | $300.00 |
| Simple website and booking page | $150.00 |
| Example total | $1,150.00 |
What this assumes—and excludes
Assumes you already have a reliable computer, a quiet workspace and real assistant or operations experience. Excludes office rent, coworking fees, owner pay and local business license fees. Insurance and software costs vary, so get local quotes before setting your rates.
Collect actual supplier, insurance and local-authority information. Add a reserve for delays and unexpected costs; the example total is not a funding recommendation.
How the unit economics work
At an assumed $1,200.00 per monthly client and $25.00 in direct costs, contribution is $1,175.00 before monthly fixed costs, owner pay and taxes. With 22 all-in working hours per unit, that is $53.41 per delivery hour before those deductions. These inputs illustrate the arithmetic; they do not establish a market price or expected earnings.
The example also allows $120.00 in monthly fixed costs. Include unpaid acquisition and administrative time when deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Try your own numbers
These are editable planning assumptions, not prices we have verified. Calculations stay in your browser.
Operating result = (price − direct cost) × units − monthly fixed costs. Before owner pay, taxes, financing and startup recovery. At these inputs, delivery requires 220 hours per month, plus any work not included in your per-unit estimate. Sales volume is a scenario, not a forecast.
How to find the first customers
Test a small offer before scaling traffic. Record the source of each enquiry, whether it fits the offer, and whether the buyer pays.
- Tell former managers and colleagues you are offering fractional support and describe the retainer in two sentences. Ask whom they know who is drowning in email and scheduling.
- Offer a free one-hour calendar audit to two founders in your network, showing where meetings could be grouped or removed, and propose the retainer afterward.
- Approach small-business accountants or consultants whose clients often ask about admin help, and agree on a disclosed referral arrangement.
- Record how many hours each client uses and which tasks fill them, then use those notes to sharpen your offer and sell the next retainer.
What to validate before spending more
- Run a 30-day trial with one client at a reduced rate and track every hour by task. If the work regularly exceeds 20 hours, adjust the retainer before taking on others.
- Write an access policy that lists which accounts you will use, how you store passwords and what you may not approve. Ask the client to review and sign it.
- Ask an accountant whether your arrangement looks like contractor work and whether you should form a separate business entity.
- Check whether your city requires a general business license for consulting or administrative services run from home, and keep a record of the answer.
The operational catch
Supporting more than one executive means urgent requests will collide, often at the same hour. Without agreed response windows and a priority rule, you end up working nights. Set clear hours, explain that tasks are handled in the order received unless flagged urgent, and plan regular check-ins to reset priorities.
A practical way to fund the first step
Bill each retainer at the start of the month and keep software on monthly plans. Hold off on paid ads, and use the first two retainers to cover insurance and registration costs.
Separate cash already available from money still to earn. Count only proceeds after direct expenses, and do not spend customer funds needed to fulfill their existing orders.
Questions before you start
Should I charge hourly or a monthly retainer?
Retainers make budgeting easier for clients and steady income for you. Track hours anyway, so you can see when a client consistently needs more and suggest a larger block.
How do I handle access to sensitive accounts?
Use a password manager to share credentials, enable multifactor authentication, and avoid storing passwords in email or chat. When a client ends the arrangement, help them change passwords and remove access.
Can I hire subcontractors later?
Yes, but clients must agree, and you remain responsible for quality and confidentiality. Learn the rules on contractors versus employees before bringing anyone in.
Source-backed checks
These references support the specific checks below. They do not endorse this business idea or substantiate the example prices, costs or demand.
The IRS explains that whether someone is an independent contractor depends on whether the payer controls what will be done and how. Internal Revenue Service: Independent contractor (self-employed) or employee?.
CISA's small business guidance recommends basic protections such as multifactor authentication and keeping software updated. CISA: Cyber Guidance for Small Businesses.
SBA advises small businesses to train staff on cybersecurity and use strong passwords to protect data. U.S. Small Business Administration: Strengthen your cybersecurity.
- Independent contractor (self-employed) or employee?Internal Revenue Service · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Cyber Guidance for Small BusinessesCISA · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Strengthen your cybersecurityU.S. Small Business Administration · Reference checked September 8, 2026
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