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 main occupation while 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 capability to problem-solve below 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 offered flexibility and the chance to use my abilities 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 technique to take management of my schedule and leverage my current experience. My mother and father owned a building firm, and my mother instilled in me the idea 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 certain I knew the best way 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 among 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 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 corporation journey and alter one course of or strategy, what wouldn’t it be, and the way do you would like you’d performed it in a different way?
Two issues stand out: Optimizing my scheduling. Early on, I wasted numerous 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 notice the potential well being dangers of drilling into plaster, significantly in older houses 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 all the time put on an N99 drywall masks whatever the materials I am working with — there’s numerous dangerous stuff in building supplies that I might relatively not breathe in.
In relation to this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you’ve got discovered significantly difficult and/or shocking that individuals who get into this sort of work needs to be ready for however probably aren’t?
Some of the neglected challenges is asking the proper questions upfront. The extra info I collect earlier than a activity — resembling wall sort, shopper 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 particular occasion when one thing went very flawed — how did you repair it?
As with all hands-on work, you by no means actually 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 capability 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 ready to make sure that my work is finished 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 evaluations and set a decrease hourly price to build demand. I took on each activity accessible, working lengthy hours to achieve momentum. Inside a month or two, I used to be persistently booked, and by the third month, I had a transparent thought of my earnings potential. Initially, I made round $2,000 monthly, working what felt like 24/7. However that hustle paid off; I constructed my status, gained a whole lot of evaluations and referrals and was capable of scale my enterprise considerably in a comparatively quick time period. Now, I can take pleasure in a work-life stability with my experience fetching a extra substantial hourly price, and I can schedule break day to understand my onerous work.
What does progress and income appear like now?
Taskrabbit has been a precious supply of earnings that I have been capable of scale up or down primarily based on my targets during the last three years. At occasions, I’ve labored full-time, finishing 40-45 duties monthly, which equates to 70-80 hours of labor. The platform offers the pliability to tackle as a lot or as little as you need, making it a fantastic 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 corporation on a every 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 accessible and watch for 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 activity scheduled, I would take the afternoon off to satisfy buddies or take pleasure in a relaxed time without work. Seasonal demand additionally performs a task — busy durations like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and the vacations convey in additional duties. My advertising primarily occurs via word-of-mouth and shopper referrals. The sport-changer for me was once I began asking for evaluations each time earlier than leaving a activity — the vast majority of my shoppers do not thoughts taking a couple of minutes to share their experiences.
What do you take pleasure in most about working this enterprise?
I like seeing a venture via from begin to end, however my shoppers are the true cause I take pleasure in this work a lot. I’ve had the prospect to satisfy and assist so many unbelievable individuals, and I take satisfaction in making their lives simpler. Nothing beats a cheerful shopper who refers a pal as a result of they’d a fantastic expertise with me.
What’s your finest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Particularly for ladies serious about related 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 proper 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. Expertise might be realized, 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 larger alternatives. Each job teaches one thing new, and the extra expertise you acquire, the quicker you may develop into higher-value work.
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