Bottom Line
DoorDash is one of the largest and most popular food delivery services in the United States.
It is an efficient way to get customers what they want while the restaurants and drivers make money.
One of its discouraging aspects is that you are not guaranteed any customer tips, but you get 100% of it if they do tip.
The Pros:
- Flexibility
- Retain 100% customer tips
- Accept and decline the orders you want
- Incentives to maximize your earnings
The Cons:
- No guarantee for customer tips
- “Dash Now” is only available at busy hours
Love driving? Have you ever thought of earning money as a driver?
Being a taxi driver may be pretty challenging as sometimes you have to deal with stubborn and arrogant customers.
You can also decide to become a chauffeur where you may have to work for extremely long hours and even late into the night.
But here it is:
You can, however, become a DoorDash driver and work at your own time making pickups from restaurants and delivering to areas within your city.
Becoming a Dasher – the name for DoorDash Drivers – is a simple and easy way to make some extra money.
What Is DoorDash Driver?
DoorDash is an order and delivery platform that was launched back in 2013.
Over the years, DoorDash has grown and currently delivers for over 340,000 restaurants in the United States.
Customers simply place orders on their app, and the nearest Dasher accepts it, picks it up, and delivers it to the appropriate customer.
There are two different DoorDash apps: the food delivery for customers and the driver app for Dashers. Both applications are available for Android and iOS users.
DoorDash driver is available in over 850 cities across North America.
Requirements To Work For DoorDash
If you are already thinking of working as a DoorDash driver, the following are the requirements you need to meet:
- 18 years and above
- Have access to a scooter, car, or bicycle in some exceptional cities
- Have a valid insurance
- Have a driver’s license
- For delivery in the US, you need a social security number
- Authorize DoorDash to conduct a complete background check
DoorDash will ask for your phone number and address during the application, which will be used to send the DoorDash Activation Kit.
The kit includes an insulated bag to use for food deliveries and a Red Card.
A Red Card is a loaded debit card from DoorDash that you use to pay for orders that aren’t paid for by customers through the app.
You will also need to provide them with your bank account information for payments made every week through direct deposit.
However, you can also opt for Fast Pay for instant withdrawal and incur a $1.99 charge. To use Fast Pay, you need to:
- Have a debit card
- Dashed for a minimum of two weeks
- Have completed at least 25 deliveries
How Does DoorDash Driver Work?
DoorDash connects customers with Dashers and nearby restaurants. As a driver, you are expected to accept and ensure the successful delivery of orders.
If you are thinking of working as a DoorDash driver, the following are the steps for you to start making money.
Step 1: Get Started
Download the DoorDash driver app, open it, click “Become a Dasher,” and open an account.
Submit a background check through Checkr and further complete the assessment by providing your vehicle details and check a box stating that you have a valid car insurance policy.
The check is the most prolonged process, and when done, you can enter your address to receive the DoorDash Activation Kit.
Step 2: Taking Deliveries
Once your check is approved and you receive the Activation Kit, you can log in to your account and start delivering.
To begin accepting deliveries, you need to be on the red zone indicated on the map on the app and click “Dash Now.”
You can also tap the “Schedule” tab on the bottom of the screen and sign up for future shifts. You will get a notification 15 minutes before the start of your shift.
When an order near you is placed, you will receive an alert and message notifying you of the new order with limited time to accept or decline before being given to another Dasher.
When you accept a delivery, you will see the restaurant’s address to pick up the customer’s order.
Once you get to the restaurant, confirm the order’s details on the app and proceed to the customer’s address.
Step 4: Getting Paid
Once you complete a delivery, you will see a quick summary of what you make on the app. Click “Got It” to get ready for the following order.
If you qualify for Fast Pay, you can access your money anytime, and if you don’t, wait for the weekly payment.
How Much Can You Earn From DoorDash Driver?
DoorDash Drive pay structure is relatively transparent, and you can easily find out how much you can earn with the app.
Your first share of payment comes from the base pay, which ranges from $2-10 varying by order. This amount is always indicated for the driver before accepting the order.
You can also earn from promotions – peak pay times for certain delivery areas are indicated on the map by a light-up red and a plus dollar amount of your additional potential earnings.
The best part?
You can keep all customer tips made after delivery.
Tips To Earn Above Average On DoorDash Driver
In every business, there are various strategies you can apply to earn more than your competitors.
When working for DoorDash, you can increase tour earnings with the following tips:
1. Take Advantage Of DoorDash Incentives
The DoorDash app indicates peak pay times on the app for you when scheduling. These are times when there is likely to be decent workflow due to demand.
During peak pay hours, you can earn $1-2.5 for every order you deliver.
In some areas, new Dashers have a Guaranteed Earnings Incentive offering the difference to $2,750 if you make 400 deliveries in the first 90 days and fail to reach that amount.
2. Accept More Than One Order At A Time
The app may sometimes have batched orders and allow you to complete more than one delivery at a time.
It is an efficient way to do more work in less time and make more money.
3. Avoid Small Orders
Large orders are more challenging to deliver hence more base pay and a likelihood of a good tip.
There may be no minimum requirements for acceptance on DoorDash, but being too picky on the orders you accept may result in a warning.
4. Drive During Peak Hours
Dinner hour and afternoon lunch rush are the best times to schedule a Dash or tap on “Dash Now” to start working.
Orders may also increase during holidays, major sporting events, and significant televised events.
DoorDash Driver Vs. Instacart
DoorDash Driver (3.9) | Instacart (3.7) |
---|---|
Make your schedule | Make your schedule |
Keep 100% tips | Keep 100% tips |
Responsive customer care service | Poor customer care service |
Conclusion
Being a Dasher can be a short-term side hustle to make some extra cash when you need it.
It is not the perfect hustle since you have to incur fuel and maintenance costs for your car or bike and money for axes.
It requires little commitment but many strategies and planning to make the most out of the opportunity.