Tech Geeks? Check. Worker Bees? Sure.

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Drawbacks: Even the best virtual assistant can't match in-house help. "I tell clients we're horrible at getting coffee," Lay says. And though SimpleBackOffice has contingency plans to make sure its temps stay online, there's always a risk that technology glitches and bad weather could temporarily knock out communications.

What it costs: If you buy services à la carte, it's $35 an hour. If you commit to a certain number of hours per month, rates range from $16 to $20 an hour. Sign up for 80 hours per month and the cost is $17.89 per hour or $17,174 for the year. Contracts are on a month-to-month basis, so you're not locked into a long-term agreement.

When you need fresh, young talent on the cheap

The company: Brill Street + Company, Chicago

Why we like it: Think of Brill Street as a matchmaker between college students and businesses seeking talented temps. The company recruits and assesses the skills of students, all of whom must maintain a B average and be able to work at least 20 hours per week. Students are then placed in positions related to their field of study. If Brill Street doesn't have a good fit in its existing pool, it will recruit a match. And clients get the added perk of forging relationships with soon-to-be graduates so they can develop a pipeline for young talent. Rob Dennison, CEO of Adams Harris, a Chicago-based consulting firm, has used Brill Streeters to do market research, identify potential new clients, do tech support, and recruit new hires. He estimates he has saved at least 50 percent by choosing Brill Street instead of a traditional temp firm that places skilled workers. "And I'd argue I'm getting better talent," Dennison says.

Drawback: When you hire a Brill Streeter, you're trading experience for enthusiasm. There will be a learning curve.

What it costs: $25 to $35 per hour

When you need high-tech talent

The company: Matrix Resources, Atlanta

Why we like it: There's no shortage of reliable tech staffing firms across the country. That said, we like Matrix's holistic approach to meeting clients' IT needs. Matrix is a combination staffing and consulting firm. The agency places both temporary and permanent workers. Matrix also has its own tech-savvy employees who can complete projects for clients off-site -- redesigning a website, for example, or developing or testing software. Matrix's placement officers also try to make sure that the employees they send to a client mesh with the company's culture. "The Matrix team really does get to know your company and the personalities that make up your staff," says Paul M. Turner III, chief information officer at Duluth, Georgia -- based AUS Information Systems, a company that sets up and maintains Internet and phone services for small businesses.

Drawback: Though Matrix has filled positions in most U.S. states, its consultants and temps are concentrated in 14 metropolitan offices. So it may not be able to take on a major project in, say, Augusta, Maine.

What it costs: For temp work, Matrix typically bills clients from $65 to $80 per hour, about 80 percent of which goes to the temp. Projects handled off-site are billed on a flat-fee basis.

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