I’ve learned a lot over the last few months delivering food as a side hustle. I thought it was important to share my tips with you all so you can maximize your DoorDash, UberEats, and Postmates income if you decide to give them a try for yourself.

Hopefully, these tips will also help save your sanity at the same darn time!

Peak Meal Times

Dashing during peak meal times will increase your chances of getting more orders and thus earning more money.

• Doordash peak meal times: Lunch (11 AM – 2 PM) and Dinner (5 PM – 9 PM).
• Uber peak meal times: Lunch (11 AM – 2 PM) and Dinner (5 PM – 9 PM)
• Postmates: Lunch (10:30AM – 1:30PM) and Dinner (5:30PM – 8:30PM)

From my experience with all of the above companies, Postmates’ posted peak times are the most accurate.

I’ve also noticed the following:

• Mondays: Lunch & dinner suck
• Tuesdays: Dinner is usually good
• Wednesdays: Lunch & dinner are good
• Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Lunch & dinner are great
• Sunday: Late lunch is good

Pay Boosts

During busy times, all 3 companies will overpay incentives in addition to regular pay. This can range from an extra $1 – $5+ per delivery in some areas.

This usually occurs during holidays, sporting events and weekends so keep a lookout for app alerts, texts and emails so that you don’t miss the opportunity to make some extra cash.

FYI: Please read all pay boost information. The extra incentives may be tied to a certain number of deliveries, acceptance rates, etc so you’ll need to make sure you’re doing everything required to get the boost!

Hot Spots

Hot spots are supposed to be areas that increase your chances of receiving orders. If the spot is out of my imaginary delivery zone, I don’t even bother wasting my gas to go there.

If you’re just starting out, you’ll learn what areas are the busiest and during what times, so don’t worry too much about always being in a hot spot on the map because guess what? They change often, especially with Doordash. -_-

Distance

When I first started delivering food, I would accept every order without considering the distance. This was foolish! As your own boss, you have to be mindful of the pay and distance you’re traveling for an order.

I now use the $1 per mile rule. If the distance is 8 miles away, my guaranteed pay better be at least $8+.

Avoid Slow Restaurants

OMG!!!! We should start a database with all of the chronically slow restaurants in each region. For me, McDonald’s (UberEats), Applebees, Cheesecake Factory (weekend nights), and BJ’s are on my FU list.

Chipotle and local restaurants (especially ethnic food places) are typically super fast.

Here are my referral links! You can use them to sign up for free and become eligible for any pay bonuses available in your area: DoorDash (my favorite choice), UberEats, Postmates

Don’t Let Restaurant Issues Impact Your Pay

If I had a dollar for every time I heard, “We didn’t receive the order”, “Our tablet is broken”, or “We just put the order in”, I’d have enough money to retire and buy Apple.

Listen, this is mostly directed to Dashers but if you get to the restaurant and have to wait longer than 5 – 10 minutes.

CANCEL THE ORDER!!!!

You get paid per delivery so you should act accordingly. If you want to get paid minimum wage by being “patient” or “nice”, go for it, but I’m too old to waste an hour of my time for $7…

If You Want A Specific Hourly Rate, Stick To It

Since I prefer to make at least $20 an hour, I aim for 2+ deliveries an hour with corresponding pay. It’s easier with Doordash than Uber Eats and Postmates to gauge your expected pay because Doordash actually displays your expected pay before you accept an order. Over time, you’ll see what you average per order size, distance, and restaurant.

This leads me to me to my next and favorite piece of advice…

Decline Decline Decline!

If the order will take me out of my preferred zone, I decline.

If it is any of my FU restaurants, I decline.

When the delivery time is 30+ minutes away, I decline.

If the customer’s house is in a shady area, I decline.

You get the point. I decline orders based on the boundaries I’ve set for myself. With experience, you’ll set your own boundaries, maximize your pay and preserve your sanity as a result.

Don’t Hold Your Breath For Tips

If you base your pay on what you expect to get in tips you’ll be very disappointed. Doordash only allows customers to tip during the ordering process and most people don’t.

UberEats and Postmates allow tipping after delivery, but in my area, the orders are so small that people rarely tip (unless it is a man and I’m looking really cute lol).

These Tips May Not Lead To An Increase In Pay Directly, But They WILL Make Your Delivery Experience More Enjoyable:

Take Notes!

This will help you make better decisions when accepting or declining orders. I used the note pad in my phone to keep a running list of things I wanted to remember.

Update Your Customers

If you are running behind or an order item needs to be replaced, let the customer know. They will appreciate you for keeping them in the loop and that may result in a tip.

Be Safe

You are most likely not delivering food as a means to survive so please be safe. Do not risk your life trying to deliver someone’s greasy food.

It is not worth it.

Be Stern

Stand up for yourself at all times and do what is best for you.

Remember that you are an independent contractor & not an employee. Always protect your time and your sanity.

Track Your Mileage

I’ve said this in previous posts but I really do recommend tracking your mileage using Everlance to save money when tax time comes around.

I hope this post helped you. If you would like to use my referral links for any of the companies I mentioned, they are listed below!

Use my referral links to sign up for free and become eligible for any pay bonuses available in your area: DoorDash (my favorite choice), UberEats, Postmates

Happy Delivering & $tay Wealthy!

— Dannie