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 facet hustle?
Earlier than Taskrabbit, I spent 9 years in public service as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, a job that strengthened my capacity to problem-solve underneath stress, talk clearly and build trust with individuals in high-stress conditions. Whereas I discovered the work significant, I wished a brand new problem that supplied flexibility and the chance to use my expertise in several methods.
When did you begin your facet hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
I moved out west in 2020 and, in 2022, found Taskrabbit as a method to take management of my schedule and leverage my present experience. My mother and father owned a development firm, and my mother instilled in me the assumption that I might study and do something I set my thoughts to. Lengthy earlier than DIY grew to become a development, she was tackling house enchancment tasks herself, exhibiting me firsthand that girls can do something! She made certain I knew how one can use energy instruments, paint and tackle house tasks with confidence. What began as a method to apply these expertise quickly advanced 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 number of the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom?
Initially, I targeted on tasks inside my ability set, however as I gained expertise, I expanded into extra technical providers like electrical fixture installations and superior mounting — duties usually 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.
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In the event you might return in your enterprise journey and alter one course of or method, what would it not be, and the way do you want you’d performed it otherwise?
Two issues stand out: Optimizing my scheduling. Early on, I wasted lots of time driving forwards and backwards between Denver and Boulder for a number of duties in a single day. Now, I proactively ask shoppers if they’ve the flexibility to modify time slots with others, permitting me to streamline my route. Studying to ask for changes has been a game-changer.
I might even be extra cautious with plaster partitions. After I first began, I did not understand the potential well being dangers of drilling into plaster, notably in older houses the place asbestos could also be current. Plaster was generally used earlier than the Seventies, and publicity to asbestos mud poses well being dangers. Now, I at all times put on an N99 drywall masks whatever the materials I am working with — there’s lots of dangerous stuff in development supplies that I might somewhat not breathe in.
In the case of this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you’ve got discovered notably difficult and/or stunning that individuals who get into the sort of work ought to be ready for however probably aren’t?
Some of the neglected challenges is asking the precise questions upfront. The extra info I collect earlier than a job — akin to wall sort, consumer expectations and any potential obstacles — the smoother the job goes. This additionally helps keep away from pointless journeys to Dwelling Depot mid-task for a novel instrument 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 really know what you are up in opposition to 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 capacity 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 job with that very same non-negotiable dedication, I am ready to make sure that my work is completed proper each time and, most significantly, that my shoppers are happy.
How lengthy did it take you to see constant month-to-month income? How a lot did the facet hustle earn?
After I first began, I had no critiques and set a decrease hourly price to build demand. I took on each job obtainable, 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 tons of of critiques and referrals and was in a position to scale my enterprise considerably in a comparatively brief time period. Now, I can take pleasure in a work-life steadiness with my experience fetching a extra substantial hourly price, and I can schedule time without work to understand my arduous work.
What does progress and income appear to be now?
Taskrabbit has been a helpful supply of revenue that I have been in a position to scale up or down primarily based on my objectives 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 incredible choice for these seeking to construct a enterprise on their very own phrases. I will sometimes earn round $3,500-4,500 a month once I’m working “full-time” at 60-80 hours a month.
How a lot time do you spend engaged on your enterprise on a day by day, weekly or month-to-month foundation?
Taskrabbit operates on a client-request mannequin, which means I do not at all times know what my week will appear to be prematurely. I often mark myself as obtainable and await bookings. Not like a conventional job with set days off, I construction my downtime round my bookings. For instance, if I solely have a morning job scheduled, I’d take the afternoon off to fulfill buddies or take pleasure in a relaxed break day. Seasonal demand additionally performs a job — busy durations like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and the vacations convey in additional duties. My advertising primarily occurs by word-of-mouth and consumer referrals. The sport-changer for me was once I began asking for critiques each time earlier than leaving a job — nearly all of my shoppers do not thoughts taking a couple of minutes to share their experiences.
What do you take pleasure in most about operating this enterprise?
I like seeing a challenge by from begin to end, however my shoppers are the true motive I take pleasure in this work a lot. I’ve had the possibility to fulfill and assist so many unimaginable individuals, and I take pleasure in making their lives simpler. Nothing beats a contented consumer who refers a pal as a result of that they had an incredible expertise with me.
What’s your greatest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Particularly for girls focused on comparable work, my recommendation is:
1. Begin inside your consolation zone however push your self to develop — studying new expertise has allowed me to tackle higher-value duties.
2. Put money into high quality instruments — having the precise tools makes any job extra environment friendly {and professional}.
3. Professionalism units you aside — shoppers prioritize experience, communication and reliability over the rest.
4. Do not be intimidated: Simply get began. Each knowledgeable 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 dedication, problem-solving and a willingness to determine issues out as you go will take you far.
Take each alternative to study as a result of even small jobs matter. Smaller duties build confidence, refine your expertise and lay the muse for larger alternatives. Each job teaches one thing new, and the extra expertise you achieve, the quicker you will develop into higher-value work.
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