Want to start a side hustle? According to research conducted by the company, greater than half (54%) of Americans already have them MarketWatchbut selecting one of so many options might be overwhelming.
Put simply, many side hustlers use skills they already have: cleansing, furniture assembly, TV assembly, and just about every thing in between.
Of course, starting a business from scratch is not easy, which is why many gig employees turn to third-party platforms like Thumbtack Or task rabbitpromote your services and connect with customers.
Entrepreneur spoke to three individuals who have successfully worked with Taskrabbit: Tom Saar, a former Starbucks worker who runs a moving company; Emely Cepeda, a dental student offering cleansing and organizing services; and Dan Weiss, a retired furniture assembler.
Read on to learn more about their journeys and secrets to success on the platform:
Tom Saar runs a moving company with Taskrabbit
In late 2020, Saar moved from Sweden to the United States to proceed his studies in computer science. Saar settled in New York and immediately noticed a lot of moving trucks. After researching the relocation process revealed common customer problems, Saar saw an opportunity to start a company that would do higher.
Saar has joined various gig platforms to offer moving services to customers, but Taskrabbit has proven particularly lucrative: As of June 2024, Sarr has accomplished over 1,000 tasks on the platform in partnership with other contractors and earned over $70,000 in gross revenue in April alone.
Saar’s Success Tip: “Customer communication must be high on your list of things to be simpler at. Customers don’t desire to be kept in the dark. If you are late for an appointment, allow them to know. If something goes unsuitable, be generous with refunds or compensation. This builds strong relationships with customers. Finally, do not be afraid of failures, it’s how you are taking responsibility for them and learn from them that can set you apart and make it easier to grow.”
Emely Cepeda cleans and organizes with Taskrabbit
Cepeda was in her second yr of full-time dental school when she started looking for ways to make extra cash and in August 2022, she found Taskrabbit. She wanted flexible work with no monthly limits so she could focus on her classes, and the platform provided just that.
Cepeda launched its side business, offering cleansing and organization services on Taskrabbit. As of August 2024, Cepeda earned over $1,300 in one month working on the side, and as much as $500 a day for just a few hours of labor, an average of $576 a month.
Cepeda’s success tip: “You can make a lot of money on Taskrabbit if you put in the time and put in the work like I did. I also often work during busy times of the year (e.g. moving in September, holiday periods, etc.) because the demand for Taskers is higher (and therefore I earn more). Use your time and resources wisely, and you’ll be set up for success in the long run. Take advantage of the time you have and make sure the tasks you take on are worth it.”
Dan Weiss assembles furniture with Taskrabbit
Dan Weiss (79) managed several branches of a large bank dealing with home loans before retiring. When he read a newspaper article about a young woman earning profits on Taskrabbit, he was intrigued and decided to start a side business assembling furniture on the platform.
It took about 4 or five months for Weiss’ side of Taskrabbit to grow to be profitable, but as of October 2024, he was earning an average of $4,000 a month on the platform – all while working as much as he wanted.
Weiss’s tip for success: “Be patient. Treat your customers with respect. Set prices according to your experience and customer base. Finally, do a great job of being respectful and caring.”