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SuperHandled

Guide

How much does a personal concierge or personal assistant cost?

There is no single market price, because the models are so different. A freelance assistant bills by the hour, an agency sells bundles of hours, a concierge service charges a monthly or annual fee, and a hired assistant costs a salary plus employer costs. What you actually pay depends less on the headline rate than on how much of your own time the arrangement still needs.

By the SuperHandled team · Updated

The five ways personal help is priced

Before comparing numbers, compare models. Two services with the same monthly figure can differ enormously in what you get and how much management they need from you.

Hourly
Freelance virtual assistants and some local concierges bill for time worked. Simple and flexible, but every request has a meter running, and you pay for the time it takes them to learn what you like.
Hour bundles
Agencies commonly sell a block of hours per month, often with overage rates. Good value if your needs are predictable; less so if they spike around travel or busy seasons.
Retainer or club fee
Lifestyle concierge clubs often charge an annual or monthly fee, sometimes in tiers that unlock access or response times. Check what is included and what is billed on top.
Flat monthly service
One fee covers the service within agreed terms. This is how SuperHandled works. The question to ask is what the terms cover and what is excluded.
Salary
Hiring a personal or household assistant directly. You pay wages plus employer costs, and you take on recruiting, management and cover for holidays and sick days.

What actually drives the price

Across all models, a handful of factors explain most of the difference between a modest and a premium arrangement.

  • Continuity: a named person who learns your preferences costs more to provide than whoever is free next.
  • Scope: research and reminders are cheaper than booking, paying, contacting people and following up on your behalf.
  • Availability: tighter response times and evening or weekend coverage cost more. Be skeptical of vague 24/7 promises.
  • Expertise: support from people with specific skills, such as training plans or budget organization, adds value and cost.
  • Location: in-person help depends heavily on the local labor market; remote help much less so.

The costs that don't appear on the invoice

The most expensive part of cheap help is usually your own time. If you have to write detailed instructions, check every result and re-explain your preferences to a new person each month, you are still doing most of the thinking, and some of the work.

Third-party costs are the other surprise. Meals, deliveries, flights, hotels, tickets and purchases are almost always paid separately, whichever model you choose. A good provider makes this explicit and only spends your money within limits you set.

If you hire directly, add employer costs. In the US, a household employee can trigger payroll tax obligations once wages pass thresholds the IRS publishes each year, along with state requirements. IRS Publication 926 explains the rules.

What hiring a personal assistant directly involves

How to compare offers fairly

Put every option you're considering through the same four questions. The answers make the real price visible.

Who will I deal with?
A named person over time, a rotating pool, or a single hire?
What happens when I need more?
Overage rates, a higher tier, a wait, or nothing changes?
What will they do on my behalf?
Only research, or also book, pay and contact people within approval rules?
What is in writing?
Service hours, response targets, cancellation terms and what is excluded.

What SuperHandled costs, and what it includes

SuperHandled has two plans. Personal is $900 a month and includes a named Personal Concierge, Fitness & Lifestyle and Finance Specialist support, a private communication channel, proactive organization, research and planning, and arrangements on your behalf with your approval. Plus is $1,500 a month and adds priority handling: your requests are picked up ahead of routine requests, with faster attention during service hours and priority for last-minute arrangements.

There are no hourly quotas. Third-party costs are paid separately and approved by you. Service hours and response-time targets are set out in your written terms before you start, and nothing is charged until you decide to begin.

See both plans in detail

Sources

  1. Internal Revenue Service, Publication 926: Household Employer's Tax Guide

Common questions

Why don't you publish an average market price?

Because we haven't found reliable data that compares like with like. Rates vary by model, location, scope and availability, and a figure without those details would mislead more than it helps. Ask any provider for their full terms in writing.

Is a flat monthly fee better than paying by the hour?

Not always. If you need a few well-defined tasks a month, hourly help is usually cheaper. A flat fee makes more sense when you want ongoing responsibility for parts of your life and don't want to ration requests.

Are purchases and bookings included in the price?

With SuperHandled, no. Your plan covers your team's work. Meals, travel, deliveries and purchases are paid separately and only within approval rules you set.

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