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How To Make $500 A Week With Doordash (2024 Guide)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  November 19, 2021

Are you in a crunch for cash?

Doordash can be a great way to make money when you deliver food from restaurants to customers.

My favorite part – you get to set your own schedule and work whenever you feel like it!

In this post, I'll explore how to make $500 or more a week with Doordash, some Doordash alternatives to make even more cash, and much more. Let's get started.

Make $500 a Week Doordash

What is Doordash?

Before you can start making money on Doordash, you have to know what the app is. The Doordash app is a way of connecting customers with food delivery, even for restaurants that don't have their own delivery service.

Doordash drivers are regular people who get paid to bring food to people's homes for a small fee. It's a great way to make a little money on the side, and even helps restaurants make a little more money without having to hire new employees.

Doordash is designed to be easy to sign up for, easy to use, and convenient for everyone. Customers can order from restaurants on the Doordash website, and the Doordash app handles connecting the customer, restaurants, and drivers. You don't have to do much to start making extra cash as a Doordash driver.

They also offer lucrative sign up bonuses for new drivers. Click the link below to get started!

With Doordash you can set your own schedule and work when you want. Earn over $20 per hour today!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Why Drive For A Food Delivery Service?

The big reason people sign up to drive with Doordash is because it's an easy way to make extra money during your free time, and it's a little easier than rideshare services like Uber since you don't have to work directly with people.

The main requirement for driving with Doordash is having a clean driving record, but they don't care about what kind of car you have like Uber and Lyft.

Delivering food is also much lower pressure, and it's a great option for people who just enjoy driving. Plus, being a Doordash driver is low pressure. You're only on the hook for delivering food you sign up to deliver, you don't have a manager telling you to rush back to the restaurant to take another order.

If you're looking to join the gig economy or supplement your weekly pay, delivery driving is one of the easiest and fastest ways to get started. And, working on your own schedule gives you the flexibility to make sure all your other responsibilities are taken care of too.

Related: Doordash Hacks to Make More Money

How to Sign Up for Doordash

If you're ready to become a Doordash driver, the first step is getting signed up.

With Doordash you can set your own schedule and work when you want. Earn over $20 per hour today!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Set Up Your Doordash Driver Account

You'll need to go to the Doordash website to get signed up as a driver. They'll ask for your email and phone number as part of registration, and you'll create a username and password.

From there, you'll need to add information about your vehicle. Add the make, model, color, and any other identifying details. Doordash will ask you to consent to a background check to make sure you have a clean driving record and there aren't any other reasons you shouldn't be driving.

You'll also need to confirm that you have car insurance to make sure you're protected as a delivery driver.

Lastly, you'll add your bank account information so Doordash can pay you.

That's it, you're signed up and ready to start making money!

Get The Doordash App

Once you have an account, you'll need to download the Doordash app on your mobile device and sign in. The app is where you'll check in as a driver, select deliveries, and check your Doordash pay.

Since you're working from the app you can work anywhere with cell signal, and setting your own schedule means you can work whatever hours you want. As long as restaurants are open nearby you might get an order.

Start Driving

Once you've accepted your first order you're ready to make money online!

It helps if you know where local restaurants are and have some information about the city's eating trends. That way you'll know where you're most likely to get orders, and what times are peak hours that will help you earn peak pay.

It's a good idea to get a hot bag in addition to making your account. The bag will help you keep food fresh and warm, which will help you get better reviews and earn tips. You can get a hot bag with your activation kit through doordash, which is usually cheaper than buying on your own. You're eligible to order an activation kit as soon as you've passed your background check to be a dasher.

That's it, you're part of an independent food delivery service and ready to deliver food directly to a customer!

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How Much Money Can You Make with Doordash?

One of the most common questions before you sign up is how much money you can make in a week with Doordash. That's not an easy question because there are a lot of different factors that can make a big difference.

For instance, people who live in urban areas are likely to make more in a week with Doordash than drivers in rural area. Cities with a strong food culture are more profitable than cities with fewer restaurants or less food culture.

It's also important to be in a drivable area. For instance, Chicago can be a more profitable city than New York for Doordash drivers because delivery driving is more important in Chicago, and it's a much more drivable city so you can get to and from your deliveries faster.

Even though you have the freedom to work on your own schedule with Doordash, pay varies a lot depending on what time you can set aside to drive. The more often you can drive during peak hours the more you're likely to make in a week with Doordash.

It's important to remember that when you're driving you'll make money from a delivery fee and tips. So driving during peak hours can help you get better tips and improve how much you can make.

Even though Doordash pay can vary from place to place, it's still one of the most consistent ways to earn money online.

Keep reading to learn how to maximize how much money you can make with Doordash and learn to make $500 a week delivering food to a customer.

Ways to Make $500 a Week with Doordash

How to Make More Money with Doordash

Maximizing your income is one of the main goals Doordash drivers have, so it's important to know how to earn money and make the most of your time.

Remember that in areas with more drivers it's not about competing with other drivers to get money, it's about learning how to make money even with other drivers on the road.

You're probably going to make more money if you live in a busy city, or somewhere with a lot of local merchants, small restaurants without delivery drivers, or where a lot of people like to order delivery.

Here's what you need to know to make Doordash work and learn how to make good money online.

When Does Doordash Pay?

Doordash pays out every Wednesday assuming you've met a few important criteria for the week. The first is that you need to have been a driver for at least 14 days. You also need to have delivered at least 24 deliveries for your first payment, and you'll need to make at least 7 deliveries each week after that.

Don't worry though, it's easy to get that many deliveries if you're working at the busiest times or can handle multiple orders in a day.

Related: Can You Make A Living Off Doordash?

How Much Do Most Drivers Make On Doordash?

