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Some people are so busy that they don't even know where to begin. After starting her dog-walking business, Mastrioanni found she needed help herself as she juggled two jobs, a marriage and two dogs.

She turned to a Web service called AssistU (www.assistu.com). Founded by Stacy Brice in 1997, the service helps you locate a virtual personal assistant who can do everything from making doctor appointments to paying bills to being the emergency contact for your family.

With 250 personal assistants around the country to choose from, Brice says that some 50 to 100 small-business owners and busy families visit the site for help every month. And the price can be right. Virtual personal assistant rates vary depending upon the skills required but, on average, they cost $30 an hour.