Apps bring bigger paychecks

Thanks to Internet technology that matches freelance workers, such as housekeepers and manicurists, with demand for lifestyle services, the online-to-offline industry has become a well-paid sector with salaries topping those of white-collar professionals, says a recent report.

A report released in early January by classified ad website ganji.com showed that the average monthly salary for O2O freelancers, who offer services after receiving orders online, reached 8,300 yuan ($1,333) in 2014 compared with the average of 7,200 yuan for white-collar workers in Shanghai, the nation's business hub.

A growing number of entrepreneurs and investors are betting on a rosy future for O2O business in China, creating all kinds of mobile applications answering various demands, ranging from pet grooming to food delivery.

Sixty-eight percent of the 3,000 O2O freelancers surveyed by ganji.com earn more than 5,000 yuan a month, with 9 percent racking up more than 10,000 yuan, the report says.

The highest payment goes to automobile assessors, who provide professional services in assessing the value of cars, with their monthly income averaging more than 16,600 yuan.

The decent salaries on offer are proving attractive to people who desire greater independence in their working life. The report found that around 55 percent of O2O service providers are young adults aged between 21 and 35, with those in their early 20s accounting for 26 percent.

The report also established a link between their educational background and career pursuits. It revealed that most people who engage in this new type of occupation are vocational school graduates, with 79 percent of them possessing a professional skills certificate.

When it comes to job satisfaction, nearly 40 percent of self-employed O2O workers like their job, citing freedom and flexibility as the main reasons.

Yang Liu, a 21-year-old self-taught manicurist, started taking online bookings for manicures two months ago via an app named Helijia, where a few thousands manicurists and pedicurists are available for booking.

"I earn at least 50 percent more than I did at traditional salons," says Yang, who works at a brick-and-mortar salon for about four years. Manicurists working at beauty salons in Beijing usually earn around 4,000 yuan a month.

"I get to set service prices and my working hours. It feels like I am running my own salon online," Yang says.

China's thriving Internet industry has played a major role in bridging the gap between supply and demand. However, the effectiveness with which O2O attracts customers also means a heavy workload, something that not every freelancer is willing to take on.

Hou Guopeng, founder of Momoda, an app that sends professionals to pet owners' home to help wash and dry their animals, says it is very challenging to find pet groomers to meet the surging demand.

"In brick-and-mortar pet stores, a pet groomer usually washes two dogs a day. But with our app, they have to travel around the city to wash four to five dogs a day. Despite the fact that they can make much more money, some of the young pet groomers would rather have an easy life," he says.