TaskRabbit is a marketplace where people book local help for jobs around the home: furniture assembly, TV mounting, moving help, cleaning, yard work and small repairs. The people who do the work are called Taskers. They set their own hourly rates, choose the categories they offer and pick when they’re available. The company was founded in 2008 and has been owned by IKEA’s parent group Ingka since 2017. It runs in all 50 US states and in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the UK.
At a glance
| What it is | Marketplace for local home tasks |
| Owner | Ingka Group (IKEA), since 2017 |
| Countries | US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain |
| Sign-up cost | One-time $25 registration fee (US) |
| Who sets the rate | The Tasker |
| Payouts | Via the app, usually within a few business days |
How it works
You create a Tasker profile, choose your categories and set an hourly rate for each. Clients search their area, compare Taskers by rate, reviews and skills, and book you for a time slot. You confirm the details in the app, do the job and invoice the hours through the app.
What it costs you
In the US, TaskRabbit charges a one-time, non-refundable $25 registration fee once your registration is processed. Paying it doesn’t guarantee acceptance, so check that TaskRabbit runs in your city first. After that, TaskRabbit says it doesn’t take a cut of your hourly rate. Clients pay a service fee and, in most places, a Trust and Support fee on top of what you charge.
The IKEA connection
Furniture assembly is one of the busiest categories, helped by IKEA ownership and the option to book assembly when buying IKEA furniture. If you’re handy with flat-pack furniture, this is often the easiest way to build reviews quickly.
Getting started
Apply through the Become a Tasker page for your country. Expect identity checks, and in the US a background check. You’ll need a smartphone for the Tasker app and a bank account for payouts. Tools are on you, so the categories you can offer depend on what you own.
Setting your rate
Start a little below the local average to win early bookings, then raise your rate once you have reviews. Clients weigh reviews heavily, so reliability matters more than speed in the first months.
Owen’s take
TaskRabbit is one of the cleanest setups in local gig work because you set the price and the fees sit on the client’s side. The $25 fee is small, but it’s only worth paying if your city has demand in the categories you can do.
Who it suits
It suits handy people with their own tools who live in a covered city and want flexible, local work. It suits less well anyone without tools, transport or a covered city.
Similar options
- Thumbtack lets local pros quote for jobs in the US.
- Airtasker works the same way in Australia and the UK.
- Angi Services books home services in the US.
- GoShare pays drivers for moving and delivery jobs.
More options are in Gig Work.
Pros and cons
Pros
- You set your own rates
- Fees charged to clients, not Taskers
- Steady demand for assembly and mounting
Cons
- $25 non-refundable sign-up fee
- Only in covered cities
- You supply your own tools and transport
FAQ
How much does it cost to join TaskRabbit?
A one-time, non-refundable $25 registration fee in the US.
Does TaskRabbit take a cut of my rate?
TaskRabbit says no; clients pay the service fees on top.
Who owns TaskRabbit?
Ingka Group, IKEA’s parent, since 2017.
Which countries does TaskRabbit operate in?
The US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
Can I do moving jobs with TaskRabbit?
Yes, help moving is a category; larger moves with a vehicle run through Taskrabbit Delivery.
