Stellar Staff vs BELAY (2026): U.S.-Based Support or a Full-Time Offshore VA?
BELAY Solutions fits buyers who want a U.S.-based assistant and are comfortable requesting a quote, since BELAY does not publish its price. Stellar Staff fits buyers who want a published rate: Pro costs $1,999 a month for a dedicated full-time assistant working 160 hours, on month-to-month terms.
Stellar Staff vs BELAY at a glance
BELAY was founded in 2010 by Bryan and Shannon Miles and is led today by CEO Tricia Sciortino. It matches businesses with U.S.-based assistants and says it accepts the top 3% of U.S.-based applicants. Support typically begins at 45 hours a month for a flat monthly fee, on month-to-month terms, and BELAY does not list that fee on its site. The company also sells bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and fractional CFO services.
Stellar Staff, founded in 2022 and formerly VA Support Now, places one dedicated full-time assistant per plan, with talent primarily from the Philippines. Pro costs $1,999 a month and Executive costs $2,999, both for 160 hours. Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements, and the client directs the assistant's daily work. The two companies answer different questions: BELAY is built around U.S. location and part-time flexibility, Stellar Staff around a full-time seat at a published price.
Compare the model, not just the monthly price.
Where do BELAY and Stellar Staff actually differ?
Five practical factors reveal where the two services stop looking alike.
- Talent location. BELAY assistants are U.S.-based. Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines. Compare location requirements, agreed working hours, candidate experience, and price for the role you need.
- Published pricing. BELAY does not publish its rates; you get a quote after a consultation. Stellar Staff lists Pro at $1,999 and Executive at $2,999 per month. A BELAY resource page cites $1,200 to $3,000 a month as a general range for U.S.-based assistants, not as BELAY's own price.
- Hours. BELAY support typically begins at 45 hours a month and scales up from there. Stellar Staff plans are full-time, 160 hours a month, which works out to about $12.50 an hour on Pro.
- Worker setup. BELAY's talent FAQ describes its assistants as independent contractors. Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements, while you direct the daily work.
- Matching. BELAY says most clients are matched in about a week. For Stellar Staff, the search takes 5 to 10 business days, and you interview 2 to 3 finalists before choosing.
Which option fits your business?
Stellar Staff
- You need a full-time assistant for 160 hours a month rather than a part-time block.
- You want to see the price before the first call: $1,999 for Pro or $2,999 for Executive.
- You want to interview 2 to 3 finalists and choose the hire yourself.
- You want free replacements, forever, on a managed plan with 14 days' notice to cancel.
BELAY
- Your assistant must live and work in the United States.
- You need part-time help, starting around 45 hours a month.
- You want bookkeeping, payroll, tax, or fractional CFO services from the same company.
- You value a long track record; BELAY has operated since 2010.
BELAY and Stellar Staff side by side
| Decision point | Stellar Staff | BELAY |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 (formerly VA Support Now) | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Newport Beach, California | Atlanta, Georgia (mailing address) |
| Where assistants are based | Primarily the Philippines | United States |
| Hours | Full-time, 160 hours a month | Typically begins at 45 hours a month |
| Published price | $1,999/month Pro; $2,999/month Executive | Not published; quote after consultation |
| Hourly equivalent | About $12.50 on Pro | Not publicly disclosed |
| Contract | Month to month; 14 days' notice to cancel | Month to month; no long-term commitment |
| Search or onboarding timeline | The search takes 5 to 10 business days | About a week, per BELAY's FAQ |
| Selection | Top 0.1% of applicants | Top 3% of U.S.-based applicants |
| Choosing your assistant | Interview 2 to 3 finalists | Matched by BELAY; 93% first-match success rate, by its figure |
| Worker status | Stellar Staff handles payroll and HR | Independent contractors, per BELAY's talent FAQ |
| Replacement | Free replacements, forever, on managed plans | Free rematch under its Right-Fit Guarantee |
| Account support | Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements | Client Success Consultant |
What kinds of work can each one cover?
BELAY sells assistant roles and a separate financial services line. Stellar Staff focuses on dedicated full-time assistants across roles and industries.
| Work | Stellar Staff | BELAY |
|---|---|---|
| Executive and calendar support | Yes; Executive plan at $2,999 | Executive Assistants |
| General administration | Yes | Virtual Assistants and Operations Assistants |
| Marketing and social media | Yes | Marketing Assistants and Social Media Managers |
| Sales support | Yes | Sales Assistants |
| Bookkeeping | Yes, as a full-time assistant role | Bookkeeping, accounting teams, payroll, and tax services |
| Fractional finance leadership | Not a Stellar Staff service | Fractional controller and CFO |
| Medical, legal, and real estate roles | Yes | Industry pages for legal, real estate, private healthcare, and more |
| AI tools | Trained on AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Zapier) | AI-fluent assistants, per BELAY's FAQ; confirm the tools needed for your role |
| Bilingual assistant | +$200 a month | Not stated on its site |
BELAY pricing compared with Stellar Staff's published rates
BELAY's price depends on your hours and role and is shared after a consultation. This table uses only published figures.
| Cost item | Stellar Staff | BELAY | Local full-time hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $1,999 Pro; $2,999 Executive | Quoted individually | Salary, taxes, and benefits |
| Hours included | 160 | Typically from 45 | Full-time schedule |
| Hourly equivalent | About $12.50 on Pro | Not published | Varies by market |
| Recruiting | Included | Included in matching | Your team or a recruiter |
| Payroll and HR | Included | Assistants contract with BELAY | Your business |
| Replacement | Free, forever, on managed plans | Free rematch | A new search |
| Relative cost | A third of the cost of a local hire | Not published | Baseline |
If you are weighing a U.S. assistant against an offshore one, ask BELAY to quote the same monthly hours you would buy from Stellar Staff. Price per hour is only one part of the decision; time zone, task type, and the person matter as much.
