Started by a business owner who hires VAs himself

Daniel's story

Daniel Kirkham is a second-generation owner of a promotional products distributorship. Around 2015, he started hearing from business-owner friends who had hired virtual assistants to help them grow.

Daniel faced the decision every growing business hits: work more hours, or hire. After five years of encouragement, he made the leap and hired his first virtual assistant in the Philippines to take graphic design off his plate.

The experience exceeded his expectations. He has since hired several more VAs in the Philippines and encouraged other business owners to do the same.

Daniel became a strong advocate for outsourcing to VAs and began consulting with friends and other businesses to help them hire their own. 1221 Talent grew out of that work. Its goal is simple: help businesses grow with skilled, cost-effective VAs, and help those relationships last.

What we do

We connect U.S. businesses with screened, English-speaking virtual assistants in the Philippines. We check each candidate's English, their work experience, and how that experience fits your role. You interview the shortlist and choose who to hire.

You pay 1221 Talent one hourly rate, $8 to $15 depending on the role, and we pay your VA. After you hire, we help you train your VA with best practices and the right tools, and we help your VA learn how you like to work. If it isn't a good fit, we help you search for another VA.

Who we work with

Small and growing businesses across the United States, including in Lake Oswego and the Portland metro area. If you have work that can be done remotely and taught with clear processes, a VA can probably help.