Virtual Ventures

For the season one finale of Virtual Ventures, Cat and Ellie are sharing ten of the biggest business lessons they have learned through years of self-employment, running their own businesses and working behind the scenes in many others.

They talk honestly about the things that can take time to learn: realising that everyone is winging it to some extent, putting yourself out there as an introvert, receiving constructive feedback without taking it personally and accepting that it is perfectly okay not to know everything.

They also discuss why being fully booked doesn’t mean you have to build a team, the importance of reputation and relationships, knowing your numbers and what self-employment really asks of you.

These lessons have shaped how Cat and Ellie now approach their businesses, their clients and the decisions they make along the way. Whether you are just starting out or have been self-employed for years, there will hopefully be something here that makes you reflect on your own journey and recognise how much you have learned too.

This is the final episode of season one. Thank you for listening, watching and joining us throughout our first season of Virtual Ventures. We’ll be back in 2027.

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to the season one finale

04:02 Everyone is winging it

09:49 Being introverted doesn’t mean you can’t put yourself out there

14:16 Share the load

19:50 Constructive feedback is not a personal attack

23:44 It’s okay to say you don’t know

28:22 Being fully booked doesn’t mean you have to build a team

33:46 Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready

37:23 Online service businesses are built on reputation and relationships

39:54 Don’t hide from the numbers

44:28 Self-employment isn’t for everyone

48:08 Closing season one

How do you step away from your business for maternity leave without leaving your clients, systems and workload in chaos?

In part two of our conversation about planning maternity leave when you’re self-employed, Cat and Ellie move from the initial planning stage into the practicalities of preparing your business for an extended break.

We introduce the 4Ds framework of Do, Diary, Delegate and Ditch to help you audit everything happening within your business and decide what genuinely needs to be completed, postponed, handed over or removed.

We also discuss how to find trusted maternity cover, the different ways you can structure that arrangement and what you need to have ready before somebody steps into your role. From documenting your recurring tasks and creating SOPs to planning a proper handover, setting clear boundaries and communicating your availability, we look at how to make the transition as smooth as possible for you, your clients and the person providing cover.

Finally, we talk honestly about returning to work after having a baby, why a phased return can help and the practical support and systems that can make working and parenting feel more manageable.

Whether you are preparing for maternity leave or another form of extended leave, this episode will help you create a realistic plan that protects your business while giving you the space to step away.

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

00:00 Welcome and introduction

00:40 Auditing your workload with the 4Ds framework

03:41 Documenting everything you do for your clients

04:52 Delegating client work during maternity leave

08:27 What to diary, automate or ditch

12:13 Finding trusted maternity cover

15:02 Preparing and onboarding your maternity cover

17:41 Creating useful SOPs and training resources

20:20 Why SOP creation and handover time are billable

22:47 Setting boundaries and updating your out-of-office communications

26:09 Planning your return to work

30:14 Managing expectations and avoiding comparison

31:53 Practical tips for working with a baby

33:15 Finding trusted help and childcare support

35:27 Adjusting your standards, schedule and capacity

37:33 Creating supportive systems at home

39:08 Key maternity leave planning takeaways

41:10 Final thoughts

How do you plan maternity leave when you’re self-employed and your business depends on you?

Taking maternity leave as a sole trader, freelancer or small business owner requires a very different kind of preparation. There is no HR department arranging cover, communicating with clients or deciding what happens while you are away. You need to create that plan yourself.

In Part 1 of this conversation, Cat and Ellie share their experiences of preparing to take maternity leave from their businesses. They discuss how to decide what your leave could realistically look like, prepare financially, communicate the news to your clients and present them with clear, fully formed options.

They also cover arranging client cover, front-loading work, building buffer time into your finishing date, applying for Maternity Benefit when you are self-employed in Ireland and establishing clear contact boundaries for your time away.

Although this episode focuses on maternity leave, much of the advice will also be useful for Virtual Assistants, Online Service Providers and other self-employed business owners preparing to take any form of planned extended leave.

