Remember when food delivery meant you were getting pizza or maybe Chinese food? Those days are over.
DoorDash and several other delivery apps will bring food from just about any restaurant in your area to your door.
Just download the DoorDash app or visit doordash.com to start an account and earn a sign-up bonus.
Now is a great time to start using DoorDash, the food delivery app, or even working for the app as a Dasher.
Food delivery has already spiked in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and now DoorDash has two cool promotions for new consumers and drivers.
Current DoorDash Promotions
- DoorDash Sign Up Bonus for Drivers: Up to $750
- DoorDash Referral Bonus for Drivers: Varies
- DoorDash Sign Up Bonus for Consumers: $20
- DoorDash Referral Bonus for Consumers: $20 per referral
DoorDash Sign Up Bonus for Drivers: Up to $750
New DoorDash drivers can claim a large cash sign-up bonus in some cities.
Search for DoorDash promo codes for your city to see if any bonus money is available. This depends on market conditions and the number of drivers already registered in your area.
If you can qualify for a bonus, it could range from a couple hundred dollars to $750! You’d have to make a minimum number of deliveries to qualify for the cash bonus amount.
DoorDash Referral Bonus for Drivers: Varies
You can also refer new drivers. You’ll get a DoorDash driver referral code.
Once your new recruit makes his or her minimum number of deliveries, you’d get a nice cash bonus.
DoorDash Sign Up Bonus for Consumers: $20
By claiming the current sign-up bonus you can get $20 in credit for starting a new DoorDash account and placing your first order.
You’ll get $5 off your first order and then $5 off your next three orders.
This $5 discount is a great incentive because it could knock off a good slice of the typical DoorDash delivery/service fee.
You’d be trying out the service at minimal cost to you. (Don’t forget to tip your delivery driver, though!)
DoorDash Referral Bonus for Consumers: $20 per referral
If you’d like to stretch your bonus dollars even further, send invitations to all your friends who don’t already dine with DoorDash.
You could get another $20 in referral bonus credit for every friend you refer who signs up using your referral link.
Once again, you can use this credit in $5 increments. If you claim the initial sign up bonus and then get two friends to join, you could get 12 separate $5 discounts — that’s a lot of low-cost food delivery.
This referral program doesn’t have to end there. You can claim it anytime a friend uses your referral link to open a new account.
Driver Requirements for DoorDash Dashers
Not just anybody can drive for DoorDash. You have to be 18 years of age (21 to deliver alcohol), have a valid driver’s license and a valid Social Security number.
You’ll have to provide a cell phone number along with your ZIP code when you apply.
You’ll also have to complete a brief background check and attend DoorDash Orientation which normally happens in-person at an office in your area.
Once you complete all this, you can download the Dasher App on your smartphone and start earning.
Benefits of DoorDash Driving
Other than the extra money and the DoorDash driver sign-up bonuses available in some markets, I like driving for services like DoorDash because:
It’s Flexible Work
How many people can work when they want to work and take a day or two off any time they can afford it? That’s how DoorDash works.
Just switch off the app and forget about the job whenever you want. This makes DoorDash a great fit for college students who have a couple of hours off between classes.
They can switch the app to “Dash Now” and start accepting assignments on their own schedule.
Also, if you work all week and need some extra money, why not try DoorDash in the evenings or on a weekend afternoon?
It Keeps You Moving
Dashers who bike around downtown areas and urban cities get paid to exercise.
Even if you’re in a car-centric city like Los Angeles, Atlanta, or Houston you’ll still climb plenty of steps and dash through a lot of parking lots.
Limited Customer Interaction
You don’t handle any money, ever, as a DoorDash driver. A lot of drivers feel like this increases their safety.
Now, because of Covid-19, dashers in most cities just leave deliveries at customers’ doorsteps instead of chatting at the door.
And unlike with Uber or Lyft driving, you don’t have to carry on a conversation with a stranger.
And even if you’re not crazy about the way the food smells, at least it won’t cough or sneeze in your backseat.
Weekly Pay in Real Money
So many “make money online” ideas and even some delivery companies pay out in gift cards or in points you have to cash in.
DoorDash pays weekly with actual cash — your delivery fees plus 100 percent of your tips can land in your bank account every week.
You can also claim extra cash bonuses for some assignments. And, if you need money before a week passes, you can accelerate your pay for a $1.99 fee.
Disadvantages of DoorDash Delivery Life
It’s not all fun and money for new DoorDash drivers. You’ll have to deal with:
Schedule Competition
The more dashers on the road, the lower your chances of earning money. So DoorDash limits the number of drivers on the road in your area at once by scheduling drivers to specific time increments.
You can’t always “Dash Now” at your own leisure. Not all drivers can be active during the best-earning windows.
Menu Confusion
DoorDash is a third party service. Its connections to restaurants don’t always work seamlessly. Menu choices don’t always line up.
Some dashers report showing up at a restaurant that’s closed.
