Alchemy VA

What Alchemy VA does

Alchemy VA Ltd is a UK-based, family-run virtual assistant services firm founded by Suzy Sanders in 2016 from a home office in Northamptonshire. The company provides remote administration, marketing, scheduling, project coordination, customer support, diary management, content creation, research, travel booking and general operational assistance to entrepreneurs, sole traders, micro/small businesses, agencies, consultants and high-profile individuals. Service delivery relies on standard remote-collaboration tooling (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, shared calendars, task management systems and cloud storage) rather than proprietary technology, with a team-based operating model that provides continuity and backup coverage that solo VAs cannot offer. Pricing combines monthly retainer plans starting at £200+VAT and hourly engagements at typical UK VA rates of £30-£40, with specialist/strategic support priced higher.

Alchemy VA generates revenue through two distinct streams: a direct client services line billed as subscription/recurring retainers plus usage-based hourly work, and a franchise/licensing line launched in November 2019 under the 'Alchemy VA Hub' sub-brand, accredited by the Approved Franchise Association. The first franchise Hub opened in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire in January 2020 under Hub Manager Sarah Damani, with the franchise model positioned as a nationwide replication vehicle. Go-to-market is predominantly sales-led and referral-driven: a structured 'Chemistry Call' onboarding process, a free Virtual Assistant Readiness Evaluation tool (built on ScoreApp), content marketing via blog and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), networking events and earned media through business awards.

The firm has no external venture or growth capital; ownership remains with founders Suzy Sanders and Paul Sanders (Managing Director, who joined full-time in 2017). Operational governance includes ICO registration and standard business insurances, and the 'Alchemy® VA' mark is a registered trade mark of Alchemy VA Ltd (company number 12277275). The business has accumulated multiple regional and national recognitions between 2018 and 2020, including Midlands VA of the Year, SME Northamptonshire Business Awards, Northamptonshire Business Awards Innovation finalist, We Are The City Rising Star nominee, Great British Entrepreneur Awards recognition, and AFA Awards Programme finalist status.

Name

Alchemy VA

Legal name

Alchemy VA Ltd

Website

https://alchemyva.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alchemy VA is a family-run UK virtual assistant services firm founded in 2016, providing remote administration, marketing and operational support to entrepreneurs, small businesses, agencies and high-profile individuals, with a secondary franchise model launched in 2019.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Northampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Virtual Assistant Services: Hourly and monthly retainer-based professional services providing remote administration, marketing, scheduling, project coordination, and operational assistance to business owners. Clients pay for fractional support on an ongoing basis, with typical engagement starting at a minimum commitment.
2. Virtual Assistant Franchise: Franchise model where individuals invest in becoming Alchemy VA Hub Managers, receiving training, brand support, client referrals, and mentoring. The first Hub opened in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire in January 2020.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Alchemy VA delivers remote virtual assistant services - including administration, inbox and diary management, practical marketing, scheduling, project coordination, research, content creation, social media support, travel bookings and general business support - to UK entrepreneurs, consultants, agencies and small businesses on monthly retainer (from £200+VAT) and usage-based hourly engagements. Alongside direct services, the firm licenses its brand and operating model via the Alchemy VA Hub franchise for aspiring VAs to run their own territory businesses under accreditation by the Approved Franchise Association.

Product overview

Alchemy VA offers a portfolio of Virtual Assistant services as its core product, providing remote administrative, marketing, and personal assistance support. The company operates both direct client services and a franchise model. Additional offerings include a free readiness evaluation tool for prospective clients and VA professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alchemy VA Hub: Franchise model for Virtual Assistant Hub Managers to operate their own Alchemy VA businesses under the brand.

Products and services

• Virtual Assistant Services Remote Virtual Assistant services delivering administration, inbox and diary management, practical marketing, scheduling, project coordination, research, content creation, social media support, travel bookings and general business support for UK entrepreneurs, consultants, agencies and small businesses, billed via monthly retainer (from £200+VAT) and hourly/usage-based engagements.
• Virtual Assistant Franchise (Alchemy VA Hub) Business ownership opportunity allowing individuals to establish their own Virtual Assistant Hub under the Alchemy VA brand, receiving accredited training, brand support, client referrals and mentoring, and delivering remote PA, marketing and admin services under licence in their own UK territory.

Quantifiable outcome

• Emmy was enabled to grow her business again following a demanding period of survival, regaining creativity and joy in her work.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Lewis FoundationminorOthersThe Lewis Foundation was chosen as Alchemy VA's charity for 2020. The Northampton-based charity provides free gift packs to adults receiving cancer treatment in hospitals throughout the Midlands. Alchemy VA supports the charity with various aspects of their social media activities, raising awareness of the foundation, its supporters, and team of volunteers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Virtalent: UK-based subscription virtual assistant service targeting entrepreneurs, consultants and small businesses with experienced VAs. Closely comparable in target customer, pricing model (monthly subscription) and service scope to Alchemy VA.
• Time Etc: UK-founded virtual assistant service matching SMBs and entrepreneurs with US/UK-based VAs for admin, marketing, and scheduling support. Direct competitor to Alchemy VA in the UK SMB market, with a larger, more mature team-based model and broader service catalogue.
• VA Staffer: Provides dedicated, experienced virtual assistants to small businesses and entrepreneurs, often via monthly retainer arrangements. Operates a similar team-based model with subscription pricing aimed at ambitious SMBs in the same segment as Alchemy VA.
• FuseVau: UK-based virtual assistant provider serving small businesses and entrepreneurs with admin, marketing, and operational support. Closely comparable UK-market SMB focus and team-based delivery model to Alchemy VA.

Broad incumbents

• Prialto: Managed virtual assistant service providing integrated admin, sales support, and marketing assistance to SMBs and executives via subscription. Comparable in subscription model and SMB/executive focus, though larger and more US-centric than Alchemy VA.
• Belay Solutions: US-based virtual staffing company providing executive assistants, bookkeepers, and web assistants to entrepreneurs and SMBs via subscription. Comparable subscription-based, relationship-driven VA model to Alchemy VA but at much greater scale and US-focused.
• Wing: Tech-enabled virtual assistant company offering dedicated remote VAs for sales, admin and operations support to SMBs and startups globally. Comparable subscription VA offering to Alchemy VA, but backed by more capital and operating across multiple geographies.
• Boldly: US-headquartered premium subscription VA agency serving entrepreneurs, executives and small businesses with experienced remote assistants. Comparable positioning to Alchemy VA in target customer and retainer-based model, but operates at significantly greater scale and with a US-centric team.
• GetFriday: India-headquartered personal and virtual assistant service providing remote admin, scheduling and lifestyle support to individuals and small businesses. Comparable VA service model to Alchemy VA but competes primarily on price via offshore delivery.

Regional players

• MyTasker: India-based virtual assistant service offering remote admin, scheduling, travel and personal assistance to clients globally including the UK. Comparable VA service scope but operates primarily with an offshore delivery model competing on cost rather than UK-based relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4AwxcXDUwtP0WvxaM9kxgQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlchemyVAUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alchemy-virtual-assistance
• Instagraminstagram.com/alchemyvauk/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alchemy VA