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Uber Under IRS Investigation, Salvation Army Partners With GoShare

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This Week in Mobility― June 7, 2019

This week, Uber admits it’s under investigation for transfer pricing, 29 US states currently have autonomous vehicle legislation in the lawbooks, and the Salvation Army experiments with on demand logistics company GoShare.

Uber Being Investigated For US & Foreign Tax Issues

After a less than stellar IPO, Uber is now under investigation for transfer pricing policies. The company admits to being under investigation by the IRS, as well as “state and foreign taxing authorities.”

Transfer pricing is a legal gray area where international companies often “shift” income to corporate subsidiaries as a way to lower their taxes. According to Bloomberg, the IRS is looking at Uber’s tax liability for tax years 2013 and 2014.

Uber stock prices have had quite a few ups and downs since their recent IPO. It will be interesting to see what this does to their stock prices. After the close of trading on June 3, Uber stock prices were down 8.3 percent from their original trading price. After opening on June 6, their stock prices were up to $45 per share.

29 US States Now Have Legislation for Autonomous Vehicles

In March, the National Conference of State Legislatures released a report concerning how individual states are preparing for driverless cars and trucks to be unleashed on the roads.

What’s most interesting about this report is that 29 US states have already enacted legislation related to autonomous vehicles. In addition, 11 state governors have issued executive orders regarding driverless cars and vehicles.

Out of 50 US states, only four have both an Executive Order and legislation on the books.

What does this mean for the future of autonomous vehicles? Well, it’s not quite clear yet. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced that fully autonomous vehicles are coming to the US, but until one is actually invented, no one can truly say when that day will be.

Investor Research Available for Carsharing Telematics Market

One of the most complicated pieces of carsharing technology is the hardware. In addition to onboard computers, emerging technologies like telematics make it difficult to understand all the moving parts.

A new report by IT Intelligence Markets attempts to address telematics specifically by using examples from key players in the carsharing industry including:

  • Bluecarsharing
  • Bluemove
  • Cambio
  • Citiz
  • Co-Wheels
  • GreenMobility
  • Greenwheels
  • Lotte Rental
  • Respiro
  • Stadtmobil
  • GIG CarShare
  • Zazcar
  • EvCard
  • GoGet
  • Avis Budget Group
  • Zipcar

While Zipcar was one of the first carsharing companies invented, the report fails to mention a major player in the industry: Turo.

The report claims to have some key findings that extend all the way to 2026, but leaving Turo out of the report is a huge mistake on their part. Turo is a carsharing service similar to Airbnb that not only connects cars and drivers but also has a business class offer for specific passengers and insurance policies as well.

A free sample of the report is available, but with a $3,300 price tag, it may not be worth reading.

Business Insider Names Micromobility Sector Best for Small Businesses in 2019

Though we’ve reported quite a bit on the growing pains in the area of eScooters and the like, Business Insider named the Micromobility sector as the best industry for small businesses to get started in.

Even though there’s lots of competition in the market right now, investors have added $5.7 billion in funds over the last four years. According to CB Insights, 60 percent of trips in the US are between 0-5 miles. This makes eScooters, electric bikes and other modes of transportation the perfect solution.

What do we think about starting a small business in this market? Go for it. You’ll need a serious passion for alternative modes of transportation, very advanced technical and engineering skills, and a deep understanding of the marketplace including both potential competitors and vehicle manufacturers.

Salvation Army Selects On Demand Logistics Company for Help With Donations

The competition in on demand logistics is heating up. After announcing TuSimple’s new pilot program with USPS last week, another big name nonprofit is in the news.

On demand logistics is a market that is up and coming as the world waits for the first fully automated driverless car to arrive. The Salvation Army announced that it is partnering with GoShare to provide logistics support for donations at 65 of their Family Thrift Stores on the West Coast.

GoShare connects businesses with vetted delivery professionals to help local customers. Because the delivery professionals have both insurance and background checks, businesses or nonprofits (like the Salvation Army) can rest assured that their customers will be taken care of.

This is a great way for brick and mortar stores to build an additional fleet without the cost of insuring and hiring employees that are on the front line with customers.

 

doordash side hustle

5 Reasons To Explore A Side Hustle Even if You Don’t Need the Money

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Side hustles are everywhere these days. From ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft to home rental agencies like AirBnB, there are more ways for individuals to use their skills and make some extra money.

You might think that the need for extra income is the only reason to take on a side hustle, but that is not necessarily the case. Even if you are flush with cash and do not need the extra money, taking on a side hustle could be good for you and your family. Here are five reasons to take on a side hustle even if you do not need the cash.

#1. You Will Meet New People

Whether you are bold and outgoing or shy and reserved, meeting new people can be a lot of fun. When you take on a side hustle, you can meet those fascinating people every day, either in real life or online.

It is not always easy to meet new people, but a side hustle forces you to get out and about. Before you know it, you will be meeting people from all walks of life, all while earning some extra cash.

#2. You Will Learn New Things

You do not have to spend money on a college class to learn new skills. Simply taking on a side hustle will help you learn new things, all while making some money on the side.

There are all kinds of side hustles these days, and they utilize a wide variety of skills and experiences. No matter what your background or education, you can find a side hustle that uses your current skill set while giving you the opportunity to learn even more.

