[2023] Grubhub Driver Review: Good Side Hustle or Not?
Affiliate Marketing Disclosure
The gig economy has made life much easier for those looking to increase their incomes outside of the confines of a full-time job. Over the past decade in particular, food delivery apps have exploded in popularity.
And with this explosion comes the need for freelancers to make deliveries. In 2023, Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates are all competing for market share. So, is delivering for one of these companies for you?
This article will cover:
What is Grubhub?
Driver eligibility
Application process
How much can you make?
Pros and cons
What is Grubhub?
Grubhub is a food-ordering business and technological platform that helps connect diners with their favorite local restaurants. The platform was designed to allow users to browse restaurant menus, place orders, and pay for their meals at home, all without having to leave home or talk to anybody.
The Grubhub platform now has over 30 million active users, those that use the app at least once per month to order a delivery, in addition to 365,000 restaurant partners.
Grubhub driver eligibility
If you're interested in completing deliveries for Grubhub, you'll need to meet the following requirements:
Have a valid United States driver's license and car insurance
Be at least 18 years old
Have access to a car to complete deliveries (scooters or motorcycles are acceptable in certain parts of the country)
Pass a background check
Be able to submit a W9 tax form and have an active bank account
In addition to these retirements, you'll also need to to have a smartphone that tuns on either iOS (Apple) or Android operating systems. You may also be asked to provide proof of your identity.
Grubhub driver application process
Thankfully, becoming a Grubhub driver is a really easy process for those that qualify. In fact, just follow this simple 4-step process:
Sign up and create an account
Provide personal and vehicle information
Pass a background check
Undergo training
It's that simple.
1. Create a Grubhub account
Your first step is to download the Grubhub app from the iOS App Store or Android's Google Play Store. You can also create an account via the platform's normal website as well.
To create your account, you'll need to:
Input your city and state where you'd like to work
Enter your name, active email address, and active phone number
You may be asked to verify or activate your account, but otherwise you can proceed to step two.
2. Provide personal/vehicle information
To complete the activation of your profile, you'll also need to provide some personal information, as well as information regarding your vehicle.
Be prepared to provide some or all of the following:
Address
Social security number
License plate number
Proof of insurance
Driver's license number
Direct deposit information
Your address and SSN are required in the event that Grubhub needs to generate a tax form for you. Since you'll work as an independent contractor, you'll generate a tax form 1099 for any income that exceeds $600 over the course of a year.
Of course, your direct deposit information will be used to pay you for the work you perform.
You'll also need to acknowledge and agree to Grubhub's Terms and Conditions.
3. Pass a background check
The final step before you are ready to drive for Grubhub is to pass your background check. You may be searched for criminal history, driving infractions, and potentially a credit check.
This process typically takes a few days.
4. Undergo training
The last thing that you'll need to do before you officially start driving for Grubhub is to pass through a quick online onboarding assignment. Once you've checked off this requirement, the company will send you a warming bag and uniform to wear when working.
Complete your first Grubhub order
With all of your "credentialing" taken care of, it is officially time to complete your first delivery. Using the Grubhub driver app to help you, you'll want to assure that you are within a designated delivery zone, which assures that you'll be able to complete an order.
Then, you can use the navigation features in the top left-hand corner to help you make sure you are within a correctly designated geographic boundary. Once your have verified your location, go ahead and click the button in the Grubhub driver app that flips your status from "unavailable" to "taking offers."
From here, you'll begin to be offered jobs. At this point, you'll have two options:
You can accept a delivery (you have ninety seconds to accept)
You can pass on an order
Be aware though, that your future offered jobs do depend on the percentage of jobs you accept. So early on, the percentage of jobs you accept is just as important as the money that you make.
Handle it correctly and you'll soon have a plethora of desirable orders coming your way. With a good enough acceptance rate and reviews, you may even be able to take on catering orders in time.
How much do Grubhub drivers make?
Grubhub drivers make an average of $10-$25 an hour, depending on a number of variables, including:
Location: you can generally earn more in cities
Number of orders being placed: The more jobs you can complete, the more money you'll be able to earn
Size of order: Generally, larger orders carry the potential to earn extra tips. But they also carry a greater chance of something being forgotten, so do your best to make sure that doesn't happen
Increase your Grubhub earnings
The best way to increase the amount of money you make driving for Grubhub is to really focus on customer tips. As you know, you'll keep 100% of your tips, so you'll really want to focus on assuring you have happy customers.
To maximize your chances of earning good customer tips, I recommend you do the following:
Use the platform's messaging capabilities to keep your diners in the loop when you pick up food, leave restaurant, etc.
Try to accept large orders with more driving distance, since many users tip based on a percentage of the order
Pros and cons to working for Grubhub
Driving for Grubhub has some notable pros and cons. Among my favorite aspects of the platform include:
The ability to set your own schedule: You can drive and work when you want. If you're trying to squeeze your Grubhub gig in around the confines of a full-time job, this can be a great benefit.
Get paid weekly: Similar to DoorDash, you'll be paid weekly, meaning that you can earn some extra money as soon as next week!
The ability to earn customer tips: As a Grubhub driver, you have the option to earn customer tips. Better yet, you'll keep 100% of what you are tipped. Get creative with your customer service and be upfront in communicating any delays you may encounter with deliveries.
These are awesome perks, but not everything about the Grubhub experience is perfect. Here are some cons I'd like to see addressed:
Car expenses: Unfortunately, you'll use your own vehicle to handle deliveries, which means that you'll burn through your gas, be driving under your insurance, and be responsible for your own car repairs.
Fighting traffic: Depending on where you work, you may find yourself fighting traffic on the roads during rush hour. Unfortunately, this also happens to be the time in which the most orders are placed (aka the time when you can make the most money).
Unpredictable demand: No two shifts will be the same. This makes it hard to depend on your Grubhub income to pay your rent or utility bills. Rather, I recommend using this side hustle as a way to bolster your savings and think about your future financial goals.
Grubhub driver frequently asked questions
You likely still have some questions about driving for Grubhub. Here are some answers. I'll be consistently updating this information.
Does Grubhub pay drivers well?
I get asked this one a lot, and my response doesn't usually change. Depending on where you live, you can generally expect to make roughly the same driving for Grubhub as you would with DoorDash, Postmates, or other delivery platforms.
In my experience and opinion, it all comes down to the tips you are able to generate.
So...is Grubhub worth it?
Here we go - time for the final verdict. In my (expert?) opinion, making deliveries for Grubhub is worth it, under certain circumstances. This is not a side hustle to take on if you're not willing to serve customers and do base level customer service.
But if you're okay with communicating with restaurants and platform users alike, this can be a great way to make some extra money on the side.
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