How Monique thrives as a mum of three on Turo

posted on 7 March 2024

In honour of International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating Monique, a thriving host in Melbourne.

Thriving Melbourne host and mum of three Monique started her Turo hosting journey with a fleet of one in January 2023 — within just four months, her Turo earnings were enough to cover all expenses for her family of five.

Today, just one year after starting her business on Turo, Monique has six cars on the platform with over 150 trips. She runs the entire business by herself — all while being a parent to three children under five.

Monique’s hosting journey on Turo

Monique’s journey on Turo started when she and her husband had a positive 12-week Turo experience while visiting the US. Once she was back in Melbourne, she decided to list her Hyundai i30, and soon after had another five cars up and running.

Why Turo?

When Monique started her journey as a host, she wanted to figure out the best way to make money outside of a traditional nine-to-five (having previously been a property manager), while juggling her kids. Monique saw Turo as an opportunity for stay-at-home mums and new parents.

Having previously run a challenging car-rental side business (focused on smash repairs and third-party insurance claims) that she was forced to close due to COVID-19, Monique saw car sharing as a ‘silver lining’.

Now, Monique and her husband see Turo as a safe haven for her family, preventing debt from accumulating and allowing Monique to make as much as $6,500 in a month while being a parent to three young children.

Running a small business as a parent of three young children

As to how Monique juggles hosting on Turo with parenting? Even after the birth of her third baby in early 2023, she finds that Turo fits seamlessly with newborn care and being a mother of three — especially within the sweet spot of managing between four to six cars.

“With six cars, the time taken could be anywhere from half an hour if I take it through a carwash and give it a vacuum, or if all six cars are going out for the weekend it could be four hours. It’s not a lot of work to get the car ready.“

Almost 12 months later, Monique continues to thrive on Turo. December 2023 was an incredible month for Monique, thanks to holiday travellers, the popularity of domestic road trips for locals, and international travellers heading down under for Christmas and events like the Australian Open.

What do Monique’s guests have to say?

When it comes to the guest experience, Monique goes above and beyond as a host, even sharing tips for good food, wine, and Instagram-worthy spots for travellers (as many of her guests are international visitors).

It is clear that Monique’s wonderful personality shines as a host — just take a look at her profile description:

Not to mention she has a 100% response rate and a response time of just one minute.

And as a result, Monique’s guests love the booking experience from start to finish.

What are Monique’s top tips for hosts on Turo?

Monique has plenty of wisdom to share with those looking to try hosting on Turo:

Offer delivery if you are starting out — it’s a great way to get a lot of bookings quickly, especially if you can drop the car off at the airport.
Set a “buffer” when it comes to booking times so you can manage your day. For example, Monique has one set so she gets a minimum of three or six hours’ notice, providing her with enough time to get the car ready and still spend time with the kids.
Educate international guests about Australian driving rules, as they may differ from the guest’s home country. For example, Monique often warns travellers about speed cameras in Australia, as they are very different to speed cameras in Europe or America. The same goes for parking fines, which can be very strict in Australia.