Working at BELAY Solutions: 46 Reviews

BELAY is an amazing company with an incredible culture. We work hard but have fun. This really plays into the overall culture of this company. The flexibility of working from home is only the cherry on top! I recommend BELAY to every one of my friends. It's a privilege to work for such an incredible company.

Pros

Culture, People, Flexible (WFH)

Cons

None!

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Great, until it’s not.

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Remote - September 3, 2023

I feel like it started off as such a great opportunity when you’re looking for remote work with flexible hours. However, I felt zero support from Belay on multiple issues that arose with my engagements. Also, the amount you’ll have to pay in taxes each year didn’t end up feeling worth it for all the work you end up doing.

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BELAY Solutions insights

Based on 43 survey responses

What people like

Clear sense of purpose
Inclusive work environment
Time and location flexibility

A big disappointment

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Georgia - August 4, 2023

The highest rate you can make is 22 per hour. The clients are usually pretty good but some of them don't understand what it is to have an independent contractor who is not at their seat all day. If you take an engagement for 30 or 45 hours per month, you are expected to work those hours but instead of it being on your schedule like a regular independent contractor, most of these clients expect that you are there from 9:00 to 5:00 just sitting there for them because that is the expectation that Belay gives them. I have to say that the worst part of this is that it had so much potential with the learning opportunities they offer to help you become a better VA. There was on great CSC there but the others either ghost you and the client or don't care about the contractor. It's like you are a number. Also, after taxes that 22 is cut by 25 percent without a chance of a raise in pay rate so consider that when you decide if it is really worth the demand on your time to be available all day for part time pay and no benefits. I personally left to work on my own and make double per hour which is exactly the amount that Belay charges the client and pockets half of.

Pros

Learning opportunities

Cons

Pay is low, no flexibility, no support

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Remote and Flexible

Virtual Assistant (Current Employee) - Remote - August 2, 2023

It is nice to find a place that is remote work and flexible. This really makes for a great work life balance. You need to be a little more organized and engaged than being in an office environment but it is so worth it.

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No Communication and No

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Remote - July 28, 2023

I worked at Belay and owe them some gratitude for hiring me after not being employed for many years. That being said, the interview process was long, but everyone was friendly. I got my first assignment within a month, and ended up being bought out by them. The issue came when I wanted a part time, and got hired by someone who didn't know how to delegate, would disappear for 2 weeks, and my CSC was no help in that matter. My next client from the same company unfortunately, also didn't want to let go of tasks, and was furious to find out he wasn't the only one I was working for. My CSC was baffled, and he complained constantly about only having 2 hours of my time, but still not upping his hours.

Pros

flexible

Cons

fussy clients

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Flexible and remote

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Remote - July 14, 2023

Decent opportunity foe good flexibility. The pay is a bit low and no benefits given that you're a contractor. Unreliable contracts as you're easily let go of if clients have change in plans.

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Honestly, it's pretty great

Executive Assistant (Current Employee) - WFH - May 24, 2023

I really got the lucky draw because I work with a super great Client that Belay has me assigned to. It's a great place to work and find great clients.

Pros

Work From Home, Great Clients, Helpful Management

Cons

None

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Depends on what you want...

Virtual Assistant (Current Employee) - Texas - May 21, 2023

Let me preface by saying, I've been an Executive Assistant for more than 10 years. I do not believe the pay is necessarily commensurate with the assignment you have; it's more of a blanket pay. Your rate is the same for whatever client you have regardless of the needs or difficulty of the work involved.I would also say the pay is very low for someone with my experience. If I were out there on my own, I would be charging nearly twice as much as my Belay hourly rate. But I also understand that I'm not the one getting the client under contract so there is some acknowledgement there. I do have some concerns about the future and scheduling time off as you are required to work all the hours you are contracted for, even if the client is gone or the business is closed.I find the CSCs (Client Success Consultant) to generally be great to work with once I figured out how to best utilize them effectively.All-in-all, it's a great experience and we will see how it progresses as time goes on.