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

00:00 Introduction

00:50 Why maternity leave is different when you’re self-employed

02:20 Ellie’s experience of taking maternity leave from her business

07:54 Cat’s experiences of business and maternity leave

09:58 Bringing the SVAI workshop format to the podcast

11:17 Who this episode is for

13:35 Bringing your clients a clear plan

16:58 Deciding how much maternity leave you can afford

20:43 Building buffer time into your finishing date

22:36 Preparing financially for maternity leave

23:16 Applying for Maternity Benefit when you’re self-employed

26:35 Communicating your maternity leave plans to clients

28:22 Setting clear contact cut-off dates

30:32 Sending reminders and putting everything in writing

33:10 Wrapping up Part 1

In this Behind the Laptop episode of Virtual Ventures, we're joined by SVAI member Andrea Poole, founder of Vale View Virtual Assistant, to hear how she went from redundancy in a large bank to winning Administrative Service Provider of the Year within her first year of business.

Andrea shares how she came to the virtual assistant industry after redundancy and a year off with her children, why self-employment was never on the cards for her, and what those first few months of putting herself out there really looked like before her first client came along.

We also talk about associate work and why Andrea completely changed her mind about it, specialising versus keeping a variety of clients, the challenges nobody warns you about, and the boundaries she set from day one that she's grateful for now she's at capacity.

Tune in to hear Andrea's honest reflections on starting from scratch, finding your first client, and the community that made all the difference.

New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

Follow Andrea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vale_view_virtual_assistant/

0:00 Intro

0:16 Behind the Laptop with Andrea Poole

1:18 Redundancy and a year off with her kids

2:14 Finding the virtual assistant industry

4:52 Discovering SVAI and doing the Bootcamp

8:02 What the first few months really looked like

9:50 Landing her first client

13:01 Changing her mind about associate work

18:45 Specialising vs generalising

21:28 The challenge nobody warns you about

26:01 The work phone and setting boundaries

32:31 Winning Administrative Service Provider of the Year

36:03 Finding community after 15 years in corporate

40:00 Andrea's recommendation: pen and paper

42:05 Outro

In this episode of Virtual Ventures, we're talking about setting your rate as a Virtual Assistant, how to work out your number, when to raise it, and what VAs in Ireland are actually charging right now.

We share our own experiences of figuring this out when we started, both landing on €25, with very little Irish data to go on and an industry where nobody really wanted to talk about money. Looking at overseas rates or sites like Fiverr and Upwork can leave you completely out of line with the Irish market, and we talk about why that happens so often.

Our Irish VA Survey Report gives us real numbers to work with this time, including the shift that saw 58% of respondents charging between €31 and €45 an hour, up from 43% the year before. We look at what's behind that rise, from the cost of running a business to growing confidence across the industry and more VAs specialising in higher-level services.

From there we get practical, walking through how to calculate a rate that actually works, starting with what you need to live and enjoy your life, then reverse engineering that while allowing for non-billable hours, expenses, subscriptions, insurance, and the holiday cover no client is paying for.

We also talk about comparing your number to the market standard, the signs it's time to raise your rates, how to communicate an increase to your clients, and why "charge what you're worth" isn't always the most helpful way to think about pricing.

Tune in to hear real numbers, honest experiences, and a practical way to set a rate you can sustain.

New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.

Download the Irish VA Survey Report: https://svai-survey-2026.subscribepage.io/

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

0:00 Intro

0:12 Today's topic: setting your rate

0:31 What we charged starting out

2:35 Nobody talks about money

4:39 Getting misguided by overseas rates

5:42 Irish clients coming back to Irish VAs

8:00 The Irish VA Survey Report

9:02 What VAs in Ireland charge now

10:22 Why rates have gone up

12:29 The fear of raising your rate

13:13 Separating your rate from your worth

15:03 Working out what you need

16:32 Accounting for non-billable hours

18:21 Expenses clients never see

20:13 Comparing to the market standard

22:45 Starting lower and moving up

25:20 Signs it's time to raise your rates

26:21 The annual review approach

28:29 How to introduce a new rate

30:09 "Charge what you're worth"

32:26 Where to find more support

33:04 Outro

In this episode of Virtual Ventures, we're talking about taking holidays from your business, why so many business owners struggle to properly switch off, and how to prepare so you can actually take a real break.