App Trouble
From what I hear DoorDash’s app works better than most. You can see the mileage and expected earnings before you claim a dash.
But sometimes the app freezes during busy times or when you go through a weak spot in your wireless network.
This has happened with both the iOS and Android versions. Having an up-to-date phone operating system will help, though.
Maintaining Your Vehicle
An expensive car repair could wipe out your profits for the week. I recommend staying ahead of regular maintenance on your car to avoid length break-downs.
Also, staying on the road more increases your risk of wreck, and a wreck would probably increase your car insurance premiums.
No Paid Time Off
This is one of the downsides across the entire gig economy. You make money only when you’re working.
Yes, you can turn off the Dasher App and forget about the job, but only if you can afford to.
DoorDash Driver FAQs
How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make?
As a DoorDash driver, the more you stay on the road, the more money you can make. Dashers who live in urban areas or near retail strips with a variety of restaurants can make the most money in the shortest window of time.
But DoorDash, to its credit, has worked to level the playing field between deliveries. Until 2017, for example, deliveries paid a flat rate plus tips.
Now, DoorDash can boost your flat rate if you have to wait for the food or have to drive out of your way — to a different borough or a nearby city, for example.
It’s not unusual to earn $10 to $15 an hour delivering meals. In some high cost-of-living cities, DoorDash guarantees an amount per delivery. In New York City you’d be guaranteed $15 per delivery ($25 for delivering to a different borough). In Chicago, you’d get at least $8 per delivery.
During busy stretches in busy markets, DoorDash will boost pay even more as an incentive to keep more drivers on the road.
Consider Your Costs Before Signing Up
Delivering with DoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats — or working as an Uber or Lyft driver — puts a lot of extra miles on your car.
This means buying a lot of gas, of course, but it also means you’ll need oil changes and other maintenance more often. You’ll be buying new tires a lot sooner than you normally would.
Keep these costs in mind before signing up. If you have a smaller car you’ll save a ton on gas, and repairs and maintenance usually cost less compared to a truck or SUV.
One nice thing about DoorDash is you won’t have stringent vehicle requirements as you would as an Uber or Lyft driver.
DoorDash has a pretty good deal with insurance. As long as you have a normal auto insurance policy, DoorDash will cover you with an additional $1 million in liability while you’re on an active delivery run.
If you live in a true urban center like New York, Center City Philly, Seattle, or San Francisco you may do better delivering by bike or scooter.
What Should You Do With the Extra Money?
If you’re short on cash and need a side hustle to pay the bills, you won’t have to worry about where to spend the money you earn with DoorDash. The money’s already spoken for.
But if you have some flexibility in your budget, here are some ideas for using the extra money you’ll get dashing:
- Start an Emergency Fund: Open an online high yield savings account — I like CIT Bank and Ally Bank — and direct your DoorDash profits straight into it. Try to save money to pay for three months of living expenses. This will keep you from using credit cards when things get tight.
- Open a Robo-Advisor account: I recommend Betterment and M1 Finance. These apps put your money into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) which tend to be stable. Keep making small, regular deposits, and be patient.
- Open an IRA: You can put up to $6,000 a year into your Individual Retirement Account and avoid paying income taxes on the money. Just about any bank has IRAs available. Or, you could open a Roth IRA and defer the tax break on the money until after you retire.
- Pay Down Your Debt: High-interest credit card debt can erode your future financial freedom. Why not pay off as much debt as possible with your DoorDash cash?
- Save for Something Special: I once delivered for Postmates in order to buy an engagement ring. You might be saving for a down payment on a house or an investment property. Whatever your dream, why not work hard and save for it?
DoorDash Consumer FAQs
How Do I Pay For DoorDash Food?
DoorDash orders and payments all happen through the smartphone app or online. You won’t be able to pay in cash — only with a credit card or PayPal or some other form of electronic payment. (This is true for any modern food delivery service.)
Most markets now have contact-free delivery available. Just order your food and pay online (food, fees, and tip).
A driver will pick up your order and leave the food outside your door and ring the doorbell to let you know it’s dinner time.
What Restaurants Deliver with DoorDash?
You’d be surprised how many restaurants participate with DoorDash, especially now that takeout has become a way of life for more and more people in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Expect to see big fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A, casual dining staples like Chili’s and Outback, along with unique local places on your DoorDash app or doordash.com.
Of course, your local area will have its own blend of eateries that participate.
By joining DoorDash and claiming your sign-up rewards, you’ll also be helping local drivers earn money on the side.
Claim Your DoorDash Sign-Up Bonuses Today
Sign up as a DoorDash new customer today to claim your $20 in credit.
Then, use your DoorDash referral code to sign up your friends. You could earn another $20 in credit for every friend who signs up and starts ordering food.
You can also find promo codes with cash bonuses for new drivers in some markets. Just search for DoorDash driver promo codes on the site.
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September 02, 2020 at 11:00PM
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