This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options Marisa Risden, 32, of Denver, Colorado. Risden has constructed a versatile, thriving enterprise finishing historically male-dominated jobs on Taskrabbit. Responses have been edited for size and readability.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Taskrabbit. Marisa Risden.
What was your day job or main occupation once you began your aspect hustle?
Earlier than Taskrabbit, I spent 9 years in public service as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, a job that strengthened my potential to problem-solve beneath strain, talk clearly and construct belief with folks in high-stress conditions. Whereas I discovered the work significant, I needed a brand new problem that offered flexibility and the chance to use my abilities in numerous methods.
When did you begin your aspect hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
I moved out west in 2020 and, in 2022, found Taskrabbit as a approach to take management of my schedule and leverage my current experience. My dad and mom owned a development firm, and my mother instilled in me the idea that I might be taught and do something I set my thoughts to. Lengthy earlier than DIY turned a pattern, she was tackling house enchancment tasks herself, displaying me firsthand that ladies can do something! She made certain I knew how you can use energy instruments, paint and tackle house tasks with confidence. What began as a approach to apply these abilities quickly developed right into a specialised enterprise providing superior mounting and minor electrical work, combining technical precision with problem-solving to ship high-quality installations for my shoppers.
What had been a few of the first steps you took to get your aspect hustle off the bottom?
Initially, I targeted on tasks inside my talent set, however as I gained expertise, I expanded into extra technical companies like electrical fixture installations and superior mounting — duties typically assumed to be dominated by males. Taskrabbit has allowed me to determine a extremely rated, in-demand service enterprise the place repeat shoppers belief me for precision, reliability and experience.
Associated: How Can You Use AI to Begin a Facet Hustle? These Are the ten Finest-Paying Ones Proper Now.
When you might return in your corporation journey and alter one course of or method, what would it not be, and the way do you would like you’d accomplished it in a different way?
Two issues stand out: Optimizing my scheduling. Early on, I wasted a variety of time driving backwards and forwards between Denver and Boulder for a number of duties in a single day. Now, I proactively ask shoppers if they’ve the flexibility to change time slots with others, permitting me to streamline my route. Studying to ask for changes has been a game-changer.
I would even be extra cautious with plaster partitions. After I first began, I did not notice the potential well being dangers of drilling into plaster, significantly in older properties the place asbestos could also be current. Plaster was generally used earlier than the Nineteen Seventies, and publicity to asbestos mud poses well being dangers. Now, I all the time put on an N99 drywall masks whatever the materials I am working with — there’s a variety of dangerous stuff in development supplies that I would somewhat not breathe in.
On the subject of this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you’ve got discovered significantly difficult and/or stunning that individuals who get into this kind of work must be ready for however probably aren’t?
Some of the neglected challenges is asking the correct questions upfront. The extra data I collect earlier than a process — reminiscent of wall sort, consumer expectations and any potential obstacles — the smoother the job goes. This additionally helps keep away from pointless journeys to House Depot mid-task for a novel device or {hardware}.
Are you able to recall a selected occasion when one thing went very improper — how did you repair it?
As with all hands-on work, you by no means actually know what you are up towards till you get to the duty and consider what you are working with. Scoping the duty forward of time can solely get you to date; surprises can and can inevitably occur. What units me aside is my potential to pivot and problem-solve on the spot. All through my years of tasking, I’ve discovered that my dedication to precision and triple-checking my work earlier than executing has been integral to stopping errors. And, in fact, by performing each process with that very same non-negotiable dedication, I am in a position to make sure that my work is finished proper each time and, most significantly, that my shoppers are glad.
How lengthy did it take you to see constant month-to-month income? How a lot did the aspect hustle earn?
After I first began, I had no opinions and set a decrease hourly price to construct demand. I took on each process accessible, working lengthy hours to realize momentum. Inside a month or two, I used to be persistently booked, and by the third month, I had a transparent concept of my revenue potential. Initially, I made round $2,000 monthly, working what felt like 24/7. However that hustle paid off; I constructed my status, gained lots of of opinions and referrals and was in a position to scale my enterprise considerably in a comparatively brief time frame. Now, I will get pleasure from a work-life stability with my experience fetching a extra substantial hourly price, and I will schedule time without work to understand my laborious work.
What does progress and income seem like now?
Taskrabbit has been a useful supply of revenue that I have been in a position to scale up or down based mostly on my targets during the last three years. At instances, I’ve labored full-time, finishing 40-45 duties monthly, which equates to 70-80 hours of labor. The platform supplies the pliability to tackle as a lot or as little as you need, making it an ideal possibility for these trying to construct a enterprise on their very own phrases. I will sometimes earn round $3,500-4,500 a month after I’m working “full-time” at 60-80 hours a month.
How a lot time do you spend engaged on your corporation on a every day, weekly or month-to-month foundation?
Taskrabbit operates on a client-request mannequin, that means I do not all the time know what my week will seem like prematurely. I normally mark myself as accessible and look ahead to bookings. In contrast to a conventional job with set days off, I construction my downtime round my bookings. For instance, if I solely have a morning process scheduled, I’d take the afternoon off to fulfill mates or get pleasure from a relaxed time off. Seasonal demand additionally performs a job — busy durations like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and the vacations carry in additional duties. My advertising and marketing primarily occurs by word-of-mouth and consumer referrals. The sport-changer for me was after I began asking for opinions each time earlier than leaving a process — nearly all of my shoppers do not thoughts taking a couple of minutes to share their experiences.
What do you get pleasure from most about operating this enterprise?
I really like seeing a challenge by from begin to end, however my shoppers are the actual motive I get pleasure from this work a lot. I’ve had the prospect to fulfill and assist so many unimaginable folks, and I take pleasure in making their lives simpler. Nothing beats a cheerful consumer who refers a buddy as a result of that they had an ideal expertise with me.
What’s your finest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Particularly for girls fascinated by related work, my recommendation is:
1. Begin inside your consolation zone however push your self to develop — studying new abilities has allowed me to tackle higher-value duties.
2. Put money into high quality instruments — having the correct gear makes any job extra environment friendly {and professional}.
3. Professionalism units you aside — shoppers prioritize experience, communication and reliability over anything.
4. Do not be intimidated: Simply get began. Each skilled was as soon as a newbie, and one of the best ways to construct confidence is thru hands-on expertise. Abilities may be discovered, however willpower, problem-solving and a willingness to determine issues out as you go will take you far.
Take each alternative to be taught as a result of even small jobs matter. Smaller duties construct confidence, refine your abilities and lay the inspiration for larger alternatives. Each job teaches one thing new, and the extra expertise you acquire, the sooner you may develop into higher-value work.
On the lookout for a worthwhile aspect hustle however unsure the place to start out? Cash Makers is a free publication offering useful suggestions, concepts and motion objects to construct your personal profitable enterprise — delivered straight to your inbox. Enroll right here.