This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Tom Saar. Saar has used I'm hooked, an online marketplace that pairs freelancers with local jobs, to help build his moving business. He currently works with two other approved Taskers and has earned more than $150,000 in the past seven months.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Tom Saar
What was your day job (or other sources of income) when you started your job? side hustle?
Ever since I can remember, I have always had a deep passion for computers and the web. So naturally I was drawn to it content creation, which led me to YouTube at the age of 12. I started recording games on my iPad screen and eventually grew my channel to over 800,000 subscribers at its peak. Alongside this, I dabbled in game development, using game engines like Unity to create and release several Flappy Bird/Infinite Runner clones on the App Store and Google Play Store. As you can imagine, the apps never took off, but it was still a fun experience.
In late 2020, I moved from Sweden to the US to pursue a computer science education. At that time, my YouTube channel was not attracting the same viewership and I felt my motivation disappear. I was hoping that a change of scenery would reignite my passion and help me launch a new venture.
During my studies, I worked in retail at Whole Foods, Target and Starbucks. These jobs provided valuable experience in customer service and helped me overcome social anxiety by interacting with new people every day.
When you started yours side hustleand where did you find the inspiration for it?
One of the first things I noticed after changing my primary residence to New York City was the abundance of moving trucks. They always caught my eye in this crowded city. One day, it wasn't until I got a closer look at one of the trucks that I saw the letters “Moving” and “Storage” printed on the side. This got me thinking. I sat at home one fateful night in early 2023 (February or March) and started researching moving as a business by watching videos, reading articles and finding out if it was possible for me to do it myself. I have come across numerous horror stories of movers mishandling items and overcharging their customers. I was determined to address these tactics by creating a moving company that would provide excellent service at an affordable price. Prioritizing integrity and customer satisfactionI was confident that customers would choose my company over the competition.
What were some of the first steps you took to get yours side hustle from the ground?
I started my moving business in June of 2023 by purchasing a 2016 medium box truck from Penske for just over $15,000. With insurance, monthly parking, moving materials, equipment and registration fees, my initial investment totaled more than $20,000. In retrospect, a smarter way would have been create experience renting a truck at first, but I was so determined to see how much I could make over the summer that I decided to go all in. a job post on Facebook that I put out looking for a moving partner. I also had my father, who gave me moral support and helped me with many tasks of the recent business.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Tom Saar
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while building your side hustle and how did you navigate them?
I faced many challenges trying to pull off this side hustle. I had invested $20,000 before securing a single client. I joined a few gig job platforms to start with but getting someone to trust me and book me for a job without any feedback or a the reputation it was extremely difficult. I kept my fees low at first and it was hard to stay afloat financially but it was the only way I could get customers. It also didn't help that I had no moving experience before starting this side hustle. Doing the physical side of the job while trying to be a salesperson and marketing to new clients while managing finances and invoices was exhausting, to say the least.
How long did it take you to see consistent monthly income? How much did the side hustle earn?
I started seeing steady income growth after August or September of 2023 as my experience grew and I improved my communication skills with CLIENTS. A big part of running a successful business is being able to sell your service or product. The first month was absolutely horrible. I was looking back at my old interactions with clients on previous gig work platforms and I couldn't believe how ineffective I was at selling my services. Many issues at first stemmed from inexperience, not knowing the right questions to ask, and receiving too much useless information. Consequently, the first month or two was mostly just covering operating expenses, barely making ends meet and gaining valuable experience. In the third month, I decided to increase my fees and started to see some profits, with earnings exceeding $10,000 in August 2023 and beyond. It was also easier to market to potential clients when my account had positive comments coming in.
What do growth and revenue look like now?
In November 2023, I found out I'm hooked and decided to add it to the many platforms I used to find work. I heard people talking about hiring platform movers but was hesitant to explore it. When the moving activity slowed down in September and October, I started looking for ways to get more work, so I remembered Taskrabbit and decided to give it a try. Amazingly, Taskrabbit connects customers looking for help with Taskers at no cost. After using platforms where leads could cost anywhere from $20 to $40, this turned out to be an absolute game changer! Since then, I've completed over 1,000 jobs through Taskrabbit, partnered with other skilled Taskers on the platform to complete jobs, and experienced explosive growth in both revenue and profits due to not spending money on marketing. In April 2024, I made over $70,000 in gross revenue from Taskrabbit alone, and May is on track to close at a similar figure. For June, my goal is to cross $80,000 in a single month.
What do you love most about this side hustle?
While I wouldn't say my background fits the description of a mover, it's still something I decided to pursue because I saw tremendous potential in this venture. People are always on the move New York City, as it is one of the largest metropolitan areas full of activity. Actually, being around all that energy is really fun for me, and I love the challenge of solving problems on the fly. Navigating difficult city parking situations has become second nature. The most rewarding aspect, however, is the positive feedback from clients who appreciate my help in making their moves stress-free. Moving is often a stressful process, so I promise my clients to come prepared, be punctual, and work efficiently to make their move an enjoyable experience.
What is your advice to others hoping to start their own successful businesses?
One of the most important lessons I have learned is manage expectations. When we start any new venture, we like to assume that it will be an instant success, but that's rarely the case. It took me almost six months to see visible results, and for others, it may take even longer. If you are starting a side hustle, especially one based on providing a service, the quality of your work is very important. If you want your customers to refer you and become lifelong customers, you need to set the highest standards, because the way you do something is the way you do everything.
Furthermore, communicating with your customers should be high on the list of things to become more effective. Customers don't want to be kept in the dark. If you are late for a meeting, keep them informed. If something goes wrong, be generous with refunds or compensation. This builds strong customer relationships. Finally, don't be afraid to fail. Failures are inevitable, but how you take responsibility for them and learn from them will set you apart and help you grow.