Download Article
Realistic tips and strategies to reach your weekly earnings goal
Download Article
Delivering for Uber Eats is a great way to earn extra cash, but is it possible to make $1000 per week? It might be a learning curve at first, but it’s totally achievable and many drivers have done it. In this article, we’ll teach you the best tips and strategies to boost your weekly earnings on Uber Eats. We’ll also explain if it’s helpful to double-up on apps like Doordash, plus discuss which delivery service pays more.
Things You Should Know
- To reach $1000 a week on Uber Eats, deliver during prime times, like weekends, holidays, and special events, and work in busy and high-demand areas to attract more customers.
- Increase your tips by delivering food on time and communicating with your customers, and upload a clear and approachable photo on your driver profile.
- Work for other delivery apps, like DoorDash and Grubhub, to maximize your orders and choose the highest-paying ones—just be sure you don’t confuse the various platforms.
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
Easy Ways to Make $1000 a Week on Uber Eats
-
Deliver food during peak hours, weekends, and special events. Get familiar with the prime delivery times in your area to increase your earnings. Most drivers work between 11 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM, but there could be other popular times depending on where you live. If you work near a clubbing district, for example, there might be higher demand for food after midnight. [1] X Research source
- Tip: Check your delivery history on the app to get a breakdown of your previous deliveries, and analyze the times and days you get the most orders.
- Generally, Thursday and Friday nights are popular everywhere, while Monday and Tuesday are the slowest days for Uber Eats deliveries. [2] X Research source
- Pay attention to upcoming events like concerts, sports games, or festivals, and schedule deliveries during those times to maximize your earnings.
- Holidays and extended weekends are great opportunities to earn extra money because people tend to place big orders for parties, leading to larger tips.
-
Identify busy areas that have high demand for deliveries. Drive around different districts in your city to scope out where you can get the most customers. Where are all the restaurants? Where are people likely to buy their groceries? What neighborhoods can afford to order food frequently? Once you understand your market and target audience, you can be strategic about the orders you accept and increase your profits. [3] X Research source
- If you live in a college town, for instance, it might be less profitable to accept deliveries near campus because most students are on a budget (and are less likely to tip).
- It might be helpful to target residential areas during rush hour to avoid getting stuck in traffic. You’ll complete more orders in the same amount of time, plus avoid a bad rating for long delivery times.
Advertisement -
Be polite and friendly to increase customer tips. One of the best ways to boost your weekly earnings is to provide great customer service. Communicate with the customer if there are any problems or delays at the restaurant, answer quickly if they call or text you, handle their food with care, and deliver with a smile and warm greeting. Tips can help offset the costs of other expenses, like gas, and being polite can improve your overall rating as well. [4] X Research source
- Verify the order at the restaurant, especially any drinks and small bags.
- Grab extra napkins, condiments, and utensils to make your customer feel cared for.
- Be safe and focused while driving, and hold the food if you make any sharp turns. [5] X Research source
- Check the customer’s notes in the app to see where to leave their order—some people prefer contactless delivery, while others prefer face-to-face delivery.
-
Use a clear profile photo to boost your rep as a driver. Choose a photo where you look approachable so you make a good first impression (and possibly earn more tips). When customers check who is delivering their order, they can only see your name, the number of deliveries you’ve completed, the overall satisfaction rate from your previous customers, your picture, and a brief bio answering why you deliver food. [6] X Research source
- Keep in mind that you can’t change your profile photo once you upload it. Uber only allows drivers to request an update if their appearance has changed since the original photo.
- For the perfect profile photo, center your face in the middle of the frame, include the top of your shoulders, use a solid background, flash a smile, and avoid wearing hats or sunglasses.
- When answering the prompt “Why I deliver,” try to come up with a witty, relatable, or heartfelt bio that gives a glimpse of your personality. Some examples include: “crippling student debt,” “so my cats don’t get hungry,” “because gas is $6,” or “baby on the way.”
-
Double-up on other apps to increase your chances of getting an order. Use multiple delivery apps to maximize your orders and choose the best-paying ones. Driving for multiple apps is an excellent strategy to earn more, especially since some restaurants might not be Uber Eats partners. Once you accept an order from one app, be sure to set yourself to inactive on the other apps. Then, turn everything back on once you’ve delivered that order. [7] X Research source
- If you decide to double-app, pay close attention so you don’t confuse platforms, miss orders, or forget items.
