Kirsten Graham is a virtual assistant (VA) and outsourcing expert who helps business owners reclaim their time, boost productivity, and scale smart—primarily through leveraging overseas talent. With a background in real estate, mortgages, and entrepreneurship, Kirsten is passionate about teaching entrepreneurs and professionals how to delegate low-value tasks, streamline their operations, and focus on high-impact activities. As co-founder of Six Figure Business Coaching, she helps her clients move from invisibility to visibility through video marketing, podcast guesting, and skilled virtual support.

On this episode we talk about:

Kirsten’s first dollar earned through babysitting and her early journey into entrepreneurship

Moving from real estate and mortgage to running a business that connects clients with remote talent worldwide

Why hiring VAs for $6–$8 an hour can transform a business’s profitability and owner’s freedom

The importance of hiring for very specific tasks rather than seeking a “unicorn” VA who does everything

How treating remote team members with respect, paid time off, and long-term opportunities leads to retention and success

The step-by-step model her company uses: interviewing, hiring, vetting, and training VAs for real estate, coaches, and service businesses

Business models in the VA/outsource space: agency-style vs. direct-hire, margin differences, scalability, and how to choose a right-fit path

The power of niching down (e.g., offering HighLevel-trained VAs or bookkeeping-specific VAs) and how to grow from a narrow offer

Integrating AI: how today’s VAs must be AI-fluent and how business owners can multiply efficiency by combining VAs and automation

Why “boring” service businesses—like bookkeeping, HVAC, plumbing—are among the most reliable, profitable, and least likely to be automated by AI

Buying, not just starting, a business: opportunities in acquiring already-running companies and upgrading them through outsourcing and systems

Top 3 Takeaways

Outsource for Freedom and Profit: Move all $6–$8/hour tasks off your plate; focus on what grows your business, not what just keeps it running.

Niche, Train, and Systematize: Specialize your offer (e.g., marketing VAs, bookkeeping VAs, software-specific VAs) and use robust SOPs and ongoing training for client satisfaction and scale.

Combine Talent, AI, and Acquisition: The biggest wins come from integrating skilled remote talent with AI-powered automations—whether you’re starting from scratch or buying a business to modernize.

Notable Quotes

“If you’re doing a $6 an hour task, you’re doing it wrong. You should have someone else doing those tasks for you.”

“It’s easier to hire someone and keep them for years than to constantly replace people. Treat your VAs well—they’re your team.”

“Boring, unsexy businesses—like HVAC, bookkeeping, auto repair—are not going to be replaced by AI anytime soon, but they’re always going to be profitable and needed.”

Connect with Kirsten Graham:

Website: sixfigurebusinesscoaching.com

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