This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sandra Navarro, a 33-year-old who lives in Arizona and assembles furniture for customers on Taskrabbit. Business Insider verified her earnings. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
I originally saw an advertisement for Taskrabbit in New York several years ago.
At the time, it wasn’t available in the Phoenix area. But later, when I was leaving the restaurant industry, I checked again, and the company was starting to accept Phoenix applicants.
I had worked in restaurants for two decades. I started at the bottom as a busser and worked my way up the service side. I went as high up as a store manager. I also tended bar and, toward the end of my career, became a kitchen manager. I was very sleep-deprived and overweight from the work hours.
With Taskrabbit, I set my own schedule. I have a farm and my own handyman business, so I schedule tasks in between those commitments. My time is very limited, and having the ability to pick and choose and create my schedule is so critical.
I’ve always been pretty handy with furniture assembly. The majority of what I do for Taskrabbit is assemble Ikea furniture, though I also see a lot of items from Wayfair and Amazon.
The most common item I assemble is dressers. Folks normally want to tackle it on their own, then see all the pieces and think, “Nope, this is not for me.”
I’ve found my niche within Ikea’s Pax wardrobe system. It can be a stand-alone dresser against a wall or an entire walk-in closet, depending on how it is assembled. I’ve played around with an in-store tool Ikea offers that lets you customize it, so I’ve become familiar with this particular piece of furniture.
Last year, I made about $37,000 in gross income from Taskrabbit.
Outside Taskrabbit, I mount TVs on walls, assemble furniture, put up photos, and do other work through my handyman business.
A personal suggestion for anyone doing gig work is to read the book “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz. It shows you how to set yourself up not only to collect profit but also to tuck away money for taxes and other expenses that come up in your business.
As a gig worker, managing your own business and finances is crucial.
Do you have a story to share about Taskrabbit or gig work? Contact this reporter at [email protected] or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.
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