--- title: "Guides, scripts and templates" description: "Learn how to delegate to a virtual assistant with guides, call scripts, SOP templates and handover checklists for admin and phones. Browse the library." url: https://assistbpo.com/resources/ updated: 2026-09-20 publisher: AssistBPO (SS Support Network LLC) language: en-US --- # Guides, scripts and templates Resources Learning how to delegate to a virtual assistant is what this library is for. Answer-first guides, phone scripts, SOP templates, checklists and cost data on running an inbox, a front desk, a support queue, a sales desk or a back office with a dedicated remote assistant, written by the people who run the desks and reviewed before publication. - Sources cited - Updated quarterly [Get a staffing plan](https://assistbpo.com/get-a-staffing-plan/)[Book a 20-minute call](https://assistbpo.com/book-a-call/) Every guide cites its sources and shows the date it was last updated. Updated September 2026 ## Customer support Guide Sep 19, 2026 6 min read ### [Delegating customer service without losing customers: a 30-day plan](https://assistbpo.com/resources/delegating-customer-service-without-losing-customers-a-30-day-plan/) How to outsource customer service in 30 days: a week-by-week plan with gates, macros, escalation rules and the four numbers that tell you it is working. [Shahzaib Shah](https://assistbpo.com/team/shahzaib-shah/) ## Healthcare Guide Sep 19, 2026 8 min read ### [Dental front desk outsourcing: recalls, eligibility and scheduling done remotely](https://assistbpo.com/resources/dental-front-desk-outsourcing-recalls-eligibility-and-scheduling-done-remotely/) How dental front desk outsourcing works inside Dentrix and Open Dental: recall lists, eligibility checks, no-show reduction, a week on the desk and KPIs. [Nimra Khalid](https://assistbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/) Guide Sep 19, 2026 8 min read ### [HIPAA and virtual assistants: what a medical practice must put in place](https://assistbpo.com/resources/hipaa-and-virtual-assistants-what-a-medical-practice-must-put-in-place/) A HIPAA virtual assistant needs a signed BAA, minimum necessary access, documented training and audit logs. Here is the checklist a practice works through. [Issabela Masters](https://assistbpo.com/team/issabela-masters/) ## E-commerce Guide Sep 19, 2026 9 min read ### [E-commerce virtual assistant: running a Shopify store with a remote ops team](https://assistbpo.com/resources/e-commerce-virtual-assistant-running-a-shopify-store-with-a-remote-ops-team/) Ecommerce virtual assistant tasks mapped to Shopify, Gorgias and Klaviyo: WISMO, returns, listings, a peak season pod and the KPIs that prove it works. [Nimra Khalid](https://assistbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/) ## Costs & comparisons Data guide Sep 19, 2026 10 min read ### [How much does a virtual assistant cost in 2026? (US, UK, Canada, Australia)](https://assistbpo.com/resources/how-much-does-a-virtual-assistant-cost-in-2026-us-uk-canada-australia/) Virtual assistant cost in 2026 across the US, UK, Canada and Australia: hourly rates, monthly plans, in-house comparisons and what moves a quote. [Nimra Khalid](https://assistbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/) Explainer Sep 19, 2026 8 min read ### [Human virtual assistant vs AI assistant: what each does well in 2026](https://assistbpo.com/resources/human-virtual-assistant-vs-ai-assistant-what-each-does-well-in-2026/) A balanced look at human vs AI assistants in 2026: where AI wins on drafting, summaries and overnight overflow, where a person wins, and how to run both. [Shahzaib Shah](https://assistbpo.com/team/shahzaib-shah/) Comparison Sep 19, 2026 9 min read ### [Offshore vs nearshore vs onshore assistants: hours, accent, cost and management](https://assistbpo.com/resources/offshore-vs-nearshore-vs-onshore-assistants-hours-accent-cost-and-management/) Offshore vs onshore virtual assistant compared on published 2026 rates by region, hours overlap, phone fit and who manages and replaces the person. [Nimra Khalid](https://assistbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/) ## Hiring Checklist Sep 19, 2026 8 min read ### [How to evaluate a virtual assistant