Our own experiences shape a lot of this one, from Cat sneaking into the bathroom on a family holiday to catch up on emails, to Ellie nearly bringing her laptop to Portugal on her first ever week off. There's a real difference between a working holiday and a fully switched-off one, and blending your life and business so freely can quietly turn into working all the time, everywhere.

The mindset side of taking time off comes up too, including FOMO, imposter syndrome, and the guilt that keeps so many self-employed people glued to their inbox, and why stepping back can actually show you how much value you bring.

The second half is practical, covering how to plan your time off, communicate with clients, and use our go-to Do, Diary, Delegate, Ditch system for deciding what needs handling before you go, plus a few of our favourite tips for making the whole process feel easy.

Tune in for real experiences, practical planning tools, and a reminder that you're allowed to properly switch off from your business.

New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

0:00 Intro

0:14 Today's topic

0:33 Cat's experience switching off

2:36 Working holidays vs real holidays

5:02 Ellie's first time off

8:00 FOMO and imposter syndrome

11:05 Why planning matters

12:29 Pick your dates

16:57 Reverse engineering your calendar

19:02 Working with a team

20:06 The 4Ds system

23:20 Delegating to peers

26:06 Communication with clients

27:24 The guilt of being unavailable

28:23 Brain dumps and email apps

31:47 Buffer days and catch ups

33:42 Working holidays trap

35:22 Outro

In this Behind the Laptop episode of Virtual Ventures, we're joined by SVAI member Anne Marie Maher, founder of Maher Support Solutions, to hear how she went from redundancy to launching her own virtual assistant business just five months ago.

If you're thinking about becoming a virtual assistant, or you're brand new to the industry, this episode is for you!

Anne Marie takes us through exactly what it looks like to start a VA business from scratch: taking time to figure out what she actually wanted after redundancy, using supports like her Local Enterprise Office and a career coach, along with doing the SVAI Bootcamp to get herself moving.

We talk in detail about finding your first client as a brand new VA, the imposter syndrome that comes with saying yes to work outside your comfort zone, and why you don't need a niche, a website, or a social media presence before you get started.

Anne Marie also shares how she's built a varied portfolio of clients rather than specialising in one service, why leaning on community and mentors is better than trying to figure it all out alone, and how she manages work-life harmony now that her business is based at home.

Tune in for practical, honest advice for anyone at the very beginning of their virtual assistant journey, including the two words Anne Marie says changed everything: just start.

New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with Anne Marie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-marie-maher/

0:00 Intro

0:12 Behind the Laptop with Anne Marie Maher

1:12 How Anne Marie got started

5:47 Discovering the term "virtual assistant" and finding SVAI

10:04 The Bootcamp, mentors and Local Enterprise support

11:45 Landing her first client

13:14 Building a varied portfolio of clients

16:14 Introvert vs extrovert, and networking without it feeling like networking

21:36 Capacity, onboarding and where she's at now

24:31 Saying yes before feeling fully ready

30:32 Work-life harmony working from home

32:25 Anne Marie's advice to her day-one self

34:44 Business bucket list and where to find Anne Marie

37:08 Community, not competition

38:03 Outro

In this episode of Virtual Ventures, we're talking about income ceilings as a solo Virtual Assistant, what they are, how to recognise when you've hit one, and what your options actually look like when you get there.

We share our own experiences of reaching that point in business, from trying to work more hours and taking on more clients to realising that doing more isn't always the answer.

We explore some of the most common ways VAs can break through an income ceiling, including reviewing rates, auditing your client base, moving away from purely time-based work, creating packages, specialising, introducing additional income streams, and looking at one-to-many offers such as digital products, training, and consultancy.

