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How to Make 500 a Week With Doordash

How to Make 500 a Week With Doordash
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The gig economy and freelance work are becoming increasingly popular, with some gig work having the potential to bring in a full-time income.

DoorDash is one of those gig jobs that can bring in near full-time income and is a fantastic option for earning extra cash as a side hustle.

How much money can you make as a DoorDash driver? The answer might surprise you.

Read on to learn how to make 500 a week with DoorDash.

What Is DoorDash?

DoorDash is an on-demand food delivery business where freelance drivers, called “Dashers,” are hired to pick up and deliver food from local restaurants to millions of hungry customers.

It has quickly become one of the most popular food delivery services, operating in more than 7,000 cities in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. Worldwide there are around 18 million DoorDash users, mainly in the U.S., and DoorDash currently accounts for 45% of the U.S. food delivery market.

Become a DoorDash Driver
DoorDash
5.0

Get started delivering food for DoorDash. You choose your own schedule and delivery goals as your own boss. Earn base pay, tips, and promotions with DoorDash.

Pros:
  • Flexible schedule - pick your own hours
  • Preview pick-up/drop-off locations - choose your own orders
  • Fast Payment
  • Maximize earning potential with tips, bonuses, peaks, and hotspots
Cons:
  • Wear and tear from vehicle usage
  • Cost of Gas
Sign Up
Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.

How Does DoorDash Work for Dashers?

While DoorDash has recently expanded its services to include grocery delivery and large group or catering orders, the company’s staple is as a meal delivery service.

Customers place their order at a local restaurant through the app, then Dashers pick up the order and deliver it to the customer. Dashers can use whatever mode of transportation works best for their location and situation, including delivering food on foot, bike, or even scooter.

DoorDash Pros

  • Fast payment
  • Set your own schedule
  • Preview pick up and drop off locations
  • Keep 100% of customer tips

DoorDash Cons

  • Wear and tear on your vehicle
  • Fuel costs
  • No guaranteed hourly pay
  • You can’t work unless it’s busy or you’ve signed up for a shift in advance
  • Must pay self-employment taxes

Why Should You Drive for a Food Delivery Service?

There are many good reasons to consider driving for a food delivery service. Freelance gig work is a great way to make money on the side or in combination with other part-time jobs. Additional benefits to driving for a food delivery service include:

  • Flexibility
  • Low stress
  • Good pay
  • Job security
  • Being your own boss

How Does DoorDash Make Its Money?

DoorDash primarily makes money by charging commissions on the orders delivered for restaurants and other retailers. Additional recurring revenue is generated from subscription services, including DashPass, DoorDash for Work, and Drive.

Related Article: The Outright Best Times to DoorDash in 2023

Making Money With DoorDash

How Much Do Most Drivers Make on DoorDash?

The amount that DoorDash drivers make per order is dependent on the Dasher Pay Model, which sets payments with base pay + promotions + tips to calculate total earnings.

How Often Does DoorDash Pay Dashers?

Dashers are paid weekly through secured direct deposit. Drivers can also access their earnings early with Fast Pay, subject to approval.

DoorDash Payment Methods

DoorDash drivers can get paid via direct deposit to their bank account weekly. Drivers opting for Fast Pay must have a connected debit card.

Recently, DoorDash has introduced DasherDirect, a prepaid debit card allowing earnings to be deposited after every Dash with no deposit fees.

DoorDash Hack

If you’re a new DoorDash driver, check out these DoorDash hacks to maximize your earnings and benefits.

Apply for DasherDirect

The new free DasherDirect prepaid debit card comes with several great perks, including the following (subject to approval):

  • Deposits after every delivery for free
  • Earn 2% back at gas stations
  • Free withdrawals at over 20,000 ATMs in the U.S.

Early Access Scheduling

Early access scheduling lets you schedule shifts as early as six days in advance, ensuring you get the best shifts that fit your schedule. You’ll need to have a Driver Rating of at least 4.6, a Completion Rate of at least 95%, and have accepted and completed at least 500 deliveries to be eligible for this perk.

Deliver From Ghost Kitchens

Ghost kitchens are professional kitchens that prepare food for several other restaurants.

