Twice in the last few months I’ve been solicited by Shopify partners. I bought presents from a neighbor’s newsletter, who turned out to be a Shopify merchant, and was asked to set up a shopping account. Then I launched my own Substack newsletter and was solicited to become a Shopify merchant. Square’s value has exploded in the last year, rising over 340%, as revenue doubled during the pandemic.

The primary considerations here gig stocks are why you’re investing in stocks and how easily you want to be able to access your money. If you want easy access to your money or are just investing for a rainy day, you’ll probably want a standard brokerage account. The general idea is that as you get older, stocks become a less desirable place to keep your money. If you’re young, you have decades ahead of you to ride out any ups and downs in the stock market.

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With its tremendous expansion and growing popularity, its scope now spans multiple sectors. From food delivery and grocery shopping to hiring plumbers or graphic designers, the convenience of accessing services on demand has transformed daily life. For many workers, the appeal of being their own boss and working independently is undeniable. Square was founded in 2009 to help small merchants, even gig workers, accept credit cards using hardware that plugs into a smartphone. It’s since launched other services, including scheduling, employee management and business analytics. For most people who are just trying to learn stock market investing, this means choosing between a standard brokerage account and an individual retirement account (IRA).

But Dziekanski believes this only grows the market, making Spotify a must-have for millions, and giving gig workers access to a huge audience by recording on the platform. Square (SQ, $261.65), which accounts for 3.6% of GIGE’s assets, is Dziekanski’s top gig economy stock to buy at the moment. If you’re not sure about Uber, another sector of the gig economy may be a better fit. Some stock options to look for concern gig workers who want to use their skills outside the confines of a 9 to 5 job. Let’s start with arguably the biggest and most familiar name in the gig economy.

In fact, a drawdown of 20% in any given year isn’t unusual, and occasional drops of 40% or even more do happen. Stock investing means putting your money to work in publicly traded companies. Stock investing can allow you to own a piece of your favorite retailers, software providers, and much more. A share of stock represents a slice of ownership in a company and entitles the owner to benefit from its future profits. The evolving nature of the gig economy is evident in its projected growth.

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Airbnb competes with such internet travel sites as Booking Holdings (BKNG), Expedia Group (EXPE) and TripAdvisor (TRIP). Just three months after going public, it’s worth more than any of them. Toroso Investments, meanwhile, is based in Chicago, while SoFi is run from Los Angeles. Sign up for our daily newsletter for the latest financial news and trending topics.

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The biggest tailwind for such businesses is their expansion into large, untapped, addressable markets. If GIGE’s performance is any indication, it’s worth paying attention to gig stocks. Since its launch in May 2019, GIGE is up around 95%, roughly twice the total return (price plus dividends) of the S&P 500 over the same time. Read on as we discuss some of Dziekanski’s favorite gig economy stocks held in the GIGE portfolio. If you do this, you’ll experience some volatility along the way.

  • Instead, gig workers can toil for anyone, from anywhere, and are constantly on the lookout for new money-making opportunities.
  • Being a major player in the U.S. food delivery market, DoorDash maintains a dominant position.
  • The global market is expected to soar from $582.2 billion in 2025 to $2.18 trillion by 2034 at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.8% during the period.
  • Partnerships with companies like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Big Lots have further diversified its range of services.
  • Since its launch in May 2019, GIGE is up around 95%, roughly twice the total return (price plus dividends) of the S&P 500 over the same time.

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The company is still only half the size of PayPal Holdings (PYPL), another GIGE name, which Dziekanski says means it can grow faster. Additionally, Square has expanded into a host of banking services, starting with loans to its users based on the data it collects. Get the latest news on investing, money, and more with our free newsletter. There’s also the user-friendliness and functionality of the broker’s trading platform to consider. Many will let you try a demo version before committing any money; if that’s the case, it can be well worth the time.

Does putting your stock investing on autopilot sound like the best choice for you? One option that has exploded in popularity in recent years is the robo-advisor. Get stock recommendations, portfolio guidance, and more from The Motley Fool’s premium services. Ready to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 36 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Investing Screens and discover your next big opportunity.

  • Another risk that some people see for gig economy businesses is in the regulatory domain.
  • In 2019, the company had $4.8 billion in revenue, growing at 31%, with gross income growth of 29%.
  • Zacks Ranks stocks can, and often do, change throughout the month.
  • For example, some brokers offer customers a variety of educational tools.

After 38 years of working from home, my workstyle is finally “in.” You might know it as the “gig economy.” If you’ve heard of Fiverr, you’re probably familiar with Upwork. While there are some differences, Upwork also is a place for freelance professionals to connect to work.

One potentially appealing feature of Roth IRAs is the ability to withdraw your contributions (but not your investment profits) at any time and for any reason. The main risks are related to how volatile stocks can be over short periods of time. Swings of 10% in the stock market are rather common, happening about once a year, and declines of 20% or greater (which define a bear market) happen occasionally. If you want to invest in individual stocks, you should familiarize yourself with some of the basic ways to evaluate them. There, we help you find stocks trading for attractive valuations.

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This gig-based structure enables them to operate either part-time or full-time, with income tied to the number of completed rides rather than a fixed salary or hourly wage. Earnings are influenced by factors such as trip distance, duration and overall demand for rides. Uber is another leading example of a company that skillfully utilizes the gig economy model to drive its operations. The platform connects passengers with drivers, engaging them as independent contractors and offering both flexibility and on-demand work opportunities. Being a major player in the U.S. food delivery market, DoorDash maintains a dominant position. Its strategic alliances with major retailers such as ALDI, Sprouts, and Albertsons have broadened its scope to include rapid grocery and alcohol deliveries.

But over time, you’ll most likely enjoy excellent investment returns. These factors have been working wonders in terms of alleviating investor concerns surrounding gig economy stocks, a development that is leading to more investors being convinced to buy into these businesses. As a result, the popularity of these stocks is only going up, which is why we’ve compiled a list of some of the best gig economy stocks to buy now. Both account types will allow you to buy stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs.

It was conceived to give tourists things to do – tour guides or cooking classes, for example. Dziekanski, however, recently attended a virtual party featuring a magician in Japan who was a former baker. The party was hosted on Zoom, but the magician was found and paid for through Airbnb Experiences. If you have skills and a computer, Airbnb lets you work from anywhere, changing location on a whim, says Dziekanski. Cash now also offers investing, competing with Robinhood, and supports the purchase of fractional shares and Bitcoin – all from the same mobile interface.

The majority of online stockbrokers have eliminated trading commissions for online stock trades. So, most (but not all) are on a level playing field as far as costs are concerned, unless you’re trading options or cryptocurrencies, both of which often have trading fees. A key point is that IRAs are highly tax-advantaged places to buy stocks. However, the downside is that it can be difficult to withdraw your money until you get older. On the other hand, if your goal is to build up a retirement nest egg, an IRA is a great way to go.

You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology. For example, some brokers offer customers a variety of educational tools. Some offer access to investment research and other features that are especially useful for newer investors. And some have physical branch networks, which can be nice if you want face-to-face investment guidance.