If you're running an e-commerce brand in 2025, chances are your calendar looks like an abstract painting.
It’s chaotic, colorful, and slightly confusing.
Between TikTok’s overnight algorithm pivots, customers demanding two-hour delivery and a handwritten thank-you note, and your product supplier ghosting you mid-sale... you're not running a business, you're starring in a live-action episode of Black Mirror.
Welcome to the UK e-commerce scene — a £341 billion industry and counting.
Consumer expectations? Sky-high.
Margins? Shrinking.
Time? What’s that?
In fact, 44% of UK small business owners say they work more than 50 hours a week, often pulling late nights just to keep up with the “easy” stuff, like emails, returns, inventory updates, customer questions and more.
The truth? Hustling isn’t glamorous anymore... It's a fast track to burnout.
What works then? Leveraging smart, flexible support, like Virtual Assistants, who can help you scale your business beyond administrative tasks. They’re product listers, ad managers, customer whisperers, and your secret weapon for not losing your mind in Q4.
In this piece, we’ll break down why VAs are the quiet force powering forward-thinking UK e-commerce brands, and why now is the time to bring one (or three?) on board.
The E-Commerce Battlefield in 2025
If you think running an e-commerce brand in 2025 is simple — you’ve probably never dealt with a last-minute Royal Mail delay, a failed Instagram Reel, and a Shopify crash on the same day.
Here’s the reality:
The UK e-commerce market is projected to hit USD 341.6 billion this year and is barreling toward USD 914 billion by 2030, growing at a fierce 21.76% CAGR.
So what’s fuelling this hypergrowth?
- Customer expectations have gone up: 24/7 service, free returns, next-day (sometimes same-day) delivery, and flawless personalization.
- 89% of businesses are now operating around the clock to meet these demands, and in London, delivery windows under 18 hours are becoming the norm.
- Add to that the rising cost of returns, with 59.5% of consumers worried about higher fees.
AI to the rescue? Sort of.
Like it or not, AI has been silently crowned the unofficial co-founder of every recent brand. From customer segmentation to product recommendations to stock-level forecasting, automation is the backbone of scalable success.
But without the right human touch — someone to implement, manage, and translate these tools into results, AI can’t run your business on its own.
What does this mean for solopreneurs?
You’re the marketer, the customer service team, the product photographer, and the packer, possibly all from your kitchen table.
It's admirable, sure… but long-term? It’s a one-way ticket to a massive burnout.
Who Are Virtual Assistants, Really?
Virtual Assistants (VAs) are not just digital receptionists with a better Wi-Fi connection.
They’re not sitting around waiting to answer your phone or book your dentist appointment (unless that’s what you really need).
In 2025, they’re the behind-the-scenes operators helping small e-commerce brands punch above their weight.
There are two main types of VAs:
- Generalist VAs: Jack-of-all-trades types who can manage your inbox, coordinate calendars, handle basic customer support, do light research, and keep your sanity in check.
- Specialist/Niche VAs: These are specialised e-commerce experts. They are people who live for product listings, inventory updates, SEO-rich descriptions, abandoned cart follow-ups, customer service scripts, and social media scheduling. Some even know Shopify and Klaviyo better than any paid agency you might reach out to.
Still think VAs are only for big teams or execs?
Wrong.
In the post-pandemic, AI-everything world , even solopreneurs are outsourcing.
Because doing everything alone might earn you some LinkedIn applause... but it won’t earn you sleep, scalability, or sustainable growth.
The 5 Big Wins of Hiring a VA for E-Commerce
Hiring a Virtual Assistant isn’t just about doing less. It’s about doing better — smarter operations, smoother workflows, and actually having the time to think beyond “What’s urgent today?” Below are five high-impact ways a VA can transform your e-commerce hustle:
Time Back
If you had a time machine, you wouldn’t use it to pack orders or respond to invoice queries. You’d probably go back and not say yes to everything yourself.
The good news? Delegating routine tasks like inbox sorting, returns processing, and calendar management gives you back your most valuable currency: time.
Time to focus on strategy, partnerships, and product growth. Or, you know, a simple pleasure like take a proper lunch break that doesn’t involve you eating over your laptop.
Improved Customer Service
Customers don’t care if you’re a team of one or a team of 100.
They just expect prompt, helpful service.
