If you’re searching for the perfect platform for making deliveries, Doordash should be right on the top of your list.
We have all been advised to stay indoors as much as we can. People are no longer eating out or shopping due to Covid-19 fears. And as such, the on-demand service economy is witnessing an unprecedented boom.
Companies like Doordash that offer on-demand food delivery services are making a killing. Fortunately, you too can join the fun.
Whether you’re looking for a side hustle to supplement your 9-5 income or even seeking a primary occupation, driving for Doordash and other similar companies is an excellent choice.
Of course, you’ll like to know how much you can earn before committing yourself. But before we dive into that, let’s take a brief overview of Doordash. This is for the benefit of those who are not familiar with the platform.
What is Doordash?
Doordash is a food delivery app that serves two purposes – to serve customers who aren’t willing to leave their house for food and to provide a means of making extra cash for drivers ready to pick up food from restaurants and deliver them to the customers’ doorstep.
Doordash is a very popular food delivery app in North America. The drivers are called “dashers,” and aside from the money, they make on deliveries, “dashers” also get to keep all the tips they get from every delivery they make.
Once a customer places an order, the closest Doordash driver is alerted to pick up the delivery.
How Doordash Works
Doordash works by connecting hungry customers with drivers and nearby restaurants or food hubs.
Once customers place an order at one of the dozens of restaurants, they agree to a delivery fee and tip. The Dashdoor app then alerts the nearest “Dasher” on the app and transfers the orders to him.
As a dasher, you accept the order, drive to the restaurant, place the order and then deliver it to the customer.
There are two types of Doordash apps, and they are both available on the iOS and Android platforms – the food delivery customers app and the food delivery drivers app. The apps and the account creation are all free and easy to navigate through.
The Doordash platform is available in more than 700 cities across the North American continent, and you would have to be sure they operate in your region before you get the chance to enjoy its benefits.
The Doordash Driver App: How to Register
Before registering on Doordash, you must ensure you have a smartphone that’s compatible with the app.
Upon successfully downloading the Doordash driver app, you will be required to click on the “become a dasher” icon.
Once clicked on, you will be required to input your zip code and a password before creating your account. After creating your account, you will need to agree to a background check via Checkr.
Completing the background check will require you to provide your vehicle credentials, and you would also be asked to confirm if you have an active car insurance policy.
Clicking on the “continue” button will permit you to enter your birthday, driver’s license, and social security number needed to complete your background check.
Upon completion of the step above, you will be told to enter your home address – this is to enable Doordash to send you an activation kit for free. The activation kit will contain a hot bag, a company credit card otherwise known as a “red card,” and a manual.
Lastly, you will be required to fill out a W-9 form and enter your bank details for payment. As soon as your background check comes in – it can take an hour or a week – you are ready to begin Doordashing.
All these steps can be done on your phone using the app.
Accepting Deliveries and Cost of Deliveries
After creating your account with Doordash, you will have to log in to start delivering food orders.
To really make it as a “dasher,” you have to be in the red zone. Red zones are more likely to get deliveries than other areas – especially during peak hours (lunch and dinner time).
However, you can always pick a time that’s convenient for you, depending on your schedule. You will be alerted 15-minutes before your schedule begins, and you can always reschedule if you want.
Delivery Cost
Upon completing a delivery, you will see a summary of your earnings, and clicking the “got it” button will signify if you are ready for your next order, or you can simply end your dash. A dasher can earn between $10 to $25 per hour.
Doordash Tips
Dashers keep 100% of their tips. Your tip varies based on the kind of deliveries you make. Also, customers tip you more with larger orders. As a dasher, being smart about your delivery choices will determine how much you make on the go – the closer the delivery, the less you have to spend on fuel and mileage on your tires.
How Much Does Doordash Pay?
The amount you can earn as a dasher is based on the time you are willing to put in and the number of deliveries you make.
An average dasher can make up to $180 a week. But this will depend on how many deliveries you accept.
Over a month, you can even make up to $800 if you work at least 9-hours.
But How Much Do Doordash Drivers Make?
The Doordash pay plan includes the base pay for all deliveries, including the peak pay (for busy hours of the day).
Every delivery has a minimum payment amount that ranges between $2-$3, but there is a bonus pay (peak pay) that’s available during the peak hours of the day.
