How Does Grubhub Work?Payments, Orders and More

How Does Grubhub Work?

Grubhub works by connecting patrons to their favorite restaurants, all from the convenience of an online website or mobile app.

The Grubhub app is available for both iOS and Android smartphones.

As a consumer, you start by browsing the selection of restaurants available for delivery in your area.

Then, you place your order.

You place orders directly with Grubhub, as opposed to having to call the restaurant.

After placing your order, Grubhub dispatches a delivery driver to pick up your food and deliver it to your home.

Grubhub drivers work as independent contractors, meaning they are not employees of the company.

However, the company allows drivers to schedule drive times, which qualifies them for more work and higher earnings.

The process is that simple.

Although the number of restaurants varies from area to area, Grubhub is convenient because it is a one-stop-shop for food delivery from lots of local restaurants.

Finstance, there are far more restaurants available in New York City than there are in Billings, Montana.

Related: 6 Grubhub alternatives worth trying

How Does Grubhub Work for Restaurants?

Grubhub partners with restaurants to help them get food to customers without needing to hire additional delivery drivers.

Grubhub hires drivers and runs background checks, so the restaurant knows the couriers are reliable.

Using a third party like Grubhub takes a lot of pressure off the restaurant.

They don’t have to hire and vet delivery drivers.

Their employees can focus on making food and serving patrons in the restaurant’s physical location.

The restaurant can reach more customers through Grubhub.

People who can’t get to the restaurant can still order food, so the establishment still makes a profit.

In some cases, the restaurant might gain new customers through the Grubhub app.

Users can search nearby locations or scroll through the offerings, so the restaurant’s profile might catch their eye.

The Grubhub app is easy for businesses to use.

The restaurant dashboard includes interactive features like point-of-sale options and the chance to request couriers when orders come in.

There’s also a way to see financial reports to help owners see if the Grubhub partnership is paying off.

How Does Grubhub Work for Consumers?

Customers love the Grubhub app for the different options it offers.

Sometimes picking a restaurant is the hardest part of finding dinner.

Having search filters can help you make a decision.

You can look for the restaurants closest to you.

This feature is best if you’ve placed a pickup order and don’t want to trek across town.

You can also filter results according to how long it’ll take the restaurant to prepare your food.

Or you can check out all participating restaurants and scroll until you see something that will satisfy your craving.

Of course, if you already know what you want, you can search for it directly.

Choosing your meal is as easy as adding the food to your order.

You can then customize things as the restaurant offers or enter special instructions for the courier.

When you place the order, you’re able to track its progress through the app.

You’ll know when it’s ready at the restaurant and when it’s on its way to your door.

Once you start using Grubhub, the app keeps track of your order history, payment information, and contact information.

This saved information streamlines the process for future orders.

How Does Grubhub Work for Couriers?

Grubhub drivers are independent contractors who make their own hours.

Drivers can choose to work when they have free time or select scheduled orders in advance.

You can see how much you’ll make per order so you can figure out if it’s worth it.

You can also check for orders in certain areas to maximize your efficiency.

Since Grubhub isn’t your official employer, you’ll have to pay your own self-employment taxes.

The payments are quarterly installments to prevent paying the penalty at tax time.

You’re also responsible for gas and car maintenance since you’re using your own vehicle for the job.

These responsibilities can seem like a lot of extra work, so Grubhub offers incentives for drivers.

They have a rewards program that offers discounts for partner companies.

Some perks relate to car maintenance, which is a great benefit since you’re using your car for work!

In terms of delivering, couriers have a different interface on their Grubhub app.

They’ll see options to select an order for pickup and mark it as complete after they finish the delivery.

There’s also a built-in GPS to eliminate problems with finding the correct restaurant location or the customer’s address.

What Can I Order Using Grubhub?

You can order from a variety of restaurants using Grubhub, including those that might not normally offer delivery. For example, if you want Taco Bell but don’t wish to leave your house, Grubhub can deliver it to you.

