Investment or Expense? How to Tell the Difference

Let’s talk about value.

Most people don’t think twice about spending money on things that maintain their home or lifestyle:

🏡 House cleaner – keeps things tidy
🌱 Lawn care – keeps the yard looking sharp
💦 Pool service – keeps the water crystal clear
❄️ HVAC technician – keeps the air running smoothly

We justify these as necessary expenses because they make life easier, keep things running, and free us from tasks we don’t have time, expertise, or desire to do.

But when it comes to business support, people hesitate.

They wonder: Do I really need this? Can I just handle it myself?

So, what’s the difference between an investment and an expense?

Here’s the test:

❌ An expense costs you money and doesn’t generate future value.
✅ An investment pays for itself in time, growth, or financial return.

Hiring a remote Executive Assistant is not just a cost—it’s an investment in your time, energy, and ability to focus on what actually grows your business.

How Much Is Your Time Worth?

If you’re willing to pay hundreds of dollars for a pool guy, lawn care, or a house cleaner… how much more should you be willing to invest in freeing up your time for the work only you can do?

💡 If you’re spending hours on emails, scheduling, admin work, research, task management, inbox management, or any number of other administratively focused tasks—ask yourself:

Why would I pay someone to mow my lawn but not to protect my most valuable resource, my time?

Reframe the Question

Instead of asking, “Can I afford an EA?”

Ask, “Can I afford NOT to have one?”

Because every hour you spend on work that doesn’t grow your business is an hour lost. And you can’t buy time back… well, you can, but only in advance, not retroactively.

You know what’s an expense?

Burnout. Lost focus. Missed opportunities.

You know what’s an investment?

Hiring the right support so you can lead at your highest level.

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