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What It's About
A listener wants to work with clients outside of using the app TaskRabbit.
Notes from Chris
Episode 1509
The gig economy offers the chance for lots of people to make … not that much money and no benefits working in a system you have no control over and that can change its rules at any time however the companies see fit. (But how do you really feel, Chris?) Truth be told, I know we have a lot of listeners who are doing things like DoorDash or InstaCart or in this case, TaskRabbit. My objection is the huge gap between the promise some of these companies provide and the reality. On the plus side, you can set your own schedule. On the plus side, you can get experience. And you may be able to work the system a bit (especially with TaskRabbit, where clients need repeat services). You just need to be careful to not get in trouble with the companies. A listener is earning extra money by doing handyman chores through TaskRabbit, and wants to strike out on his own. Can he encourage his clients to contact him outside of the app?"Hi Chris, this is Kyle from Kent, Washington and I’ve been following the show for a couple of years now. I've been making extra money doing handyman chores using TaskRabbit. Several of my new clients have asked me to return for repeat jobs, which is great. I also appreciate that TaskRabbit takes a lower percentage for themselves on these repeat jobs. Still, they take a lot of commission, and at least one person gave me their number and asked that I call them directly, thus going around the system. Is that ethical? Related, how can I use the leads that TaskRabbit brings me to build an active client base of my own? In the long term I'd like to keep working through their platform, but not exclusively so. Thanks for your help Chris."Listen to today's episode to learn more...
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- Construction Company Owner Creates Gig Platform for Contractors: When he can’t find someone to help him install a TV, this former construction company owner sets out to create a platform that connects homeowners and contractors.
- Opera Singer Moonlights as Home Improvement Contractor: A New York City opera singer channels her inner handywoman skills to become a “practical diva.”
- Flimsy Notebooks Inspire Crafty Construction Worker: When a safety supervisor’s “genuine leather” notebooks keep falling apart, he begins to investigate. He finds his answer—and a side hustle that brings in $8,000 a month.