Pros

If you don't like a client, you can transition off the assignment.

Cons

Not sure all the clients are well versed in what it means to have a remote worker.

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Fantastic culture

Virtual Assistant (Current Employee) - Remote - March 23, 2023

These people are amazing! I love working for Belay. They do such a great job onboarding and welcoming you into their culture. I have never felt left behind or "sink or swim" There is such support for new hires.

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Hit or Miss

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Remote - March 23, 2023

I worked with over 5 CSC’s because the clients I got matched with didn’t stick with Belay. I only had 2 CSCs that actually cared. Company culture is fake.

Pros

Good work life balance

Cons

Inconsistent, client match takes forever, high turnover

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Very little support and when provided, comes from a script

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Clients in SC and GA - March 16, 2023

I worked a total of 3 engagements in my time at Belay. One of these was for just over a year, another for 7 months, and another for barely a week. All of your “CSC”s had generic replies and assistance. You were expected to work your contracted hours as well as training a new replacement for an additional 10 hrs. They wanted to put your worked hours as a set per day amount based on your monthly contracted time versus the hours that you tracked and actually worked. They requested a 30 day notice when leaving an engagement despite them stating that it is 15 days, “but preferably 30”. During this training period, they expect the replacement to shadow you for 10 hrs of your 5 working days, which directly puts any other privacy concerns with other clients at risk as screens and notifications would be seen. This is also expected to take place on a video call, which would be an extensive amount of time, so a paid video subscription on your part would be needed. Now imagine off boarding more than one client! I was also told that after a year, I could request a pay raise from the $22/hr rate I began with. This is the max amount a VA can make. I was still also coined a VA despite working with C Suite clients. I am leaving for 2.5x this amount. The allotted time that clients can choose from keeps you as a part time employee at Belay which benefits them as benefits do not need to be offered. A public school teacher earns more. Do note you’re a 1099 employee so factor in taxes on top of that. I had to take on 3 outside clients to make ends meet. I don’t recommend Belay unless you don’t need -

Pros

Virtual if you like this

Cons

Low pay, scripted support if support is given at all, no potential for advancement, website is mediocre

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Not Worth It

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Remote - January 30, 2023

I was fine with the long interview process, even the pay, which I knew was below what most virtual assistants make. What left me disappointed was the actual process of gaining a client, and trying to get a new one. After getting my first client (which took a few weeks after I got the official okay) and no, they won't always have a client ready for you after Onboarding as a contractor, I was cut after just under 3 weeks. I was expected to learn processes and information that my experienced manager knew, yet I was technically only working part-time based on the hours I was contracted for. The client themselves didn't have the best way to onboard me with their systems, and when I pointed out flaws, it seemed to be put on the back burner when their main concern was getting the flow of things that had its flaws. What I thought was expected of me was actually something different, based on the assignments given to me. I was let go from my client, and after 90 days and countless applications to other jobs, I only received one interview before being let go as a contractor. I asked for help in how to get noticed when applying, and the only thing they mentioned was to work on my spelling and to just keep at it. There were many jobs that were in fitness and health fields that I have a background in, and I couldn't understand why I wasn't even given the opportunity for an interview. I feel like I was already let go in their heads, and was just really disappointed in the whole experience. If you have experience in this field, go somewhere else.

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Amazing Culture

Corporate (Current Employee) - Atlanta, GA - January 23, 2023

BELAY has an amazing work culture. There is a ton of autonomy over my schedule and the work is fulfilling. I feel like I am a part of a great team.

Pros

Intentional time and transparency

Cons

None

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Not for me

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Remote - January 6, 2023

Just a whole lot of wasting my time. The support sucks. The pay sucks. The people sucks. It’s also not flexible as the false advertising want you to believe. It’s pretty much normal business hours and it’s crazy because they want you to be fully committed without having another job which would be fine but…..the pay sucks.