- Other popular delivery apps include: DoorDash, Instacart, Gopuff, Grubhub, Favor, ChowNow, Toast Takeout, Caviar, Saucey, Bite Squad, and Drizly (for alcohol). [8] X Research source
-
Be selective about your orders and cancel ones that take too long. If a restaurant takes longer than 5-10 minutes to hand you the customer’s order, it’s probably best to cancel it and accept a different one. Late deliveries can decrease your driver satisfaction rate and likelihood for a tip, which could hurt you in the long run. Canceling an active order, however, doesn’t impact your rating, as long as you cancel before picking it up. [9] X Research source
- To cancel an order, open the order on the app, and click the 3 dots next to the restaurant name. Click “Report issue” on the order status screen, then hit the applicable reason for cancellation. [10] X Research source
- As you start working more, you’ll learn which restaurants take longer to prepare food, and you can avoid picking up those orders. [11] X Research source
-
Capitalize on surge pricing to earn more per delivery. When the demand for food deliveries exceeds the number of drivers, Uber increases the base pay in certain areas to encourage inactive drivers to work. This is known as surge pricing, and it’s an easy way to earn more without any effort. Before accepting an order, you’ll see which areas qualify for surge pricing on the map, along with the additional money you receive for that delivery. [12] X Research source
- Uber doesn’t notify drivers about surge pricing in advance because it’s set in real time, but they will send you a notification when it occurs in your area.
- If surge pricing happens in your city, the affected areas will appear light orange or dark red on the map, with the light orange areas representing smaller earning opportunities and the dark red areas indicating larger ones.
- Surge pricing generally occurs during rush hour, nighttime, weekends, holidays, special events, and any time a bunch of people request a delivery. Prices depend on your city and specific neighborhood, but it’s possible to earn an extra $3-6 per order.
-
Take advantage of the Boost+ promotion to increase your earnings. Occasionally, Uber runs an incentive program called Boost+, which pays you extra for deliveries in a specific area and time period. The additional earnings are usually 1.1 to 1.4 times the base pay, with the promotional area appearing blue on the map. To see if you’re eligible, check the opportunities section of the Driver app, and sign up to participate one hour before the session starts. [13] X Research source
- If the base pay is $9, for example, you would make $12.60 with a boost multiplier of 1.4.
- The Boost+ promotion usually happens when there’s a big event in town, such as a sports game, concert, or festival.
- Typically, Uber notifies drivers of the Boost+ promotion via text or email, but you can always check the promotion section of the app for the latest offers.
-
Complete a “Quest” on the app to earn a cash reward. Every week, Uber offers bonuses for completing a certain number of deliveries within a given time period. These incentives are known as “quests,” and they’re an excellent opportunity to earn extra money. To check for available quests, tap the promotions section under “Trip Planner” in the app. Then, go to the Opportunity Center and hit “Select Quest” on your desired option. [14] X Research source
- A quest could look like earning an extra $15 dollars for completing 3 deliveries or earning $30 by completing 6 deliveries. [15] X Research source
- There aren’t any penalties if you don’t complete the quest you selected, but deliveries must be completed within the time and area specified to qualify for the bonus.
-
Refer friends and family to drive for Uber Eats to receive a bonus. To earn extra money with little effort, encourage your loved ones to become a driver like you. Once they complete a certain number of deliveries and satisfy the remaining referral requirements, Uber will post a monetary reward to your account the following week. The amount varies from state to state, but it’s totally possible to earn a few extra hundred dollars if you get people on board! [16] X Research source
- To refer people, open the Uber Driver app and tap the menu icon. Hit the earnings button, then click “Invite and earn.” From there, hit “Learn more” to access your referral code, and send it to anyone you want!
- Not sure who’s interested in delivering? Post your referral code to social media, or send it in a group chat to get the word out.
-
Wrap your car with an Uber Eats advertisement to earn a flat fee. Another easy way to increase your weekly earnings is to use your car for advertising. Companies like Wrapify and Carvertise will pay you to put vinyl wraps on your vehicle, making it a great stream of passive income. [17] X Research source The earnings depend on your location and how many hours you drive, but you can make anywhere from $50 to a few hundred dollars a week. [18] X Research source
- Before turning your car into a moving billboard, you must apply for approval on the company website. If you drive in a region where they want to advertise, they’ll email you and schedule an appointment to wrap your car.
