A secretary at €3,500, or an AI assistant from €149?
The verdict in one sentence: to answer, note requests and remind about unpaid invoices without interruption, an AI assistant we run for you costs a fraction of a salaried role — but a human keeps the edge for on-site reception and delicate contact.
Salaried secretary vs Secondia
| Criterion | Salaried secretary | Secondia |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | ≈ €3,200 – 4,200 total employer cost (gross salary + social contributions + holiday pay) | €149 – €449/month + setup |
| Availability | 35 h/week, minus leave and sick days | At the hours agreed with you |
| What is taken care of | Reception, calendar, delegated tasks | Phone + unpaid-invoice reminders — both, or just one of your choice |
| Time to live | Hiring + training: several weeks | Live in under a week, set up for you |
| Absences | Leave, illness, notice, cover to organise | No absences, nobody to replace |
| If work grows | One person = a capped volume | Absorbs peaks without extra hiring |
| Commitment | Permanent contract, social contributions, costly to end | No commitment, written measurable objective + service continuity guarantee |
| When it overflows | Queue builds up, callbacks forgotten in a rush | You are told according to your rules — nothing is lost |
Indicative ranges, not promises: the cost of an employee depends on region, experience and joint committee.
When to choose what
When a human secretary is still the right call
- •You need someone on site: front-desk reception, paper mail, on-site organisation.
- •The human touch is core to your trade: delicate negotiation, listening on sensitive cases, reading between the lines.
- •There is enough work for a full-time role and you prefer someone fully part of the team.
When an AI assistant we run for you takes the lead
- •You lose calls and requests outside office hours or at busy times — the AI never sleeps.
- •You want to cover two tasks (phone and unpaid-invoice reminders) without hiring more.
- •You want a cost you know in advance, with no social contributions and nobody to replace when they leave.
What people ask us
Does an AI assistant really replace a secretary?
For everything that repeats and follows clear rules — answering, understanding the need, noting the request, reminding about an unpaid invoice — yes, and without interruption. For on-site reception and delicate contact, a human keeps the edge. The two combine well: the AI takes the bulk of the volume, the human focuses on what needs finesse.
Is the €3,500 figure realistic?
It's a careful estimate for a full-time role in Belgium: gross salary, employer contributions to ONSS (social security), holiday pay and a 13th month. Depending on experience and the joint committee (which sets pay in your sector), expect €3,200 to €4,200 in total employer cost. The AI assistant costs between €149 and €449/month, plus setup.
What happens when a request falls outside the rules?
The assistant never makes up an answer. Anything beyond your instructions is passed to you — by SMS or in your portal — so you decide. You keep control over everything that matters.
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What would each option really cost you?
Book the free 30-minute diagnostic: we look at your situation and tell you honestly whether an AI assistant, a hire, or both make sense for you.
Other comparisons
Have a trade in mind? See our pages for trades, doctors and lawyers.
Also read: the AI phone receptionist for Belgian SMBs and invoice follow-ups (Peppol 2026) · all our comparisons.