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DoorDash Driver Tips and Tricks

Food delivery apps have become quite popular in the last few years, and they offer opportunities to people for a delivery job. DoorDash is one of the popular apps, and it is a pretty good job for people who want to do it. When you consider getting a new job, it is important to understand the benefits and disadvantages to know what you are getting into before starting.

If you want to sign up, you need to create a DoorDash account. You can go to the application in the app, fill it out, let them do a background check, attend an orientation, and then your activation kit will be mailed, and you are ready to start. Continue reading to learn tips and tricks for DoorDash drivers.

Quick tip: you can get cash back every time you fill up your gas tank by using the Upside app. It's free and pays out straight to your bank.

Click here to start delivering for DoorDash

How Do I Get More Tips on DoorDash?

The key to using DoorDash as an income stream is making decisions that will maximize your tips. DoorDash says that people can make up to $25 an hour, but online websites say that the average is about $14 an hour. If you don’t learn how to manage your business, you might make less than minimum wage.

DoorDash drivers are independent contractors or “1099 workers” in the United States. This means that you control when and how long you work, but it also means that how much you make is up to you. Making more tips is the key to increasing your income.

There are several ways to increase your tips, including the following:

1. Drive When People Are Ordering the Most

Specific times are busier than others, so make sure that you work during the following hours:

  • 6 AM to 9 AM
  • 11 AM to 1 PM
  • 5 PM to 9 PM
  • After 10 PM

The busiest hours are the same hours that the restaurants are busy. These are when people eat, and you can maximize your tips during these hours.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Selective

DoorDash offers perks to drivers with an acceptance rate greater than 70%. However, if you focus on your acceptance rate, you may end up making less money because you can spend a lot of time on a small order. If you see an order too far away or isn’t worth your time, wait for a better one. You will make more money by choosing the more worth your time orders.

So, is it bad to decline DoorDash orders? An important thing to know is that DoorDash raises the base pay when drivers decline orders until someone accepts it. Declining low-paying orders benefits you and all of the other drivers in the area.

3. Stay Away From Areas with a Lot of Traffic

Using your time efficiently is a part of making more tips, so you should stay away from areas with traffic. It can waste your time and your gas, and it can hold you up so that you can’t accept orders.

Also, when delivering, be careful where you park; otherwise, you could end up with an expensive parking ticket!

4. Work in Areas That Have a Selection of Restaurants Close to Homes

There are hotspots in just about every town, and working here will help you make more tips. You will be able to do more deliveries per hour, and you are unlikely to have to worry about downtime. You want areas with many popular restaurants that are close to neighborhoods where people order out frequently.

5. Make Your Customers Happy

Customers often tip more when they are happy with the service. First of all, make sure that you follow any instructions on the order. Put the delivery where they want it and follow any instructions they leave. If you have any questions, communication is critical. Let them know when you are at the restaurant, on the way, and your ETA. If you hit any traffic, let them know. Finally, make sure that you dress professionally and smile.

Of course, if you happen to be delivering your own order, then it’s up to you if you want to tip yourself!

Does Your Acceptance Rate on DoorDash Matter?

If you ask DoorDash drivers, you will get mixed answers on this. DoorDash has programs to incentivize drivers to have a high acceptance rate, and if a driver wants to have Top Dasher status, they need to have an acceptance rate of at least 70%.

They say that if drivers meet this and other requirements to be a Top Dasher, they will have the rewards of being able to Dash any time and get more deliveries. They also have priority for high-value orders.

However, if you focus on a high acceptance rate, you might find yourself accepting $4 or $5 orders that are six or seven miles away, which won’t get you much money. You can use other strategies to maximize what you make, and you also need to consider where you work. If you work in an area with many restaurants and neighborhoods close by, you have more options.

You need to remember that DoorDash has chosen to hire independent contractors rather than employees to deliver. They don’t have the legal right to tell you what orders you must accept, so they try to incentivize drivers to take more orders, including low-cost ones.

As a driver, you have to weigh the costs with the benefits and determine whether having a high acceptance rate is worthwhile. It is a good idea to look at each order and evaluate it to make sure that it is worth your time. As an independent contractor, you need to look out for yourself and do what is best for you.

Does DoorDash Pay Mileage?

DoorDash does not pay for your mileage, nor do they track it for you. However, it is crucial for you as an independent contractor to keep track of it because you get a mileage deduction on your tax returns, and the standard deduction is $0.56 per mile. You should keep a log of your mileage and have it available when it is time to prepare your taxes.

Can I Make $100 a Day with DoorDash?

One of the benefits of being an independent contractor is controlling your earning potential. If you are motivated, know when and where to work, and plan ahead, you can earn $100 or more in a day.

Start by looking at the data online from sites such as Indeed and Glassdoor. They say that DoorDash drivers average $16 or $16.50 an hour. If you work six or seven hours at $16.50 an hour, you will earn $99 to $115. You can also put DoorDash on your resume since employers look at gig economy jobs these days.

It is unrealistic to think you will sign on for a few deliveries and make that kind of money, but if you are motivated, you can do well. Especially if you take advantage of DoorDash Challenges.  Full-time DoorDash drivers can make around $700 a week, but they know when to work.

DoorDash does have an incentive for new drivers where they guarantee that you can make $500 your first week if you do at least 50 deliveries. The way it works is that they will take what you made for the 50 deliveries and add to it to get to $500. If you made $400, they would give you an additional $100. However, if you make more than $500, you do not get extra payment.

How Many Hours Can You Work for DoorDash?

You can work as many hours as you want with DoorDash. However, it is important to note that you never receive overtime pay as an independent contractor. You will make more money during some hours than others, and you will want to schedule ahead busy areas and hotspots so that they don’t fill up. When you want to work, turn the app on. You are in charge of your hours.

How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make in Tips?

The amount that DoorDash drivers make in tips varies. It depends on where you live, where you work, and when you work. It also depends on which orders you accept and deliver. Drivers earn 100% of the customer tips.

Drivers make base pay that stays the same no matter what the customer tips. It can range from $2 to more than $10, based on the order’s time, distance, and desirability. DoorDash offers promotions that include additional pay for orders that meet certain conditions. For example, peak pay applies when busy, so they get extra for each delivery.

Customers leave the tips. They can give a tip when they check out online or do it when the order is complete. The driver gets all of the tip money. It is recommended that customers tip what they would if they ordered at the restaurant, and they should tip between 15% and 20% of the cost of the order.

Best Times to DoorDash

Sometimes are better for DoorDash because it is busier and you can make more money. The hours that tend to have the most activity are as follows:

  • 6 AM to 9 AM
  • 11 AM to 1 PM
  • 5 PM to 9 PM
  • After 10 PM

The first three time blocks run around when people are most likely to eat their meals, which will be the busiest times of the day. You may want to book these hours in advance because they close the shift when too many people work.

Different locations will have different busy times. The busy hours are usually the same as the busy hours for the restaurants in town. In addition to the hours, some days are busier than others. The weekends are always busy, and the slowest days tend to be Mondays and Tuesdays.

Final Words

Working as a DoorDash delivery driver, you are an independent contractor. You get to choose when and where you work, and if you plan ahead, you can do well.

Click here to start delivering for DoorDash

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