An Interview With Caroline Marshall, Founder of Upsource
Caroline Marshall is the founder of Upsource, a multi award winning VA agency.
Caroline launched Upsource after the first lockdown in July 2020, and was awarded “UK Best Newcomer VA 2021” by the UK VA Conference & Awards.
What follows is an interview featuring this amazing female entrepreneur.
What do you specialize in and why should someone choose you over your competitors in your field?
I run a multi award winning Virtual Assistant Agency called Upsource. We give busy Entrepreneurs, SME’s and startups their time back so they can focus on leading.
I have been in the industry since 2016, I love the VA industry, and as a result work with some of the best VAs in the business. I know what they need from a Business support perspective in order for them to succeed.
What are the three things that mostly helped your online business succeed?
My network – amazing team of VAs and clients willing to shout about me.
Software – it is key for a remote online business- password, CRMs, communication and project management.
Consistency, I work on my business somehow daily – even if it doesn’t seem like work and I am goal setting in my mind.
What are your three biggest accomplishments?
1. Taking maternity leave and my business running in the background, returning to pay myself what I was paid when employed
2. Winning UK Best Newcomer VA 2021 and Miss Jones Group VA agency of the year 2022
3. Becoming a ltd company in 2022
What were your three most important challenges?
– Handing over all my clients to take maternity leave only 6 months after launching,
– Learning what are the clients I want to work with and that are profitable,
– Knowing how large I can scale that still enables me to be a parent.
How did you overcome those challenges?
– Loom videos, tight processes, recruiting well and having someone who could take over in worst case scenarios
– Trial and error!
– I am still learning but the key is to build a business around me. handover the work I don’t need, want or like to do!
What’s your piece of advice for readers who want to achieve wealth and success in life?
Work hard. But work smart. You don’t need to work all hours – as soon as you are doing the work, plan HOW you will handover that work.
What do you think is the key to a truly successful online business?
Consistency and recruiting the right people.
What’s your business model? How does your online business make money?
I work with a team of associate VAs. They deliver the client work and I focus on sales, growth and business development.
Recommended read: How to Start a Business Online, from Home
Where do you see yourself and your business in five years?
A VA agency that has doubled in size, a personal profile for myself and a software business that is staring to grow
What’s your piece of advice for people who want to quit their 9-5 job and start a business?
Plan your finances. How can you afford this, what do you need to survive, what would be like to survive and what are your dream financial goals.
A business has to make money for you.
How can people find you?
My website: www.weareupsource.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareupsource
Photo by Avel Chuklanov on Unsplash
