This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features 26-year-old Emely Cepeda, a Boston-based dental student who makes extra money with online marketing Task rabbit. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Emely Cepeda
What was your day job or main occupation when you started? side hustle?
I started taking the position when I was entering my second year of dental school, so I was a full-time student.
When you started yours side hustleand where did you find the inspiration for it?
I started using Taskrabbit in August of 2022. I was looking for ways to make money since the cost of living in Boston is so high (I mean $3 for a box of pasta? Come on!). I looked at many other ways of doing it earn moneyand since I have a background in catering and food service (waiting tables and bartending), I was looking at jobs in that area – the only thing stopping me was the lack of flexibility within those jobs and not being able to do my job. schedule, as school was my top priority.
I looked at other apps like UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub, but being in a car going places and not having full control over my income just didn't seem ideal. I saw a TikTok that was talked about Task rabbitand here we are! I knew I needed something I could control, where there were no monthly fees (since I knew I would need to take long periods off work during school) and a connection to the people I was helping (Taskrabbit lets us to speak to our clients before confirming a job).
What were some of the first steps you took to get yours side hustle from the ground?
The first step to becoming a Tasker is to sign up through the app or website. It cost me about $25 to get started because the app requires you to do a background check, which is amazing, in my opinion, as it gives some security measures for both clients and Taskers. Once my background check is accepted, I can start adding different tasks that I'm good at (cleaning, cooking, organizing, arts and crafts, etc.) and start accepting jobs.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your build? side hustleand how did you navigate them?
I think one of the biggest challenges for me when I started Taskrabbit was having the confidence to go into someone's home and feel comfortable enough to do whatever task they hired me to do (especially cleaning and organizing). I know what it's like to feel weird about strangers in my house, but your client is trusting you to get the job done. He gave me that confidence FAITH to rip off that bandage and just do it. I was nervous at first, but once I did it once or twice, it was smooth and I started to really enjoy it. I just kept doing the tasks and it really paid off.
How long did it take you to see consistent monthly income? How much did the side hustle earn?
From the day I started the assignment, it took me about two weeks to see steady income. Since I offer several different types of assignments, the earning potential for each varies (some assignments I pay more based on market demand and my skill set). Some months I don't do any organizational tasks; some months I don't do any cleaning or cooking duties. But that's the beauty of it – I can choose what I want to do and how much I want to do it.
I've made over $1,300 in a month just by sideloading tasks and over $500 in a day for just a few hours of work. I don't do homework some months because of my school schedule, but in the months I do work, I average $576 a month.
What do growth and revenue look like now?
After you first start, the app suggests a price recommendation you can use for any task you decide to bid on based on the area you work in, task category, and experience level. Once you've got a few assignments under your belt, the recommended price goes up. In short, the more you do, the more you can earn. For example, I started at about $25 an hour for cleaning duties. Two years and over 40 five-star reviews later, I'm averaging $55-$65 an hour for the same task. For hosting, I started at about $20 an hour, and now I pay over $40 an hour for the same thing. For cooking, I started at $20 an hour, and now it's up to $35 an hour. This increment reflects how many tasks you have completed. I've done a lot more cleaning tasks, so my winning potential is higher than some of the other tasks I do, since I have more cleaning experience (and, therefore, more reviews).
What do you like most about it? side hustle?
Honestly, I like it help people. This is my main driving factor for pursuing dentistry as well. There is nothing more satisfying than helping someone organize, clean or cook. Taking this weight off people has been the most rewarding experience. Yes, making money is a perk, but I've had clients cry to help and take that weight of household duties off their shoulders.
What is your advice to others hoping to start their own successful businesses?
Put into it what you want to get out of it. There are months when I can't work because of school and those months, I don't see any income. But other easier months I can make so much money using the “off time” I have. Honestly, you can make a lot of money on Taskrabbit if you put in the time and put to workas I have I also tend to work a lot during busy times of the year (like September moves, holiday seasons, etc.) because the need for Taskers is higher (and therefore I earn more). Use your time and resources wisely and you'll be set up for success in the long run. Take advantage of the time you have and make the tasks you take count.