How to make extra cash – How much Uber Eats drivers make
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Many people rely on food delivery services which have become the norm in today’s day and age. This has contributed to the rise in the variety of food selections you see online and increased the convenience food delivery apps offered to customers. A prime example of this is Uber Eats.
With that in mind, have you ever wondered about joining the fleet of guys and gals who deliver food? Have you thought about receiving delivery requests through the Uber Eats app, earning money from delivering food? If that’s your goal, let’s talk about how much an Uber Eats delivery driver makes and what it takes to have a successful delivery job!
Food deliveries: what it takes to be an Uber Eats delivery driver
Uber Eats is one of the biggest contractors for food order pickup and delivery requests. It is a unique delivery branch of the popular ride-sharing Uber app.
Uber Eats provides restaurateurs with a platform for on-demand delivery requests from local stores and restaurants straight to their patrons’ homes. People can choose from various food items from local stores, and an Uber Eats driver fulfills this delivery. That’s the basic structure of a day for Uber Eats delivery drivers.
In contrast to the typical food chain and restaurant food delivery, Uber Eats drivers have complete control over how much work they are willing to take on each day. If you’re looking for a side hustle that doesn’t require total commitment over your work schedule, then Uber Eats deliveries might be the ideal choice for you.
Want to apply as one of the Uber Eats drivers to earn more money? Here are the steps you need:
- Download and Install the Uber Eats Driver App – Installing an Uber Eats Driver app lets you start the whole process of applying to join the fleet of people who works as food delivery drivers.
- Background Check – You’ll have to submit the necessary documents for a background check. Like in the case of other delivery companies, an Uber delivery driver should also pass other basic requirements such as the minimum age and your complete address. A valid driver’s license and car insurance are also necessary.
- Wait for the Go Signal – After you complete all necessary documents, you’ll have to look out for the notification saying that your driver account has been activated. Once you get this, you’re now ready to tackle orders, make deliveries as an independent contractor under the Uber Driver umbrella, and begin receiving delivery requests within your delivery location.
If you’re wondering how much Uber Eats drivers earn, it is all about the number of completed orders you’ve made. Aside from how many deliveries are under your belt, Uber Eats pays drivers on a per-mile basis as well.
If you’re keen on stashing up your money weekly, you can set up a direct deposit to your bank account. You can also set up a term for Instant Pay where you can cash out up to five times in a day. Instant Pay allows you to have the flexibility to manage your funds if you’re in a tight spot.
Independent driving for Uber Eats: how much you can earn on an Uber Eats platform
There’s no definite figure regarding how much Uber Eats delivery drivers earn. Also, the federal minimum wage doesn’t apply to the Uber Eats platform. In simple terms, they are considered independent contractors. This means they have no fixed hourly rate and concrete salary.
Uber Eats independent drivers make money by delivering food on their schedule using the Uber Eats app. This means people working under the Uber app platform have more control and freedom over how much earnings they could potentially get daily.
On a regular working day, an Uber Eats earnings range from around $8 to $12 an hour. That’s after considering regular operational expenditures such as vehicle and gas expenses. To better understand how much Uber Eats drivers make, you can use this simple formula.
Uber Eats Base Pay is equal to the Base Fare + Uber Eats Trip Supplement + available promotions + Tips.
The base pay accounts for the drop-off and the pickup fee. The trip supplement is generally for the estimated completion time, distance and demand. Boost, quest, and surge earnings fall under promotions. Customer tips are the generosity you get from loyal patrons, and they can vary largely.
With that said, it is important to know that this figure is not always set in stone. Delivery pay may vary from day to day. It is also essential to know that working through critical hours such as lunch and dinner may significantly affect your pay scale.
Maximize your Uber Eats earnings
Similar to Uber independent transportation providers, the platform offers various extra cash opportunities for its delivery drivers. This is their concept of Uber Eats Incentives – Boost, Surge, and Quest.
The Uber Eats driver app may give you extra money to deliver food in special ‘Boost’ zones. These special zones offer an earnings multiplier for food delivery drivers who start their day within the area. Uber Eats platform creates these zones to handle high order demands and provide more money to their riders.
The Uber Driver app provides all necessary details about the Boost zone, including the time and the earning multiplier available within the area. After subtracting Uber’s cut on the transaction, the boost multiplier will be showing on top of your net-fare earning. Of course, customer tips are also not included in the overall equation and go directly to Uber Eats drivers’ accounts.
Surge
Aside from Boost, another window of opportunity for earning extra cash is during Surge. An Uber Eats driver will be notified with Surge if there’s a high order demand within the area. However, if both Surge and Boost events are up simultaneously, food delivery drivers can only take advantage of one, which is the higher amount of the two.
Quest
As the name suggests, Uber Eats pays their independent drivers by completing orders. The system made it more fun and an Uber delivery driver to earn more money if they fulfilled a set number of deliveries within a specific period. Let’s say, “Earn $6 extra for completing three trips between 6 PM to 10 PM” is a typical example of a Quest available for Eats drivers.
Aside from these in-app features Uber Eats provides to their delivery driver, they also offer referral programs to people who want to become an Uber driver. Make sure to take advantage of any promo code available so you’ll get extra rewards for your side hustle.
Driving for Uber Eats and customers tips
The Uber Eats app allows customers to tip drivers through the platform. Of course, Uber Eats drivers get to keep all the tips within the app to themselves. Aside from in-app tipping, customers can also provide cash gifts to their delivery drivers after the order is completed.
Uber Eats deliveries pros and cons
Uber Eats pay after you successfully deliver food through the Uber Driver app. It can be a good source of extra cash, but there are pros and cons.
Uber Eats Pros
- Driving for Uber Eats – Uber Eats Delivery platform allows independent drivers to choose their best choice of vehicle. You have the freedom to choose to drive a car, ride a scooter, on your bike or even walk to complete a successful delivery.
- Flexible Hours – Unlike regular occupations, Uber Eats delivery drivers don’t need to commit long work hours in a day. They may not earn the typical minimum wage, but they can work anytime. The more deliveries, the more they earn. So, there’s no earning cap.
- Get Your Earnings Instantly – Uber Eats allows you to have complete control over your earnings, as well as how you like to get your money. You can opt-in for a weekly payout directly to your bank account or use Instant Pay daily.
- Insight on How Much You Earn – Uber Eats delivery drivers can see how much they’ll get from their delivery before engaging in a delivery. You’ll also see if customers provide tips in advance.
- Work Whenever You Want – You can turn Uber Eats delivery requests on or off whenever you like.
- Simple Onboarding – Signing up for an Uber Eats program is relatively easier than your typical delivery job.
Uber Eats Cons
- No Minimum Wage – As an independent contractor, you can choose how much you’ll earn depending on how many deliveries you make. However, there’s no guaranteed daily wage.
- Earning Stability – There may be high times for delivery fulfillment, but there is also downtime.
- Wear and Tear – Daily trips around your neighborhood may affect your vehicle’s maintenance condition in the long run.
Working as an Uber Eats driver – Is it worth it?
Deliveries powered by Uber draw a considerable potential for making money versus the time you spend working for it. But would it be enough to be your primary source of income? There’s no definite answer to that question since it depends on different circumstances for each driver. On top of that, Uber Eats earnings may differ from one city to another.
However, the Uber Eats platform provides an easy way to make extra cash during your downtime. Look for a delicate balance between working for Uber deliveries and your main hustle. This is the formula that most successful delivery drivers use.