Starting Your Own Side Hustle With Your Car

Owning a car opens up a world of opportunities for those looking to start a side hustle. People are busy, and this is where you come in by offering your services to help with errands. This makes you an invaluable resource, and people are willing to pay for those resources, and this is how you get started with your own side hustle using your car.

There are a few basics that apply to starting any side hustle.

• Identifying a problem.
• Solving the problem.
• Selling your solution, by obtaining clients

Let’s chat about obtaining clients.

Create an ad. This could be a graphic image or just a short blurb about the services you are offering. Remember you could have the best service business in town but if people don’t know you exist you can’t sell your service.

Seek out local Forums, Facebook groups, Craigslist, and post about your services. There are national and local drivers participating in forums and Facebook groups that are sometimes eager to answer the questions of new drivers so be sure to do a quick search for those.

Network. You never know when you’ll overhear a conversation, or be asked for advice on a subject that will lead to a sale. Keep your business cards on you at all times.

Word of mouth will eventually be your best marketing strategy. Happy clients who would like their friends to also utilize your services. So make sure you keep HAPPY clients!

There’s An App For That:

1. Rideshare with Uber and Lyft: These are two of the most popular ride-sharing apps, and they allow individuals to use their own cars to give rides to paying customers.
2. Food Delivery with Ubereats, Doordash, Postmates, & Grubhub: These are food delivery apps that allow individuals to use their cars to pick up and deliver food orders to customers.
3. Delivery with Postmates, Amazon Flex, & Roadie: Allows individuals to use their own cars to make deliveries for businesses and individuals.
4. Grocery Delivery with Instacart, Shipt, Postmates, and GoPuff: Allow individuals to use their own cars to deliver groceries to customers.
5. Rent your car with Turo: A car-sharing platform where people can rent out their personal vehicles to renters when they’re not using them.

Even though these apps exist many locals won’t be aware they exist. Some may also prefer someone to come in person. These apps could also work to your benefit, you may be able to contact them and offer your services through the apps.

As with every side hustle make sure to keep your receipts. Track your supplies, mileage, and other expenses. You’ll also need to track your income from your side hustles so that you can file your taxes appropriately at the end of the year. Please consult your local tax professional for details.

Just like with any of the side hustles in our series, the apps are great for getting started but the end goal is to get repeat customers when and where possible. Maybe a business that pays you to pick up their lunch every afternoon, or vacation rentals that you stock with necessities before their customers arrive. The possibilities are endless and reach as far as your imagination can take you.

Using your car as a side hustle can be lucrative. There are certainly peak hours for each of the above apps. Unfortunately, the apps provide inconsistent pay and there are many expenses to consider. Often tips make up a good portion of your pay. Which makes this a highly unreliable source of income. However, many of the apps payout the same day. So if you’re in a tight spot and there’s some gas in the car it’s a good place to start. I advise being somewhat selective in the trips you decide to take. Make sure they make financial sense. A little time driving, and it’ll become easy to figure it out.