How to Make The Most Money On DoorDash & Why It Should Be Your Side Hustle

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Are you thinking about working for DoorDash as a side hustle and want to know how to make the most money on DoorDash? If so, here’s why you should and 10 tips to help you make money fast!

Something no one wants to tell you about starting off as a blogger is that, a good majority of people will not be bringing in thousands of dollars within the first few months of starting their blog.

The amount of money you make and how quickly you make said money depends on a number of factors. One being how much time you are able to devote to working on your blog.

So, given that I recently left my 9-5 corporate job to work on my blog full-time, I knew I needed to find something I could do on the side for some extra cash to get me by.

If you have found yourself in a similar situation, or you just simply want to try out working for DoorDash, I’m here to let you know that:

1) DoorDash (or any comparable food delivery service) is hands down the best and easiest option out there for a side hustle

and

2) There are some great tips and strategies that you really should implement to make the most money along the way

Let me explain!

Why Should DoorDash Be Your Side Hustle?

Getting Started Is Super Easy

One of the major perks of working for DoorDash or a food delivery service is that you don’t have to stress about going through a strenuous interview process and wait to start.

I signed up for DoorDash in about 15 minutes and was approved within a day to begin dashing. It was as simple as inputting my information and uploading a few documents (drivers license, car insurance), and having a background check ran.

Which leads me to my next reason:

Flexibility

You can literally work whenever you choose and for as long as you want.

This made perfect sense for me, because I want my blog to be my main focus and be able to work on my own schedule.

And finally,

Good Compensation

You can make pretty decent money with DoorDash.

With the possibility of making upwards of $30 per hour, I’d say this is not a bad gig.

But, not everyone who works for DoorDash is making near what they should be. Making the most money on DoorDash involves utilizing some strategic moves.

How to Actually Make the Most Money on DoorDash

Here are some tips that are super helpful if you are just starting out on DoorDash or if you would like to start making more during your time dashing!

Tip #1 – Deliver During Peak Times

Don’t waste your precious time (& gas) dashing during the times when it’s not busy. I have found that the best times to dedicate to dashing in my area can be split up into the following: 

• 6AM – 10AM
• 11AM – 2PM
• 5PM – 9PM

If you dash during these hours, you will get a higher volume of deliveries which will ultimately help you to make more money per hour.

Tip #2 – Don’t Be Afraid to Decline Orders

As an independent contractor for Door Dash, you have the ability to set your own rates. This means declining orders that aren’t worth your time or energy.

One thing that can help you in determining which orders to decline and which to accept is to pay attention to mileage divided by payout.

Don’t accept orders that pay less than $1 per mile.

Consider $2 per mile ideal and $3 per mile or more is fantastic!

For the scenario above, you can see you would make $1.38 per mile which isn’t bad but not optimal.

**Do keep in mind, after declining 6 orders in a row, DoorDash automatically set me on a break so that other dashes would have the opportunity to pick up dashes I was declining.

Tip #3 – Fuel Up Before You Start

Make sure you have enough gas in your car before beginning your dash.

When you start your dash, you want to make sure all of your time goes toward completing deliveries. The more delays you have, the less hourly pay you will be making.

Tip #4  – Hustle

One thing you have full control over in door dashing is your own speed and efficiency getting in and out of the restaurants and drop offs.

Keep in mind, it could take you a while to find your groove but once you do, it will help a lot.

One thing that helped me become more efficient on my end is getting familiar with the order (looking at the name, how many items there should be, and if any drinks are included) before walking into the store. This way I know exactly what I’m grabbing and can be on my way.

Tip #5 – Use Info On The App to Make the Most Money on DoorDash

The Dasher app (the app you use when you work for DoorDash) will show you in red the hot-spot areas where high volumes of orders are being placed and you should navigate to those areas.

There’s mixed reviews on whether you should sit in one spot or continue driving but from my personal experience so far, I prefer to sit in a hot-spot as opposed to wasting gas.

Tip #6 – Excellent Customer Service Will Make You The Most Money on DoorDash

One tip that a lot of Dashers seem to forget is that customer service matters and can increase tips.

Here are some pointers to help you deliver the best possible customer service as a dasher:

• Pay attention to the directions on the orders. They will show special instructions like whether the customer prefers the order left at the door or handed directly to them upon delivery.
• If a restaurant is out of something, message the customer through the messaging option on the app to ask what they would like as an alternative.
• Be friendly when delivering if it’s a “hand it to me” order. I always thank the customer and tell them to have a good day.
• If you are having a hard time finding the exact drop-off point message the customer. Don’t leave it somewhere if you are unsure.
• Check to be sure the order includes drinks as well as utensils and napkins that may be needed.

Note: DoorDash does give customers the option to revise tip designations for 24 hours after the order is placed and this could affect you positively or negatively depending on customer service skills.

Tip #7 – Call Ahead

Call ahead to the restaurant to let them know you will be arriving soon for pick up. This will help you by reducing the time you stand there waiting and speed up in store pickups.

This option is probably not the best for chain restaurants that are swamped with orders. But for the more ‘mom and pop’ type of restaurants this tip can really speed up your dashing.

Tip #8 – Be Mindful That Different Locations Will Slow You Down When Accepting Orders

I have learned the hard way that most apartment complex orders or orders in unfamiliar territories will slow you down.

This isn’t true for all, but especially for orders going to gated apartment complexes or to businesses located inside large buildings.

The same goes for orders on a side of town that you aren’t familiar with because it will most likely take you longer to navigate those areas.

Tip #9 – Pay Attention to Prestige of the Restaurant

If there’s an upscale area close to you with high end restaurants, go there.

 The larger and more expensive the order, the higher the dasher pay and the more likely you will receive a generous tip!

Tip #10 – Practice Self Care While You Are Dashing

Take care of yourself while you are working! This could mean:

• Dress for the weather and wear comfortable clothing.
• Listen to a podcast or music you like.
• Use a vent clip/dash phone holder for hands-free convenience.
• Make sure you are well rested.  
• Make sure you are hydrated and have eaten. You will need energy to get in and out of the car, carry items, and to move as quickly as possible.

Other Ways To Save Money and Make the Most Money on DoorDash

Track Your Mileage

There are several apps available to track your mileage for tax time so that you can deduct miles. The one I use is Stride because it’s free and has the added perk of providing assistance in finding the most affordable health insurance option as a DoorDash worker.

Some other alternatives though are Everlance, QuickBooks Self Employed, and MileIQ.

Fuel Efficient Transportation

If it’s doable for you, and you plan to DoorDash a good amount for the foreseeable future, you might consider trading your car in for a fuel efficient if you have one that is not good on gas already.

DoorDash offers a way to save through DasherDirect which gives you the ability to have instant direct deposit’s, 2% back cash back rewards on gas anywhere.

Final Thoughts on Making the Most Money on DoorDash

I hope this was helpful for anyone looking for tips on how to make the most money on DoorDash.

The key thing to remember when trying to make the most money on doordash is that time is money! These tips will help you cut down on time spent delivering and in turn make you more money!

Please drop a comment below if you have any additional tips or click below to start your dashing journey!

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