Is It Worth Getting Paid $50/Hour to Be Someone's Friend?

Have you ever had those moments where you feel alone? Let’s say you want to go out and watch a movie, or need a buddy to go to a social event with. Wouldn’t you want to get paid to be that someone for someone else? Go out and enjoy a social event with free food and good music, or watch the newest movie with excitement while being paid to just be yourself with someone who needs it.

Well, I am going to be talking about a website that allows just that. Below I will give you all the information needed to understand how it works and the benefits from it as well.

The website is called RentAFriend, it’s exactly what it sounds like, but at the same time not as weird as it sounds. This site was founded in 2009, the “strictly platonic friendship website” profits off “Members” who are charged $24.95 a month for access to the company’s worldwide database of over 600,000 rentable “Friends,” who create free profiles and then lease themselves out for anywhere from $10 to $50 an hour.

People look for friends to do all sorts of things. You can make money as a rentable friend by accompanying others to ball games, parties, showing them around a new city, going to the movies, sporting events, hiking, prom dates, and etc. RentAFriend states friends can make a good monthly income in the thousands.

The company is currently looking for friends worldwide. Also, they state that you can earn up to $50 per hour including free meals, concerts, events, and more. You’ll keep 100% of the money you make while setting your own hours, setting your rate, and working when you want to.

You can set up a profile on RentAFriend for free which is quick and easy (more detail on that later on). The company reminds users: That they are NOT going on a date. This is for friendship purposes only, RentAFriend is not a dating website nor an escort service. You won’t have to worry about someone “wanting” certain things from you.

Requirements

• Complete an application and get approved.
• Your live profile is made available to the community.
• You make the rules and are not required to do anything you don’t want to. For example: such as going to a concert that an artist you don’t like is performing at.
• Discuss all of the details including the time, date, location, plans, and payment before the meetup.

Pros

• Only paid members can contact friends for hire.
• Members can call, text, or message you through the website.
• It’s up to you to decide your preferred method of communication.
• There is no obligation to be friends with anyone who contacts you.
• Becoming a rentable friend is free.
• Also, there are no secret fees. Only people looking for friends must pay a membership fee.

Here is one testimony of a real member who uses the site:

“I’m a movie fanatic. I try to catch every movie that comes out in theaters, but I don’t like going by myself. I want someone there with me who can enjoy the movie, then catch a bite to eat afterwards to talk about it. RentAFriend.com is great for me. I know have an endless supply of people to contact to go with me to the movies night or day. Thank you!” Steve M, Arizona

RentAFriend is best for outgoing and extroverted people looking to make money and have a fun time. It’s best for those who enjoy being activity associates. If you are seeking to earn through the website (i.e become a friend), follow these steps below:

1. Create an account

You will need to register for free with the website through email. You can also register using your Facebook or Twitter profiles.

2. Fill out Your Profile Application Form

This step is very important. The information you feed into this page will go to your public profile and will be visible to a potential friend. The website filters friends for hire profiles by:

• Gender
• Age
• Ethnicity
• Body type
• Height
• Eye color
• Sexual orientation
• What you are available for (e.g. movies, dinner, sightseeing, wing person, friends with seniors, etc.)
• The language you speak
• Your fees

Some of the information they ask for is sensitive but, it’s for a reason. For example, when they ask for height it could be because someone is looking to rent a friend to play basketball with. Also, the body type is because, someone is looking for a rock climbing buddy who knows their stuff, and can handle it. Basically, what I am trying to say is don’t get offended by what they ask just try to understand the point of view of the person who is looking for someone to “rent”.

You will then complete a compulsory 2–3 sentence ”About You” portion of the application form.

3. Upload a photo(s)

Uploading a photo is also obligatory. The photos you upload including your profile picture need to be 4×6 inches or larger, You can upload up to 10 photos.

4. Verify your phone number

You will need to provide an actual phone number before your profile goes live. That phone number will be your contact information if you choose to be contacted through phone. Alternatively, you can choose email. Once you are through with this step, your profile will be up and running within an hour.

5. Meet Friends and Get Paid

If someone is interested in hiring you, they will contact you directly. You can then meet up with your friend(s), be of service to them, and then get paid.

Is Rent A Friend Available Worldwide?

Yes! RentAFriend is available worldwide according to the website. The website has an inbuilt geolocation filter that automatically detects where a user is accessing it from. Users looking to hire a friend can search by country, zip/postal code, state, or city.

How Do I Get Paid By Rent A Friend?

The website itself does not pay you. You will be paid by the friend hiring you once you agree on the terms. Generally, the person who is hiring you will also be responsible for the expenses related to the activity (like a ticket to the movie) but those are details that you should clarify when you are negotiating.

Although it’s not a side hustle that gets a lot of attention, people are making real money, and it’s possible you could make an extra $1,000- $2000 per month with this side hustle that is if you only do it part-time. Most people earn $1000 a week by doing it full-time. There are lots of people looking for a friend with no skills or experience needed.

Why You Might Not Want to Do It (a few cons to consider)

Although there is a lot to like about this side hustle, there are also some downsides to keep an eye out for. Being paid to be a friend is something that is not normal for most of us. There is a chance that it could create some awkwardness that you would rather avoid.

Someone could get flirty with you or ask to take a photo with you to post on their social media. You always have the right to say no or just walk away and get paid for the hours you spent. It’s important to know that this website does not perform background checks, so always be mindful. Always pay attention to your environment and if you don’t feel safe, then chances are you may not be.

Consider just hightailing it out of there if that were the case. But, don’t let knowing this stop you from enjoying the website since there’s a lot of good from it. Honestly, it’s mostly all good. Seniors are a huge part of this website since most of them are alone in retirement homes or nursing homes, and they just want to see a new face who can share stories with them.

Side note:

I have not personally tried RentAFriend, I have only done all of the necessary research to provide this information to you. Always do your own due diligence before considering any type of social side hustle.

If you consider trying this out then I hope it goes well for you and you make some good memories out of it, and of course a good amount of income.