What Does a Personal Assistant Actually Do? A Real Week Inside a Friday Home
By Friday PA
What does a personal assistant do? A part-time personal assistant handles the recurring work that keeps a home running: emptying the dishwasher, tidying, making beds, laundry, grocery shopping and meal prep, errands, mail and packages, home resets and coordinating vendors. Most work a standing schedule of a few hours, one to three times a week, and soon start taking care of things before you think to ask.
Picture walking in the door after a long day. The counters are clear, the beds are made, the laundry is actually put away and the week's meals are prepped and waiting. Nobody had to ask.
"What would a personal assistant actually do in my house?" might be my favorite question, because the honest answer is: whatever makes your week feel lighter. But I know that's not very helpful when you're trying to picture it. So let me show you what it really looks like, from the kitchen counter to the car.
What does a personal assistant do on a typical visit?
A typical visit starts with the kitchen and ends with dinner already taken care of. Here's how one Friday mom described her personal assistant's visits, better than I ever could: "It's like Christmas every time she comes to my house, because I know things are going to get done and I don't have to worry about them."
Her assistant comes twice a week. A typical visit goes something like this. She empties the dishwasher and tidies the kitchen, so the day starts from a clean counter. She makes all the beds. She folds all the laundry and, this is the important part, actually puts it away. Then she heads to the grocery store and meal preps based on what the family is eating that week.
And then there's the banana bread. She makes a chocolate-chip banana bread that the kids absolutely love. She's made about ten loaves so far, and it's become the family's go-to for every single function they attend. Mom may or may not take credit for it when she brings it somewhere. We won't tell.
I love that detail, because it's what happens when help becomes part of how a household works. It stops being "the assistant is coming" and starts being "Tuesday is the day everything gets better."
Does a personal assistant only work inside my house?
No. A lot of the most helpful work a personal assistant does happens out in the world: drop-offs, pickups, errands and resets in more than one place.
Here's a recent day of mine. A client of mine wrote a book, and one of the things he does is donate signed copies to a charity, so my first stop was dropping those off for him. Then I went to his apartment for a little reset. He travels a lot, and he was coming back into town on Tuesday, so I made sure everything was in place and ready to go for him. He'd run out of his favorite lavender soap, so I refilled that too.
That's what we mean by a "reset": walking through a home, putting things back where they belong, restocking what's running low and leaving it ready for the person who lives there. It's one of the most requested things we do, especially for clients who travel or work long hours.
What are the little things a personal assistant handles?
The little things are the open loops, the small recurring tasks that never quite leave your head. They're also where a great assistant makes the biggest difference in how you feel.
Mail and packages are a great example. At Friday, we don't just leave a package at the door. I'll open the package up and put it out exactly the way it should be, so when someone gets home, they're not having to worry about anything. That's honestly one of my favorite things about this work. I love being able to take care of someone completely, to the point where they don't have to do anything.
Pets are another one. I'll gather the doggy treats and supplies into one basket so everything has a home and nobody's digging through three cabinets. And then there are the recurring refills, like the automatic cat feeder that needs filling every single week. It sounds tiny, and it is, but our guide to why tiny tasks like that weigh so much explains why handing them off matters.
Every so often there's a little bonus knowledge, too. Here's one from the field: if you carbonate your own sparkling water at home, use cold water. Cold water carbonates better than room temperature water.
Do personal assistants manage vendors too?
Yes, and a reliable vendor list might be one of the most valuable things your assistant builds for you. Finding people who show up when they say they will is half the battle of running a home.
A client of mine wanted stick-and-peel wallpaper. So I went on TaskRabbit, found an installer, and he did a phenomenal job hanging it. Now I use him all the time for hanging all kinds of things, which is fantastic, because I have a great vendor who comes when he's supposed to come and is really good at his job.
Your assistant becomes the keeper of that list. They find the good ones, schedule them, let them in, check the work and remember who to call next time, so you don't have to.
Will a personal assistant do things my way?
Yes, and they should. Every household does things differently. Some people want their sweaters hung on a special hanger and some want them folded. Pants might be hung or folded, and there are about three different ways to fold a pair of jeans. A good assistant learns your way and sticks to it.
At Friday, our PA Certification teaches the proper methods across the board, so assistants come to your house equipped with all of that knowledge and can use whatever method you prefer. You just tell them once.
How do I figure out what a personal assistant would do for me?
Start by writing down your week and circling what you dread. Here's a starter checklist I give clients.
Every visit:
- Empty the dishwasher and tidy the kitchen
- Make the beds
- Laundry: wash, fold and put away
- A quick reset of the main living areas
Every week:
- Grocery shopping
- Meal prep
- Mail and packages
- Refills like soap, pet food and paper goods
As needed:
- Errands, returns and drop-offs
- Vendor scheduling and on-site visits
- Seasonal projects like closets, holiday decor and the garage
Circle the items that make you sigh. That's your starting list, and it's usually longer than people expect.
What do clients remember most about a great personal assistant?
Clients remember the details, not the task list. The tasks get you hired. The details keep you for years.
If you're a personal assistant, here's my advice. Notice what's running low. Learn how each client likes to communicate. I have some clients I only text, some who mainly email and some who love a phone call, and part of the job is figuring out which is which and using that. And leave the house a little better than the checklist asked for. That's what turns a placement into a relationship.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a personal assistant and a house manager?
A personal assistant typically handles hands-on household tasks and errands on a set schedule. A house manager often oversees the whole home, including staff, vendors and projects. Our guide to personal assistants versus house managers goes deeper.
A personal assistant typically handles hands-on household tasks and errands on a set schedule. A house manager often oversees the whole home, including staff, vendors and projects. Our guide to personal assistants versus house managers goes deeper.
How many hours a week do I need?
Most families start with three to nine hours a week. Friday recommends at least three hours per visit so your assistant has time to finish a full routine. Our Find your hours tool can help you estimate.
Most families start with three to nine hours a week. Friday recommends at least three hours per visit so your assistant has time to finish a full routine. Our Find your hours tool can help you estimate.
Will a personal assistant run errands outside my home?
Yes. Errands like grocery shopping, returns, drop-offs and pickups are a core part of the role, and mileage is tracked in the Friday portal.
Yes. Errands like grocery shopping, returns, drop-offs and pickups are a core part of the role, and mileage is tracked in the Friday portal.
Does a personal assistant cook?
Many do meal prep: shopping, washing, chopping and cooking meals for the week in your kitchen. Tell us during your search if it's a priority.
Many do meal prep: shopping, washing, chopping and cooking meals for the week in your kitchen. Tell us during your search if it's a priority.
Can a personal assistant help when I'm traveling?
Yes. Home resets before you get back, restocking, packages and mail, and pet care are all common while clients are away.
Yes. Home resets before you get back, restocking, packages and mail, and pet care are all common while clients are away.
Look back at that checklist and count your circled items. That's roughly how much of your week is waiting to be handed back to you. If you're ready, get started, and we'll match you with someone who loves exactly that kind of work. You can also see what part-time support looks like at Friday.