And honestly, answering an angry "Where is my stuff??" email at 2:04 a.m. is not the best way to spend your days either.
VAs can manage:
- Customer support tickets
- Live chats and DMs
- Returns and refund queries
- FAQ responses and template replies
This way, you stay sane, your customers feel heard, and your brand maintains a professional reputation.
Better Product Listings & SEO
A good VA knows how to write product titles that actually convert, populate keyword-rich descriptions, and optimize listings for both humans and Google.
With the right support, you get:
- SEO-optimized listings that improve visibility
- Regular updates to reflect stock, seasonality, and trends
- Tagging, categorizing, and image optimization
While you’re using your time chasing sales, your VA is busy making sure your products get found.
Inventory & Order Management Made Easy
Inventory chaos = refund requests + angry emails + low-star reviews.
Sound familiar? Don’t worry, this is a common scenario to even the most successful small businesses.
An experienced e-commerce VA can:
- Sync with your inventory management software
- Update product availability in real-time
- Communicate with suppliers
- Track shipments and confirm delivery milestones
Virtual assistants ensure your customers get what they ordered, and you don’t sell what you don’t have.
Marketing Support
Consistency is the name of the game in marketing, and most solopreneurs have grand visions, until they actually start with it and realise that content creation eats half the week.
A marketing-savvy VA can:
- Schedule posts across platforms
- Stay on top of trends.
- Create visuals in Canva
- Draft email newsletters
- Upload blogs and tweak SEO settings
- Track performance and tweak strategies
To learn more, read our blog - Virtual Assistants for E-Commerce Success.
Cost vs Value: Is It Worth It?
Sure, virtual assistants are definitely helpful, but let’s talk about money.
At some point, every small business owner asks, “Is hiring a Virtual Assistant actually worth it?”
Spoiler: it is. And here’s why.
Hiring a Full-Time Employee vs a VA
Bringing on a full-time employee in the UK comes with a hefty list of hidden costs: salary, tax, pension contributions, annual leave, sick days, training time, not to mention the onboarding headaches. According to Glassdoor, the average UK customer support role starts at around £22,000–£28,000/year, and that’s before you factor in office equipment or benefits.
Now compare that to a VA.
- No PAYE. No pension. No paid leave.
- VAs typically charge hourly or monthly packages, and you only pay for what you use.
- Have an important launch this week but almost no work the next? No problem. That’s the beauty of flexible, scalable support. You can upscale and downscale as needed.
But It’s Not Just About Cost. It’s About Value
A good VA doesn’t just save you money — they make you money.
Here’s how:
- You stop dropping the ball on tasks that cost you customers.
- You get faster turnarounds and fewer errors.
- Your brand shows up consistently and professionally (because someone else is actually hitting “publish” on those social posts and emails you’ve been meaning to send for 3 weeks).
And the numbers? They speak for themselves.
Let’s say you work with a skilled VA for 100 hours a month, which is enough to offload serious operational weight.
Even at a competitive rate of £7.35/hour, that’s £735/month, or just £8,820/year. That’s roughly a third of what you’d pay for a full-time hire in the UK, without factoring in taxes, sick days, equipment, or onboarding.
Hiring a VA is essentially an ROI decision. You’re buying back your time and raising the overall quality of how your business runs, all without the overhead of managing a full-time hire.
TL;DR?
If you’re weighing costs on paper, a VA wins.
If you’re weighing energy, flexibility, growth potential, and sanity?
A VA still wins.
How to Find (and Work With) the Right VA
So you’re sold on the idea, which is a great start. But how do you actually find a Virtual Assistant who doesn’t ghost you mid-project or disappear right before a product launch?
Luckily, 2025 offers no shortage of options.
Where to Find VAs
You can start by exploring:
- Freelance platforms like Upwork, PeoplePerHour, or Fiverr. This is ideal for short-term or task-based hires, though vetting is on you.
- Referrals from other business owners (pro tip: solopreneurs always know someone).
- Agencies, which handle the screening, training, and admin for you. If you want vetted, reliable, and UK-ecom-savvy support, MyTasker is a solid bet.
To learn more about finding the right VA agency, read our blog - Hire a Virtual Assistant That Fits Your Business Needs.
What to Look For in a VA
You're not just hiring a pair of hands, you’re bringing on a remote partner.