#3. It is a Great Way to Fight Boredom

Part-time jobs have long been popular among retirees, and not just for the extra income they provide. Even retirees who did not need to supplement their Social Security income often worked part-time at grocery stores, gas stations and other local businesses.

The same desire for connection is driving a new generation of semi-retired gig workers. Taking on a side hustle is the perfect way to fight the boredom that sometimes comes with retirement. If you are newly retired and feeling a bit bored or overwhelmed, exploring a side hustle may be just what you need.

#4. You Can Diversify Your Income Stream

Even if you do not need the extra income now, you never know what the future will hold. Even financially secure men and women can benefit from some diversification, and a side hustle is a great way to diversify your streams of income.

With a side hustle, you can expand your earnings horizon, so you do not have to rely solely on your full-time job or retirement income. This diversification of income is valuable no matter how financially secure you feel.

#5. You Will Be Part of the Future

The job market has been slowly moving toward the so-called gig economy. Businesses that used to rely on thousands of full-time and part-time workers are now building armies of freelancers and consultants, and that trend is likely to accelerate in the coming years.

When you work at a side hustle, you will have a front row seat for the future. Instead of reading about the future of work, you will be directly participating in the new way of work.

The most obvious reason to take on a side hustle is for the money, but the need for extra cash is not the only motivation for gig workers, rideshare drivers, consultants and others. Even if you do not need the money, there is a lot to gain by embarking on a side hustle. So do yourself a favor, embrace the future and explore this new form of work.

 

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5 Tips To Succeed As A Freelance Worker In The Gig Economy

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More and more people around the world are now working temporary and short-term contracts. This is the gig economy. Whether it’s through one of the major freelance platforms, such as Fiverr and Upwork, by marketing yourself and cold-calling clients the old fashioned way, or driving for Doordash or Uber, it’s undeniable that the trend toward the gig economy is showing no sign of slowing.

It’s predicted that by 2020, 40 percent of Americans will be working as independent contractors. It’s also important to note that internet access around the world has risen sharply in the past decade. This is allowing an unprecedented degree of access to labour from around the world.

If an economy can be explained through supply and demand, the gig economy’s supply can exceed entire national populations because nearly anyone can participate.

If you find it hard to compete for jobs where you live, your challenges become much more complicated when competing with the world. This doesn’t make it impossible; it just means that you will need to understand very well where you can provide value and how you can satisfy someone’s need for that value.

How can you set yourself apart from the pack?

1. Provide consistent levels of quality.

This applies whether you’re a complete novice or seasoned expert in your niche. Providing high-quality content adds value to your clients and builds a good reputation.

Take writing for example. Poorly written content, or even worse, “scraped” or plagiarized content can result in SEO punishment for the client if they’re trying to get their blog or website on the first page of search engine results. Proverbs 10:4 says that “the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” Good quality work done diligently can result in your ability to command higher prices than competitors.

2. Diversify your sources of work.

Platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork can be excellent for connecting freelancers with clients, but both come at a cost. 20 percent of your earnings will be lost in exchange for your ability to use these platforms.

While it may be worth it when starting out to accept this 20 percent hit, you’ll eventually want to look for clients on your own and negotiate for fair rates.

Connecting to potential clients in your niche requires drive and persistence, but eventually, you can begin to build up your network and get noticed outside of these platforms.

3. Build a portfolio.

Related to the previous point, you’ll want to assemble a portfolio exhibiting your proficiency in your niche.

Whether it’s video editing, translation, programming, or anything else you excel at, be sure to have some examples of your work ready to show potential clients. This will let them know that you’re serious, organised, and capable of getting the job done.

Websites such as about.me, or better yet, your own blog or website can be a good foundation to introduce clients to your portfolio. Be sure to include a good photo, a little blurb about yourself, and a catalogue of some of your best work. New freelancers should consider building a portfolio as they go along with their work. Don’t be afraid when starting out to ask clients if they’d mind if you can use your work for them in your portfolio.

4. Set fair prices.

One mistake a lot of budding freelancers make is that they set their prices extremely low for exposure. This is a debatable topic, whereby some will claim that it’s recommended in the beginning whilst others will maintain that you should not sell yourself short. This will be one of the first things that you should consider, because if you set too low a price initially, you may find it harder to justify raising them later. On the other hand, if you start out with high prices for your labour, you may find it hard in the beginning to win contracts. This is up to you.

5. Know your competition.

Online, you’ll be competing very often with people from all around the world where wages may be far higher or lower than where you live. Be prepared to be underbid for prices that are already far below minimum wage (if there is one) in your country.

It’s not uncommon for clients to request native English speakers for writing or editing, yet offer rates that are abysmally low. “Good work doesn’t come cheap and cheap work doesn’t come good.” It may take some time, but if you are persistent and set your work at a fair price, the market will decide what you’re worth and you can re-evaluate from there.

As the gig economy continues to grow, you’ll surely find that there’s more competition but also a greater demand. It can be argued that there will always be a demand for good quality work in any niche. Look at your competition as a way to benchmark your own skills and talents. Most importantly, learn how to be adaptable and always look to get better at what you do. Hopefully, these tips can set you on the track to success.