This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Matthew Rankin, a 52-year-old appliance technician based in Greenville, South Carolina. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I wasn’t happy with my work and was getting burned out. I’ve been an appliance expert for easily 25 years, specializing in dishwashers, refrigerators, and other appliances.
Maintenance in general is hard, but when you get into commercial properties and apartment maintenance, it’s a whole other league. I worked in commercial property management for about six years, managing facilities and fixing whatever was broken. It wasn’t the most glamorous job; you’re always on call.
After doing that, I decided I would never be on call again.
I was looking for an opportunity to make more money on the side
I was living in Charleston, South Carolina; it’s an expensive region, and I didn’t have much in savings. I think I saw a reel on Instagram about JustAnswer, and it looked too good to be true. I was hesitant at first, but I applied and figured I’d give it a couple of hours a day.
I’d log on to my computer and close out five or 10 calls or questions. I started seeing these part-time paychecks come in and saw the potential after doing the math, so I decided to go for it.
I was in a position that had a lot of flexibility. After about six months, I gave my two-week notice and haven’t looked back. Now I make between $10,000 and $15,000 a month answering questions online.
How I make money answering questions online
When a question comes in, I can accept it or pass it, so it’s important to filter them properly.
Sometimes the question is about a brand I’ve never heard of, or a product or situation I’m not familiar with. Questions from other countries pop up every once in a while, too. On JustAnswer, I may get a lot of refrigerator-not-cooling inquiries, and if it’s a brand I know — LG, Kenmore, etc. — that’s a question I’ll take.
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A lot of the people reaching out are DIYers, newer technicians in the field, or people who simply want access to someone with expertise. They’re looking for guidance and help working through the troubleshooting process.
I gather as much information as I can quickly: the model number, whether I’ll need to look up a part, and anything else I can quickly check on a second screen.
25 to 30 calls in a day is pretty good
I can stay on text or be available for a phone call. I’ve made 50 calls in one day. It’s not very common, but it’s hectic. I’ve had phone calls up to an hour, although rare. As for text questions, they can take days, which isn’t the goal and is also uncommon.
Sometimes the questions come in really fast, and I multitask with 10 windows open, five browsers, and the phone going at the same time. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to balance all of that.
The hours are flexible. I tend to stick to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, but if I do something in the middle of the day, I might work a little later. Nine or 10 hours is probably average, but I’m not sitting in front of the computer working the entire time. If questions aren’t coming in, I might play video games or play my guitar in the same room while I wait.
Some cons of working online and answering questions all day are that you need to be disciplined and treat it like a 9-to-5, or you won’t make the call load and will keep dropping pay rates. Some days, calls can be sparse; you never know. You hope for the best, make yourself available, and be ready.
I have no regrets about leaving my full-time job early — not a single one
Something I wish I’d known sooner is to plan for your end-of-year taxes and set aside about 25% of each paycheck. Otherwise, I have no regrets.
My last job had no opportunity for advancement and would wear me down both physically and mentally. Advice I’d give someone looking to make a side hustle a full-time job: find something you are really good at and enjoy; the two will connect into something of value.
I fell into this incredible opportunity, and it’s been life-changing. I’ve taken full advantage of it, and I do very well. It’s not for everyone, but for people who value flexibility and want more balance, it can be a great fit.
Do you have an interesting side hustle to share with Business Insider? Email editor Manseen Logan at mlogan@businessinsider.com.
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