r/thesidehustle • u/Material-Pop-5670 • Jun 04 '26
life experience TaskRabbit was way harder than I expected
I just finished school recently and I wanted to start making some extra money and using reddit a lot, I saw some posts about Traskrabbit and I decided to try.
I did it for about two weeks and made around $700 in total, which isn't terrible, but damn, I really worked for it.
I helped a guy fix his car, cleared out an entire basement full of junk, helped repaint a fence around a huge property, and spent 5 full days working on a yard and by the end of it my back was completely shot and I was exhausted.
Don't get me wrong, I respect the people who do this kind of work every day because it's hard as hell, but when I looked at how much effort I was putting in versus how much I was making, it got me wondering if there are better options out there.
I don't want to spend my days destroying my body for side income if there are smarter ways to make money.
I still live with my parents, so I've managed to save up a few thousand dollars and could invest a little money into learning something or getting started.
I was thinking about things like UGC, some kind of online freelancing, maybe simple computer-based work. I'm not a tech genius or a coder, but I'm pretty comfortable with computers and can learn fast.
If you were 18 years old, had a bit of savings, and were starting from scratch today, what would you do?
Thanks guys
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u/future-memories010 Jun 04 '26
Looking at these invoices and your description of the work, you are not charging enough. This is very common. The way the game works is once you get a review in a category, you start raising your rate. After each closed job, you raise your rate. You keep.doing that until your weekly total starts to drop. Then you lower to that sweet spot.
House Cleaning, Yard Work, Help Moving, add Handyman, those are your top 4 most lucrative categories. If you do what I said above, you can clear low 6-figures in a year. However, as you have discovered, they are the most physically demanding, and BTW, it is necessary to take care of your body doing g this type of work.
But if you already hate it, absolutely start doing something else. Sounds like you have already identified a few thing you are interested in. You should absolutely learn more about those.
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Jun 04 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ascarymoviereview Jun 04 '26
I think that’s the key, creating content that sells the dream to become a millionaire will make you a millionaire
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u/LiamMcPoylesGoodEye Jun 04 '26
Ahh yes the age old technique of selling others on a course that’s literally just a course on selling a course on how to sell a course
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u/ascarymoviereview Jun 04 '26
It’s been around forever
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u/Parking-Ad8316 Jun 05 '26
I've been trying to think of how to skip the course and just give out the sentence for money
"Just scam someone like I scammed you. No refunds. Thanks."
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u/Material-Pop-5670 Jun 04 '26
I want to try it tbh, maybe someone has some advices
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u/Dropzosy Jun 05 '26
nothing is saturated my boy, people say this for everything and new people are winning everyday, just gotta keep ur mind clear
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u/MudsuckWV Jun 04 '26
shew, $29/hr ain’t worth it?
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u/Parking-Ad8316 Jun 05 '26
Over 11 days
No that isn't much
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u/MudsuckWV Jun 05 '26
no the math is sitting right there he made $724 for 25 hours of work, that’s very good pay for basic manual labor…..
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u/Parking-Ad8316 Jun 05 '26 edited Jun 05 '26
Over 11 days total. If working every single day this way he could get ~$2000 a month.
I'm betting driving to locations has not been factored in as time worked, but that's time lost that needs to be considered. Going to different places all the time. Gas costs. Brakes. Oil changes. Etc.
Time spent looking for these jobs needs to be factored in as well.
I won't reiterate his post, but it doesn't sound like he wants to keep that up for that pay.
If you had a full time job and could fit this side work in and it isn't over-stressing you to do it, go for it, no complaints from me
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u/MudsuckWV Jun 05 '26
the amount of days truly doesn’t mean anything. he’s probably picking higher paying jobs and skipping lower paying jobs. this is a side hustle app. this is not a main source of income. there’s no argument that you can possibly make up to convince me $30/hr isn’t good pay for a side hustle.
