GIG WORKER: Features & Benefits of Being a Gig Worker.

Gig Worker
Image by Freepik

A “gig worker” is a skilled individual who doesn’t get a steady paycheck but only gets paid for the jobs they do. In the gig economy, employers give their workers the choice of being paid on a freelancing or contract basis for short-term jobs. This article talks about the gig worker cash advance app, its platforms, and the loans for gig workers.

Overview 

Anyone who works in the “gig economy” is self-employed and does different kinds of freelance or contract work for different people. Giant jobs include freelance writing and editing, graphic design, programming, building, ridesharing, bringing food and other goods, and having guests over online.

Gig workers are self-employed people who get paid by the hour or by the job. Form SS-8 can be used to show the IRS that you are not an employee but rather a self-employed person.

  • You have business bills that you haven’t paid back.
  • Have bought the tools they need.
  • Make a list of the things you will give your target audience.
  • You can be paid as an independent worker (no withholding) or as an employee (withholding).
  • You should be ready to either make money or lose it.
  • You can agree to something orally or in writing.
  • You should pay for your own perks, like health insurance, retirement, time off, and so on.
  • Talk to your buyers for a certain amount of time.
  • Find suitable people to fill the client’s open positions.

As an independent contractor, you don’t have taxes taken out of your pay immediately. Instead, you have to make tax payments every three months. You can get tax breaks for things like business expenses and long-term care insurance that workers don’t get. With the help of an app or service made for managing personal funds, people who work for themselves can keep up with their tax payments. 

How to Start Working as a Gig Worker

If you want to get into the gig economy and find work all the time, try these things:

#1. Become an Expert in Your Field

Learn about the company, field, or work function first. If you want to work on web development projects and make websites for clients, for example, learning how to code might come in handy. Getting the right professional certifications could also help you stand out when you’re applying for jobs in the field.

#2. Gather Some of Your Work Together

It is important to be able to show that you have knowledge and skills in the field in which you want to work as a freelancer. Making a resume can help you do this. Gig workers in very specialized fields like technology and buildings may also keep records of their work. In some fields, like transportation and hospitality, client ratings and comments from employers are like a portfolio of work.

#3. Use Mobile Apps to Join Gigging Groups

You might want to sign up for a program that matches freelancers with people who need their services. You can show possible employers your skills and experience by putting together a portfolio right on your profile.  A lot of these sites also have message boards where you can talk with other people who work in the gig economy.

#4. You Can Use the Web to Look For Work

Check out job boards on the internet to see what jobs are currently open in the field you’re interested in. To get the most out of the boards, sign up and fill out your information. List your skills, work experience, and schooling to show how professional you are.

Job Types for Gig Workers

Freelancers can find different kinds of work in different fields and with different companies. The following are some common types of gig workers:

#1. People Who Work for Themselves

There are many types of jobs for freelancers, such as in IT, marketing, advising, and the literary arts. Freelancers are professionals who take on one-time jobs like writing material for a business’s website, making a web app, or giving career advice. Some of these workers are hired by regular customers for specific projects, while others are always taking on new jobs.

#2. Staff in the Building Business

In the building industry, there are many chances to work on your own. In the building trades, many people, like plumbers, electricians, welders, and builders, can make good money on a project-by-project basis. People with specialized skills, like builders and site engineers, may also be able to find work in the gig economy.

#3. Experts in Finance

Some people may choose to work in the on-demand economy. These include people who work in accounting, financial planning, and trading. They can help their clients with things like making their accounting systems work better, making portfolios, and planning their finances in general. A lot of freelancers who work in banks have specific skills that can help them make good money. 

#4. Guides and Teachers

In the gig economy, there are now more jobs than ever for private tutors and school teachers. There may be seasonal jobs open for teachers, especially those who work abroad. Tutors could also change jobs. A lot of temporary workers in the schooling field can choose where they work and what shifts they work.

#5. Transport and Logistics

Different kinds of drivers are very important to the gig economy. These people drive people around and do important jobs like delivering packages and food. People who want to drive can find work through ride-sharing services online.

Loans for Gig Workers

There are many credit goods and lenders from which workers in the gig economy can choose. Gig workers can look into the following loan options if they need extra cash but don’t want to bother their friends and family. Here are the different loan choices that gig workers can use.

