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 if you began your facet hustle?
Earlier than Taskrabbit, I spent 9 years in public service as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, a task that strengthened my means to problem-solve underneath stress, talk clearly and build trust with individuals 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 strategy 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 idea that I may 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, displaying me firsthand that ladies can do something! She made certain I knew how you can use energy instruments, paint and tackle house initiatives with confidence. What began as a strategy 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 have been a number of the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom?
Initially, I centered on initiatives inside my talent 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 ascertain 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 may 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 finished it in a different way?
Two issues stand out: Optimizing my scheduling. Early on, I wasted plenty 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, significantly in older properties 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 plenty of dangerous stuff in development supplies that I might relatively not breathe in.
In the case of this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you have discovered significantly difficult and/or shocking that individuals who get into this sort of work must be ready for however probably aren’t?
Probably the most ignored challenges is asking the correct questions upfront. The extra info I collect earlier than a job — akin to wall kind, 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 software or {hardware}.
Are you able to recall a particular 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 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 this point; surprises can and can inevitably occur. What units me aside is my means 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 in a position 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 out there, 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 revenue potential. Initially, I made round $2,000 per 30 days, working what felt like 24/7. However that hustle paid off; I constructed my fame, gained a whole bunch of critiques 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 day without work to understand my arduous work.
What does progress and income appear like now?
Taskrabbit has been a invaluable supply of revenue that I have been in a position to scale up or down based mostly on my objectives over the past three years. At instances, 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 excellent possibility for these seeking to construct a enterprise on their very own phrases. I am going to 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 enterprise 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 upfront. I normally mark myself as out there and anticipate bookings. Not like a standard 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 pals or get pleasure from a relaxed time off. Seasonal demand additionally performs a task — busy durations like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and the vacations deliver in additional duties. My advertising and marketing primarily occurs by way of 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 get pleasure from most about operating this enterprise?
I really like seeing a venture by way of 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 individuals, and I take delight in making their lives simpler. Nothing beats a contented consumer who refers a good friend as a result of they’d an excellent expertise with me.
What’s your greatest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Particularly for girls eager about 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. Put money into high quality instruments — having the correct tools 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 simplest ways to construct confidence is thru hands-on expertise. Expertise will be discovered, however willpower, 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 muse 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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