Peak pay is usually between $1 to $5 depending on the delivery. As a driver on Doordash (dasher), you can find out when peak pay hours are available by clicking on the promo tab once you open the app.
Here’s a breakdown of Doordash drivers yearly and hourly pay in 10 States:
| State | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Pay |
|---|---|---|
| California | $40,015 | $18 |
| New York | $40,015 | $20 |
| Illinois | $35,216 | $16 |
| Washington State | $40,015 | $20 |
| Florida | $35,216 | $14 |
| Texas | $40,015 | $16 |
| Nevada | $40,015 | $18 |
| Arizona | $35,216 | $16 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,015 | $17 |
| Georgia | $40,015 | $19 |
Doordash Job as a Driver (requirements)
To become successful with your application, you have to meet or surpass the following requirements:
- You must be 18 years or older. There are no gender or sexual restrictions – any 18-year-old person will do.
- A potential dasher must have a driver’s license number. Your registration cannot be completed without it.
- You are required to own a smartphone, be it an iPhone or an Android. Your phone is literally your office where you check-in and checkout on the app.
- Any vehicle which includes a car, bicycle, or scooter will do. But like I stated earlier, you would be required to provide an insurance plan.
- If you are in the United States of America, you would have to provide your social security number.
- You would also have to consent to a background check for final verification.
Meeting all the requirements stated above should qualify you to become a dasher in little or no time.
How Much Does Doordash Take from Your Pay?
Doordash has no financial dealings with the drivers apart from crediting their accounts at the end of the week.
Doordash makes its money from customers and restaurants that sign up to use their platform.
The only money required to be paid by drivers is taxes to the government at the end of the year.
Drivers are also not eligible to see the cash amount on a customer’s delivery – only the amount they are to make from the said delivery.
Doordash Drivers Expenses
Like other gig platforms, Doordash drivers are independent workers and are solely responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of their work tools.
Some of the personal cost you might incur as a dasher includes the following:
- Vehicle maintenance: Dashers must cover the cost of maintaining their vehicle, be it a car or a bike. The cost of fixing a puncture or making up for the mileage on your tires is on the dasher. You must be extremely careful during deliveries so as not to spend a more significant part of your earnings on maintenance.
- Vehicle ownership: You can choose to hire a vehicle if you don’t own one. However, know that all the expenses incurred during the hiring hours will be on you.
- Insurance: Insurance is based on the dasher’s preference and the operational plan based on the insurance policy in question. Dashers are also required to pay for their gas, amongst other expenses encountered on the job.
Doordash Reviews (how to make the best out of Doordash)
One can make an honest living using the Doordash app by following these simple suggestions:
1. Maximize driving during the peak hours
Ensure you take full advantage of the peak hours if you intend to make it big with Doordash. Doordash pays extra cash aside from the base payments for every delivery you make.
Peak payments can go as high as $8 per delivery, depending on the distance and delivery to be made.
The farther the distance, the more money you are likely to make during such hours, and you tend to make more if you are in a red zone.
2. Work in the red zones
As stated earlier, “red zones” are areas with a high order rate. It’s to your advantage to be in such areas, especially during peak hours.
Remember, the more deliveries you get to make, the more money you make. Also, you are more likely to make multiple deliveries simultaneously – as long the locations are close – in a red zone.
3. Note the kind of orders you accept
Doordash enables drivers to see the amount they can make on delivery before accepting and the tips to be made.
The information also involves the distance you will cover during the trip. Such knowledge should guide you on the kind of offer to accept.
Feel free to turn down offers that are likely to put you at a loss, and although it may reduce your acceptance rating, it won’t affect your ability to accept orders.
Doordash Reviews: Should You Go Dashing?
The Doordash franchise has grown rapidly since its inception, serving in all the states in the USA. The Doordash app has over 35% of the food delivery market space and ranks higher in profitability than the rest.
To earn a decent income, you don’t really have to drive to mars and back since Doordash operates primarily in urban areas.
According to the Doordash website, you can earn from $15 to $25 an hour. But the good thing is that Doordash is expanding rapidly, adding more cities and restaurants along the way. This translates to more users and, of course, more opportunities for dashers.
