by Dana Sitar, CEPF®
Contributor
Odd jobs are as old as time. There have always been folks hiring people to perform tasks they don’t have the time or skills to do themselves.
The gig app TaskRabbit makes it easier than ever for service providers to make extra money and for clients to buy some free time.
Want to know how it works? In this TaskRabbit review, we cover what it takes to get to work on the platform, and what it’s like to hire through the platform to help everyone make the most of it.
TaskRabbit connects gig workers with people who need help with jobs like cleaning houses, making deliveries or completing household tasks, such as installing a new faucet or putting together a bookshelf.
The app lets clients post the work they need help with. Service providers, called “Taskers,” use it to find jobs, contact potential clients and get paid for the work. Jobs are paid at an hourly rate, which Taskers set, and clients pay right through the app with a connected credit card or account.
Using TaskRabbit, instead of a classifieds site like Craigslist or other job-listing site, helps make sure service providers actually get paid for their work, and reassures clients that they are who they say they are and they’ve been vetted by the platform.
How does TaskRabbit work? Here are the basics.
Here’s everything you need to know about making money through TaskRabbit.
To become a Tasker, you have to be at least 18 years old and live in one of 61 cities in the U.S. or those in seven other countries where the platform is active.
You can provide services across more than 50 categories in the app. Some require previous experience or expertise, but many don’t. You should be able to become a Tasker without any specific background or experience. Just choose tasks from the categories that fit your skills.
Like with any gig app, you make your own hours on TaskRabbit. Unlike some gig options, though, you have to keep an updated schedule on your profile in the app so clients see you in search results and you can avoid scheduling conflicts.
The client handles the entire booking process through the app.
When a client needs to book a service, they select from a list of chores in the app to search for available Taskers in their area. They read through your profile to make sure it matches their needs, then book an appointment based on your availability. You’ll receive notifications when clients request your services.
Once they’ve confirmed the appointment through the final booking page, you can communicate with each other through messages in the app to make sure you have all the information you need.
Clients can book same-day or future appointments, based on your settings, and the appointments will show up on your work schedule. Once you have the task completed, they’ll pay you your hourly rate through the app. You keep 100% of your rate plus any tips clients offer.
Tasks on the platform range from the mundane to the creative across more than 50 categories. Some require experience or expertise in a certain field, but you can perform many tasks without any background.
Some gigs we’ve seen for Taskers include:
This is not at all exhaustive. You can pretty much get paid to do anything (legal) that a client doesn’t have the time or resources to do on their own.
To become a Tasker, you can sign up through the TaskRabbit website or download the iOS or Android app.
Note that TaskRabbit uses separate apps for clients and Taskers — to offer services, download the “Tasker by TaskRabbit” app.
During the registration process, you’ll have to:
In some cities, you’ll have to pay a non-refundable $25 registration fee when you sign up. Paying the fee doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved as a Tasker, so if you have any concern you won’t pass the screening process, you probably want to save your money and try other gigs.
Once your profile is approved, you can begin tasking!
You’ll build your profile, listing the tasks you want to offer and your related experience and background, if necessary. You’ll also set your schedule, which determines your availability, and your service area, as a radius from where you live.
On Taskrabbit, you set your own rates, and the average hourly pay for Taskers in the U.S. is $35, according to TaskRabbit’s April 2019 fact sheet.
The rates you can earn through TaskRabbit gigs vary based on the types of tasks you take on and what clients are willing to pay. If you set your hourly rates higher than average, they might sift past you in their search, for example.
TaskRabbit no longer charges a support fee, so you keep 100% of what you earn plus any tips.
(Instead of taking a cut from you, TaskRabbit makes money from the service fee clients pay on top of your hourly rates. So the total cost to clients is a little higher, but you don’t have to fork over a share of your earnings.)
Like all workers in the gig economy, Taskers are independent contractors in the eyes of the IRS and most state income tax authorities.
As an independent contractor, you’re completely responsible for paying income taxes on the money you earn through TaskRabbit. The company doesn’t withhold taxes the way an employer would.
To keep up with what you owe throughout the year, you’ll want to pay estimated quarterly taxes four times each year. If a substantial amount of your income comes from TaskRabbit or other gig work or self-employment, you’ll want to do the paperwork and stay on top of that quarterly tax bill.
If you’re just picking up an occasional gig here and there on the side of employment, your payroll taxes might cover anything you’d owe from tasking. Don’t count on it, though — do the math to estimate your tax obligation and make sure you’re not surprised with a bill in April.
TaskRabbit and other gig sites that match eager workers with people who need odd jobs performed are often criticized as a difficult way for people to earn a decent living. Many of the independent contractors who complete tasks through these sites end up racing between different low-paying gigs, with long, unpaid commutes in between.
But that doesn’t have to be the case. If you’re strategic, you can use gig economy apps to make a serious side income or even to make a full-time living.
To make more money as a Tasker, follow these strategies.
Set an hourly rate that makes any task worth your time, and be willing to take on a variety of tasks to fill out our schedule. We’ve learned from experts that flexibility is key to high earnings on the app.
