How To Maximize Your Earnings With Doordash
I have been on and off the Doordash Dasher platform for over two years now. Dashing, for me, has become an excellent way to make some side cash. I love to drive, and figured that I could do it and make some money in the process.
When I first started dashing, I accepted every single order that came my way. Honestly, I thought this was required. Then I joined a Facebook group compiled of other dashers, who quickly taught me that you can decline unworthy orders. I also picked up many other helpful tips from the group.
Be Picky
In my opinion, you should never accept all of your orders. Learn to be picky. This will not only help maximize your earnings, but it will also save you time and gas money.
There are two factors to consider when accepting an order. The first is pay. Doordash allows the customer to add a tip before a dasher has selected their order. This means that, as a dasher, you can view how much you will receive as a tip before tapping “accept”.
I have a basic rule for accepting orders: nothing under $5. If the order with tip totals to pay me $4.50, I will decline it. In my opinion, anything under $5 is just not worth it.
Within the dasher Facebook group, there are many members who will not accept anything under $7. There is even a movement for it, and dashers who support it use #DeclineNow.
Watch Your Miles
The next factor in accepting orders is mileage. A good rule of thumb is to earn at least $1 for every mile that you travel. This means that, if one order will pay you $5, you should drive no more than 5 miles for it.
This rule is great for long-distance orders. Some customers may live 10+ miles away from the restaurant, and you’ll need to make sure that you receive an adequate pay for those orders.
Be Informative
Over my years of dashing, I have learned that most customers appreciate a call or text when something goes wrong with their order. Oftentimes, there is a longer wait than estimated. Or, an item is missing and the customer needs a substitute.
Keeping your customer in the know can make them appreciate you more. I have had incidents where, upon delivering an order, the customer also hands me a cash tip. Being kind and informative may increase your chances of receiving an additional cash tip. It can also boost your ratings on the app!
Gather Deductions
As a dasher, you are technically working as an independent contractor with Doordash. You are not an employee, but a business owner in a sense. This means that you can gather business deductions for tax season.
Assuming you live in the United States, literally every expense on the car you use to dash with can be a deduction. Filling up your gas is a deduction. Taking your car to a mechanic is a deduction. Buying new windshield wipers is a deduction. Getting a car wash is a deduction. Start gathering receipts for every single expense on your car to save some money at tax time.
Not only car expenses, but meals on the road are also considered deductions. If you stop for food while out dashing, you can use that meal as a “lunch break” and write it off on your taxes.
Track Those Miles
Lastly, you should track your mileage. If you use a personal vehicle for work (in this case dashing), you can report your work mileage to the IRS as a deduction. IRS mileage rates often change, but at the time of writing this the current rate is 62.5 cents per mile.
Tracking mileage on your own can be difficult. Sure, you could use “Trip A” and “Trip B” on your car’s odometer, but this can get tedious if you are a frequent dasher.
Instead, try using a mileage tracker. Everlance is an app for your phone that will track your mileage and allow you to categorize each trip you make. You can separate all of your personal trips from your dashing trips. Then, come tax time, you can request your tracked miles from Everlance.
I have been using Everlance for over a year now, and it saves me a ton of time. While it does cost $8 per month, the app surely saves you more than that through mileage deductions. Everlance even has a special deal for dashers: the first three months are free!
Using the tips above will help you accept better orders, get better ratings, pay less in taxes, and earn more money per mile driven. Good luck out there!
