A Melbourne man has turned his side hustle on Air tasker into a multi-million-dollar success story. Vinul Karunaratne, 25, originally from Sri Lanka, arrived in Australia nine years ago with limited funds, working night shifts at 7-Eleven while pursuing his studies. In 2019, he started a cleaning business on Airtasker with just a vacuum, mop, bucket, and some rags he had at home.
What started as a simple end-of-lease cleaning job quickly grew into a full-time business. Within a few years, Karunaratne became one of Airtasker’s top ten earners, scrubbing a dozen houses each week, steam cleaning carpets, and even handling office cleaning. His hustle has made him over $1.2 million in just five years. Today, he’s living the dream—owning a three-bedroom home in Melbourne’s north, driving his dream car, and having enough savings to buy his parents a luxury apartment in Sri Lanka.
Earning between $1,000 and $1,400 a day, Karunaratne enjoys the flexibility of working on his own terms. “I’m my own boss,” he said, highlighting the benefits of being a full-time tasker. He credits Airtasker for providing a steady flow of secure jobs, advising others to try the platform if they want to start a side hustle.
According to Airtasker’s CEO Tim Fung, the platform has seen a significant boom, particularly in spring and summer, with an increase in demand for unskilled labor like cleaning, gardening, and removals. As of this year, taskers on the platform have earned over $600 million collectively.
Karunaratne’s story is a testament to the potential of side hustles, proving that with hard work and the right platform, financial success is achievable.
