Looking for a way to make quick cash without being chained to a desk? Meet DoorDash. It’s like being your own boss, but with less paperwork and more tacos. DoorDash partners with tons of local restaurants, and your job is simple—pick up food, drop it off, get paid. That’s it. No small talk required (unless you’re into that).
The best part? You’re in control. Want to dash full-time? Cool. Just need some extra income to cover your weekend plans or random online shopping sprees? DoorDash has you covered. You set your schedule, choose when and where you work, and make money on your terms.
Perfect for college students, side hustlers, or anyone tired of jobs that come with dress codes. Signing up is easy—apply online, hit the road, and start stacking cash.
- Work on your schedule
- Keep 100% of tips
- Cash out quickly
How Does DoorDash Work?
DoorDash keeps things simple—no complicated onboarding or fancy equipment needed. Here’s how it works:
- Sign Up: First, create an account on the DoorDash website or app. You’ll fill out some basic info, pass a quick background check, and boom—you’re ready to dash.
- Get the App: Download the DoorDash Driver app (a.k.a. your new money-making sidekick). This is where you’ll see delivery requests, track your earnings, and manage your schedule.
- Start Dashing: When you’re ready to work, just open the app and go online. You’ll get pinged with orders from nearby restaurants. Accept the ones you like, pick up the food, and deliver it to the customer. GPS does all the heavy lifting, so you don’t need to memorize maps like it’s 2005.
- Get Paid: After each delivery, your earnings show up in the app. DoorDash pays weekly, but if you want your cash faster, you can use Fast Pay to cash out daily (for a small fee).
That’s it—no micromanagers, no awkward office small talk, just you, your car, and a steady stream of opportunities to earn.
How Do You Get Paid?
Getting paid with DoorDash is just as easy as delivering the food. Here’s how it works:
- Base Pay: For every order you complete, DoorDash pays a base amount. This depends on factors like the distance, time, and demand. The longer the trip or the busier the area, the more you can earn.
- Tips: This is where things can really add up. Customers have the option to tip through the app or in cash when you deliver. And yes—you keep 100% of your tips. No sharing with DoorDash or anyone else.
- Promotions: DoorDash offers bonuses like Peak Pay (extra cash for delivering during busy hours) and Challenges (rewards for completing a certain number of deliveries in a set time). These are great ways to boost your earnings without extra hassle.
- Fast Pay Option: While DoorDash pays weekly via direct deposit, if you’re in a pinch and need your money sooner, you can use Fast Pay to cash out daily for a small fee. It’s like having an on-demand paycheck whenever you need it.
Just link your bank account, and your earnings will be sent directly—no waiting around for checks or dealing with complicated payment systems. Dash, deliver, deposit. Simple as that.
What Costs Do You Cover?
As a DoorDash driver, you’re considered an independent contractor, which means you’re responsible for your own expenses. The biggest cost is fuel since you’ll be driving around to pick up and deliver orders. How much you spend on gas depends on your car’s fuel efficiency and how often you dash. In addition to fuel, you’ll cover any vehicle maintenance like oil changes, tire rotations, and general wear and tear that comes with frequent driving.
You’ll also need to factor in car insurance. While DoorDash provides some coverage when you’re actively delivering, it’s not a replacement for your personal auto insurance, so maintaining your policy is essential. If you use your phone a lot for navigation, you might notice your data usage increase, which could affect your phone bill depending on your plan.
Lastly, DoorDash doesn’t withhold taxes from your earnings, so it’s up to you to set aside money for tax season. Many dashers keep a portion of their income aside to cover this. The good news? You can deduct business-related expenses like mileage, phone costs, and even part of your car insurance when filing taxes, which can help offset some of these costs.
How Much Can You Expect To Earn?
Your DoorDash earnings can vary based on a few key factors like location, time of day, and how many deliveries you complete. On average, dashers report making between $15 to $25 per hour before expenses. If you’re working during peak hours—like lunch, dinner, or weekends—you can earn more thanks to higher demand and Peak Pay bonuses that DoorDash offers during busy times.
Tips also play a big role in boosting your income. Since you keep 100% of the tips you receive, great customer service can lead to bigger payouts. Some dashers even strategize by accepting orders from restaurants known for generous tippers or focusing on high-demand areas to maximize their earnings.
While DoorDash doesn’t guarantee a set hourly wage, the flexibility to work when and where you want means you control your potential. If you treat it like a side hustle, it’s realistic to make a few hundred dollars extra per week. But if you go full-time, some dashers clear $1,000 or more weekly, especially in busy cities.
How You Can Earn WAY More Than Average
If you want to turn DoorDash from a casual side hustle into a serious money-maker, it’s all about working smarter, not harder. The top dashers don’t just rely on luck—they use strategies to maximize every minute on the road.
First, focus on high-demand areas where restaurants are clustered, and orders are nonstop. Busy downtown spots or neighborhoods with lots of restaurants often mean shorter delivery distances and faster drop-offs, which lets you complete more orders in less time.
Timing is everything. Work during peak hours like lunch (11 AM–2 PM), dinner (5 PM–9 PM), and weekends when everyone’s too lazy to cook. DoorDash also offers Peak Pay bonuses during these busy times, adding extra cash to each delivery just for being active when demand is high.
Another pro move is to be picky with your orders. Don’t feel like you have to accept every request. Decline low-paying orders that require long drives or seem like they’ll take too much time. Instead, aim for deliveries with high payouts, short distances, and solid tip potential.
Speaking of tips, a little customer service can go a long way. Communicate clearly, be polite, and deliver orders promptly. Many dashers find that sending a quick “On my way!” text can boost their chances of getting a bigger tip.
Lastly, consider multi-apping—using DoorDash alongside other delivery apps like Uber Eats or Grubhub. This keeps your order flow steady, so you’re never sitting around waiting for your next delivery.
Master these strategies, and you’ll be raking in way more than the average dasher.
How DoorDash Compares To Its Competitors
DoorDash stands out with its flexibility, allowing you to start delivering anytime with the Dash Now feature, unlike Grubhub, which often requires scheduling. When it comes to earnings, DoorDash’s frequent Peak Pay bonuses and fast, short deliveries can add up quickly, while Uber Eats might offer higher payouts for longer trips.
While Uber Eats and Postmates let you deliver by car, bike, or even on foot in some cities, DoorDash focuses on car and bike deliveries but offers more variety with grocery and convenience store orders. Plus, like its competitors, you keep 100% of your tips.
Is DoorDash Worth It?
Looking for a new way to bring home the bacon? You can look into start delivering food today and earn money with DoorDash.
You probably know by now that the best local restaurants now deliver food to people's door. You can make money by delivering breakfast, lunch, dinner and more from restaurants right to people's doorstep with DoorDash.
DoorDash launched in San Francisco and has since expanded to 56 markets and more than 4,000 cities across North America and will deliver your food from hundreds of great local restaurants in your area in 45 minutes or less.
Check out these recent DoorDash Driver reviews:
“Dashing is a vacation. It might pay for our wedding, it might send us to the Bahamas, who knows. We'll figure it out when we get there.”
Sean & Krystina
“You can't really beat the freedom. Money, when you want it, is pretty dang convenient. And it's consistent.” – Johnny
– Johnny
“I love Dashing. It's a lot of fun going to different restaurants. Some of them, I don't even know that there's this little hole in the wall until I get an order from them.”
– Alex
So, if you’re ready to hit the road, sign up, start dashing, and turn your free time into extra money.
- Work on your schedule
- Keep 100% of tips
- Cash out quickly
