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5 ‘Dirty Jobs' That Are Recession-Proof Side Gigs
According to an Experian survey, 45% of American adults reported paying off previously unmanageable debt, with 36% citing a side hustle or secondary job as a source of assistance. While side hustles have been helping Americans make ends meet financially, concerns have been arising that a recession could impact this trend.
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Luckily, several side gigs are in demand during a recession or any kind of economic downturn if you're willing to put in some extra effort or get your hands a little dirty. Below are a few 'dirty jobs' that are recession-proof side gigs.
Parham Koukia, lead car detailer at Panda Hub, has been detailing vehicles for over a decade and noted that automobiles tend to get messy regardless of the state of the economy. He also stressed that during an economic downturn, people tend to hold on to their vehicles for longer instead of upgrading, so they're more likely to invest in a deep clean.
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The time commitment will depend on how much you want to allocate, but Koukia pointed out that you can earn $300 to $500 in an eight-hour shift with just two to three details. He also said you can get into mobile auto detailing, which has a low startup and a high return potential for weekend work.
If you're looking to instantly make some money, then the gig economy is the best option for you, as some side hustles can take some time to build up. You can browse through TaskRabbit to find odd jobs around the house that are considered dirty work, including cleaning, errands, furniture assembly, plumbing and general repairs.
Based on Indeed data, the average hourly rate is $27.61 and the commitment will depend on how long the project takes. You could offer to do handy work on the weekends or in your evenings. The work will also depend on the community you live in and the season. You could paint houses in the spring, offer furniture assembly in the fall and conduct general repairs around the house during the summer months, during renovation projects.
The amount that you earn from tasks will also depend on your training and background. For example, becoming a plumber requires more extensive training than most household tasks, but the pay makes up for the investment. Melanie Musson, finance expert with pointed out that you can expect to charge a minimum of $100 per visit.
'When people have pools, maintaining them is essential, regardless of the state of the economy,' said Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Cabana Pools. 'Neglecting your pool can lead to damage, which can be very costly to repair, so it's more advantageous money-wise to clean it than leave it be and pay to fix the damage eventually.' When someone wants to open their pool for the season or they need it cleaned, they can't neglect this service, even in a recession.
According to Indeed, the average hourly rate for pool cleaning is $20 per hour, but the pay will vary depending on your community and the urgency of the task. For example, you may have higher demand and be able to charge more during the springtime when homeowners are eager to open up the pool season.
Yard work and lawn mowing are essential services, regardless of the state of the economy. You may need to invest some money upfront in an initial purchase of a lawn mower and trimmer, but it's usually easy enough to find work to fill your evenings and weekends.
Musson said you can charge $25 for a small lawn or charge $100 or more for mowing and trimming. The key is to work in a small geographic area to minimize the time spent driving to jobs. You can also charge an hourly rate and you can sell service packages in your community. The time that you allocate to this will depend on you, but the work can be done in your spare time.
Pet waste cleanup is a task that many people would rather avoid and as a result, many families are willing to pay someone else to do it. Musson said if you clean up a small yard with one dog once a week, you can charge $15 or more, depending on the market. A small yard will take you about 10 minutes to do a thorough cleaning. 'If you can line up your homes strategically, you can minimize the distance you travel between yards. In two hours, you could pick up pet waste from six homes and make $75 to $100,' she added.
As reported by CNBC, one entrepreneur was on track to earn $250,000 in 2024 for her pet waste removal business. Erica Krupin said she was able to turn scooping up pet poop into a full-fledged business. This is a dirty side gig that you can perform on the weekends and you could find yourself with a steady stream of clients.
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This article originally appeared on 5 'Dirty Jobs' That Are Recession-Proof Side Gigs
