One mom tallied 23 hours a week of household work. Then she built a company to turn ‘invisible labor’ into a paid profession

Kelly Hubbell, a tech sales professional, was overwhelmed by household responsibilities after having two children. She calculated that she spent 23 hours per week on chores and mental planning, but realized the true cost was the mental load. Hubbell searched for a "house manager" to handle logistics and errands, and found one who made a significant difference in her life.

She founded Sage Haus in 2023, a service that helps parents hire house managers and set up home-management systems. The company operates in a market where women hold more U.S. payroll jobs than men, but still bear the majority of household planning. House managers can earn $25 to $45 an hour, and full-time house managers can make $50,000 to $120,000.

Sage Haus charges families a flat placement fee of roughly $20,000 to $47,000 per year for 15 to 20 hours of weekly assistance. The service aims to normalize hiring help at home and put a value on the unpaid mental labor traditionally shouldered by women.