What BELAY does well
BELAY has a long record. It was founded in 2010, says it has served over 25,000 leaders, and keeps a bench of more than 2,000 vetted U.S.-based professionals. For a buyer who needs an assistant in a U.S. time zone, with U.S. business context and no offshore setup, that is a real advantage.
Its terms are flexible. Support is month to month, scales up or down, and starts around 45 hours a month, so a leader who needs a few hours a day can buy just that. BELAY also offers a free rematch, a Client Success Consultant, and a financial services arm that grew through acquisitions of CFO, controller, and accounting firms in 2024 and 2025.
How Stellar Staff approaches the same need
Stellar Staff starts from a different premise: one assistant, full-time, at a price you can see before you call. Pro is $1,999 a month for 160 hours, and Executive is $2,999. That is about $12.50 an hour on Pro, and Stellar Staff describes its plans as a third of the cost of a local hire.
Stellar Staff receives thousands of applications per month and accepts the top 0.1% of applicants. Vetting includes a 6-step application, 6 individual tests, written and spoken English verification, reference and equipment checks, professional interviews and skill assessments, internal QA, and background checks. You then interview 2 to 3 finalists and pick one. BELAY's 3% figure measures a different pool, U.S.-based applicants, so the two percentages are not directly comparable.
After the hire, Stellar Staff handles payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements, and replacements are free, forever, on managed plans. You direct the assistant's daily work. Terms are month to month with 14 days' notice to cancel.
BELAY or Stellar Staff: how to decide
Pick BELAY if the assistant has to be in the United States, you need fewer than full-time hours, or you want finance and accounting services from the same vendor. Ask for the monthly fee in writing, since it is not published.
Pick Stellar Staff if you have enough work for a full-time assistant and want a published price, a say in the final hire, and month-to-month terms. The search takes 5 to 10 business days.
For a closer look at BELAY on its own, read our BELAY reviews, with its verified Trustpilot and BBB ratings, what its FAQ says about pricing, and the contract terms to ask for in writing. If neither company fits, our BELAY alternatives guide compares other options on price, hours, and location.
BELAY questions buyers ask
Clear answers on pricing, hiring speed, replacements, specialization, and compliance.
How much does BELAY cost?
BELAY does not publish its prices, and its pricing page was not available on October 5, 2026. BELAY says support typically begins at 45 hours a month for a flat monthly fee. One BELAY resource page puts general U.S.-based assistant costs at $1,200 to $3,000 a month, presented as a market range rather than BELAY's own rate. Stellar Staff Pro is $1,999 a month for 160 hours.
Are BELAY assistants employees?
BELAY's talent FAQ says its assistants are independent contractors rather than BELAY employees. With Stellar Staff, the company handles payroll and HR for the assistant, and you direct the daily work. Ask either provider how the worker relationship is set up if it matters for your compliance review.
Is a BELAY executive assistant or a Stellar Staff assistant better for full-time work?
Both can support executives. BELAY offers U.S.-based executive assistants for the hours you choose. Stellar Staff's Executive plan is $2,999 a month for a dedicated full-time assistant working 160 hours. If you need full-time coverage and offshore talent works for you, Stellar Staff's published price is easier to compare.
How quickly can each company match an assistant?
BELAY says most clients are matched within about a week from its bench of 2,000+ U.S. professionals. For Stellar Staff, the search takes 5 to 10 business days. You interview 2 to 3 finalists before choosing your assistant.
What are some companies like BELAY?
Companies like BELAY include managed assistant services such as Time Etc, Prialto, Zirtual, and Stellar Staff. They differ on where assistants live, how many hours you buy, and whether pricing is published. BELAY and Zirtual use U.S.-based assistants; Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines and sells full-time plans.
Can I cancel either service at any time?
BELAY's FAQ says executive assistant support is month to month with no long-term commitment. Stellar Staff is also month to month, with 14 days' notice to cancel. BELAY's site does not state a notice period, so confirm it in the written agreement.
What happens if the first assistant is not a fit?
BELAY's Right-Fit Guarantee offers a rematch at no added cost. Stellar Staff's managed plans include free replacements, forever. In both cases, ask who runs the handoff and how the replacement is chosen.
Does BELAY offer bookkeeping and accounting?
Yes. BELAY sells bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and fractional controller and CFO services alongside its assistants, and it acquired several finance firms in 2024 and 2025. Stellar Staff places full-time assistants, including bookkeeping roles, rather than outsourced accounting teams.
Stellar Staff
Stellar StaffBELAY
How we reviewed the providers
Stellar Staff details reflect its plan and service terms reviewed on October 5, 2026. BELAY details were reviewed the same day on BELAY's own websites. Sources include BELAY FAQ, BELAY company history, BELAY talent FAQ, BELAY cost guide, and Stellar Staff pricing. BELAY's pricing page was not available on the review date. Public claims and plan terms can change; confirm the written proposal with each provider.