Have you been Googling “TaskRabbit reviews” to find out whether the odd jobs app is a viable place to build a side gig?
If so, then we’re about to make your life a whole lot easier.
We’ve read through all the positive and negative taskrabbit review out there to see whether the popular on-demand service is worth your time.
It turns out, there are a lot of great things about the money-making website and app, but also a few things you might want to consider before ditching your job to become a full-time Tasker.
So let us dive straight in and see whether TaskRabbit is your next place to earn those big bucks.
What is TaskRabbit?
For the uninitiated, TaskRabbit is a mobile app and online platform that connects laborers (known as Taskers) to clients with errands to complete.
A TaskRabbit Tasker will be paid an hourly rate to do chores such as house cleaning, handyman work, or provide a TV mounting service.
For independent contractors, the platform is a flexible way to earn some extra cash using skills they already have.
For the user, it’ is a great way to strike off a task or two on the to-do list.
The TaskRabbit app is currently available to users in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, with more than 140,000 Taskers currently on board.
It was founded in 2008 by entrepreneur Leah Busque and bought by Swedish super brand and the world’s largest furniture retailers, the IKEA Group in 2017. Now it can be found in every IKEA store in the US, the UK, and Canada, plus on their website.
What Tasks can be Done?
TaskRabbit Taskers provide a dizzying array of local services including manual labor, office jobs and seasonal work such as wrapping Christmas presents.
The full list can be found on their website but, some popular TaskRabbit jobs include:
- Shopping for groceries
- Handyman services
- Assembly of Ikea furniture
- House cleaning
- Delivery jobs
- Assistance moving home
- Personal assistant work
How Do You Become a Tasker?
Becoming a Tasker is a relatively simple process. The first step everyone needs to take is to decide which services they can offer.
Once you’ve got a skill or two in mind, you will need to register. You need to provide basic info (name, Social Security Number, address, etc.) plus your email address. You will also need to pay a $20 non-refundable taskrabbit service fee and undergo a background check.
Next, you will be invited to an on-boarding info session and, once completed, you can download the Tasker app and start finding work.
The application will notify you when any potential chores come in locally. You can select the ones you want to do and speak to the client about the details.
After that, it’s a simple case of finishing the work and submitting your invoice.
What are the Requirements to Become a Tasker?
While the requirements are fairly basic to become a TaskRabbit Tasker, you will need to:
- Have a US Social Security Number (or equivalent)
- Be 21 years old or over
- Provide personal information for the background and ID checks
- Be able to work in their active areas
- Have a bank account
- Own a valid credit card
- Own a smartphone with either iOS 7.0 or later, or Android version 4.0.3 or later
Positives of Working for TaskRabbit
1. Pay can be good
TaskRabbit offers the opportunity to make some seriously good money. In an interview with Time.com, Tasker Brian Schrier reported earning an average of around $2,000 a week. He set rates of $150 an hour for a wide range of jobs (even getting paid $70 per hour to fold t-shirts). Similarly, Tasker David Cordova earned around $4,000 a month with rates from $25 to $65 depending on the task. Obviously, these are some of the stand-out cases, but it shows it can be done.
2. Flexible work hours
Flexible working hours are a major positive for most people working on TaskRabbit. You can set your own schedule, working whenever suits you — something most full-time employees can only dream about. This becomes particularly useful if you’re considering TaskRabbit as the place to start your side hustle. You can work around your regular job, earning cash as and when suits you.
3. Clients on a plate
If you’ve tried finding your own clients before then, you’ll know what a hassle it can be. You need good contacts, great advertising and a time to build a decent client base. However, TaskRabbit Taskers can access a huge number of clients all in one place. You can start working (and earning) almost immediately.
4. Potential for long-term work
Yes, TaskRabbit might be the place to secure one-off gigs, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to find new jobs every day. Clients who you have worked for previously have the option to rehire you as and when they have new errands available. Of course, a lot of this will be to do with the customer service you provide and whether the client was impressed by your original work.