If you’re a Dasher in a larger city and you notice a string of restaurants all have the same address, you’ve likely found a ghost kitchen. Start your shift near the ghost kitchen to increase your order requests since you’ll be potentially waiting by several restaurants.

Invite Friends to DoorDash

The DoorDash referral program lets you and the people you refer get discounts on orders. You can also earn referral bonuses for referring new Dashers.

Earn Cashback on Gas

Even without the DasherDirect card, there are many ways to earn rewards and save money on gas. Several reward apps pay you for refueling, including GetUpside and ReceiptPal. Plus, many rewards credit cards offer cash back on gas.

Combining rewards credit cards and apps is a great way to save money on gas and maximize your earnings.

How to Make $500 a Week With DoorDash

Here is how to make $500 a week with DoorDash.

Earn Referral Bonuses

DoorDash offers referral bonuses to Dashers that meet certain qualifying conditions. Bonus amounts vary by city.

Change Your Dash Area

If orders are slow, consider changing your Dash area. Look for areas with a high number of deliveries or those with a low number of delivery drivers.

Stick to High Traffic Areas

When a particular restaurant or area has a high number of orders, it creates a hotspot in the app designated by a red zone. These red zones are great opportunities to Dash Now and take advantage of high customer demand.

Park Near Popular Restaurants and Convenience Stores

Do you know of popular restaurants or convenience stores in your area? Parking near popular spots is a great way to increase your pay, especially if you’ve scheduled shifts. Not only will you be able to choose your orders from a higher selection quickly, but you’ll be able to grab and deliver orders quickly.

Drive During DoorDash Peak Hours

Like parking near popular spots, driving during peak hours also increases the number of deliveries available and increases the money you’ll make each week with DoorDash. Additionally, driving during peak hours also allows you to earn peak pay. Peak pay is extra earnings added to your total when delivering food during busy times.

Regardless of location, dinner is typically the busiest time of day for a delivery driver. Peak dinner hours are generally between 5 pm and 9 pm, but the middle of the day between 10 am, and 1 pm may also be an excellent time to make money.

Decline Low-Paying Orders

Dashers make money based on the number of deliveries and the earnings from each delivery. While Dashers aren’t paid per hour, DoorDash pay depends on the order’s time, distance, and desirability. Promotions are then added to the base pay to determine the final earnings.

Thus, a Dasher looking to make the most money per hour and per week will want to decline low-paying orders and instead focus on those that will yield higher earnings.

Participate in DoorDash Challenges

The last primary way to make more per week with DoorDash is to participate in Challenges. Challenges are incentives where a delivery driver can make more money by completing a certain amount of deliveries in a certain amount of time. Learn more about Challenges here.

How to Sign Up for DoorDash

DoorDash Driver Requirements

There are specific requirements that need to be met to become a Dasher. For example, you’ll need to be 18 or older, have a valid driver’s license, and have insurance if you plan to use a car for deliveries. You’ll also need a newer smartphone to support the DoorDash app and pass a background check.

Background checks are done by Checkr, a third-party employee screening agency, and should take around seven days to complete.

Set Up Your DoorDash Driver Account

To become a Dasher, you’ll need to first apply with your name, contact information, and vehicle information. Once you’ve passed the background check and are hired, you’ll receive an activation kit, delivery bag, and a DoorDash red card to pay for orders. You’ll also need to set up your Dasher profile.

Get the DoorDash App

Once you’re hired and ready to roll, you’ll also need to download the app so that you can select and fulfill orders.

Start Driving

Once you’ve received your materials, set up your account, and downloaded the app, you can get started delivering! Accept your first order and make money working a few hours a day.

Become a DoorDash Driver
DoorDash
5.0

Get started delivering food for DoorDash. You choose your own schedule and delivery goals as your own boss. Earn base pay, tips, and promotions with DoorDash.

Pros:
  • Flexible schedule - pick your own hours
  • Preview pick-up/drop-off locations - choose your own orders
  • Fast Payment
  • Maximize earning potential with tips, bonuses, peaks, and hotspots
Cons:
  • Wear and tear from vehicle usage
  • Cost of Gas
Sign Up
Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.

DoorDash Alternatives

Delivering food is a great side hustle with an opportunity to make good money. Here are some DoorDash alternatives to consider if you’re looking to become a delivery driver.