Doordash drivers have a wide range of income depending on where they live and what hours they can drive. It's important not to compare yourself too much with other dashers because you might be able to make more money or get paid more tips, and comparing your income can limit your success.

On average Doordash drivers make about $17 an hour, before expenses. However, in busy areas the rate can be a lot higher. In areas with low demand it might be difficult to make money, but it's not impossible.

Costs Of Working Through Doordash

If you're looking to make money through Doordash you need to remember that you'll have some expenses. It's not all cash coming in, you'll also have to pay to make money through the app.

The main cost for most drivers is gas. You'll go through a lot more gas over time unless you're driving an electric car. Even driving an electric you'll still have higher utility costs as part of driving with Doordash.

One you have an idea how much gas costs, it's a good idea to set aside a portion of your earnings per week to help cover the fuel.

You'll also need to make tax payments on your earnings from Doordash. It's not difficult to pay your own taxes in the gig economy, but it's important to set aside some cash to make sure you don't have a big tax bill in April.

Extra earnings from tips are also included in your taxable income unless you're given cash tips.

Lastly, it's important to think about the cost of driving your car for Doordash. Every mile on your car lowers its value by a few cents. So, even though this is one of the better online job opportunities, many drivers need more information before they know how much money they're making per week compared to the cost of driving.

Related: How to Make $500 a Day

Know The Commission Level

It's also important to know about the different commission level you get from different orders. For instance, delivering from a popular restaurant it likely to have a higher commission than when you deliver items from a convenience store.

Here are the different commission levels for most deliveries.

  • Basic – 15%
  • Plus – 25%
  • Premier – 30%

These are based on the agreement the store or restaurant has with Doordash, so it's not in your control. But you can focus on higher commission deliveries to make more money for everything you deliver.

Change Your Dash Area

One of the best ways to earn more money while driving is to change your dash area to a busier part of town. That way when people order food you're more likely to get the delivery and will start making more per week.

Dashing near restaurant sections of town, or near local favorite restaurants is one of the best ways to make more money, especially at dinner time when deliveries are more common.

But, don't be afraid to move again if you aren't making money in one area and want to switch to a different local restaurant. Moving where the business is is a good way to earn more. You can also move if you notice there are too many other dashers all in one area.

Try To Stay In High Traffic Areas While Dashing

Moving your dash area is also a good way to stay near high-traffic restaurants. Over time you'll learn which local restaurants are most popular which days of the week, and well as peak delivery hours, and which restaurants do the most business during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

All that information will help you increase your per-week earnings, so make sure you're paying attention to trends.

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Park Near Popular Restaurants and Convenience Stores

Even if you don't know what areas you're going to deliver to, parking near popular restaurants and convenience stores will help you pick up more deliveries and more repeat customers. Repeat customers might not mean more pay per week, but knowing where you're going can make your job a lot easier.

Plus, if you know that a family makes a big order and tips well every Friday, you can be in a good position to get that delivery each week.

Related: Does DoorDash Pay for Gas?

Pay Attention To Peak Hours

Peak hours are another important part of making more as a as a dasher. Peak hours are times when there are a lot of orders coming in and Doordash is willing to pay a little more for deliveries to help make sure there are enough drivers to meet demand.

Taking advantage of those hours is a good way to earn extra money for the same amount of work, especially since you get to choose which orders you want to accept. In fact, driving during peak hours is one of the primary ways successful dashers earn extra.

Peak hours can vary from city to city and week to week, but they're more common around holidays and weekends, and even in bad weather. Being prepared for these opportunities is one way to maximize your business and minimize your cost.

Finding the best times to Doordash in your area is essential.

Related: How to Get Free PayPal Money

Decline Orders That Don't Pay Enough

Another important way to improve your earnings is to be selective in the orders you're going to take Remember, every order you take comes with some costs that you have to pay in the end.

It's a good idea to aim for about $1 per mile you have to drive on a delivery. That way you're making enough to cover the costs of running your car and paying for gas, can pay taxes, and still have some money left over for yourself.

That means if you have to drive a long way for a delivery, you need to make enough to cover the extra costs.

Short deliveries will help you earn more cash faster, and put less wear and tear on your vehicle.

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Doordash Alternatives to Boost Earnings

Below are some other ways to make money with your car or truck.

Deliver Groceries with Instacart

Just like delivering food to customers, delivering groceries is another great way to make extra money on your own schedule.

With Instacart it's possible to make over $25 per hour in some cities making it a great addition to boost your income.

With Instacart you can work your own hours and get paid to deliver groceries!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Deliver with Postmates

Postmates is another option to deliver food and additional cash when driving.

Just like Doordash, you can make over $25 per hour with Postmates. The platform is easy to use and a great way to boost your income.

Try UberEats

UberEats is similar to Doordash and allows you to make extra cash in your spare time. With UberEats you can make up to $20 per hour (which isn't bad just for driving your car).

Drive for Lyft

If you don't mind having other people in your car, driving for Lyft can be an excellent way to make money driving.

Keeping a clean car is essential if you want to maximize your earnings.

It's possible to make over $35 per hour driving for Lyft. Try to take advantage of busy times to make the most money possible.

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Consider Uber

Lastly, Uber is one of the most popular ride sharing apps to make extra income in your free time.

With Uber you can make over $30 per hour in some cities depending on the type of car you have and the level of your service.

Final Thoughts on Making $500 a Week with Doordash

You probably won't learn to make $500 a week overnight, but paying attention to your customers, learning to maximize your efficiency, and knowing the busiest delivery areas in your city can all help.

As a dasher, don't let $500 be the limit either. If you have the time and dedication to can make as much as you want to, and some dashers pull in $1,000 every week, or even more. Make a budget, plan for how much you need to make in a week, and plan your hours accordingly and you'll get there.

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
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