5. TaskRabbit perks
Working freelance does mean you miss out on company benefits, but TaskRabbit has tried to make up for that. TaskRabbit Perks is a reward scheme for Taskers that comes with some pretty decent extras. Bonuses include:
- Up to 18% off personal phone plans from national providers
- A saving of up to $60 off Zipcar membership
- Half-price QuickBooks Self-Employed tool after a 30-day free trial or save up to $120 on a special TurboTax bundle
- Savings of up to 80% at Office Depot and OfficeMax on office supplies, tools, and cleaning products
Negatives of Working for TaskRabbit
1. The service fee
A question that might have been in the back of your head while reading this is: “How does TaskRabbit make its money?” Well, part of their income source comes from taking a 15% service fee from the Tasker. Think of it as a finder’s fee. That means if a client pays $200 for a completed job, you will only receive $170 of that. Service fees are fairly typical for these money online platforms offering gig work. Upwork, for example, charges 20% for the first $500 paid by a client and then 10% after. You need to decide whether paying the fee is more hassle than finding your own clients.
2. Inconsistent income
Any self-employed worker will tell you that one of the most frustrating things about their working life is their inconsistent income. They never know when they’re going to get a big contract, and financial planning can be extremely difficult. If you’re working with TaskRabbit, the same issue is going to apply. Some weeks you will be hot, some weeks less so. However, the more you build regular clients, the more steady your income will become — you just need to get through an initial awkward phase.
3. Pay can be low at first
We said earlier that it is possible to earn around $2,000 per week, which is true. But in all likelihood, you are going to have to set your rates much lower than the $150-an-hour Brian Schrier when you begin. It’s not ideal — we’d all love to be earning loads of cash straight away — but you need to build your brand. Rather than be put off by the relatively low pay (TaskRabbit won’t let you set under minimum wage) think of it as an investment in your future company. You are building a brand, clients and your rating. Every entrepreneur has to start at the bottom, so don’t be afraid to do that either.
How Much Money Can You Earn?
TaskRabbit say ‘on average, Taskers in the U.S. earn $35/hour’ and in the UK ‘Taskers earn an average of £24/hour (around three times higher than the National Minimum Wage). While there’s not enough data for the Canadian market to make an accurate prediction, we can assume it is going to be around a similar rate.
However, the amount of money you earn will depend on different factors including the service you are offering, your rating, experience and speed in getting the job done.
For example, as a test, we requested a furniture assembly task to be completed in San Francisco within one week. We got a choice of multiple Taskers ranging from $25 per hour to $130 per hour. We did the same test with handyman work and found Taskers costing $25 to $175.
In other words, there is a huge variety in the amount of money you can earn.
How to Earn More Money on TaskRabbit
So how do you earn more money on TaskRabbit? Like many gig economy sites, the route to maximizing income on TaskRabbit is perseverance and getting through the initial low pay.
However, here are three ways in which you can use your time more effectively to earn a higher wage.
1. Group tasks
If you’ve been hired for a task, check to see whether there are extra jobs that need completing. Take this scenario as an example: a client has asked you to help them move house. Typically this will involve loading and unloading a van. But, your client might also need to put up mirrors, assemble furniture, or clean the house. Find out whether you can help complete these tasks for a little extra cash.
2. Target high-profit tasks
When you become a Tasker, you will need to think about the types of skills you can offer. Check out the different types of jobs in your area and find out which ones earn the most cash. Put a big focus on these golden opportunities and build a brand for yourself in that industry. You may have to do lower-paying jobs now and then to build your rating but try to cut these out as soon as you can.
3. Be flexible
Being flexible will bring you greater financial rewards. For example, if you have a free day open yourself up to the same-day service. You can be less choosy about what you will be doing, but there’s a good opportunity to secure last minute jobs at a higher rate than they would normally go for.
