Identify the type of support you need
“I need help” can mean completing one task, managing recurring administration or providing a specialist service. Updating a CRM and scheduling meetings are different from managing an advertising campaign.
Bring three tasks you want to hand over, their frequency and approximate volume. Explain what makes them difficult for you. You do not need an exact hourly estimate. Concrete examples reveal fit better than asking whether someone can do everything.
Questions for the first conversation
- How would you approach one of my example tasks?
- What information would you need to start?
- What can you decide independently?
- How do you report progress and obstacles?
- When are you available, and what counts as urgent?
- How are time, revisions and additional tasks billed?
- What happens during leave or illness?
- How do we agree tool access, confidentiality and AI use?
A good answer need not replicate your current process. It should show understanding, useful questions and a clear route to completion. Be cautious about unlimited availability promised without an agreed scope.
An independent assistant or an agency?
With an independent assistant, you work directly with that person. Agree how essential deadlines will be handled during absence. An agency may arrange cover and provide a coordination contact, but do not assume every agency includes these.
At Levyo, you work with your assistant and can also contact the owner. We organise cover during absence. Ongoing clients can meet the owner monthly to discuss current needs.
How can you assess fit without a large onboarding project?
Agree a limited paid scope with a clear result, such as comparing suppliers or drafting standard replies. It need not require access to your whole business.
Review the questions, completeness of the result and communication about obstacles. Are sources included? Are important unknowns flagged? Was the deadline met or a delay communicated early? A first task assesses collaboration, rather than expecting complete business knowledge immediately.
Compare like-for-like scope, not just hourly rates
Ask whether onboarding, meetings, coordination and time reports are included. A 20-hour package alone does not specify the tasks completed or response times. Clarify how extra hours and changes to scope are approved.
See Levyo pricing and an example 20-hour allocation. A needs list is enough to start a conversation. We can help create it if you do not yet have one.
Does a lack of reviews rule out a collaboration?
Reviews can help, but cannot replace a conversation about your tasks. With a new brand, ask about actual experience and assess a limited paid task. Distinguish genuine completed projects from illustrative examples. An attractive website alone does not establish service quality.
You don’t need a finished task list.
During a free call, we’ll explore your needs and identify a useful starting point.
Let’s talk about your tasks ↗