A new startup based in Arlington seeks to make it easier to hire help for common household chores.
Hago connects Northern Virginia residents with “helpers” who are paid to handle everyday tasks such as pet care, yard work and housework like laundry and cleaning. It’s been growing over the last few months, offering a simpler way to hire support without having to navigate various specialized services.
Customers can choose from packages for common chores, or hire someone to complete tasks like folding clothes, picking up groceries, preparing meals or doing home organization, a press release says.
“The experience is intentionally simple: Neighbors tell Hago what they need help with, choose when and where they need it, and an available Helper can review and accept the visit, with communication, payment and support managed through the platform,” the release says.
Rates range from $59 for a one-hour “pet essentials” visit to $379 for eight hours of work. The company is also launching a “campus helper” program at Georgetown this fall, letting students hire other students to complete small tasks.
Hago CEO Taylor Bennett is the former head of public affairs at companies such as Lime and DoorDash, which he left in July 2025, according to his LinkedIn.
“As a working parent with a toddler and a busy life, I was constantly putting off everyday things so I could focus my time on what mattered most,” Bennett said. “Specialized service providers exist everywhere, but getting an extra set of hands for what you want, when you need it, doesn’t.”
Workers have flexibility in selecting hours and what kinds of tasks and visits they’re willing to do. They must complete background checks, and Hago has received over 150 applications so far.
The company is currently available in Northern Virginia, but it plans to expand elsewhere in the D.C. area and beyond.
“Hago makes everyday help simple, reliable, and accessible, giving people more time for what matters while creating new, flexible ways to earn,” the press release says.
Photo via Sebastián Santacruz/Unsplash
