For people looking to make money by doing jobs on the side, TaskRabbit can be a solid option. But before you make yourself available to assemble Ikea furniture and run errands, be sure you know what’s involved.
The Basics
Requirements: Applicants must pass background and ID checks, be at least 21, work in one of the site’s 39 U.S. metro areas and have a checking account and credit card. TaskRabbit doesn’t guarantee all applications will be processed; this is to avoid oversaturating a location with too many people doing tasks. Highest demand jobs: Handyman, moving, cleaning and delivery are the tasks with the “highest earning potential,” according to the company. Pay: You’re paid at an hourly rate—or a set price for Quick Assign jobs—minus a 30 percent service fee. There’s also a possibility of tips, 100 percent of which go to you, the Tasker.
How To Register
To register on the site, you’ll have to provide basic information about yourself, upload a profile photo, set pay rates and state your level of experience for your task categories. For each service you provide, you’ll also have to add a “quick pitch” detailing why people should pick your services (more on that later). To help you maintain positive reviews and ratings, TaskRabbit recommends limiting those services to ones you “can perform at a high quality level.” If TaskRabbit approves your application, you’ll be charged a nonrefundable $20 registration fee and have to attend an orientation before you can start completing tasks.
Creating A Strong Profile
Your “quick pitch” is limited to 250 characters per category, so you’ll have to be creative to get the right message across. Home in on the most important details, like how you can solve a specific problem or meet the client’s needs, and back it up with relevant credentials or experience. For example, if you’re pitching event-planning services, you might mention the office holiday party you organized that went off without a hitch—and was under budget to boot. There’s also an “about” section where you can provide more details about your qualifications, talk about your work ethic and link to your professional website to bolster your case. Check out the profiles of top-rated, or “elite,” Taskers to get ideas for improving your profile. And ask a friend or family member to review your profile to ensure there aren’t any typos or grammatical errors.
Making A Great Impression At Every Step
To succeed at TaskRabbit, it’s important to provide excellent customer service throughout the job. That means having a friendly tone when messaging clients, showing up on time, avoiding cancellations and following up after you’re done to ensure clients are satisfied. Not only is that good business, but clients can leave a public review and ratings on your profile once they receive an invoice or cancellation notice. Ratings cover their interaction with you as well as your timeliness and responsiveness, among other things. Read the TaskRabbit blog and check out the site’s other learning resources to get tips and tricks from others on how to improve your standing on the site. That will open the door to more gigs, increase your chances of earning tips and let you raise rates. Research the average prices for your services regularly to ensure your rate is competitive.
The article How to Start Working Odd Jobs at TaskRabbit originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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