Six Alternatives to TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is one of many gig economy companies offering a flexible way to earn money. You will have already heard about Uber or Lyft, but there are hundreds of options out there.
More and more people are turning to an app to earn their pay, so let’s take a look at some of the alternatives out there.
1. Fiverr
Fiverr offers a huge range of online services from SEO and graphic design to more unique opportunities such as online pranks and celebrity impersonations. The benefits of working from Fiverr is that you can find clients from across the world. However, you will also be competing with a global market so you will need to be on the ball to start earning. Like TaskRabbit, you will initially start on a relatively low wage, but users have reported earning six-figure sums on Fiverr. There is no registration fee to becoming a seller on Fiverr, but they will take a 20% cut of your earnings.
2. Upwork
Upwork is a huge online marketplace full of freelancers offering a wide range of services such as copywriting, web development and admin support. Upworkers are asked to create a profile detailing their special skills and bid on jobs based on full completion or by an hourly rate. Much like Fiverr, sellers will be competing with a global market, but there is an excellent chance of securing repeat work. Sellers have reported making $10,000 a month, but your potential earnings are slightly restricted depending on the skills you can offer. As mentioned previously, Upwork will take a 20% cut from the first $500 earned from a client and 10% after.
3. Wonolo
Wonolo is an online and mobile app platform that connects businesses to local, screened workers for hourly or everyday tasks. Typically errands will include general labor or event staffing. Wages are set by the companies offering the work but, as a guide, Wonolo says general laborers in the San Francisco Bay area can earn from $15 to $25 per hour. Wonolo workers receive the full amount on offer, and the users are charged the service fee.
4. Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex allows independent contractors to make Amazon deliveries at a time that suits them. Individuals sign up as a delivery driver and can pick up work via the Amazon app. Amazon claims drivers will earn from $18 to $25 per hour. However, as we mentioned in our full review on Amazon Flex, drivers need to take into consideration the operation costs of driving around town including gas money and wear and tear to the car. The benefits are that the majority of people who own a car will be able to join Amazon Flex and start working very quickly. There’s no specific skill needed apart from the ability to drive.
5. Uber
Probably the most famous gig economy app of all, Uber is a global success bringing huge changes to the taxicab industry. If you don’t already know, Uber’s service providers ferry passengers from point A to B in much the same way as a cab would. However, rather than flagging a vehicle down on the streets or booking in advance, clients can order their lift from the Uber app, taking advantage of promo codes and cheaper rates. The fees taken by Uber can change depending on the city and country of operation. However, it charges a 25% fee on all fares.
6. Lyft
Lyft is one of Uber’s main rivals in the ridesharing market and works in a very similar way. Drivers sign up and shuttle passengers from one place to another. Both Uber and Lyft work on a driver rating system, so the better you are at the job, the higher rating you get. Unlike platforms such as TaskRabbit, your wage won’t increase with your ratings. Instead, driver wages are based on local pricing, so change from region to region and on how busy the platform is in the local area. Drivers are also charged the Lyft Platform Fee, which is a variable cost based on a number of different factors. Effectively it is the price you pay for using the Lyft app.
Should You Become A Tasker?
So there you have it. Having read a comprehensive number of TaskRabbit reviews, we've found the money-making platform could be a great place to earn some extra bucks. The fact there is proof Taskers have gone on to earn $2,000 a week is certainly a big positive and, if you're willing to stick at it, a decent wage is attainable.
However, the TaskRabbit reviews do seem to suggest that the platform won't be right for everybody. It does seem that you need to spend a decent amount of time working on building your brand and your rating before you can start earning some serious money.
If you have a job already or a family, then finding the time to dedicate to TaskRabbit might be difficult.
If that is the case, check out our article on 7 Ways You Can Use Your Home To Earn Money There you will find tips on how to make a significant amount of cash without leaving the comfort of your own home.
