Driving for Uber is commonly seen as an alternative side income so when the company launched UberEats in 2014, it’s not surprising that many people sign up for the gig as well. In many ways, delivering food seems more straightforward than chauffeuring passengers, but can you make good money with UberEats?
That’s the question we’ll be answering in today’s review so make sure to stick around until the end.
How Does UberEats Delivery Works
UberEats is basically an on-demand food delivery service available throughout the US and 12 other countries. Your main task is to pick up foods from nearby restaurants and deliver them to customers within the local area.
If you’re already driving for Uber, you just need to switch to the delivery section found in the Driver’s app. If you’re applying for the first time, you need to go through a screening process that will take about a week (or less) to process. Once accepted, you can go online with the app and start taking delivery requests.
In the latest interface update, the drop-off location and estimated earnings from a particular trip will be shown to you. If you agree to take the order, you have about 30 seconds to confirm the request before it is being directed to another person.
You then head out to the restaurant, pick up the order, and drive to the destination. During the course of the journey, the customer may request something specific through the chat box so you need to pay attention to that. UberEats pays for the service rendered right after you drop off the order.
UberEats Payout – How Much Can You Make
The amount you earned per trip is based on the following main metrics;
- Pickup fee
- Drop off fee
- Mileage fee
- Time
These rates vary according to the area of delivery and your net earnings will be calculated AFTER deducting the 25% Uber fee. However, you can earn more through tipping and incentives for completing consecutive rides during peak hours or completing a set number of rides during the weekends.
On average, you can expect to make about $8 to $12 per hour which is more or less the same working part-time at McDonald’s. To cash out the accumulated earnings, you can opt for a weekly payment linked to your deposit account or get paid instantly (up to 5 times per day) through the Uber Visa Debit Card.
The Requirements to Delivery for UberEats
When applying for the gig, check first if you fulfill the following requirements to become an Uber Eats partner.
- Transport – You are allowed to use a car, a scooter, or a bicycle. However, if you’re using a motorized vehicle, the car should be at least 20 years old or newer.
- Age – The minimum age to deliver in a car depends on the law of the city in which you live in. If you’re anywhere between 18 to 19 years old, you can opt to use a scooter or a bike instead.
- License and Insurance – Obviously, if you’re handling a motorized vehicle, it’s mandatory to have a valid driver’s license, proof of vehicle registration, and up-to-date insurance.
- Body physique – Although it’s just food delivery, you are expected to be able to lift a 30 pounds item to ensure that you can handle the strenuous weight when the situation arises.
- Background Check – Uber Eats uses an application called Checkr to conduct a background screening on anyone who wants to become a partner driver. This process takes place every year for as long as you’re working with the company. If you don’t pass the test, you will be disqualified automatically.
The Advantages of Delivering for UberEats
So why does this gig appeal to so many hustlers?
(1) To begin with, the requirements are quite simple. There’s no need for any special skills. As long as you can drive, capable of taking simple instructions and navigating places using an app, you’re good to hit the road once your application is approved.
(2) As an UberEats driver, you’re considered an independent contractor. That means you have the flexibility to choose your own hours and work whenever you like. That’s why it’s a great side hustle for college students or for anyone who’s going through a job transition.
(3) Earnings aren’t just limited to pick up and mileage though. Most of the time, customers will offer tips that you get to keep 100%. On top of that, there are opportunities to make more with daily and weekly bonus offers. If you live in a busy city with plenty of food outlets, it’s not impossible to make more than the average projected income per hour.
(4) UberEats also lets you earn through referral by sharing your unique code and getting others to join the platform as new drivers. Some people do this through email, social media, and more commonly through blogging where you can write about your experience and earnings.
Seeing that many people are now jobless due to the economic crisis, hustling with UberEats can provide an alternative income, albeit temporarily. Reaching out to these people with your code is likely to draw a lot of sign-ups and when they complete a certain amount of deliveries, you earn a referral bonus (values will differ according to cities).
Other gigs that offer similar opportunities are as follow;
Doordash
Postmates
Instacart
Shipt
To learn more about how referral marketing works, please visit this online training platform.
The Downsides Of Delivering For UberEats
As interesting as it may seem, delivery food for UberEats poses several disadvantages. You need to be aware of them if you intend to do this for the long haul.
(1) Vehicle maintenance fee is probably one of the biggest factors that will affect your net earnings because you’re the one paying for the expenses. All the wear and tear, as well as daily gas consumption, must be taken into account when you spend more time on the road.
(2) You have no control over UberEats revenue share. As of today, the rate stands at 25% but who knows what will change in the future. Likewise, the company also takes 30% to 35% commission from restaurant orders and in the latest strike, many eateries are boycotting UberEats because their cut is the highest amongst other delivery services.
This situation can lead to fewer orders and potentially backfire on job opportunities in your city.
(3) Whether you like it or not, the daily grind of food delivery tasks includes waiting in line, finding places to park, getting tickets when you park on the wrong spots, and having customers cancel orders after you’ve started the trip.
All these can disrupt your workflow or worse, waste time and money that could have been used to fulfill more rewarding orders. It’s the nature of the job and there’s nothing much you can do about that.
So, Can You Make Good Money With UberEats?
It’s not impossible to make money with UberEats; in fact, those who are willing to hustle earn close to $1,500 per week (before expenses). It’s worth the try for city dwellers and for those who have flexible hours. If you meet the requirements and love to work independently, it is a good income source.
However, it’s not sufficient to pay the bills and too risky to rely upon 100%. Delivery gigs are easily influenced by economic changes and things can sometimes work against your favor. Hence, I suggest you do this instead.
While delivering for UberEats, search for ways to build a more sustainable income through an online presence because that’s where active information exchange and businesses are happening nowadays. You can create a blog promoting all kinds of delivery gigs, sell your own stuff or earn commissions from various affiliate programs.
That way, even when you’re not out there during bad days, you are still able to generate money online. Join this training platform to learn how to get started for free.
Anyways, I hope this review has answered some of your questions about delivering with UberEats. If you’ve something to add or would like to share your experience, please leave your comments down below.
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