Outsourcing: Hire A Hubby and
The Virtual Hub
The Mentor With Mark Bouris
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Episode breakdown
Mark Bouris speaks to business owners and entrepreneurs, finding out what makes them tick and their plans for growth. Some business owners are on the way up and enjoying new success, others are at a turning point. Mark digs into their stories and finds out why they set out to create their own path, their challenges and where they go from here. Based on his own personal experiences and learnings, he also passes on his own guidance on how to take their business to the next level.
- Services offered by Hire A Hubby
- Training and certificates to back up what they do
- Work hard but work smart
- Females working back office
- What support assistants do at The Virtual Hub
- Training support assistants
- How The Virtual Hub started
- Finding problems and solving them that people are willing to pay money for
- Challenges within the business
- Barbara’s career journey from corporate to business coaching and The Virtual Hub
- Being tough as an entrepreneur
If you don’t know what you’re doing yourself, it’s very hard to work with a virtual assistant.
In this episode
00:00 - Introduction
Mark Bouris introduces the episode, framing outsourcing as a growing trend in both personal and business life. He sets the stage by welcoming Brendan Green (Hire A Hubby) and Barbara Turley (The Virtual Hub).
01:26 - The Origins of Hire A Hubby
Brendan Green explains the company’s beginnings in the 1990s, evolving from lawn and garden outsourcing into handyman services. The quirky name came from the idea of “hiring your hubby” for odd jobs.
02:52 - Franchise Model and Training
Green outlines the franchise system, training requirements, and why the business avoids low-margin lawn care, focusing instead on repairs, maintenance, and renovations.
06:09 - Operations and Customer Flow
Discussion of how customer inquiries are managed through call centers and IT systems, with jobs allocated to local franchisees via a Salesforce-based platform.
07:25 - Franchise Fees and Business Value
Hire A Hubby uses a flat monthly management fee instead of taking a percentage of each job, allowing franchisees to grow and later sell their businesses.
09:48 -Support, Culture, and Burnout Prevention
Green emphasizes support systems, admin services, and HR guidance. Franchisees are encouraged to plan holidays and maintain work-life balance.
15:10 - Competition and Innovation
The company’s competitive edge comes from technology, strong support, and brand trust, reinforced by conferences and a collegiate culture.
16:32 - Outsourcing Trends and Customer Expectations
Green notes the decline in trade skills among younger generations and the rising demand for handyman outsourcing. Customers value reliability and guarantees over price.
20:36 - Expansion into IT Solutions
Hire A Hubby develops an IT platform to support operations and considers expanding it into other industries. Bouris advises seeking venture capital.
27:01 - Introduction to The Virtual Hub
Barbara Turley introduces her business, founded in 2015, providing Support Assistants for SMEs in admin and digital marketing.
27:36 - Defining Support Assistants
Turley explains the role of Support Assistants as task-focused staff, not strategists, and stresses the importance of pairing them with clear processes.
32:48 - Early Challenges and Reinvention
She recounts early struggles with mismatched clients and undertrained Support Assistants, leading her to rebuild with structured training and better client selection.
37:38 - Business Model and Scalability
The Virtual Hub offers dedicated part-time or full-time Support Assistants on flexible monthly subscriptions, supported by strong recruiting and training systems in the Philippines.
39:46 - Growth Strategy and Global Expansion
Turley outlines plans for European expansion, leveraging Ireland’s tech and finance background, and highlights the scalability of her platform.
44:57- Personal Journey and Resilience
She shares her transition from corporate banking to entrepreneurship, including setbacks, depression, and the resilience needed to persist.
52:22 - Balancing Growth and Lifestyle
Turley reflects on balancing rapid growth with personal life as a new mother. Bouris advises pacing growth sustainably while staying alert to competition.
57:28 - Closing Reflections
Barbara Turley affirms her strong position and focus on growth. Bouris closes by acknowledging her achievements and the importance of aligning business goals with personal values.
