VA vs OBM: What's the Difference and Which One Do You Actually Need?
You’ve probably heard of a Virtual Assistant (VA).
Maybe you’ve even got one.
But what about an Online Business Manager (OBM)?
Sounds fancy, but what do they actually do—and how do you know if your business needs one?
Let’s break it down with zero jargon and maybe just a hint of sass.
🧑💻 Virtual Assistant (VA): The Doer
Think of a VA as your right-hand task ninja.
They get stuff done—admin, inbox wrangling, invoicing, scheduling, basic social media posts, you name it.
You hand them a list, they make it disappear. ✨
Examples of what a VA might handle:
Email & calendar management
Data entry & CRM tidying
Travel bookings
Social media scheduling
Invoicing & reconciling payments
Website updates
Client onboarding tasks
In short: A VA helps with the day-to-day so you can stop drowning in busywork.
👩💼 Online Business Manager (OBM): The Strategist
Now, an OBM isn’t just about doing the tasks—they’re about managing the machine.
They look at the big picture, streamline systems, coordinate your team (or freelancers), and help your business run like an actual business, not a chaotic side hustle.
An OBM typically helps with:
Project management
Hiring and onboarding
Delegation & team oversight
Launch planning
Systems set-up (CRMs, automations, SOPs)
Strategic business operations
In short: An OBM doesn’t just take things off your plate—they help you figure out what should be on the plate in the first place.
🤔 Which One Do You Need?
Let’s simplify this:
You Need a VA If…
Your to-do list never ends
You’re stuck in admin
You want support, not strategy
You’re not ready to hand over control
You Need an OBM If…
You’ve hit a growth ceiling
You want to scale without chaos
You need someone to run things
You’re ready to lead, not manage
Bonus tip: You can totally start with a VA and transition to an OBM when the time’s right. (We might know a team that can help with both… 👀)
🧠 Final Thoughts
Whether you need a task-tackling VA or a growth-focused OBM, one thing’s clear:
Doing it all yourself is not the vibe anymore.
It’s time to build the kind of support that matches where you’re going—not where you started.
Ready to chat about what support is right for you?
Let’s talk → Forte Virtual is here for both VA and OBM magic.
