Do you cringe when a friend asks you to help him move? Not looking forward to vacuuming and washing your car? Can’t make it to the dry cleaner or grocery store in time? You’re not alone—and that’s why services like TaskRabbit are popping up to capitalize on the opportunity to do chores for people who don’t have the time or the skills needed to do them.
If you’re handy and in need of some extra cash, you’ll definitely want to check out TaskRabbit or similar services such as Handy or Thumbtack.
How Does It Work?
TaskRabbit and other sites like it connect people who need help with various tasks with people who are willing to do them. On TaskRabbit, the person who needs work done posts a gig, sets a price for the work and then waits for “taskers” who have signed up with the site to respond.
Taskers typically value flexibility and independence, so they respond with the date and time they can do the work. They also provide other background information (such as experience and references), as well as their rates or counteroffer for the job.
What Kind Of Work Will You Do?
The work you choose depends on you. TaskRabbit offers work in quite a few categories, ranging from delivery and personal assistant services to cooking and yard work. Handy’s most popular services include painting, TV mounting and home cleaning. Thumbtack connects people in need of everything from lawn care to hanging pictures and shelves.
How Much Can You Make?
Serious taskers can earn up to $7,000 each month, according to Jamie Viggiano, vice president of marketing of TaskRabbit. You’ll need to commit more than just a few hours a week to make this kind of money, but if you want a steady influx of cash while being your own “boss,” it could be a lucrative gig. Money magazine profiled three people making big bucks working part-time as “odd-jobbers.”
San Franciscan Brian Schrier earned $1,500 his first week picking up TaskRabbit gigs, and he now charges $150 per hour for everything from carpentry to construction. He’s making up to $2,000 per week and expects his income to go even higher. He’s even shut down the petition management company he previously owned to commit to TaskRabbit full-time.
David Cordova, a New York City resident, makes between $500 and $750 a week working about six hours each day. He says he earns up to $4,000 per month if he hustles, and he takes on tasks like assembling furniture and helping people move.
Jonathan Lal is another San Francisco resident using TaskRabbit, and he earns up to $750 per week working five- to six-hour days. He says he often gets hired for furniture assembly and minor home repair gigs. But just about anything someone needs assistance with is fair game: He was once hired to help a man propose to his girlfriend on the Golden Gate Bridge!
