Most VA firms are staffing agencies with a website

They find someone on a job board, connect you over Zoom, and disappear. When your hire quits, gets sick, or isn't qualified — you're back to square one. That model worked in 2019. It doesn't work when you're handling PHI, managing claims, or processing prior authorizations.

🚩
38%
Average VA turnover within 90 days

Traditional VA firms have no retention infrastructure. When work-from-home contractors get a better offer, they leave.

⚠️
$0
Compliance infrastructure included by VA firms

No HIPAA training, no VPN, no encrypted connections, no biometric access. You inherit all the compliance risk.

📉
0%
Ongoing training provided

VA firms don't train. Your hire arrives with whatever skills they listed on their resume. If payer rules change, they don't know.

🏠
100%
Work from home — no oversight

Your VA works from their kitchen table. No IT support, no backup equipment, no supervision. If their internet goes down, so does your front desk.

What you actually get

FeatureTraditional VA FirmsEdge
Talent sourcingJob boards, freelancer marketplacesProprietary network — 2-4% acceptance rate through Edge Edu
HIPAA complianceSelf-reported. No verification.Certified through Edge Edu. Secured campus with VPN, encryption, biometric access
Work environmentWork from home — unmonitoredProfessional campus facility with dual ISP, backup power, IT Bar
EquipmentBYOD — personal laptopCompany-issued enterprise laptop, monitor, headset, webcam
Ongoing trainingNoneContinuous Edge Edu certification — payer updates, system training, career growth
Replacement guaranteeVaries — usually 30 daysFull replacement at $0 cost, 7-day average turnaround
EOR / employer of recordYou manage the contractor relationshipEdge is the employer. Payroll, benefits, HR, taxes — all handled
Relationship managerAccount rep (sales-focused)Dedicated RM who knows your practice, workflows, and team
IT supportNone — you troubleshootOn-site IT Bar at every campus. Equipment replacement within hours
Talent retention~62% at 12 months97% at 12 months — career paths, benefits, campus community
Cost$8-15/hr + your time managingFlat monthly fee — 60-70% less than US in-house. Everything included.

The hidden costs of "cheap" VAs

$4,700
Average cost to replace a VA who quits

Recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, training on your systems, lost productivity during ramp-up

6-8 weeks
Time to full productivity

Untrained VAs take months to learn your workflows. Edge talent arrives pre-certified on your systems.

$250K+
Potential HIPAA violation fine

If your WFH contractor exposes PHI from an unsecured network, your practice is liable — not theirs.

★★★★★

"We tried two different VA companies before Edge. Both hires quit within three months. With Edge, our medical biller has been with us over two years — she's better than anyone we've ever hired locally."

Dr. Sarah Mitchell
Owner, Mitchell Family Practice — 3 providers, 2 Edge professionals

Common questions about Edge vs. VA firms

Is Edge more expensive than a typical VA company?
Edge's flat monthly fee is typically comparable to VA firms when you factor in all costs. VA firms quote low hourly rates but don't include equipment, compliance, training, or replacement costs. Edge includes everything — salary, benefits, equipment, campus, compliance, IT support, and a dedicated relationship manager.
Can I interview my hire before they start?
Yes. Edge matches you with pre-vetted, Edge Edu-certified candidates and you interview and approve your hire before placement. You choose who joins your team.
What happens if my Edge hire doesn't work out?
Edge provides a full replacement at $0 cost with structured knowledge transfer. Average replacement time is 7 days. There's no penalty, no gap in coverage, and no re-onboarding fees.
Do Edge professionals work from home?
No. Every Edge professional works from a secured campus facility with enterprise equipment, dual ISP, backup power, biometric access, and on-site IT support. This is what makes HIPAA compliance actually reliable.
My current VA works fine. Why would I switch?
If your current VA is working well, that's great. Edge is designed for practices that need reliability at scale — when one person leaving can't disrupt your operations, and when compliance isn't a hope but a guarantee. Many Edge clients come to us after their second or third VA didn't work out.
What industries does Edge specialize in?
Edge specializes in healthcare, dental, insurance, and accounting. Every Edge Edu certification is industry-specific — your medical biller learns your EHR, your payers, and your workflows before day one.

Stop replacing VAs. Start building a team.

See how Edge's managed talent platform compares to your current staffing approach — with real numbers for your practice.

Book a Demo →