Food delivery apps have created countless amounts of job opportunities for drivers.
By only having a high school diploma and driver’s license, people can make money delivering food and supporting the economy.
Customers enjoy meals in the comfort of their own homes while also supporting local restaurants.
This article will thoroughly explain each food delivery app and how you can sign up to drive for them today.
Table Of Contents
What Are the Top Food Delivery Services?
Here are the top-rated food delivery services and how they function.
DoorDash
The company Caviar runs DoorDash.
They are a delivery service for restaurants that connects customers to delivery drivers.
The company Caviar runs DoorDash.
They are a delivery service for restaurants that connects customers to delivery drivers.
They provide orders from the web or through their app.
How Does it Work?
DoorDash connects customers to restaurants near their location through their app.
Restaurants can sign up to have DoorDash connect them with their drivers.
Customers use the app to purchase meals, and Dashers will pick up the orders from the restaurant and take them to the customers.
DoorDash is the most popular app-based food delivery service in the United States, ahead of Uber Eats and GrubHub.
Download their app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
After downloading the app, you are prompted to create an account, entering payment details and your location.
DoorDash will pair you with the available restaurants within your location.
Once signed up, you can immediately begin ordering food.
You will see different types of restaurants, or you can search for a specific one.
The app shows restaurants, estimated delivery times, fees, and ratings.
Tapping on a restaurant will show you their most popular items and a full menu.
Choosing an item will all you to customize it and add it to your order and its price.
After adding all of your desired items, you can checkout.
You will be prompted for your payment details and to confirm your address.
The app is free, but users have the option to purchase DashPass.
This is a subscription of $10.00 per month.
It provides benefits such as zero delivery fees on orders above $12, priority customer support, and special promotions.
Where Does it Operate?
DoorDash operates in over 7000 cities in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan.
Check the DoorDash app to see if it is available in your town.
Uber Eats
Uber Eats is an online food ordering and delivery platform launched by Uber in 2014.
Uber Eats is an online food ordering and delivery platform launched by Uber in 2014.
How Does it Work?
After downloading the app, users can create an account.
If they already have an Uber account, the app will save their information.
Once you make an account, you can browse hundreds of different restaurants and types of food.
Customers can add various food items to their orders and enter their payment information.
A driver will be connected with the order, pick it up, and deliver it.
The app provides status on where the driver is and how long the food will take.
The Uber Eats app is found on the Apple Store, Google Play, or ubereats.com.
The cost of your order will depend on the food choice and how far you live from the restaurant.
Where Does it Operate?
Uber Eats is available in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
GrubHub
GrubHub allows customers to order food from wherever they are.
They have provided more than $9 billion in gross food sales to local takeout restaurants in 2020.
GrubHub allows customers to order food from wherever they are.
They have provided more than $9 billion in gross food sales to local takeout restaurants in 2020.
How Does it Work?
The consumer purchasing process is as follows.
First, they can browse through a variety of restaurants.
They then choose the type of food they wish to order.
The consumer selects the food items they want to add to their order and places the order.
Once confirmed, customers enter their payment option, including debit, credit, PayPal, or cash on delivery.
The app will notify the courier to pick up the order and deliver it to the customer.
Where is it Located?
Grubhub is headquartered in Chicago and features over 300,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 US cities.
Instacart
Get your grocery delivery order dropped off at your door with Instacart.
Customers can prepare a delicious meal without spending time hunting for a tasty meal option at their local supermarket.
Get your grocery delivery order dropped off at your door with Instacart.
Customers can prepare a delicious meal without spending time hunting for a tasty meal option at their local supermarket.
One key benefit is that those with app can place orders at Costco without a membership.
How Does it Work?
Instacart allows consumers to purchase groceries online and assigns a personal shopper to deliver the order.
The personal shopper goes to the store, picks up everything on the list, and then delivers it.
Instacart works with most grocery stores and even liquor stores and gourmet stores.
Signing up for Instacart Express grants free deliveries on orders above $35.
This membership costs $9.99 per month.
Where Does it Operate?
Instacart is available in many Canadian and US cities.
Caviar
Caviar is a food delivery service founded by Jason Wang in 2012.
Caviar is a food delivery service founded by Jason Wang in 2012.
How Does it Work?
Caviar is known for providing some of the finest restaurants in cities.
After downloading the app, the customer can find various restaurants to choose from, depending on their location.
