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 whenever 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 underneath stress, talk clearly and construct belief 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.
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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 dad and mom owned a development firm, and my mother instilled in me the assumption that I may study and do something I set my thoughts to. Lengthy earlier than DIY turned a pattern, she was tackling residence enchancment initiatives herself, exhibiting 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 technique 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 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 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 purchasers belief me for precision, reliability and experience.
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When you may return in your online business journey and alter one course of or strategy, what wouldn’t it be, and the way do you would like you’d completed it in another way?
Two issues stand out: Optimizing my scheduling. Early on, I wasted lots 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 flexibleness 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. Once 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 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 lots of dangerous stuff in development supplies that I might slightly not breathe in.
With regards to this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you’ve got discovered significantly difficult and/or shocking that individuals who get into such a work ought to be ready for however probably aren’t?
Probably the most neglected challenges is asking the precise questions upfront. The extra data 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 singular device or {hardware}.
Are you able to recall a selected occasion when one thing went very flawed — how did you repair it?
As with every hands-on work, you by no means actually 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 date; 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, in fact, by performing each job 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 purchasers are happy.
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How lengthy did it take you to see constant month-to-month income? How a lot did the facet hustle earn?
Once I first began, I had no critiques and set a decrease hourly price to construct demand. I took on each job obtainable, working lengthy hours to realize momentum. Inside a month or two, I used to be persistently 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 popularity, gained a whole bunch of critiques and referrals and was capable of scale my enterprise considerably in a comparatively brief time period. Now, I will get pleasure from a work-life steadiness with my experience fetching a extra substantial hourly price, and I will schedule day without work to understand my onerous work.
What does progress and income appear like now?
Taskrabbit has been a invaluable supply of revenue that I have been capable of 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 thirty days, which equates to 70-80 hours of labor. The platform offers the flexibleness 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 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 each day, weekly or month-to-month foundation?
Taskrabbit operates on a client-request mannequin, which means I do not all the time know what my week will appear like prematurely. I often mark myself as obtainable and anticipate 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 job scheduled, I’d take the afternoon off to satisfy buddies or get pleasure from a relaxed break day. Seasonal demand additionally performs a task — busy intervals like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and the vacations deliver in additional duties. My advertising primarily occurs by means 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 — the vast majority of my purchasers 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 mission by means of from begin to end, however my purchasers are the true motive I get pleasure from this work a lot. I’ve had the prospect to satisfy and assist so many unbelievable folks, 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 excellent expertise with me.
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What’s your greatest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Particularly for girls keen on 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. Spend money on high quality instruments — having the precise 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 skilled was as soon as a newbie, and one of the simplest ways to construct confidence is thru hands-on expertise. Abilities 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 construct confidence, refine your expertise and lay the muse for larger 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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