The best place to start the outbound timing is when abeam the fix (NDB, VOR etc), ie when on a bearing at 90 degrees to the axis. If the abeam position cannot easily be determined (usually because you only have an RBI an opposed to RMIs) then outbound timing should commence when established on the outbound "heading".
Hold entry procedures the same for all types of "fix" unless published otherwise.
Hope this helps.