This Q&A spotlights Side Hustle with Tom Saar. Saar used I’m hooked, an online marketplace that connects independent staff with local job opportunities to assist him grow his moving business. He currently works with two other approved “Taskers” and has earned over $150,000 in the last seven months.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Tom Saar
What was your day job (or other sources of income) when you began working on the side?
For so long as I can remember, computers and the Internet have all the time been my passion. So I naturally fell into content creation, which led me to YouTube at the age of 12. I began recording gameplay on my iPad screen and it will definitely grew into my channel, which at its peak had over 800,000 subscribers. Additionally, I used to be involved in game development, using game engines like Unity to create and release several Flappy Bird/Infinite Runner clones on the App Store and Google Play Store. As you possibly can imagine, the apps never really took off, but it was still a fun experience.
At the end of 2020, I moved from Sweden to the United States to proceed my education in computer science. At the time, my YouTube channel wasn’t getting the same viewership and I felt my motivation disappearing. I hoped that a change of scenery would reignite my passion and help me start a latest enterprise.
While in college, I worked in retail at Whole Foods, Target, and Starbucks. This job provided me with worthwhile customer support experience and helped me overcome social anxiety by interacting with latest people every day.
When did you begin your side business and where did you discover the inspiration for it?
One of the first things I noticed when I moved my primary residence to New York was the large variety of trucks moving around. They all the time stood out to me in this crowded city. It wasn’t until one day that I took a closer look at one of the trucks and noticed the letters “Moving” and “Storage” printed on the side of it. This got me pondering. One fateful night in early 2023 (February or March), I used to be sitting at home and began researching moving as a business, watching videos, reading articles, and checking out if it was feasible for me. I have come across many horror stories of movers mishandling items and overcharging customers. I used to be determined to deal with this tactic by creating a moving company that may provide excellent service at an reasonably priced price. By putting integrity and customer satisfaction first, I used to be confident that customers would select my company over the competition.
What were the first steps you took to interrupt away from the game?
I began my moving business in June 2023 by purchasing a 2016 mid-size box truck from Penske for just over $15,000. Between insurance, monthly parking, moving supplies, equipment and registration fees, my initial investment was over $20,000. In hindsight, the smarter way would have been to achieve experience by renting a truck first, but I used to be so determined to see how much money I could make over the summer that I made a decision to go for it. Fortunately, I had a helper with years of moving experience to guide me through the entire process – we connected through a Facebook job ad I posted looking for a moving partner. I also had a dad who provided moral support and helped me with many final business tasks.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Tom Saar
What were the biggest challenges you faced in building your side team and how did you overcome them?
I have faced many challenges attempting to break away from this side. Before I acquired one client, I invested $20,000. To get began, I joined several freelance platforms, but getting someone to trust me and book me work without any reviews or status was extremely difficult. At the starting I set low rates and it was difficult to remain in the financial market, but this was the only way I could get clients. It also didn’t help that I had no experience moving before starting this side hustle. Performing the physical facets of the job while also attempting to be sales and marketing to latest clients while also managing funds and bills was exhausting, to say the least.
How long did it take for you to attain stable monthly income? How much did the side hustle earn?
I began seeing a regular increase in revenue after August or September 2023 as my experience grew and my ability to speak with customers improved. A big a part of running a successful business is having the ability to sell your service or product. The first month was absolutely terrible. I looked back at my past interactions with clients on previous job platforms and couldn’t consider how ineffective I used to be at selling my services. Many of the problems in the starting were as a result of lack of experience, not knowing the right questions, and getting a lot of useless information. As such, the first month or two was mostly limited to covering operational expenses, barely breaking even, and gaining worthwhile experience. In the third month, I made a decision to extend my bids and began to see some gains, with revenues exceeding $10,000 in August 2023 and beyond. It was also easier to succeed in potential customers when positive reviews flowed into my account.
What does growth and revenue seem like today?
In November 2023, I discovered Taskrabbit and decided so as to add it to the many platforms I used to be using for my job search. I’ve heard people talk about hiring movers on the platform, but I used to be hesitant to pursue it. When moving activity slowed down in September and October, I began looking for ways to get more work, so I remembered Taskrabbit and decided to provide it a try. Surprisingly, Taskrabbit connects customers looking for help with Taskers at no cost. After using platforms where leads can cost anywhere from $20 to $40, it has been an absolute game changer! Since then, I have accomplished over 1,000 jobs through Taskrabbit, collaborated with other expert Taskers on the platform to finish tasks, and experienced a sharp increase in each revenue and profits because I didn’t have to spend money on marketing. In April 2024, I revamped $70,000 in gross earnings solely on Taskrabbit, and May is on track to shut at a similar number. For June, my goal is to hit $80,000 in one month.
What do you enjoy most about this side hustle?
While I would not say my background suits the description of a mover, it’s still something I selected to pursue because I saw so much potential in this endeavor. In New York, people are continuously on the move because it is one of the largest metropolitan areas bustling with life. I actually really enjoy being around all this energy and I enjoy the challenge of solving problems on the fly. Navigating difficult city parking lots has grow to be second nature. However, the biggest satisfaction comes from the positive opinions of shoppers who appreciate my help in making relocations stress-free. Moving is often a stressful process, so I promise my clients that they may come prepared, be on time and work efficiently to make their move a nice experience.
What is your advice to others who want to begin their very own successful side hustle?
One of the most vital lessons I have learned is to administer expectations. When starting a latest enterprise, we prefer to assume that it should be an immediate success, but this rarely happens. It took me almost six months to see noticeable results, and for others it might take even longer. If you are starting a side business, especially one that involves providing services, the quality of your work is very necessary. If you would like your customers to recommend you and grow to be lifelong customers, it is advisable set the highest standards because the way you do anything is the way you do the whole lot.
Moreover, customer communication must be high on the list of things where it is advisable improve your efficiency. Customers don’t need to be kept in the dark. If you are late for an appointment, allow them to know. If something goes mistaken, be generous with refunds or compensation. This builds strong relationships with customers. Finally, do not be afraid of failure. Failures are inevitable, but how you’re taking responsibility for them and learn from them will set you apart and enable you grow.
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