What is a Virtual Research Assistant?

Prialto

Managed virtual assistant services for busy executives and enterprise teams.

Published Aug 6, 2025

If you've ever lost hours going down a Google rabbit hole looking for vendors, digging up market data, or prepping for a pitch, you're not alone.

Most business owners don’t mind doing internet research. But when you’re juggling a packed calendar, client calls, and growing your small business, digging for data quickly drops to the bottom of the to-do list. No matter how much you need it.

One study found that the average worker spends 3.6 hours every day searching for information on the job. Think of all of the other more valuable tasks you and your team could complete if those hours weren’t used for research.

That’s where a research virtual assistant comes in.

Whether you're comparing software tools, building a prospect list, or trying to understand your competitors, a virtual research assistant does the heavy lifting so you can stay focused on strategy.

In this post, we’ll walk through what a research virtual assistant does, how they support growing teams, and why they’re one of the smartest ways to streamline your workflow.

What Is a Research Virtual Assistant?

A virtual research assistant is someone who helps you gather and organize information, so you don’t have to. Think of them as the go-to person on your team who’s always ready to dig into the details:

Compiling competitor analysis data
Sourcing contact lists
Tracking down vendor options
Summarizing the latest market trends
Building prospect lists

In many cases, research services are just one part of a broader set of responsibilities a virtual assistant handles like:

But if your business needs involve a constant flow of information (say you're a consultant juggling multiple client research projects or a founder prepping for investor calls), it might make sense to bring on a VA who focuses solely on research.

They serve as entry-level team members, assisting with administrative tasks. However, unlike full-time staff, they work remotely, you don’t have to cover their overhead costs, and they’re highly efficient.

Whether you need a quick roundup of industry stats or a deep dive into potential partners, a research VA helps you work smarter by taking time-consuming digging off your plate.

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