We also talk about the mindset side of hitting a ceiling, including comparison, frustration, burnout, and the feeling of being stuck, and why having a community around you can make it easier to see the opportunities that are available.

Tune in to hear practical ideas, real experiences, and questions you can ask yourself if you're looking to increase your income without simply working more hours.

New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

0:00 Intro

0:18 What is an income ceiling?

2:28 The mindset side of hitting a ceiling

5:03 Cat's experience with burnout and overworking

7:34 Raising your rates and creating packages

10:15 Ellie's experience hitting an income ceiling

12:15 Diversifying your income streams

14:07 You don't have to break through every ceiling

14:46 One-to-many offers and passive income

16:01 Done For You, Done With You and DIY offers

20:22 Specialising and increasing your value

21:36 Auditing your client base

24:13 Where to start when you've hit a ceiling

26:48 You're never stuck in a box

27:38 A question to help you move forward

28:11 Outro

In this Behind the Laptop episode of Virtual Ventures, we’re joined by SVAI member Donna McCullagh, founder of Foundry HQ, to talk about her journey from corporate life to building a thriving online business and team.

Donna shares how she started out in web design while working full time, discovered the Virtual Assistant industry, and gradually evolved her business from a solo service provider model into a growing collective offering operational, administrative, and digital support to businesses.

We talk about finding those first clients, learning difficult lessons around pricing and boundaries, the importance of networking, and why social media wasn't actually the source of most of Donna's growth.

The conversation also explores bringing associates into a business, building trust with clients, managing a team, avoiding burnout, and creating a business that supports the life you want to live.

Tune in to hear Donna's honest reflections on growth, leadership, confidence, and doing things before you feel fully ready.

New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

0:00 Intro

0:12 Behind the Laptop with Donna McCullagh

1:21 Donna's journey from corporate life to Foundry HQ

6:05 Learning web design and landing a first client

11:02 Building a business around what you enjoy

14:07 First VA clients and early lessons

16:02 Networking, referrals and finding clients

21:23 Why networking matters more than social media

23:04 Growing a team and scaling the business

27:10 Leadership, delegation and trust

31:15 Building the right team

36:00 Client trust and communication

39:31 Avoiding burnout and creating boundaries

46:01 Advice that changed everything: Do it scared

49:50 Donna's recommendations for VAs and OSPs

51:10 Connect with Donna

52:04 Outro

In this episode of Virtual Ventures, we’re talking about getting testimonials as a Virtual Assistant, why they matter so much in a service-based business, and why so many people still feel awkward asking for them.

We explore the trust factor involved in Virtual Assistant and online service work, how testimonials act as social proof, and why they can often become the deciding factor when a potential client is choosing who to work with.

There’s a big mindset piece involved too, from fear of asking for feedback and imposter syndrome to the vulnerability that can come with putting yourself forward for evaluation when you care deeply about the work you do, so we get into all of that as well.

From timing and automation to screenshots, forms, prompts, and social proof strategies, this episode is packed with practical ways to make collecting and using testimonials feel easier and more natural in your business. Tune in to hear ideas for where to use testimonials across your website, social media, proposals, and portfolio, plus what to do if you’re brand new to business and feel like you don’t have any testimonials yet.

New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.

About SVAI

The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.

Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/

Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/

0:00 Intro

0:17 Episode introduction

2:08 Why testimonials matter in service businesses

6:44 Why people feel awkward asking for testimonials

9:54 Fear of feedback and entrepreneur mindset

13:01 Our experiences asking for testimonials

15:18 When to ask clients for testimonials

18:56 Long-term clients and natural opportunities

22:05 Using forms, prompts, and screenshots

23:43 Organising and storing testimonials

24:52 Creating a testimonials page on your website

27:28 Where to use testimonials in your business

29:24 What if you’re new and don’t have testimonials yet?

31:13 Final thoughts and encouragement

32:41 Outro