#1. Cash Advance on Credit Card

If your business has costs that aren’t necessary, you might want to look into getting a credit card cash advance. Paying with a credit card to get a cash advance is an easy way to get money for any reason, personal or business. But keep in mind that the interest rates on cash advances are usually higher than the interest rates on normal credit card purchases. Most likely, you shouldn’t get a cash advance if you can’t pay off your credit card balance on time.

#2. The Payday Loan 

Payday loans are a popular way for people with bad credit to get the money they need. Payday loans are a type of short-term loan that can help you get through the time between paychecks. When it comes to payday loans, the problems are made even worse by the very high-interest rates that come with them. Take out a cash loan only if you can pay it back in full in two weeks. 

#3. Personal Installment Loan

A personal installment loan may be available to people with different credit records. People often choose personal loans because they are easy to apply for, are flexible with payback options, and have low-interest rates. 

What Do Gig Workers Need to Do to Get a Loan?

Loans are open to anyone who needs them, even gig workers, no matter how much money they make. Most lenders will agree to give you a loan as long as you meet some simple requirements and show them some paperwork. A lender will probably ask for the following things before giving out a loan: 

  • A picture ID from the government.
  • A valid place of residence verification.
  • Indicators of financial stability.
  • Account details and your social security number.
  • A few sources or pieces of information. 

Gig Worker Platforms

The gig economy is made up of all kinds of temporary or contract work. Gig economy platforms are online tools that help handle all of this work. A lot of people who do “gig work” want to work for more than one company for a longer time. The following are the best gig-worker platforms:

#1. Guru

Guru is a lot like the job sites Upwork and Freelancer in some ways. However, Guru only needs users to create an account and sign up. You can look at the job postings and put in bids for the ones that interest you. The Guru site is one of the best because it doesn’t cost much and only takes a small portion of your earnings.

#2. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is a work-from-home business and job board that helps people find flexible jobs. Also, Flexjobs is the best choice for newbies and driven people because it offers the most help.

#3. Freelancer

With Freelancer, companies can find qualified freelancers and work with them. If you need to hire freelancers, this site is a great choice. Freelancers put in detailed bids, and if their ideas are chosen, they can start working right away. Freelancers often take a cut of every job they do, so gig workers can improve their chances of getting hired by paying a small fee to make their accounts look better.

Gig Worker App

People who use the gig economy to make extra money know that doing a lot of gigs can add up to a full-time salary. You can make both short- and long-term financial plans with these tools, which is helpful since the amount of time you spend working in this way is very variable. Please find the gig worker app below:

#1. TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is a gig worker app that helps people find small jobs to do for other people in exchange for money. You could be asked to do anything from putting together outdoor furniture to cleaning the house or moving at least 100 pounds.

#2. Lyft

There’s an app called Lyft that lets you share rides and make good money while meeting new people and being active. You only need a good car and a background check to get started. 

#3. Etsy

On the Etsy app, businesses can sell anything from used clothes and shoes to jewelry and art that was made by hand. For people who like to craft but need extra money, making their hobby into a side business could be a good idea. Since Etsy has a lot of customers, it’s a good choice for creative people who want to make money or get more attention for their work.

Gig Worker Cash Advance

For the mobile workers in the gig economy, getting an urgent cash advance online is easy and quick. With apps like Beem, you can get short-term loans from $20 to $1000, so you don’t have to go into debt to pay for unexpected costs. The following is the gig worker cash advance below:

#1. Giggle

If you’re an Uber or Lyft driver in need of quick cash, Giggle can help. You can apply regardless of your credit history. Instead of waiting until your next paycheck, as a gig worker, you can get a cash advance by selling a share of your future sales.

#2. Moves

The Moves app is a banking service designed to meet the needs of people who work in the gig economy. It lets you get a cash advance of up to $1,500.

#3. Stoovo

Stoovo is an alternative piece of software that can help you find independent work, keep track of your earnings, and even get a loan if you need one. The gig worker app helps people find more than 6,000 different gigs in a wide range of fields.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gig Worker

Before you decide to work as a gig worker, you should think about a lot of things. The following are some benefits:

#1. You’ll Be in Charge of Yourself

As an independent contractor, you are only responsible for yourself and the people you choose to work for.