To see the specific options available in your area, visit the Grubhub website or app and enter your location. This will show you a list of local restaurants that partner with Grubhub.

How To Use Grubhub

Using Grubhub is very straightforward and user-friendly.

Once you get started, you’ll have no problem searching for your favorite restaurants or finding a new place to try.

Placing your order and waiting for delivery is simple after you’ve established your account.

How to Download the Grubhub App

You can download the Grubhub app for either Android or iOS devices, so it’s easy to use on any platform.

Search for it on the App Store or Google Play.

You can even download it directly from the Grubhub website.

It doesn’t take long to download the app.

As soon as you have it installed, you can open it up and find your next meal.

Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to create an account.

When creating an account, you can choose to enter a default payment method.

Doing so streamlines the ordering process.

It also allows you to connect Grubhub with your Amazon Alexa devices and order with a simple command.

Think, “Hey Alexa, use Grubhub to place my favorite delivery order at Terry’s Thai.” In an instant, your order will be on its way.

After you’ve set up your account, you’re ready to place your order.

How to Order From Grubhub

You can either enter your location to see available restaurants nearby.

Or, you can search by a specific restaurant name to see if your favorite appears.

Once you’ve selected a restaurant, a menu will appear.

You can scroll through this menu and add your desired items to the cart.

Once you’re all set, select “Checkout” to complete the order.

From there, sit back and wait. Grubhub will show you your expected delivery time and allow you to track your order as it’s on its way.

Everything goes through the app, so you don’t have to worry about contacting the restaurant to pay or giving your credit card information to the courier.

Related: How far does Grubhub deliver?

Tracking and Reviewing Your Order

After your order is complete, you have the opportunity to leave a review.

Not only can you review the quality of the food, you can also indicate things like whether your food was delivered on time.

These ratings are available for others in the Grubhub community to see.

You can also look back at your review history before your next order so you remember what you liked about certain places.

How Much Does Grubhub Cost?

Grubhub makes money by charging fees on each order.

These costs include delivery fees plus a portion of the order cost.

You might think that impacts the price of the food on the app but read on to find out how these financials work out for the customer.

Delivery Fees

Grubhub delivery fees can range from $1 to $10, but the average is about $5.

The delivery fee can vary based on your location.

If you live far from the restaurant, you’ll pay a higher delivery fee to compensate the courier for their time and mileage.

Big cities often have higher delivery fees.

If you live in a major market like New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, you’ll pay more.

Thankfully, there’s no change to the delivery fee based on the size of your order.

Are Food Items Marked Up on Grubhub?

The restaurant owner can set their prices on Grubhub, so if there’s a mark-up, it’s to ensure they’re making money from the deal.

After all, they pay a service fee for the restaurant to use Grubhub, so customers shoulder some of that expense.

Grubhub has no say in how much restaurants charge for food.

Grubhub does take a portion of the order cost, though, both from the restaurant and from the customer.

They also take a percentage of the delivery fees.

But these fees don’t impact the cost of the food items themselves.

Grubhub+ Membership

A Grubhub+ membership is a subscription that pays for itself if you order often.

The delivery fees add up after several orders, and Grubhub+ eliminates that fee.

Any order over $12 won’t have a delivery fee, and many select restaurants cut their fee as well.

Through Grubhub+, the company matches all donations to No Kid Hungry.

Round your order up to the next dollar, and that change goes to charity—and Grubhub matches it.

Instead of guilting yourself for ordering out instead of cooking at home, you can feel good about making a difference.

You also earn rewards with every Grubhub+ order you place. Over time you can earn impressive discounts on food delivery.

The membership is $9.99 a month, with a free 14-day trial.

If you use Grubhub frequently, the subscription will pay for itself in no time.

How to Use Grubhub: Step-By-Step

Looking for a thorough, step-by-step guide on how to use Grubhub?

Here’s the whole process from start to finish.

Creating a Grubhub Account

The first step is to create your Grubhub account.

You’ll need to either download the app on a mobile device or visit the website on your desktop.

