Frequently Asked Questions.
Q: Services
What kind of services do you provide?
Poppy offers flexible support for both personal and business needs. Think errands, pet care, lifestyle assistance, event support, admin tasks, and even temporary onsite help for small businesses.
See our Services page for more details.
What if I’m not in Winnipeg?
We can accommodate MB residents that live a maximum of a 1-hour drive from Winnipeg’s city centre.
Please note, for service addresses outside of the city limits, the time it takes to drive to and from the job site will be added to your final invoice.
If you’re looking hire an assistant for virtual work, get in touch and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Q: Trust
How are assistants vetted?
We execute the same background checks you would get if hiring in a large corporation.
Every assistant goes through background and registry checks, with credential or education verification where applicable.
How can I trust that my information will be kept confidential?
All Poppy employees are bound by legal confidentiality agreements.
The details of these agreements are also included in the client service agreement you will be prompted to consent to when paying your deposit.
Does Poppy PA have insurance?
Yes.
Poppy has Commercial General Liability insurance of $1M & Professional Liability (E&O) insurance of $1M.
Q: Process
How do I request an assistant?
Book a call!
Because Poppy offers such a wide and varied list of services, and because every life and business is so unique, we find it’s best to get you on the phone to talk through the details. That way, you’re never second-guessing yourself when filling out an intake form.
You tell us what you need. We tell you how we’ll help.
For more info on the process, see our How it Works page.
Q: Payments & Fees
What are your rates?
Base rates are:
$50 per hour on weekdays (M-F 8AM-5PM)
$60 per hour for evenings/weekends/holidays/peak periods
See our Pricing page for more details.
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Yes.
We require a one-hour minimum booking.
After that, billing is done in 30-minute increments, so you only pay for the time you actually need.
Do I have to pay a deposit?
Yes.
A one-hour deposit is required once your booking is approved. This deposit is applied directly to your final invoice.
Please note that our assistants’ schedules will not be reserved until the deposit is paid.
Q: Retainers
What if I need recurring support?
We offer our ‘Frequent Support’ retainer for 10+ hours at a discounted hourly rate.
With this plan you’ll work with the same assistant, schedule your hours in advance (if possible), and have priority access.
Contact us for details.
How do retainers work?
If you need to book 10+ hours spread over multiple days, paying a retainer is a great option for you. This is ideal for people/businesses that need an assistant for a project or who delegate their work on a weekly/monthly basis.
Individuals and businesses booking on a retainer basis receive a $5/hour discount.
You simply pay your retainer up front, schedule your required hours (if you know them), and your Poppy Personal Assistant will work until all your pre-booked hours are used.
If you reach the end of your retainer hours and still have work to do, you can pay-as-you-go at our regular base rate or pay another retainer at the discounted rate.
Less busy than you thought? Retainer hours can roll over into the following month.
Need to cancel? We require 24-hours notice. Less than that, the booked hours will come out of your retainer balance.
Q: Logistics
How do you track and bill my time?
Our assistants use a time tracking app to securely record the time they used to complete your task.
On Mondays, we send out invoices for all of the work incurred the previous week. Payments are due within 48 hours by credit card or e-transfer.
If you’ve requested a budgeted amount of hours, we will let you know when we’re coming up to the end of that time. Just let us know if you want us to stop when we reach it or if you’d like to extend.
Do you charge for mileage?
No.
If the task your assistant is executing requires driving (e.g. picking up groceries, taking the dog to the groomer, etc.) that drive time is included in your final invoice. There will be no additional charges for mileage.
We do not charge for the time it takes to arrive at or leave a job (unless you live outside of the city limits).
How do I pay?
We bill on a weekly basis. On the Monday after your service is complete, we will send your final invoice with payment options.
Invoices are due within 48 hours of being sent (EOD Wednesday) and can be paid by credit card or e-transfer to info@poppypa.com.
If you don’t make the payment by the deadline, we will charge the stored credit card you used to pay your deposit.
See our Service Agreement for more details.
Q: Changes & Cancellations
What happens if something changes?
If the client needs to make a change to time/date/service:
Please let us know as early as possible.
If change/cancellation is made with less than 24 hours notice, the deposit will be forfeited.
If the service requirement changes and we are not able to provide an assistant specializing in the new requirements, the 24-hour policy is still in effect.
If Poppy needs to make a change:
We will notify the client as soon as we become aware of the conflict.
We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate a new service time/plan.
If the client is unable or unwilling to accept the proposed changes, we will refund the deposit in full.
