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I have been watching a lot YouTube videos about how people make money on DoorDash. I have determined it all comes down to strategy or you could waste a lot of time. DoorDash is great because it provides the opportunity to make more money on the side and create your own schedule. However, it could also cost you more money than it’s worth if you are not strategic.

I have noticed the base pay for my area is $3. This means that most of my income as a DoorDash driver will come from tips. The sad thing is there have been plenty of times where I have received orders for $3 with no tip and on top of that the distance to complete the order would be 7 miles. This makes no sense. That essentially means I would make .42 cents per mile.

I am glad that I am taking the time to learn from others so that I can actually make money on DoorDash and avoid unnecessary mistakes. I have been able to put some of the tips I have learned from Youtube into practice. The Youtubers that have been most helpful are: Journey with T, DoorDash Dad, and DoorDash Diaries.

Lesson 1: Be selective about the orders you accept

Not all orders are good orders. I have learned that you should strive to take orders that average around $2 per mile. This makes sure that you are making a profit. However, if you are unable to get orders that average $2 a mile it should at least pay $1 a mile. Anything less than that is not worth it.

Note: There are not many customers that add tips after the order has been delivered except for Wal-mart grocery orders. I recommend you take orders for face value meaning that what DoorDash is showing you, is what you are going to be paid.

Lesson 2: Start Local

As a new dasher, the best place to learn how to use DoorDash is in your community. In the beginning, learn the do’s and dont’s in your area before venturing out. This gives you time to learn what to be aware of so when you try dashing in surrounding cities you have more success.

I have tried dashing in two surrounding cities during my first week of dashing. One of the locations was successful and I got orders, but the second time I did not get any orders.

I have come to the conclusion that I need to slow and stick to my immediate area. This will allow me to get to know my area better such as where is the best area to get orders and what are the best times and days to take orders.

Lesson 3: Track your miles

With DoorDash, you are an independent contractor. This means that you are responsible for paying for your taxes. They will not be automatically withdrawn from your paycheck. Therefore, it is super important that you track your miles because they are tax-deductible. This could lead you to owe less in income tax.

I use the app Stride to track my miles. This helps to make it a smoother process when I need to file my taxes.

Lesson 4: Try to stay in an area that has restaurants and demand.

When you are dashing, you want to make sure that you start in an area that will generate you orders, but you also want to make sure that you are delivering to areas that have restaurants near them.

This tip is super important because if you are having to travel to out-of-the-way areas you could be losing money. This happens because once you deliver that order you won’t get another order immediately because nothing is nearby. You will have to drive back or go to the closest restaurant until you can take the next order.

These are the most important tips that I have been using as a new Dasher. It has been really helpful in generating more money. I have definitely seen a rise in the amount of money I make.

My financial journey began in August of 2019 out of NEED.

I realized I could not afford to pay for both my car payment and student loans at the same time.

There was no way!

If I juggled both bills at the same time, I would have no money left at the end of the month after all my essential bills were paid. Luckily, I realized this while my student loans were in forbearance, but it would be ending soon. This meant I needed to pay my car off quick, fast, and in a hurry or I would be in for a struggle. 

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