Being willing to work on call is extremely helpful, too. That availability could give you a leg up on other Taskers and win you more gigs.
You might have preferences for some types of tasks, but your best bet to earning good money through the platform is to be open to a variety of gigs.
If that’s not your bag, no worries; TaskRabbit just might not be the best platform for you. On this platform, it’s all about fulfilling client’s unexpected needs.
One day, you could find yourself walking dogs, and the next week, you’ll be parking strollers outside of preschool. The app connects you with an array of odd jobs, and the more open you are — they’re called “odd” for a reason — the more money you could earn.
Top-dollar Taskers earn their cash by having top-notch skills. You can be willing to take on the occasional stroller-parking gig, but you can command the highest rates doing things like carpentry, construction and other handyman tasks clients hire out because they don’t have the skills themselves.
Having top-notch, in-demand skills help you rise to the top of the pack.
Figure out your strengths: Maybe you have a big truck for moving jobs, you’re a neat freak, you’re an expert at IKEA furniture assembly or you run a handyman business. Keep an eye out for gigs that require those skills to get the most for your time.
If you want to take this tasking thing full-time, it could be worth some investment. Maybe you see a lot of gigs for moving help, so you buy a truck or a van to stand out against the competition. Or maybe you invest on a smaller scale, like a set of cleaning supplies or tools.
A strong profile that highlights your skills and abilities will help you stand out to clients as they scan through bids.
Choose a quality, fun photo of yourself and take the time to write an informative bio. Link to your social media profiles, especially LinkedIn, to highlight your background and expertise. If your profile shows you’re experienced, approachable and intelligent, you’ll have a much higher chance of landing gigs — even if you don’t have the lowest rate.
Run lots of errands already? Choose tasks that fit with your own to-do list to get paid for the running around you have to do all day.
Figure out which types of services to focus on by considering what works with your life. Maybe you can plan your grocery shopping or donation drop-offs to coincide with tasks, for example.
Choosing a fair and accurate price for a job can keep you from being passed over or worrying about being paid less than your work is worth.
Set prices that make the work worth your time, and use your profile to let clients know why you’re worth it. In the long run, that’ll help you build a much stronger business or side hustle than simply trying to be the lowest bidder.
Don’t be afraid to experiment as you get started to figure out the best balance for getting the most tasks and earning fair wages.
Increase your productivity by checking the app while you’re out and about. Does anyone need anything from your area, whether it’s groceries or a lunch delivery? Have you had any task requests?
Being able to check on available tasks while you’re away from your computer adds a little extra productivity to your work.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about working as a Tasker.
Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of hiring contractors through TaskRabbit.
TaskRabbit connects you with any kind of help you need, as soon as the same day. To find what you’re looking for, just browse the task categories, and choose one to pull up Taskers who do that kind of work.
TaskRabbit offers a range of services across 50 categories, from virtual assistance to furniture assembly to cleaning to moving to yardwork to… well, you get the picture.
If it needs to get done and you don’t want to do it, you can probably hire a Tasker to handle it for you.
You’re often letting Taskers into your home — maybe even while you’re not there — so you probably want some assurance that they’re legit. For this reason, TaskRabbit runs an identity check and criminal background check on all Taskers.
Also, Taskers tend to be folks from your local community, so you may already have some trust and rapport just from being in the same neighborhood.
Taskers create profiles that list the kinds of work they do and their experience and expertise. So you can make sure you’re hiring someone fit to do the job, especially for more complex tasks that require a very particular set of skills.
If you liked the service you got from a Tasker, you can rehire them through the app by adding them to your favorites or pursuing your completed tasks. Note that Taskers might not be available for all kinds of tasks, so you might not be able to rehire a previous Tasker who, say, delivered your groceries, to be your virtual assistant.
You can hire a Tasker through the app for iOS or Android through this simple process:
To use TaskRabbit to hire someone to do your odd jobs, download the client app: TaskRabbit: Handyman, Errands.
When you book a task, you’ll pay a Tasker’s hourly rate (“Tasker Rate”) plus a service fee and a “Trust & Support Fee” paid to TaskRabbit, plus any reimbursements you agree to with the Tasker.
Taskers set their own hourly rates, and you’ll be able to see those in their profile before you put in your request. Rates should generally be commensurate with the work and competitive for the area, because that’s the best way for Taskers to get work.
Both the service fee and the Trust & Support Fee are billed as a percentage of the total Tasker Rate. TaskRabbit is a little opaque about the exact percentage, but some users have reported seeing fees as much as 35%. You’ll be notified of the fee percentage before you book, so keep an eye out for that detail to avoid surprise charges!
After you receive your invoice, you can also add a tip of any amount for the Tasker. They receive 100% of their hourly rate and tips; TaskRabbit doesn’t keep a cut.
Dana Sitar (@danasitar) has been writing and editing for online audiences since 2011, covering personal finance, careers and digital media. She is a former staffer at The Penny Hoarder. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, CNBC, The Motley Fool, Inc. and more. 
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