Working as a DoorDasher

DoorDash prides itself on being at the top of the food delivery service industry and currently operates in more than 4,000 cities in all 50 states of the United States. They are continually hiring immediate employees who can fulfill the increasing demand to meet customers requests.

DoorDash attracts employees of all backgrounds and skill sets. And there are many reasons why working as a Dasher is enticing and fulfilling. They list the main reasons people apply:

• 1. Choose your own hours
  Total flexibility is what makes food service delivery jobs so attractive. There are no binding schedules or set hours you must meet—make it part-time, full-time, seasonal, or temporary—it’s entirely up to you. They also offer two distinct options to create your own schedules including:

  • DoorDash Now: This method allows you to go online and start accepting orders at any time.

  • DoorDash Schedule: If you would like to work during a set time period, you can log into the Dasher App and select a suitable window for yourself. Select your desired shift in the available list in the Dasher App. Prepare to be online during those hours.

While no method is better than the other, DoorDash Schedule can give you the opportunity to receive more orders, as Dashers who have scheduled themselves ahead of time receive priority pings, which could lead to higher earnings.

• 2. Freedom to work anywhere
  You are free to deliver in either your home city or one that you are visiting–even if that’s just for a night or two. Easy onboarding & sign-Up. There are few restrictions to becoming a Dasher. All you need is a mode of transportation, a compatible smartphone, and you’re ready to start earning.

• 3. Start immediately
  Once your background check clears and you complete a mandatory online orientation, you are free to start earning money.

• 4. Transparent pay
  DoorDash’s straightforward pay model lets you know how much you will receive for each delivery—before you even accept. Keep your earnings. You keep 100% of your tips every single time you complete a delivery.

• 5. Weekly deposits
  Dashers are paid on a weekly basis for all deliveries completed between Monday through Sunday of the previous week. Payments are transferred directly to your bank account through Direct Deposit.

  • For immediate (even daily deposits), DoorDash offers Fast Pay. Fast Pay gives Dashers the ability to cash out their earnings daily for a small fee of $1.99. This means that Dashers can receive their earnings on demand through DoorDash, rather than waiting for their weekly direct deposit or using a third party service.

Pick up and delivery process

The pick-up and delivery process is very simple and easy to learn and follow. The process is as follows:

1. Go online
   You can schedule yourself for deliveries or go online at any time by clicking into the dasher app.You will start receiving pings from the closest restaurants.

2. Accept deliveries
   When a delivery becomes available, you have 45 seconds to accept the order. If you don’t accept in time, the offer will then go to another driver in the area.

3. Pick up the order
   Once you arrive at the restaurant it’s key to double check the customer’s order before you confirm the pick up. DoorDash is a cashless app and depending on the restaurant, the customer either pays for the order directly through the DoorDash App or you will use your PrePaid Red Card to complete the order.

4. Deliver
   After the order has been picked up, you will deliver it to the customer’s desired location.

5. Complete and confirm
   Once you have finished and completed the delivery, confirm that the order has been delivered to the customer. The app will show you the total you’ve earned from the current delivery.

How Is My Pay Calculated?

There are many factors that contribute to the total earnings for each delivery. Indeed.com reports that on average, DoorDash Dasher’s make $18.79 an hour—almost 17% above the national average—but can vary greatly across each city or market. Recently, DoorDash also added more ways for customers to tip their Dashers on the app.

The Dasher Pay Model:

Base Pay + Promotions + Tips = Total Earnings

• Base pay. DoorDash’s base contribution for each order. This base will range from $2-$10+ and depends on three factors: estimated time, distance, and desirability of the order. On average, the base pay is $5 per order. You will always receive base pay. Deliveries that require Dashers to travel a longer distance, are expected to take more time, or are less popular with Dashers will have a higher base pay.

• Promotions. Additional pay for orders that meet certain conditions. These incentives give Dashers an opportunity to earn even more and include:

• Peak pay. When it’s busy, peak pay may be in effect. When available, you earn a bonus if you accept a delivery in a zone with Peak Pay where normally you will get orders without waiting time.

• Challenges. An opportunity to earn extra money if you complete a set number of deliveries within a certain amount of time. DoorDash Challenges are not in-app incentives and are emailed to you about any upcoming Challenges you may be eligible for.

How Can I Maximize My Dasher Earnings?

Dash during peak pay

These are in-app incentives with no restrictions. You can see them just opening the Dasher app. You earn a bonus if you accept a delivery in a zone with Peak Pay! Accept Deliveries Using the Heat Map. These can be found on your Dasher App and denote high-density areas requesting deliveries. The darker red the area, the more probable it is you will receive an order request.

New driver guarantee

DoorDash guarantees minimum pay for its Dashers and varies by each market or city. Sign Up Bonus. This one-time sign-up bonus is a chance to earn a minimum guaranteed amount for completing a certain number of deliveries in a set amount of time. These bonuses range from $100-$1000 based on the city or market you are based in.

Referral bonus

This is a bonus awarded for the number of new Dashers you refer to DoorDash.

Keep your tip average high

Always go above and beyond with customer service. Never underestimate the power of ensuring an order is completely accurate, delivered in good condition, and done so with a smile. The happier the customer, the higher the tip!