Stay-at-home parents spend a portion of their week running errands for their own family and sometimes, their friends and neighbors. When taken advantage of, however, the at-home errand runner feels resentful and unappreciated. By making it clear there’s a charge for the service, at-home moms and dads can make some extra money and reserve occasional errands as favors for the inner circle.
How to Make Money Running Errands
There are three basic tools at-home parents need to run errands for money: reliable transportation, a wireless phone and a computer with e-mail access for communication and invoice distribution. The next step is deciding which services to offer and how much time to dedicate to the effort. Stay-at-home parents with small children who are with them 24/7 should stick to errands and services appropriate for young children in tow.
Here are basic errands busy people need performed:
- dog walking
- pet sitting
- dry cleaning/laundry pickup and drop off
- car wash/routine auto maintenance
- house sitting
- plant watering
- unlocking door for utility or appliance repairs
- recycling
- mail pickup during vacations or business trips
- package delivery
- paperwork couriering
- bank deposits
- transportation services for children and elderly
- rides to and from medical and dental appointments
- grocery shopping
Income Ideas for Stay-at-Home Moms
If offering additional help sounds appealing, think about family services busy parents might appreciate. Here’s an example: A working parent needs help planning a Sesame Street-themed birthday party. The shopping list includes decorations, a cake, invitations, party favors, snacks, beverages and gifts. The family also needs to address and mail the invites, pick up the cake, prepare the food and decorate.
Here are a few basic services stay-at-home parents offer to earn extra cash:
- gift buying
- gift wrapping
- party planning
- decorating
- redecorating
- homework help
- tutoring
- babysitting
- meal planning
- baking
- cooking
- house cleaning
- sewing
- laundry
- ironing
- gardening
- bill paying
- vacation planning
Starting an Errand-Running Business
Stay-at-home parents who want to make a little money on the side without dedicating a sizeable amount of hours to errand running for others should stick to jobs they can perform while they take care of their own family’s business. Most errand runners make at least $15 or more per hour, and some charge for mileage.
The easiest and cheapest way to advertise is to tell friends and neighbors the service is available and let word-of-mouth work its magic. Use Facebook – it’s free! Consider spending money on a website, business cards and colorful brochures. And don’t forget that busy small business owners rely on errand runners during peak seasons. So spread the word!
People who work outside the home occasionally need help with errands. At-home parents looking to earn extra money can offer their assistance in a number of ways. Transportation, household tasks and caring for animals and children represent the services stay-at-home moms and dads can perform for cash while they care for their own kids.
Find this article helpful? Also read Errand Business Startup Information and Running Errands More Efficiently.
Tricia Masenthin - Tricia Masenthin is a freelance journalist and blogger.
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