company: 30 questions to ask](https://assistbpo.com/resources/how-to-evaluate-a-virtual-assistant-company-30-questions-to-ask/) 30 questions to ask a virtual assistant company, grouped by employment model, phones, hours, security, management, pricing, replacement and references. [Issabela Masters](https://assistbpo.com/team/issabela-masters/) Checklist Sep 19, 2026 8 min read ### [How to onboard a virtual assistant in 72 hours (checklist)](https://assistbpo.com/resources/how-to-onboard-a-virtual-assistant-in-72-hours-checklist/) A day-by-day virtual assistant onboarding checklist: access before day one, a written brief by hour 24, real work by hour 48 and a report by hour 72. [Nimra Khalid](https://assistbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/) Guide Sep 19, 2026 9 min read ### [How to hire a virtual assistant: a 10-step guide for small businesses](https://assistbpo.com/resources/how-to-hire-a-virtual-assistant-a-10-step-guide-for-small-businesses/) How to hire a virtual assistant in 10 steps: scope the work, pick a model, set a budget from market rates, run a paid test task and onboard in 72 hours. [Issabela Masters](https://assistbpo.com/team/issabela-masters/) ## Executive & admin Explainer Sep 19, 2026 6 min read ### [Executive assistant vs virtual assistant vs online business manager](https://assistbpo.com/resources/executive-assistant-vs-virtual-assistant-vs-online-business-manager/) Executive assistant vs virtual assistant vs online business manager: scope, seniority, hours and published 2026 rates, with sources and a decision guide. [Issabela Masters](https://assistbpo.com/team/issabela-masters/) Template Sep 19, 2026 7 min read ### [Inbox zero SOP: how an assistant runs your email without you](https://assistbpo.com/resources/inbox-zero-sop-how-an-assistant-runs-your-email-without-you/) A copyable inbox management SOP: eight labels, routing rules, drafting conventions, escalation triggers and the end-of-day report that replaces it. [Shahzaib Shah](https://assistbpo.com/team/shahzaib-shah/) ## Sales Template Sep 19, 2026 7 min read ### [Appointment setting scripts that don't sound like telemarketing](https://assistbpo.com/resources/appointment-setting-scripts-that-don-t-sound-like-telemarketing/) Six appointment setting scripts for consented lists and a DNC-scrubbed dialer, plus openers, objection lines and compliance checks that keep calls human. [Nimra Khalid](https://assistbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/) ## Front desk Template Sep 19, 2026 9 min read ### [How to write a phone script your receptionist can actually use (10 industry templates)](https://assistbpo.com/resources/how-to-write-a-phone-script-your-receptionist-can-actually-use-10-industry-templ/) A receptionist phone script template with a six-block structure, plus 10 short industry scripts for dental, legal, HVAC, real estate, salon and more. [Issabela Masters](https://assistbpo.com/team/issabela-masters/) Explainer Sep 19, 2026 7 min read ### [Per-minute vs dedicated receptionist pricing: the maths behind Ruby, Smith.ai and AnswerConnect plans](https://assistbpo.com/resources/per-minute-vs-dedicated-receptionist-pricing-the-maths-behind-ruby-smith-ai-and-/) Answering service per minute pricing worked at 100, 300, 800 and 1,500 minutes on published Ruby, Smith.ai and AnswerConnect plans, with the crossover. [Nimra Khalid](https://assistbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/) Data Sep 19, 2026 7 min read ### [The real cost of a missed call by industry (2026 data)](https://assistbpo.com/resources/the-real-cost-of-a-missed-call-by-industry-2026-data/) The cost of a missed call, calculated from your own numbers: calls, missed share, new-business share, average ticket and close rate, with worked examples. [Shahzaib Shah](https://assistbpo.com/team/shahzaib-shah/) Comparison Sep 19, 2026 7 min read ### [Virtual assistant vs answering service vs AI receptionist: which one fits your phones?](https://assistbpo.com/resources/virtual-assistant-vs-answering-service-vs-ai-receptionist-which-one-fits-your-ph/) Virtual assistant vs answering service vs AI receptionist compared on monthly cost, call quality, admin capacity, hours and compliance, with 2026 