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 major occupation if 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 potential to problem-solve underneath strain, talk clearly and build trust with folks 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 numerous 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 solution to take management of my schedule and leverage my present experience. My mother and father owned a building firm, and my mother instilled in me the idea that I may be taught and do something I set my thoughts to. Lengthy earlier than DIY grew to become a development, she was tackling dwelling enchancment tasks herself, exhibiting me firsthand that ladies can do something! She made positive I knew the way to use energy instruments, paint and tackle dwelling tasks with confidence. What began as a solution to apply these expertise 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 have been a few of the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom?
Initially, I centered 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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If you happen to may return in your small business journey and alter one course of or method, what would it not be, and the way do you want you’d carried out it in a different way?
Two issues stand out: Optimizing my scheduling. Early on, I wasted quite a lot 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 change 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 notice 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 all the time put on an N99 drywall masks whatever the materials I am working with — there’s quite a lot of dangerous stuff in building supplies that I might fairly not breathe in.
On the subject of this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you’ve got discovered notably difficult and/or shocking that individuals who get into this kind of work ought to be ready for however probably aren’t?
Probably the most missed challenges is asking the best questions upfront. The extra info I collect earlier than a job — reminiscent of wall kind, 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 instrument or {hardware}.
Are you able to recall a selected occasion when one thing went very mistaken — how did you repair it?
As with all hands-on work, you by no means really 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 thus far; 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, after all, 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 evaluations and set a decrease hourly charge to build demand. I took on each job out there, working lengthy hours to achieve momentum. Inside a month or two, I used to be constantly booked, and by the third month, I had a transparent thought of my revenue potential. Initially, I made round $2,000 per thirty days, working what felt like 24/7. However that hustle paid off; I constructed my status, gained a whole bunch of evaluations and referrals and was in a position to scale my enterprise considerably in a comparatively quick time period. Now, I will get pleasure from a work-life stability with my experience fetching a extra substantial hourly charge, and I will schedule time without work to understand my arduous work.
What does development and income appear like now?
Taskrabbit has been a priceless 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 per thirty days, which equates to 70-80 hours of labor. The platform gives the pliability to tackle as a lot or as little as you need, making it an important possibility for these seeking to construct a enterprise on their very own phrases. I will usually 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 small business on a day by 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 appear like upfront. I normally mark myself as out there and look forward 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 job scheduled, I would take the afternoon off to satisfy associates or get pleasure from a relaxed day without work. Seasonal demand additionally performs a job — busy durations like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and the vacations carry 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 evaluations 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 get pleasure from most about working this enterprise?
I really like seeing a mission by from begin to end, however my shoppers are the actual motive I get pleasure from this work a lot. I’ve had the possibility to satisfy and assist so many unbelievable folks, and I take delight in making their lives simpler. Nothing beats a contented consumer who refers a buddy as a result of that they had an important expertise with me.
What’s your greatest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Particularly for ladies desirous about 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 best 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 professional was as soon as a newbie, and the easiest way to construct confidence is thru hands-on expertise. Abilities will be realized, however dedication, 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 build confidence, refine your expertise and lay the inspiration for greater alternatives. Each job teaches one thing new, and the extra expertise you achieve, the sooner you may develop into higher-value work.
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