Once you select a restaurant, you can see the available menu.
They have a lot of items that are only available through Caviar.
They also take pictures of each menu item so that customers can see what they are getting.
Delivery fees vary across restaurants based on travel time and other costs associated with each restaurant partner.
There is also a service fee of 18 percent on all orders.
These fees are for the convenience of delivery.
Where Does it Operate?
Caviar is available in many cities, including Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, LA, Manhattan, Portland, Seattle, and many more.
ChowNow
ChowNow has an app that hungry customers can download on iOS and Android.
Rather than taking a percentage of each order, ChowNow has a paid monthly subscription.
The cost is $149 per month with a $399 setup fee per location.
How Does it Work?
Rather than taking a percentage of each order, ChowNow has a paid monthly subscription.
The cost is $149 per month with a $399 setup fee per location.
The more extended period the customer signs up for, the more the price decreases.
ChowNow offers other services such as comprehensive training, an iPad for order consolidation, and an ongoing marketing strategy with 24/7 support.
ChowNow is not a delivery service as it doesn’t employ its delivery drivers.
ChowNow gives restaurants the option to hire and use their delivery drivers through the site.
They also have partnerships with other delivery services such as Postmates and Doordash.
Where Does it Operate?
ChowNow operates in the US.
GoPuff
Unlike other food delivery services, GoPuff drivers don’t make restaurant deliveries.
Unlike other food delivery services, GoPuff drivers don’t make restaurant deliveries.
Instead, they have their warehouse and drivers that work in the warehouse.
Instead, they have their warehouse and drivers that work in the warehouse.
How Does it Work?
The signup process for GoPuff is pretty lengthy and requires a few different things.
These include a questionnaire, document uploads, W9 information, and a background check.
An alcohol delivery certification course is also necessary as interested restaurants can purchase alcohol and tobacco products.
Customers can download the GoPuff app on Android or iOS.
After entering their location and payment details, they browse thousands of items on the app.
The items range from groceries, alcohol, pet supplies, and even office supplies.
After a purchase is made, an independent contractor will deliver the items to the customer.
Where Does it Operate?
GoPuff operates in many US cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Orlando, Washington, and more.
Should You Work in Food Delivery?
Here is a list of the potential benefits and drawbacks of working in food delivery.
Pros
- Work independently
- Choose your hours
- It doesn’t require a school degree
- Extra income
- Simple job
Cons
- Work holidays and at night
- Stressful
- Must deliver on time
- Unpredictable traffic
Working independently is a significant benefit of being a food delivery driver.
If you’ve ever struggled with difficult workers or employers, this is an excellent job.
The only person you have to rely on is yourself.
You also choose when you want to work and set your hours.
This makes food delivery driving a great side income.
If you already work during the day, you can drive at night and on weekends for extra money.
Driving for food delivery just requires a high school degree.
Even if you don’t have any experience or post-secondary education, you can drive.
It doesn’t require any training or special skills to get hired.
The job can be stressful, dealing with time constraints.
If food is not delivered on time, customers may become angry or dissatisfied.
Unpredictable traffic conditions or weather can make this difficult.
What Your Schedule is Like
For most food delivery apps, you get to choose your schedule.
You just open the app and select a customer to deliver for at any convenient time.
This is why food delivery apps are a great source of side income.
To work for GoPuff, you must follow a schedule and specific times to visit their warehouse.
You don’t get to choose your hours working for them.
Average Food Delivery Pay
The average wages of a food delivery driver range from $15.00 to $20.00.
This results in annual salaries of around $40,000 for an average of 40 working hours per week.
How to Work in Food Delivery
Here are the requirements involved in working for food delivery.
Uber Eats
A working car and a driver’s license are required if delivering using a vehicle.
Proper vehicle insurance and registration in the province or state are required.
You must show proof of work eligibility and a background screening.
DoorDash
You must be 18 or older and drive a bike, scooter, or car.
You must have a driver’s license number, social security number, and consent to a background check.
Postmates
Postmates requires drivers to be older than 18 and have a valid driver’s license and social security number.
They must live near a city that Postmates operates in and upload a clear headshot profile picture.
They must also pass a background check.
Instacart
Instacart has basic requirements to drive for them, including being at least 18, eligibility to work in the country, consistent access to a vehicle, and consistent access to a recent smartphone.
They also must be able to lift at least 50lbs without accommodation.
