When you start Dashing, you may accept or reject orders in your area via the Dasher app.
Each order will show the merchant’s name, the number of items, the distance, and the minimum earnings per order.
After accepting an order, go to the merchant’s location, pick up the order, and navigate to the customer’s location to drop off the items.
Once you complete the delivery, you’ll see how much you earned, including customer tips. Earnings are paid weekly.
Here’s a detailed look at how to make and complete deliveries on the Dasher app.
Restaurants benefit from DoorDash by expanding their reach without needing their delivery drivers. Dashers earn money for each delivery, including tips and potential bonuses.
The process is streamlined through the app, from order placement to delivery completion, making it convenient for customers, restaurants, and drivers alike.
DoorDash drivers are the fundamental key to making the entire process work – the “bridge” between the restaurant and the customer.
We will go into great detail about each step of the DoorDash driving process, but for an overview of what to expect, we’ll turn to Sam Choi, our resident delivery expert, to describe the process at a high level:
How Difficult Is It to Doordash for the First Time?
It can be challenging as you learn how to DoorDash for the first time, primarily if you’ve never delivered for other apps like Uber Eats or Grubhub.
You will need to learn how to use the delivery app, so your first few dashes may take a while to complete. However, after some practice, you can get quicker at the process.
To make your first dash easier, try to look for a DoorDash Zone that isn’t too busy. That way, you will still be able to get an order, but you may not have to take orders back to back.
How Much Money Can You Make Dashing?
The amount of money you can make as a DoorDash delivery person varies based on several factors:
- Time of Delivery: Delivering during peak hours, like lunchtime rushes or during sporting events, typically earns more than delivering at slower times.
- Frequency of Deliveries: The more deliveries you complete, the higher your potential earnings from customer tips and bonuses.
- Delivery Locations: Shorter-distance deliveries allow you to complete more orders in less time, potentially increasing your earnings.
On average, DoorDash Dashers earn about $15 per hour, with variations by city; for example, $17.91 in Seattle and $11.85 in Miami.
Earnings consist of a base pay (about $7.55 hourly), influenced by order specifics, and additional earnings from promotions like ‘Challenges’ and ‘Peak Pay’, plus tips.
Tips, which Dashers keep entirely, often comprise about half of their total earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of some of the most common questions when starting as a DoorDash Dasher.
Do Dashers pay for the food?
Dashers sometimes pay for orders using their DoorDash-issued Red Card, especially when the restaurant does not support prepaid orders.
The Red Card is preloaded with the exact amount needed for the order upon accepting a delivery. It’s used like a credit card and does not require a PIN.
However, for many orders, payment is made through the app directly to the restaurant, and Dashers simply pick up the food without paying.
Does DoorDash pay for gas?
No, DoorDash does not pay for gas or other car expenses. As an independent contractor, Dashers are responsible for their own vehicle-related costs, including gas, maintenance, and insurance.
This means Dashers need to factor these expenses into their overall earnings. DoorDash’s payment structure does not include a gas stipend or reimbursement.
