When it comes to delivering with DoorDash, there are a variety of ways Dashers can earn. Whether it’s delivering a late-night snack, a last-minute grocery run, or a thoughtful gift, Dashers ensure items get from point A to point B. With different options to choose from, Dashers have several opportunities to earn in ways that fit their schedule, personal preferences, and local demand. Here’s a list of dashing offers.
Restaurant delivery
Ordering in is the new dining out, and the vast majority of restaurants have online delivery menus to appeal to customers who value convenience above all else.
With restaurant delivery, you can make the most of this demand — and while it means that most of your work will occur during the lunch rush and dinner hour, orders are placed all day every day. Plus, it’s a great way to get to know the best local hubs, haunts, and hidden gems in your own neighborhood.
You can accept restaurant offers easily from the DoorDash Dasher app, and it will also tell you the location of the offer and how much you’ll earn.
Shop & Deliver
While restaurant delivery is fast and reliable, some Dashers prefer to avoid the fast pace of peak meal times and the quieter hours between them. In these cases, Shop & Deliver can be a rewarding alternative.
Many customers rely on DoorDash to help them with errands they aren’t able to run themselves. With Shop & Deliver, Dashers go to the store, select and purchase the goods on the customers’ shopping list, and then deliver them. These purchases are made with a Red Card which is a prepaid card that you can get in digital form through the DoorDash Dasher app, or in physical form in your DoorDash Welcome kit.
When orders are placed with Shop & Deliver, they often have a higher total value than restaurant orders, meaning you can make the same amount of money from fewer trips*. It also adds variety to your schedule, freeing you from timing your deliveries for busy lunch and dinner hours or waiting for kitchens to prepare food.
There are many types of merchants you can work with for Shop & Deliver offers. Here are the five main types of Shop & Deliver offers, along with some of the key differentiators to be aware of before accepting these offers.
Grocery delivery
People are happy to pay for the convenience of having someone help them with their grocery shopping, and grocery delivery is one of the most popular DoorDash offers.
But shopping for food requires care. You want to be conscious of bruises and blemishes on produce, “best before” dates on perishable goods, and collecting frozen and refrigerated items last.
You also want to remain in contact with the customer, to make sure you’re getting the brands they want, or finding suitable substitutes for out-of-stock items. The golden rule is to shop for the customer the same way you would shop for yourself.
Alcohol delivery
With one-stop shopping and high total bills, alcohol delivery from local liquor stores is another Shop & Deliver offer that’s popular with customers on DoorDash.
To be eligible for alcohol delivery, Dashers must be over the age of 21 and have a valid driver's license. Once you've been verified and have completed the required training modules on the DoorDash Dasher app, you'll be able to accept alcohol offers. Note that alcohol delivery is only available in select markets.
Of course, when it comes to delivering alcohol, there are some crucial regulatory considerations that you need to take seriously. For instance, you'll need to verify that customers are of legal drinking age and have valid government-issued ID. You’re also legally responsible to assess the sobriety of the customer, and to never deliver alcohol to someone who appears to be visibly intoxicated.
Flower delivery
Customers often order floral arrangements to celebrate special events, and one of the best things about flower delivery on DoorDash is the chance to participate in meaningful moments in people’s lives. By ensuring that the blooms — and the customer service — are of the highest quality, you can truly make a difference in someone’s day.
That means you’ll have to take extra care with flowers, paying attention to everything from the temperature and humidity of your vehicle to your capacity to support vases and bouquets, making sure they stay upright and intact.
Paying attention to these details could serve you well. Merchants can rate Dashers, which can impact your overall Dasher ratings. If you win the trust of your local florists, you might just find yourself with plenty of repeat business and great reviews.
Pet food delivery
Much like grocery delivery, pet food delivery has you shopping for everyday essentials — except this time, it’s for your customers’ furred, feathered, or finned friends.
And like alcohol or flower delivery on DoorDash, you’re likely limiting your shopping to a smaller roster of local suppliers who will get to know and trust you. Overall, this is a great gig for animal lovers, or any Dasher looking to enjoy the dual benefits of a sizable bill and the manageable pace of Shop & Deliver offers.
Retail delivery
If variety is what you value, retail delivery with DoorDash is the right offer for you. With this option, there’s a wide range of vendors your customer may require you to shop with — from office supply and electronics stores, to specialty craft stores, beauty boutiques and more.
Just as restaurant delivery lets you discover new dining establishments and local hotspots, retail delivery is an exciting way to explore stores in your area you might not have otherwise encountered.
As with grocery delivery, you’ll want to stay in touch with your customer throughout your dash to make sure you’re selecting and purchasing exactly what they ordered.
Pizza delivery
Another type of delivery offered on DoorDash, and perhaps the most classic type of delivery, is pizza delivery. Before you start delivering pizzas, you'll need to sign up for the Pizza Program in the DoorDash Dasher app. Then, under your account settings, you’ll need to prove that you have your own thermal pizza bag by uploading a photo of it.
Thermal bags are required because they keep the pies warm and fresh in transit. Don't have a pizza bag? You can purchase one from the DoorDash store.
Once you’re part of the Pizza Program, you have the option of selecting “cash on delivery” in the DoorDash Dasher app. This means you can get paid in cash — tip included — just like in the good old days of traditional pizza delivery.
Get started as a Dasher
Becoming a Dasher with DoorDash gives you the opportunity to earn on your own terms all while choosing how you want to earn. From restaurant and pizza delivery to Shop & Deliver offers, Dashers have the option to select the types of offers that suit them best.
For more Dasher tips and insights, visit the Dasher education hub where you can view short and informative video tutorials that can help you prepare for your next dash. If you’re ready to start, sign up to become a Dasher today.
*Get paid more per order as compared to a restaurant delivery order, based on average Dasher payouts nationwide while on a delivery. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like the number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses.
