This Aspect 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 while 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 skill to problem-solve beneath stress, talk clearly and build trust with folks in high-stress conditions. Whereas I discovered the work significant, I needed a brand new problem that supplied flexibility and the chance to use my abilities 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 technique 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 pattern, she was tackling house enchancment initiatives herself, exhibiting me firsthand that girls can do something! She made positive I knew methods to use energy instruments, paint and tackle house initiatives with confidence. What began as a technique 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 number of the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom?
Initially, I targeted on initiatives inside my ability set, however as I gained expertise, I expanded into extra technical providers like electrical fixture installations and superior mounting — duties typically assumed to be dominated by males. Taskrabbit has allowed me to ascertain a extremely rated, in-demand service enterprise the place repeat shoppers belief me for precision, reliability and experience.
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For those who might return in your online business journey and alter one course of or method, what wouldn’t it be, and the way do you would like you’d executed it in a different way?
Two issues stand out: Optimizing my scheduling. Early on, I wasted a whole lot 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 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 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 at all times put on an N99 drywall masks whatever the materials I am working with — there’s a whole lot of dangerous stuff in development supplies that I might quite not breathe in.
In terms of this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you’ve got discovered notably difficult and/or stunning that individuals who get into such a work needs to be ready for however doubtless aren’t?
Some of the ignored challenges is asking the correct questions upfront. The extra info I collect earlier than a activity — 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 singular software or {hardware}.
Are you able to recall a particular occasion when one thing went very fallacious — 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 this point; surprises can and can inevitably occur. What units me aside is my skill 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 activity with that very same non-negotiable dedication, I am in a position to make sure that my work is completed 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 facet hustle earn?
After I first began, I had no opinions and set a decrease hourly charge to build demand. I took on each activity obtainable, working lengthy hours to realize momentum. Inside a month or two, I used to be constantly booked, and by the third month, I had a transparent concept of my earnings potential. Initially, I made round $2,000 per 30 days, working what felt like 24/7. However that hustle paid off; I constructed my repute, gained a whole lot of opinions and referrals and was capable of scale my enterprise considerably in a comparatively quick time frame. Now, I can get pleasure from a work-life steadiness with my experience fetching a extra substantial hourly charge, and I can schedule day off to understand my exhausting work.
What does development and income appear like now?
Taskrabbit has been a helpful supply of earnings that I have been capable of scale up or down based mostly on my targets during the last three years. At occasions, I’ve labored full-time, finishing 40-45 duties per 30 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 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 online business on a every 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 like prematurely. I normally mark myself as obtainable 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 activity scheduled, I would take the afternoon off to satisfy associates or get pleasure from 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 via word-of-mouth and consumer referrals. The sport-changer for me was once I began asking for opinions each time earlier than leaving a activity — 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 like seeing a undertaking via from begin to end, however my shoppers are the true purpose I get pleasure from this work a lot. I’ve had the prospect to satisfy and assist so many unimaginable folks, and I take satisfaction in making their lives simpler. Nothing beats a contented consumer who refers a buddy as a result of that they had an incredible expertise with me.
What’s your greatest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Particularly for ladies considering comparable 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. Spend money on 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 the rest.
4. Do not be intimidated: Simply get began. Each skilled was as soon as a newbie, and one of the simplest ways to construct confidence is thru hands-on expertise. Expertise will 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 abilities and lay the inspiration for greater alternatives. Each job teaches one thing new, and the extra expertise you achieve, the sooner you will develop into higher-value work.
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