Basics:
HelpAroundTown is a job-listing site that aims to connect individuals and businesses needing help with willing workers
Expected pay: Varies by job
Husl$core: $
Commissions & fees: None
Where: Theoretically Nationwide, but operates mainly in Boston
Requirements: 18 or older, or have parental permission to use the site.
What is HelpAroundTown?
HelpAroundTown was a simple job listing site that aimed to connect neighbors willing to work with households and employers that need help. The idea was to help young people find work during the Great Recession, however, after struggling to make money for years, the site appears to have vanished.
In the off-chance that HelpAroundTown merely suffered a short-term server issue and still exists, the site’s review remains below.
How it worked
There are no fees to register or post a job. Workers negotiate their rates and requirements directly with the people or companies that employ them. The site stays out of the transaction and charges no fees for the connection.
However, if you want to highlight your listing as a helper, you can pay a $10 monthly fee to have your profile featured on the site. Companies can pay $35 for an advertisement.
HelpAroundTown review
The site was launched to create jobs for kids left unemployed by the Great Recession, says Reem Yared, the site’s CEO. “The goal was to monetize neighbors’ to-do lists to provide sources of income and reputation-building for high school and college kids.”
Naturally, however, you don’t have to be a kid to sign up. However, some of the site’s features are aimed at providing privacy to young workers, while still presenting opportunities.
The catch?
Even though the site has been around for a decade, it hasn’t grown much past its Boston-area roots. And, even there, there are probably better places to find work. This site simply never gained enough momentum to get listings for a significant amount of jobs.
So, while it is theoretically a national site, you’re unlikely to find a lot of job listings elsewhere. If you’re in greater Boston area, however, you can find a handful of jobs and side hustles. They range from running errands to working in coffee shops and senior centers.
There are no problems with the site’s terms. But since HelpAroundTown’s URL now goes to a error page, we see little chance with finding work here. We’ve changed our HuslScore to reflect that.
Recommendations:
That said, listing is free. So there’s little risk in giving this site a try, particularly for employers (household and professional) looking for help. You can sign up with HelpAroundTown here.
If you are looking for a job, however, you’re more likely to find takers by listing with TaskRabbit.
You can also advertise your availability to perform in-person work through a neighborhood website such as Nextdoor.
2/24/2023
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