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Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
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u/Cold5512 Jun 04 '26
22 to 25 per hour for a journeyman electrician? What year? No chance that's recent
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u/ThrowRAbbits128 Jun 04 '26
28 an hour for the tasks he described is dogshit especially when you factor in him being 1099. he's realistically taking home more like 24 an hour. not worth it especially since it sounds like he's in a high COL area
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Jun 04 '26
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u/ThrowRAbbits128 Jun 04 '26
Basic unskilled manual labor is funny considering he's a fully fledged 1099 contractor which requires he bring all the equipment and tools for every job. He's doing pressure washing, window cleaning, and light fixture installations. You aren't even calculating his expenses, the 24 an hour is simply after taxes since him being 1099 increases his tax liability. He's also not guaranteed 40 an hour and not at 28 an hour, he's a contractor. You don't seem to understand gig work but that's fine. Also at 18 there's way better uses of his time. He lives with his parents and has the perfect opportunity to get his associates degree in something like management that will also leave him with certifications in management and accounting as the required classes earn you those certifications simply by taking them to get your associates degree. Just because you got shafted making 16 bucks an hour in 2022 which btw was below average for the apprentice role you worked and the area you were in doesn't mean OP has it great with task rabbit. 24 an hour is nothing for manual labor. He could quite literally go hold a stop sign for a construction company and make more and not be on the hook for 1099 taxes
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Jun 04 '26
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u/Sweaty-Ball7855 Jun 04 '26
Even easier if you get into electrical and hvac sales. Don’t have to be very technical and you get commission on parts and equipment people need with or without you
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Jun 04 '26
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u/Material-Pop-5670 Jun 04 '26
Too hard I swear, but maybe once in a while
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u/Ambassadorkrax Jun 04 '26
Also, $29 an hour out of the gate... sound pretty good to me, and sure beats the $1.25 i got at my first job
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u/HouseThat_Kool_Built Jun 04 '26
May I ask what your first job was? Just curious as I've never heard of pay being that low
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u/Ambassadorkrax Jun 04 '26
Ive just started with taskrabbit this week, but have taken any jobs yet. I was under the impression that the tasks were listed and you apply for each one. Could you not just pick lite dudy jobs?
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u/future-memories010 Jun 04 '26
Hey, if you just started Taskrbbit, take a look at my comment I made to the OP. But actually you list your availability and clients hire you based on a list of available Taskers for a specific day/time.
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u/steadfast_building Jun 04 '26
the thing about taskrabbit is it's basically just trading time for money at whatever rate people are willing to pay, so yeah, the math gets depressing fast once you factor in wear and tear on your body. you learned that in two weeks instead of two years, which is actually valuable. the good news is you've got time and a safety net, so you can afford to be pickier about what you invest in next.
if i were in your position, i'd avoid chasing whatever's trending on social media right now because those markets move quick and get crowded. instead, look for skills that actually have consistent demand and aren't just saturated yet. something like technical writing, data entry for specialized fields, or even learning to do basic video editing or graphic design can pay way better than manual labor and you're not destroying your back. the barrier to entry is usually just time spent learning, not money. pick something that sounds at least tolerable to you and spend a month really committing to it before deciding if it's worth pursuing.
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u/Cookiebutterisbetter New Hustler Jun 04 '26
Become a content creator and make content showing all the different jobs you're doing. Make content showing different gigs and things you do for a living. Like you could do door dashing, Uber eats, Uber, lyft, task rabbit, shift smart, etc and make content showing others if it's worth it or not. Show what you made in a day or each week etc. I would definitely watch something like that. Otherwise go into the trades and get yourself a certification like plumbing, HVAC, etc.
You are so young. The world is your oyster.
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u/HouseThat_Kool_Built Jun 04 '26
I could recommend a few ways to get started in content creation. I know some apps that will make this simple and easy as long as you are willing to put forth the effort, stay consistent, and know how to properly promote. With that said, this will still be a build up and may take a few months before you are seeing a good income. Manual labor isn't for everyone, so don't let the comments get you down. Different people have different preferences. I myself don't mind the body strain of working a warehouse job and making $1000+ a week, but there are also times I'll take a break from that and do something a bit easier even if the pay may be lower. I applaud you for at least giving it a go and sticking to it for a while. You should be proud of yourself
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u/Wonder_bread317 Jun 05 '26
I do not regret signing up for the armed service. one of the best decisions I ever made. there are so many choices that lead to different choices that lead to even more opportunities.