Caviar
To drive for Caviar, you must be 18 or 21 if you deliver alcohol.
You must have access to a smartphone to download the Caviar Courier app.
It’s also required to pass a background check, have a working vehicle, a valid social security number, and have a thermally insulated delivery bag.
ChowNow
You must be over 18, have access to their app, and have an insured, safe vehicle.
You must also have a valid driver’s license and pass a background check.
GoPuff
To become a GoPuff driver, you must be at least 21 years old, have a valid US driver’s license, have a car that is insured and registered, have a newer smartphone to use the goDrive app, and pass a background check.
Should You Order Food Delivery?
Here are the benefits and drawbacks of ordering from food delivery companies.
Pros
- Convenience
- Avoid weather delays
- Increased exposure
- Try new foods
- Easier to eat healthy meals
- Full ingredient list
Cons
- Increased costs
- Wait times
- Food quality
- Delivery fee
It’s no surprise that food delivery services make the experience very convenient for customers.
They can be on their couch in their pajamas and get food delivered straight to them.
If they don’t have time to visit the grocery store, a food delivery app can bring them what they need.
Weather delays can cause make it hard to go out and get food.
Slippery or extreme conditions make it undesirable to go pick up food.
Food delivery services solve this problem.
Food delivery apps are great for restaurants as they get more exposure to new customers, increasing business.
If you don’t usually venture out of your comfort zone when trying new foods, delivery apps make it easier.
You may discover your new favorite restaurant by using a food delivery app.
Food delivery services are a great way to create a healthy meal option.
You can choose your veggies and accommodate any dietary needs.
Along with the convenience comes high prices.
Service fees, delivery fees, and tip costs are avoided if you pick up the food yourself.
There are also longer wait times depending on the time you order and how far away you are.
Unexpected delays can cause you to wait longer than you usually would for your food.
Fast delivery is not always an option.
Food quality can suffer when ordering through food delivery apps.
Food never tastes as good as when freshly served right after coming off the grill.
The food must sit in the courier’s vehicle as they drive to your location, reducing freshness and temperature.
How to Sign up for Food Delivery
Here are the step-by-step instructions to sign up for each food delivery app.
DoorDash
First, you must complete a Dasher profile.
Then you must add an email address and phone number to register.
You will be prompted to create a username and password and enter your vehicle information.
Submit a background check next.
After this has cleared, you can download the app and start driving.
Uber Eats
Download the Uber app and sign up for an account as a delivery person.
Consent to screening and upload the required documents as well as a photo.
These include a photo ID, license, vehicle registration, and background check.
After Uber Eats approves your records, you will be able to start driving.
Postmates
Visit their website and click the signup tab.
Enter your email and mobile number, and then download the Postmates app.
Prove photo verification and complete a background check.
Postmates will send a Postmates prepaid card that is used to pick up orders that customers haven’t paid for yet.
Enter your banking information so Postmates can directly deposit that money into your bank account.
Once your documents are approved, you can start delivering and driving.
Instacart
Apply on their website.
You’ll have to enter your name, address, phone number, and vehicle information.
They will then perform a background check that can take up to 10 days.
Once approved, Instacart will contact you.
Caviar
Start by creating an account and entering your email address and password.
You will have the chance to answer a referral code if you have one.
You will then start your application by watching a few training videos.
There are also quizzes following the videos.
Caviar will contact you if they have accepted you to participate in the in-person session.
This is an orientation where they decide if you’re a good fit.
The following documents are required: bank account information, driver’s license, social security number, and vehicle insurance.
Finally, Caviar will conduct a background check.
If chosen to drive, you must purchase a Caviar insulated bag or an approved alternative.
You can then start making deliveries.
ChowNow
You will need to create an account on the ChowNow website.
You will have to answer personal details and enter your email.
After submitting the correct documents and undergoing a background check, they will contact you if you can start driving for them.
GoPuff
Visit their application page and fill out the form.
Enter your vehicle information and go over the basic requirements, such as understanding when to show up at the GoPuff warehouse.
You will receive an email to set up your phone interview.
If you pass, they will give you your schedule and further details.
Wrapping Up
Food delivery apps have created an easy purchasing cycle for customers and restaurants.
They provide local restaurants with more business and add convenience to the customer.
Everyone benefits from food delivery apps.
Sign up to become a driver for your favorite meal delivery service using one of the links above.