-
Track all of your expenses to ensure you reach your weekly goal. Keep tabs on your expenditures each week to ensure you hit $1000 in profits. If you’re not aware of how much money you spend on gas, for example, you could be losing money when you accept orders that exceed a certain distance. It might be helpful to track costs for: gas, car insurance, maintenance and repairs, tolls, parking, and the commission paid to Uber. [19] X Research source
- Tip: To minimize the cost of gas, download rewards apps to earn cash back, like Upside, Receipt Hog, and Checkout 41. Or, apply for a branded credit card from a gas station chain. [20] X Research source
- Organizing your expenses also makes it easier for you during tax season. Uber Eats drivers are considered independent contractors, which means you’re entitled to tax deductions for your car, mobile phone, and other business-related expenses. [21] X Research source
-
Set daily goals to stay motivated and keep you on track. Divide $1000 by the number of days you plan to deliver in a week, then divide that number by the number of hours you want to work per day. From there, you can figure out how much you need to make per hour to reach your weekly earnings goal. Setting a goal is one of the best ways to stay focused, and it can help you develop discipline and a stronger work ethic. [22] X Research source
- If you want to work 5 days a week and 6 hours a day, for instance, you would need to earn $33.33 per hour. This sounds a lot more doable than making $1000 a week, and it can give you a better idea of how long you need to work each day to reach your goal.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Figure out how to occupy your downtime between orders to make work an enjoyable experience—listen to a podcast to learn a skill, turn on a new album, or read a book. Finding something you love to do can help you stay motivated and prevent burnout.Thanks
- It’s tempting to spend money on food when you’re delivering it all day, but that can eat into your earnings. Carry minimal cash while you’re working, and meal prep for the week to avoid eating out.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.saltmoney.org/best-time-to-do-uber-eats/
- ↑ https://blog.route4me.com/best-times-to-drive-for-uber-eats/
- ↑ https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/side-gigs/food-delivery-advice/
- ↑ https://www.uber.com/us/en/deliver/basics/tips-for-success/delivering-orders/?uclick_id=35f95cea-a50f-4023-95db-0d9f04a99c41
- ↑ https://youtu.be/uHzIdde0AGk?t=803
- ↑ https://help.uber.com/driving-and-delivering/article/driver-profile-photos?nodeId=c9b448d0-21eb-4316-800e-7a93ee654461
- ↑ https://financialpanther.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-multi-apping/
- ↑ https://millennialmoney.com/best-delivery-app-jobs/
- ↑ https://help.uber.com/driving-and-delivering/article/how-to-cancel-a-delivery-request-with-uber?nodeId=53face98-77c0-41ac-b117-847d1a60d0cb
- ↑ https://financialpanther.com/how-to-cancel-uber-eats-order/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/uHzIdde0AGk?t=563
- ↑ https://www.uber.com/us/en/drive/driver-app/how-surge-works/
- ↑ https://www.uber.com/blog/introducing-boost/
- ↑ https://www.uber.com/en-CA/blog/earn-more-with-quest/
- ↑ https://www.uber.com/us/en/deliver/uber-eats-earnings/?uclick_id=d69f9e70-2754-4c7a-8cb1-2bee9db87a9d
- ↑ https://www.uber.com/us/en/deliver/basics/earnings/how-referrals-work/?uclick_id=35f95cea-a50f-4023-95db-0d9f04a99c41
- ↑ https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/side-gigs/uber-ooh/
- ↑ https://www.adweek.com/programmatic/uber-inks-deal-with-adomni-to-put-ad-displays-atop-vehicles/
- ↑ https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/side-gigs/food-delivery-advice/
- ↑ https://debthammer.org/gas-reward-apps/#
- ↑ https://www.taxoutreach.org/rideshare/tax-deductions-for-rideshare-uber-and-lyft-drivers/
- ↑ https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/side-gigs/food-delivery-advice/
- ↑ https://secondmeasure.com/datapoints/food-delivery-services-grubhub-uber-eats-doordash-postmates/
- ↑ https://gridwise.io/blog/rideshare/uber-eats-vs-doordash-pay-how-much-did-drivers-earn-in-2022/#
- ↑ https://millennialmoneyman.com/doordash-vs-ubereats/
- ↑ https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Ubereats/salaries
- ↑ https://www.uber.com/us/en/deliver/
- ↑ https://www.uber.com/us/en/deliver/basics/earnings/how-payments-work/
- ↑ https://www.ubereats.com/location
- ↑ https://www.uber.com/us/en/drive/tax-information/
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 11,741 times.
Advertisement