#2. You Decide How Many Hours You Work

You have more freedom when you freelance or work as a contractor than when you have a normal job. There are no rules about when you can do things for your client. You can go grocery shopping in the middle of the day, take a long lunch break, and fit work around your kids’ school and extracurricular events.

#3. You Can Pick Which Jobs to Do

If a freelancer wants to make the money they want, they can choose which jobs to take on and turn down any that don’t meet their standards.

#4. You’re Free to Pursue Your Own Interests

As a gig worker, if you can choose your own hours, you might have more time for hobbies and other interests.

There are, however, some negative consequences of the gig economy:

#1. If You Work for Yourself, You Have to Pay Self-Employment Taxes

It’s hard for gig workers to save enough money to pay taxes like FICA and Social Security, which are usually taken care of by a corporate boss.

#2. A Customer Can Stop Their Service at Any Time

If a client who pays you on an independent basis stops paying all of a sudden, you could lose a lot of money.

#3. To Build Your Image and Get Customers, You Have to Put in a Lot of Work

As a freelancer, you need to keep promoting yourself and looking for new chances if you want to keep making money.

#4. You Can’t Always Count On Your Employer to Give You Perks

As a 1099 worker, unless you have a very kind client, you won’t be able to get any kind of health insurance, retirement savings plan, or other benefits from your company.

What Are the Two Types of Gig Workers?

The following are;

  • Independent workers have a lot of clients to take care of. 
  • Consultants’ main job is to give advice to their clients. 
  • Freelancers work like regular workers, but their bosses don’t have control over them.

What Does Gig Stand For?

In English, the word “gig” can mean a lot of different things, but these days, it most often means either a paid job or function, especially for a singer or performer, or a job in general, especially a temporary one. Before 1952, Jack Kerouac used the word “gig” to mean “any normal temporary paid job.” He did this in a piece about his part-time job as a brakeman for the Southern Pacific train.

The word “gig” refers to a short-term job chance. This word was first used by artists to talk about a paid public show. There are different kinds of “gig” workers, such as freelancers, independent contractors, project-based workers, and one-time or part-time employees. 

What Is a Freelancer or Gig Worker?

Someone who works for themselves and gives their unique set of skills to different clients is called a gig worker. For example, you could work as a writer, designer, or coder for yourself. When you work as a gig worker for yourself, you choose your own tasks and hours.

What Are the Characteristics of Gig Work?

In the gig economy, most jobs are short, based on contracts, and deal directly with clients, though most of the communication takes place online. The gig economy can be good for workers, companies, and customers because it lets workers be more flexible and change their schedules on the spot to meet changing demands.

What Is the Benefit of Being a Gig Worker?

A lot of people who work in the contract or “gig” economy say they have a lot of freedom to do their jobs. Working from home might help with this sense of independence. People who work in the gig economy are sometimes given a task and then left to complete it on their own.

Why Is It Called Gig Work?

Businesses often hire freelancers for short-term jobs in gig economies, which are based on free markets. The word “gig” refers to a short-term job chance. This word was first used by artists to talk about a paid public show.

Who Can Be a Gig Worker?

People who work as freelancers, on online platforms, for hiring companies, as temporary workers, or who are available “on demand” are all examples of “gig workers.” On-demand workers sign contracts with companies that hire them so they can do work for those companies.

What Are the Two Disadvantages of Being a Gig Worker?

The following are:

  • There is a lot of tension. 
  • There is no cushion in case of an emergency. 
  • Paying taxes.

Conclusion 

More and more people are choosing to work as freelancers or on a project-by-project basis. With the rise of the “gig economy,” skilled workers now have more job opportunities outside of the standard 9-to-5 office. 

  1. BEST GIG JOBS: 15+ Highest Paying Gig Economy Jobs 2023
  2. WHAT IS GIG: What Does Gig Mean in Business?
  3. HOW TO MAKE MONEY ON FIVERR
  4. FREELANCING BUSINESS: 2023 Models and Ideas to consider starting out (+ free tips)
  5. HOW FIVERR MAKES MONEY: The Unique Business Model

References

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like