Prioritize:
- Clear communication (prompt, polite, proactive, since they’ll be representing your business)
- Tool fluency (Shopify, Canva, Trello, Klaviyo — whatever your stack looks like)
- Relevant experience (especially in e-commerce or your niche)
Ask for samples, set up a trial task, and most importantly, trust your gut. If someone doesn’t “get” your business or energy, move on.
How to Get Started Working With a VA
Even the best VAs need direction. Make onboarding smooth with:
- A short Loom video walkthrough of your workflow
- Access to project management tools like Asana, ClickUp, or Slack
- Clear SOPs (standard operating procedures) for recurring tasks
- Weekly check-ins or dashboards for updates
Set expectations early —deadlines, communication style, hours— and be very clear with your feedback in order to make the most of your VA.
Common Concerns About Hiring a Virtual Assistant
Look, we get it. Handing over parts of your business to a stranger on the internet can feel… a bit terrifying.
These doubts? Totally normal.
Let’s break them down.
“I don’t have time to train someone!”
You barely have time to eat, let alone make SOPs. But a little upfront effort saves you massive time later. Record quick Loom videos while you do tasks, no fancy docs needed. Think of it as onboarding now so you can offload forever.
“I’m not sure I can trust someone with my business stuff.”
Fair.
Your brand is your baby. But you don’t hand over the keys on Day 1.
tart with low-risk, high-impact tasks, like managing your inbox or product uploads, and build trust gradually.
Most experienced VAs are used to working with sensitive info, and many agencies sign NDAs without blinking.
“What if they ghost me mid-launch?”
That fear is real, and why trial periods exist. Work with platforms or agencies (like MyTasker) that vet their VAs and offer replacements if needed. And always check testimonials, response time, and reliability before committing.
Bottom line? Hiring a VA is not a leap of faith like hiring a full-time employee. With clear communication, a little prep, and smart onboarding, it’s more of a calculated move. One that pays off in time, energy, and peace of mind.
Why MyTasker Might Be the VA Partner You’re Looking For
There are VA platforms, and then there are VA partners. MyTasker falls firmly into the second category.
With over a decade of experience helping solopreneurs and small businesses across the UK (and beyond), MyTasker is a fully managed, done-for-you service that matches you with skilled, trained, and industry-savvy Virtual Assistants who get e-commerce and hit the ground running.
Here’s what sets MyTasker apart:
Vetted Professionals Only
Every MyTasker e-commerce VA is carefully screened for technical ability, reliability, and industry know-how.
24/7 Assistance
Your e-commerce store doesn’t sleep — and neither do we. With round-the-clock availability, our VAs ensure your customers get timely responses, no matter the time zone.
Proactive Account Management
You’ll never feel like you’re managing it all alone. Our account managers are on hand to oversee quality, provide support, and ensure smooth collaboration between you and your VA.
Fast & Easy Onboarding
Our VAs are trained to get up to speed quickly. With minimal guidance, they adapt to your brand voice, tools, and workflows, so you can delegate with confidence.
Data Security You Can Rely On
All Virtual Assistants sign NDAs and follow strict confidentiality protocols. Your customer data, passwords, and business processes are handled with care and discretion.
Flexible Plans That Fit Your Business
We offer scalable pricing options that suit solopreneurs and growing teams alike. Whether you need ongoing support or short-term help during busy periods, we make it work for you.
E-Commerce Expertise
From Shopify to WooCommerce, MyTasker VAs are well-versed in the platforms and processes that keep your store running. Whether it’s product listings, order updates, or handling customer queries.
Ready to Scale Smarter in 2025?
2025 isn’t exactly taking it easy on e-commerce brands. It’s fast-paced, hyper-competitive, and stacked with more moving parts than ever before.
If you’ve been stuck in reactive mode, constantly playing catch-up, take five minutes and ask yourself:
- What tasks are draining your energy?
- What keeps getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list?
- What would you love to hand off if you could?
That’s your starting point.
Because the difference between running a chaotic solo show and building a sustainable e-commerce brand often comes down to hiring the right support.
With the right VA by your side, you gain time, clarity, and room to scale.
Need a VA Who Actually Gets E-Commerce?
Skip the guesswork. Hire a trained, reliable Virtual Assistant from MyTasker and get the support you need, without the stress.
Click here to get started.
