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 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 capacity to problem-solve underneath stress, talk clearly and construct belief 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 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 study and do something I set my thoughts to. Lengthy earlier than DIY grew to become a development, she was tackling residence enchancment initiatives herself, displaying me firsthand that girls can do something! She made positive I knew methods to use energy instruments, paint and tackle residence initiatives with confidence. What began as a solution to apply these abilities quickly advanced 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 purchasers.
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 talent set, however as I gained expertise, I expanded into extra technical companies 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 purchasers belief me for precision, reliability and experience.
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If you happen to may return in your corporation journey and alter one course of or method, what would it not be, and the way do you want you’d completed it in a different way?
Two issues stand out: Optimizing my scheduling. Early on, I wasted a number of time driving forwards and backwards between Denver and Boulder for a number of duties in a single day. Now, I proactively ask purchasers 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, notably 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 a number of dangerous stuff in building supplies that I might quite not breathe in.
In terms of this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you have discovered notably difficult and/or shocking that individuals who get into this kind of work must be ready for however doubtless aren’t?
Probably the most ignored challenges is asking the suitable questions upfront. The extra info I collect earlier than a activity — equivalent to wall sort, 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 instrument or {hardware}.
Are you able to recall a selected occasion when one thing went very incorrect — 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 up to now; surprises can and can inevitably occur. What units me aside is my capacity 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, in fact, by performing each activity 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 purchasers 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 price to construct demand. I took on each activity 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 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 repute, gained tons of of evaluations and referrals and was capable of scale my enterprise considerably in a comparatively brief time frame. Now, I will take pleasure in a work-life steadiness with my experience fetching a extra substantial hourly price, and I will schedule break day to understand my exhausting work.
What does development and income appear to be now?
Taskrabbit has been a helpful supply of revenue that I have been capable of scale up or down based mostly on my objectives over the past 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 supplies the pliability to tackle as a lot or as little as you need, making it an important possibility for these trying to construct a enterprise on their very own phrases. I am going to sometimes earn round $3,500-4,500 a month after I’m working “full-time” at 60-80 hours a month.
How a lot time do you spend engaged on your corporation on a each day, weekly or month-to-month foundation?
Taskrabbit operates on a client-request mannequin, that means I do not at all times know what my week will appear to be prematurely. I often mark myself as out there and look forward to bookings. In contrast to a standard job with set days off, I construction my downtime round my bookings. For instance, if I solely have a morning activity scheduled, I’d take the afternoon off to satisfy buddies or take pleasure in a relaxed time without work. Seasonal demand additionally performs a task — busy intervals like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and the vacations carry in additional duties. My advertising primarily occurs via word-of-mouth and consumer referrals. The sport-changer for me was after I began asking for evaluations each time earlier than leaving a activity — nearly all of my purchasers 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 undertaking via from begin to end, however my purchasers are the true motive I take pleasure in this work a lot. I’ve had the possibility to satisfy and assist so many unbelievable individuals, and I take delight in making their lives simpler. Nothing beats a cheerful consumer who refers a good friend as a result of they’d an important expertise with me.
What’s your finest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Particularly for girls occupied with 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. Put money into high quality instruments — having the suitable tools makes any job extra environment friendly {and professional}.
3. Professionalism units you aside — purchasers prioritize experience, communication and reliability over anything.
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. Abilities will 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 construct confidence, refine your abilities and lay the muse for greater alternatives. Each job teaches one thing new, and the extra expertise you achieve, the quicker you may develop into higher-value work.
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