Pros

Remote

Cons

Everything eles

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Horrible Pay

Bookkeeper (Former Employee) - Remote - January 2, 2023

Pay is really bad for what they want you to do. For bookkeeping it's a set amount per month which works out to be under $15 a hour. There are way better remote 1099 options out there.

Pros

lots of work assignments

Cons

low pay, expect you to be avaiable all the time even though 1099

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Good, but..

Virtual Executive Assistant (Current Employee) - Charlotte, NC - December 29, 2022

It’s a great agency to use for virtual work. But, as a contractor, you should be able to take time off. I understand you don’t get benefits and vacation time, but the issue is you HAVE to work your monthly allotment of hours because you “owe” them to the client each month. This means that if you are going on a week (or longer) vacation, you have to work “extra” hours during your work weeks to make sure you cover what you are taking during your “vacation.” So, you really aren’t taking a vacation at all. As a contractor, you should be able to arrange for time off in advance without feeling like you have to make it up. It’s fine and to be expected to not be paid for those hours not worked, but a contractor should not be forced to work because they are told they “owe” that to the client no matter what. Technically, you will never get any time off!

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Good, but not great....

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Georgia - November 5, 2022

I am torn on what to say about my time at Belay. I have genuinely enjoyed working with each person I’ve come in contact through the company, I have met some great clients, and I have gained valuable work from home experience. That being said, the pay is pretty poor for the amount of work you’ll be doing. Because you are a contractor with Belay, you’ll be expected to be available 9-5, M-F, even if your client only pays for a 45 hour a month contract (2ish hours a day). You only get paid for those 45 hours, though. Because most people couldn’t survive off just 45 hours worth of pay per month, you may have multiple clients who all expect you to be available for them 9-5. Burn out can happen quickly. Going back on the pay, the clients are paying Belay more than double what you make. There is little to no growth in terms of salary for you as the contractor. I was told when offered the job I would be eligible for a pay increase after one year of service; however, when the time came, I was told I was not eligible as I made the max salary ($20/hr). Knowing you’re doing all the work while receiving half the pay and no chance for growth is really disheartening. Benefits are not existent because you are a 1099 employee. This means no PTO, no health insurance, no retirement. And while Belay does want you to have work/life balance, it is almost impossible to do so because taking a day or two off means having to work those missed hours later in the month. When you’re already full time, making up 20 hours of time on top of you 8-9 hour day is next to impossible. I ended up putting -

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Great company with some cons as a contractor

Virtual Assistant (Current Employee) - Remote - October 13, 2022

This position is contract-based, so all assistants are 1099 workers. This entails abiding by hourly expectations of working a set amount of hours a month, but this is not doable full time because if you take a week off, you're expected to make up those 40 hours on top of the other three 40-hour work weeks in the month. Time off is not a thing. It's just postponing your work until later when you have to work double. Makes any time away from the job extremely stressful, and impedes you from taking time off.

Pros

Great management and support from corporate staff

Cons

No PTO deals even though it's an agency.

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Great for transition back to work

Virtual Assistant (Current Employee) - Atlanta, GA - September 21, 2022

I started working for BELAY when I decided to go back to work after being home with my kids after several years. It is 100% remote which is wonderful. I was so grateful for the opportunity to ease back into the work force while still being able to carpool and still be a full time mom.

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Love working here

Virtual Executive Assistant (Former Employee) - Atlanta, GA - August 16, 2022

Love it truly! I enjoy the staff I have virtually met, I loved how thorough the application/interview process was, and if you're looking for a place to get started in the VA work then this is a great place with great pay. The company does take a large percentage of what you make, and you never really get anywhere close to closing that gap. For that reason, it may not be a long-term solution for some people. But for the work/life balance and flexibility, you are getting it's a great gig!

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Good part time work

Virtual Assistant (Former Employee) - Remote - August 14, 2022

The main advantage was fully remote work. Good for stay at home moms. The pay was quite low for my experience level. Could make almost as much at Target as a cashier!

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