DoorDash vs. Postmates 

Postmates is a commerce and food delivery service owned by Uber currently operating in over 3,500 cities across the U.S. Postmates drivers pick up and deliver food, alcohol, groceries, and other goods. Postmates drivers typically make around $13 per hour, but earnings can range from $7 to $54.

Continue reading: Postmates vs. DoorDash

DoorDash vs. Grubhub 

Grubhub also specializes in food deliveries but primarily focuses on restaurant take-out. Grubhub currently has more than 300,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities. Drivers are paid based on mileage, time on the road, special offers, and tips.

Instacart vs. DoorDash 

Instacart is slightly different in that drivers shop for and deliver groceries or meet customers outside the store for grocery pick-up. There are currently around 9.6 million active users and 500,000 shoppers. Full-service shoppers (shop and deliver) get paid based on the number of items in the order, the driving distance for delivery, and the effort required for the order, plus 100% of tips. In-store shoppers make a flat hourly wage ranging from $9 to $16 an hour based on location, with the average hourly pay being $13.

Continue reading: Instacart vs. DoorDash

Sign Up
Instacart Shopper
4.5

Instacart is one of the biggest online grocery delivery companies. You can earn over $20 per hour shopping and delivering groceries to people through the app!

Pros:
  • Flexible Schedule - set your own hours
  • Fast and Accessible Pay
  • Tip Earning Potential
  • Mileage Deductions
  • Easy Application Process
Cons:
  • Vehicle Wear & Tear
  • Gas Costs
Apply Now

Uber vs. DoorDash

Uber drivers deliver people instead of food, and it is now a global service in 10,000 cities around the world. Your earnings are based on when, where, and how often you drive for Uber, but a driver working 40 hours per week could earn $1,000 or more.

How to Make $500 a Week With DoorDash FAQ

How Much Can I Make With DoorDash in a Week?

The amount you make per week with DoorDash will depend on how much you work, the availability of deliveries, and the rates set to them.

Does DoorDash Give Bonuses?

DoorDash distributed bonuses to drivers based on total lifetime deliveries in 2021 as part of their Dasher Rewards Program. DoorDash also gave bonuses to Dashers who had completed a specific number of orders in a certain timeframe last year. DoorDash has yet to announce Dasher bonuses for this year.

Does DoorDash Reimburse Drivers for Gas?

No, Dashers are responsible for covering fuel costs.

What Is the Best Time to DoorDash?

The best time to work is during dinner between 5 pm and 9 pm. Sunday is also an excellent day to make deliveries, as you can work breakfast, brunch, and lunch in a relatively short amount of time.

Does DoorDash Accept Cash?

Due to contactless deliveries, Cash On Delivery is currently not a payment option for DoorDash orders and has been suspended indefinitely.

How Does DoorDash Assign Orders?

Orders are offered to Dashers, but they must choose to accept an order. A Dasher can decide to take as many orders as they want during their scheduled shift or when choosing to Dash Now during busy times.

When Does DoorDash Stop Delivering?

Most stores and restaurants close around 11 pm or midnight, so you won’t be able to order after those hours. However, for those locations that are open 24/7, you can order through DoorDash at any time.

Does DoorDash Acceptance Rate Matter? 

Your Dash acceptance rate impacts your ability to become a Top Dasher, but it will not affect how many deliveries you are offered.

Become a DoorDash Driver
DoorDash
5.0

Get started delivering food for DoorDash. You choose your own schedule and delivery goals as your own boss. Earn base pay, tips, and promotions with DoorDash.

Pros:
  • Flexible schedule - pick your own hours
  • Preview pick-up/drop-off locations - choose your own orders
  • Fast Payment
  • Maximize earning potential with tips, bonuses, peaks, and hotspots
Cons:
  • Wear and tear from vehicle usage
  • Cost of Gas
Sign Up
Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.

Final Thoughts—Should You Drive for DoorDash?

Can you make $500 a week driving for DoorDash? The answer is a resounding it depends.

Driving for DoorDash is a great way to make good money on the side, but your earnings will depend on how many days a week you work and the number of deliveries you make.

By following the tips above, it should be relatively easy to earn extra money working around your day job or other gigs.

So, what are you waiting for? Get started making money as a delivery driver today!