Once you click the “sign up” button, the website will take you from there.

You can sign up with Google or Facebook to make the process a bit quicker.

Bear in mind that you need to be at least 16 years old to use Grubhub.

Browsing Food

Once you’ve made your account, it’s time to start browsing food.

The Grubhub app will show you a list of restaurants in your area that are open and partnered with Grubhub.

Adding Items to Cart

After you’ve chosen the restaurant you’d like to order from, you can start adding items to your cart.

When you see an item you’d like to order, click on it.

A menu will pop up, allowing you to make customizations, such as adding sauces or sides.

Once you’ve finished, you can click “add to bag.”

Placing Order

Now that you’ve ordered everything you need, it’s time to place the order.

There will be a small bag-shaped icon in the top right corner of the page or app.

Click it, and then click “proceed to checkout.”

Checking Out

Before you make your payment, you’ll want to review your order to ensure that you’ve gotten everything you need.

After that, you can put in your preferred form of payment, and you’re ready to click “place order.”

You’ll get an email or text confirming your order shortly afterward.

Waiting For Delivery

Now that you’ve placed your order, all there’s left to do is wait.

Be sure to get your cash ready if you did not pay online.

When your driver arrives, Grubhub will send you an email or text alerting you.

Taking Delivery of Food

If you’ve chosen the no-contact option, you can simply pick your order up from your porch once the driver leaves.

Otherwise, you will want to meet them at the door to receive your meal–and pay in cash, if that’s the option you chose.

Completing Order + Tipping Your Driver

Once you’ve received your meal, consider leaving a rating on the Grubhub app.

You’ll also want to give your driver a tip for their hard work, if you didn’t do that during the initial order–simply revisit your order to add or increase your tip.

How Do You Pay When Using Grubhub?

There are three main ways you can pay using Grubhub: credit cards, gift cards, or cash.

Simply select whichever payment option you’d like to use when you’re on the checkout page.

If you’re using a credit card or gift card, the checkout page will guide you through that process.

When paying with cash, you can simply hand it to the Grubhub driver when they arrive.

Other Important Things to Know

We’ve covered all of the basics of Grubhub, but there may still be some questions on your mind.

Here are a few more important things to know.

How to Use Grubhub Credit

Some workplaces have implemented a line of credit with Grubhub.

This is an effective way to keep employees motivated and give them easy access to meals; alternatively, it can be a great way to cater meetings or events.

If this sounds like something that would benefit your workplace, you’ll want to get a Grubhub Corporate account.

When you set up a line of credit through their services, you’ll pay for everything through one monthly invoice.

Employees who plan to use this service will have a separate Grubhub account for their workplace.

You’ll receive an email when your employer sets up the corporate Grubhub, which will then lead you to the signup process.

Aside from that, it’s not much different from ordering meals as you normally would.

How to Use Grubhub Gift Cards

If you’ve received a Grubhub gift card, there are two different ways you can go about using it.

The first way is to redeem it beforehand, which will have the credit available on your account next time you make an order.

First, go to the “my Grubhub” page.

Then, click on “gift cards.”

There will be an option to “redeem gift cards,” and the app will guide you the rest of the way from there.

Alternatively, you can activate your Grubhub gift card during checkout.

You can do this when you choose your form of payment; click “add a gift card” or “pay with a gift card,” depending on which version of Grubhub you’re using.

After that, you’ll have to enter the code on the gift card to finish activating it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about using Grubhub?

Here are the answers you seek.

Final Thoughts

Grubhub is a convenient way to enjoy meals from your favorite restaurants from the comfort of your home.

Using this app is pretty easy, too, especially after you’ve done it a few times.

And with the Covid 19 pandemic, it can come in handy for at-risk individuals or people in quarantine who are low on food.

Not only can Grubhub save you time, but it can save you a little money, too–especially when you take advantage of subscriptions such as Grubhub+ or use promo codes.

So next time you find yourself craving a quick meal but don’t want to leave the house, consider signing up for Grubhub–you may be glad you tried it.