26-Year-Previous’s Taskrabbit Side Hustle Can Earn $500 in Hours | Entrepreneur

This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A options 26-year-old Emely Cepeda, a Boston-based dental scholar who earns extra cash with the net market Taskrabbit. Responses have been edited for size and readability.

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Emely Cepeda}

What was your day job or main occupation if you began your facet hustle?
I began tasking after I was getting into my second yr of dental college, so I used to be a full-time scholar.

When did you begin your facet hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
I began utilizing Taskrabbit in August of 2022. I used to be on the lookout for methods to earn money since the price of dwelling in Boston is so excessive (I imply $3 for a field of pasta? Come on now!). I checked out so many different methods to earn money, and since I’ve a background in catering and meals service (ready tables and bartending), I used to be taking a look at jobs in that space — the one factor that stopped me was the shortage of flexibility inside these jobs and never with the ability to make my very own schedule, since college was my important precedence.

Related: She Started a Furniture-Flipping Side Hustle to Pay Off a $10,000 Dental Bill. It Surpassed Her Full-Time Job’s Income Within a Year — Earning Up to $37,000 a Month.

I seemed into different apps like UberEats, DoorDash and GrubHub, nevertheless it simply did not appear ultimate to me to be in a automotive going locations and never having full management over my revenue. I noticed a TikTok that talked about Taskrabbit, and nicely, right here we’re! I knew I wanted one thing that I may management, the place there have been no month-to-month quotas (since I knew I would want to take breaks from working for lengthy intervals of time whereas at school) and a connection to the folks I used to be serving to (Taskrabbit permits us to speak to our purchasers earlier than confirming a job).

What had been among the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom?
The first step to changing into a Tasker is to enroll by means of the app or web site. It price me round $25 to start out off as a result of the app requires you to get a background test, which is wonderful, in my view, because it grants some security measures for purchasers and Taskers alike. Once my background test was accepted, I may begin including totally different duties that I’m good at (cleansing, cooking, group, arts and crafts and many others.) and start accepting jobs.

What had been among the greatest challenges you confronted whereas constructing your facet hustle, and the way did you navigate them?
I believe one of many greatest challenges for me after I began Taskrabbit was having the arrogance to enter somebody’s house and really feel comfy sufficient to do no matter activity they employed me for (particularly cleansing and organizing). I do know what it is wish to really feel bizarre about strangers in my house, however your consumer is trusting you to get the job completed. That belief gave me the arrogance to tear that bandaid off and simply do it. I used to be nervous at first, however as soon as I did it a couple of times, It was seamless, and I started to actually take pleasure in it. I simply saved on tasking, and it has actually paid off.

Related: This Couple’s Weekend Side Hustle Began With a $50 Facebook Marketplace Purchase — Now It Earns Millions of Dollars a Year: ‘You Don’t Need Money to Start’

How lengthy did it take you to see constant month-to-month income? How a lot did the facet hustle earn?
From the day I began tasking, it took me about two weeks to see constant income. Since I provide a number of several types of duties, the incomes potential for every one varies (some duties I cost extra for based mostly on market demand and my talent set). Some months I do not do any group duties; some months I do not do any cleansing or cooking duties. But that is the great thing about it — I can select what I need to do and the way a lot I need to do it.

I’ve remodeled $1,300 in a single month simply by tasking on the facet and over $500 in in the future for only a few hours of labor. I do not do duties throughout some months on account of my schedule with college, however within the months that I do work, I common $576 monthly.

What does development and income appear like now?
Once you first begin off, the app suggests a pricing advice you may use for every activity you determine to supply based mostly on the world you’re employed in, activity class and expertise degree. Once you get a couple of duties below your belt, the beneficial value will increase. In quick, the extra you do, the extra you may earn. For instance, I began off at round $25 an hour for cleansing duties. Two years and over 40 five-star evaluations later, I’m averaging $55-$65 an hour for a similar activity. For group, I began at round $20 an hour, and now I cost upwards of $40 an hour for a similar. For cooking, I began off at $20 an hour, and now it is as much as $35 an hour. This development displays what number of duties you full. I did much more cleansing duties, so my incomes potential is increased than among the different duties I do since I’ve extra cleansing expertise (and, subsequently, extra evaluations).

Related: This Former Ph.D. Student Started a Side Hustle to Graduate Without Debt — Now He Makes $30,000 a Month and Can Complete a Job in 15 Minutes

What do you take pleasure in most about this facet hustle?
Genuinely, I like to assist folks. This is my important driving issue for pursuing dentistry as nicely. There is nothing extra satisfying than serving to somebody manage, clear or prepare dinner. Taking that weight off folks has been essentially the most rewarding expertise. Yes, being profitable is a perk, however I’ve had purchasers delivered to tears for serving to them out and taking that weight of family duties off their shoulders.

What’s your recommendation for others hoping to start out profitable facet hustles of their very own?
Put into it what you need to get out of it. There are months after I cannot work due to college, and people months, I do not see any income. But different lighter months I could make a lot cash by utilizing the “time off” I’ve. Honestly, you may make a ton of cash on Taskrabbit if you happen to make the time and put within the work, like I’ve. I are inclined to work rather a lot round busy instances of the yr, too (like September move-ins, vacation seasons, and many others. ) as a result of the necessity for Taskers is increased (and subsequently I make extra). Use your time and sources correctly, and you can be arrange for achievement in the long term. Capitalize on the time you’ve got and make the duties you’re taking value it.