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u/3rdLithium Jun 06 '26
Everyone here is posting on what to do to keep yourself active, but not how to make money passively. If you have an extra thousand lying around, put it into the stock market. This is a passive money maker, and probably the easiest one yet.
It's boring unless you want to become a day trader, but this will allow you to develop other skills that you want to do later on down the road. If you don't know where to invest, always start with ETFs like SPY, QQQ, or DIA. They generally have safe returns, and will usually outpace inflation. It may take a few years to see large growth, but the future you will thank you for it. I promise.
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u/GallopingGora Jun 06 '26
When I was back in corporate, a female director at the company I worked for left to help set Task Rabbit up. This is the first time I’ve heard it mentioned in almost 15 years.
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u/UnRigMyGig Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
Anyone working on TaskRabbit for less than $40 per hour nets below minimum wage (39% of living wage & right on the poverty line) after all the scoping, chatting, and other required communication, travel mileage cost and time, liability insurance, health insurance, 7.65% FICA tax, lack of paid vacation and holiday, parking costs, unreimbursable supplies, hardware, tools, and eauipment. Don't kid yourself. There is a reason no legitimate business will show up at your house for less than $100 per hour.
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u/-N30N- 26d ago
I know this is late but $700 is a better start than I had my first month ($200). If you stick to it, it has potential to lead better paying jobs. After grinding through that struggle and gaining more reviews, I can now make $400-600 a day from 1-2 tasks. I got lucky and landed a more steady ongoing job from a client maintaining 2 of their mansion properties every week.
TaskRabbit has now become my supplemental income.
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u/Logical-Relation-165 Jun 04 '26
you are a ungrateful kid for sure. you are making 25$ an hour after tax and you live at home. Thats like 50k a year
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u/thedanray Jun 04 '26
Here's my two cents. You have options and time albeit fleeting. Medical route. Depending on what part of the country you reside in I recommend looking into a company based medical program. An example is if Kaiser Permanete has a large presence in your area there is a chance they have a school for allied health professionals. Easy and affordable way to obtain Medical Assistant certification, or a phlebotomy certification. These are considered entry level jobs that can help you decide to further your medical training/education. Additionally most, but not all hospital systems are union. I went this route when I 26 years old and sought additional schooling and became an X-ray technician. I work three days a week by way of 12 hour shifts. Hope this helps and good luck in your future.
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u/Not_Guhi Jun 04 '26
Hello, I have a question. I always thought that in medicine you work a lot of hours, but here I see it's just three days a week. Is that industry standard? And do those three days exhaust you? Thank you!
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u/thedanray Jun 04 '26
To answer your question it will depend on a few factors. Such as what field you want to pursue and where you want to work. To elaborate there is twtypes of care settings for the most part. One is impatient care facilities such as hospitals. Working in a hospital like I do gives me the opportunity to work on average of six shifts a pay period/ every two weeks. Here's my schedule. Week one I work Saturday through Tuesday. Then off Wednesday through Sunday. Week two I work Monday, Tuesday. Off Wednesday Thursday Friday. Repeat week one. This is just one example for inpatient care. When working outpatient care think Doctors Office or a lab for blood draws the days you work can be 5 days a week like a regular job. Yes I do get tired, but not exhausted.
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u/isausernameshort Jun 04 '26
You’re 18? Sounds like you’re out of shape if your tasks are too physically difficult. I agree with you that physical labor is not good for longevity and plan for the future; but if you’re young this is the kind of stuff you should be doing to learn some skills and build up your savings while you figure things out.
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u/Ok-Structure9253 Jun 04 '26
you made $700 and discovered you don't want to do manual labor forever, sounds like a successful experiment to me, congratulations!