The Kitchen Table

How Smart Business Owners Use AI & Virtual Assistants to Buy Back Their Time | Andrew Hathaway

Episode Summary

Ken Baden welcomes Andrew Hathaway, Co-Founder of Freedom.AI, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to build freedom as a business owner. Andrew shares how he helps home service and blue-collar entrepreneurs leverage AI tools, virtual executive assistants, and life insurance strategies to reclaim their time and grow their enterprise value. The two dig into the private equity frenzy sweeping the home services space, why going into a PE deal without an M&A advisor is like going to trial without a lawyer, and how the "become your own bank" concept using whole life insurance can change how you finance your business. Ken also opens up about his own growth goals for Potomac Custom Remodeling and his plans to launch a roofing-focused consulting community through Baden Consulting.

Episode Notes

EPISODE NOTES

Andrew Hathaway is Co-Founder of Freedom.AI and operates out of Cherry Creek, Denver — right in the heart of the private equity and M&A world.
His three-part framework for business owners: Executive Assistants for time freedom → AI automation for operational efficiency → Life insurance strategies for financial freedom.
The "Become Your Own Bank" concept: using a permanent life insurance policy's cash value to finance major business purchases (trucks, equipment, bonuses) while your money keeps compounding — effectively making one dollar work in two places.
Why virtual assistants (VAs) from the Philippines remain a competitive advantage — Andrew says he'd never go back to hiring Americans for admin roles, given the cost difference and quality of talent.
AI phone answering and overflow call handling is already working for home service companies — Andrew admits he was skeptical but is now a believer.
Private equity is aggressively acquiring home service companies right now, including roofing, fire safety, HVAC, and plumbing. Andrew recommends always using an M&A advisory firm before engaging PE — going in alone can drop your multiple from 7-8x down to 4-5x.
Ken shares Potomac Custom Remodeling's 2025 revenue goals ($20M minimum, shooting for $30M) and expansion into Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Baden Consulting is pivoting to serve the roofing/retail roofing consulting niche with a community-based model after strong demand on social media.
Andrew's closing legacy thought: beyond business, he wants to be remembered as someone who helped blue-collar entrepreneurs become spiritual leaders and positively impacted lives in the marketplace.

TIMESTAMPS

0:18 – Welcome & Introduction

1:00 – Andrew's world: Private equity, M&A, and home services in Denver

3:00 – The fire safety industry and PE acquisition frenzy

5:00 – Andrew's business model: EAs, AI, and life insurance strategies

6:00 – The "Become Your Own Bank" concept with life insurance

10:00 – Virtual assistants vs. AI automation — what's still worth hiring a human for

13:00 – The private equity opportunity for home service owners

15:00 – Why you need an M&A advisor before talking to PE firms

18:00 – Ken's growth goals: Potomac Custom Remodeling's 2025 plan

20:00 – Staffing challenges in scaling a roofing company

23:00 – Baden Consulting and the roofing community pivot