pricing. [Shahzaib Shah](https://assistbpo.com/team/shahzaib-shah/) ## Legal Guide Sep 19, 2026 9 min read ### [Legal intake outsourcing: how law firms answer in seconds and qualify every lead](https://assistbpo.com/resources/legal-intake-outsourcing-how-law-firms-answer-in-seconds-and-qualify-every-lead/) Legal intake outsourcing explained: the intake script, conflict-check data capture, speed to lead and how trained staff work inside Clio and Lawmatics. [Shahzaib Shah](https://assistbpo.com/team/shahzaib-shah/) ## Real estate Listicle Sep 19, 2026 7 min read ### [Real estate virtual assistant: 40 tasks agents hand off first](https://assistbpo.com/resources/real-estate-virtual-assistant-40-tasks-agents-hand-off-first/) Real estate virtual assistant tasks, all 40, grouped by transaction, listing, lead, marketing and admin, with the tool each lives in and a 30-day order. [Issabela Masters](https://assistbpo.com/team/issabela-masters/) ## Research Data Sep 19, 2026 14 min read ### [State of Virtual Assistant Services 2026 (first-party report)](https://assistbpo.com/resources/state-of-virtual-assistant-services-2026-first-party-report/) State of virtual assistant services 2026: market size, adoption, workload mix, pay and pricing across the US, UK, Canada and Australia, every source named. [Shahzaib Shah](https://assistbpo.com/team/shahzaib-shah/) Data Sep 19, 2026 10 min read ### [Virtual assistant statistics 2026: adoption, cost and market data](https://assistbpo.com/resources/virtual-assistant-statistics-2026-adoption-cost-and-market-data/) Virtual assistant statistics for 2026: market size and growth, adoption by US businesses, workload mix, pay by market and published receptionist pricing. [Nimra Khalid](https://assistbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/) ## Compliance Explainer Sep 19, 2026 8 min read ### [TCPA rules for appointment setting and reminder calls in 2026](https://assistbpo.com/resources/tcpa-rules-for-appointment-setting-and-reminder-calls-in-2026/) TCPA appointment setting rules in 2026: consent types, 8am to 9pm calling hours, DNC scrubbing, revocation, state mini-TCPAs and a reminder script. [Shahzaib Shah](https://assistbpo.com/team/shahzaib-shah/) ## Trades Guide Sep 19, 2026 7 min read ### [Virtual assistant for contractors: the CSR + dispatch model for trades](https://assistbpo.com/resources/virtual-assistant-for-contractors-the-csr-dispatch-model-for-trades/) How plumbing, HVAC and electrical contractors pair a remote CSR with a dispatcher to answer every call, book more jobs and keep techs moving, plus KPIs. [Issabela Masters](https://assistbpo.com/team/issabela-masters/) ## Delegation Checklist Sep 19, 2026 9 min read ### [What to delegate first: the 60-task delegation audit](https://assistbpo.com/resources/what-to-delegate-first-the-60-task-delegation-audit/) What to delegate to a virtual assistant first: a 60-task audit grouped by the seven desks, with a scoring rule, a copyable table and a hand-off brief. [Nimra Khalid](https://assistbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/) Newsletter ## The Handled list: one useful note a month One delegation playbook, one phone script or SOP template, and what changed that month in TCPA, PECR, CASL or the Do Not Call rules. No pitches, unsubscribe any time. New guides are published every month and listed here by pillar. Subscribe by [RSS](https://assistbpo.com/rss.xml). Editorial rules: [editorial policy](https://assistbpo.com/editorial-policy/). Next step ## How do I get a staffing plan? Tell us what is overloaded. A named person replies within 1 business day with a staffing plan, and we propose your assistant within 72 hours. [Get a staffing plan](https://assistbpo.com/get-a-staffing-plan/) [Book a 20-minute call](https://assistbpo.com/book-a-call/) Or call [+1-657-777-0006](tel:+16577770006) during US, UK or Australian business hours, or [hear our demo receptionist](https://assistbpo.com/demo-line/). - A named assistant proposed within 72 hours - Employed, screened and managed staff, never freelancers - Your hours, your tools, your data --- Source: https://assistbpo.com/resources/ · Contact: https://assistbpo.com/contact/ · Full site map for agents: https://assistbpo.com/llms.txt