Pop the bubbly because there’s another way to earn! Alcohol delivery is a rapidly growing sector of the delivery marketplace, with new and old names vying for the top spot. Some of the better-known services, like Minibar and Drizly, report that year-over-year sales are up an impressive 350%.
Exploring the alcohol delivery avenue can help you set yourself apart from other delivery drivers, plus, you have to be 21+ in order to deliver alcohol so that automatically eliminates some of your competition.
We’ve made a short pros and cons list for the most prominent players in the alcohol delivery game, so you can decide which service is right for you.
Included in this list are the 4 most commonly used apps:
- Instacart
- Drizly
- Minibar
- Saucey
How much can you expect to earn?
Alcohol deliveries typically take less time and come with higher tips on big-ticket orders. In the beginning, you can expect to earn slightly less per delivery with alcohol delivery than you would with food – around $10 to $12 per order. However, once you get the hang of it, you can potentially earn around the same amount (or more) as you would for food delivery.
The 4 most commonly used alcohol delivery apps
Instacart
Unlike the other names on this list, Instacart isn’t strictly an alcohol delivery service. Instacart can act only as an alcohol delivery service but it’s mainly a grocery delivery app and gives customers the option to add alcoholic beverages to their grocery order.
Pros
The main advantage of Instacart is variety. Drivers can expect to pick up gigs throughout the week, not just when alcohol orders increase in frequency. This can be ideal for steady rideshare drivers that are looking to add another income stream when ridesharing is slow.
Instacart’s typical peak earning hours are Sunday and Monday as people stock the fridge for another week, so making alcohol-specific deliveries most likely won’t interfere with peak grocery delivery hours. If you’re looking for more information, check out our blog post to see how much Instacart shoppers typically make!
Instacart also boasts an extensive service area covering 5,500 cities in the United States and Canada, so chances are good that there are opportunities in your area.
Cons
Unfortunately, Instacart’s variety can sometimes be a disadvantage. Because you usually are earning more when delivering multiple orders an hour, big grocery shopping trips (that can also include alcohol) can slow down your day and cut into extra earnings. For example, drivers report that adding a single bottle of Moscato only complicates an order when 80+ other items also need to be found on the shelves, purchased and bagged.
To avoid getting caught up under a mountain of other groceries, some drivers might opt to work for an app that focuses primarily on alcohol delivery.
Drizly
In February 2021, Uber announced that it would acquire Drizly for $1.1 billion, extending its services into alcohol delivery. While the move was met with some opposition, it’s likely good news for drivers as Drizly is slated to see rapid growth from its current presence in 1,400 cities due to the merger.
Pros
Drizly is a pioneer in the alcohol delivery app game. They are a top-rated and well-trafficked app with a regular stream of orders. Drizly’s hours are based on retail or liquor store hours so you have the flexibility to work when you want during the day and/or night.
Cons
On the downside of that, Drizly achieved their success and broke into the market by letting liquor stores handle deliveries directly. This means that you can’t just sign up through the app and start driving. You’ll have to find a local store on the Drizly platform and see if they are hiring drivers.
Minibar
Minibar is newer to the scene, but that hasn’t stopped them from making an impact. Minibar is a female-founded alcohol delivery company striving to create the leading U.S. marketplace for alcohol delivery and operates in 150+ cities around the US.
Pros
Minibar also partners with liquor and retail stores, so each store will have its own pricing, delivery minimums and fees laid out. With this in mind, the downside of this is that there are some stores that offer free delivery if a customer meets the minimum order requirements, which is usually around $25 to $30. On the upside, since you are delivering the party, the chances that customers will tip more (especially since it is free delivery) is higher!
Cons
Like Drizly and most other alcohol delivery apps, Minibar doesn’t hold a liquor license. Again, they partner with liquor stores and provide them with the technology and audience to facilitate orders and delivery. Drivers have to seek out opportunities with these stores directly rather than just signing up through the app.
Saucey
Saucey brings it back to the courier delivery style, letting drivers sign up via the app and schedule shifts around their schedule. Unlike other alcohol delivery apps, Saucey handles the entire order-to-delivery process, allowing for more consistency in earnings.
Pros
Couriers with Saucey get access to swag like a cooler bag and hands-free phone mount, plus training on how to earn with the platform. Two significant advantages of driving with Saucey are: drivers earn a minimum rate of $5 per delivery plus an additional 50 cents per item… PLUS tip. So, more alcohol = more money. The second advantage is the ability to pick which neighborhoods you want to deliver in – this helps you cut down on your gas bill or drive in areas where you know demand is high.
Its clientele considers Saucey to be a bit higher-end compared to other apps. Since gig drivers mainly rely on earning from tips, working with more expensive orders can be a significant advantage.
Cons
If your primary source of income is rideshare driving, Saucey may not be a viable option. Most of their demand comes on nights and weekends when rideshare traffic is also high. Drivers can expect to earn more with traditional rideshare, so driving with Saucey instead might mean sacrificing earnings.
Who’s serving up the right mix for drivers?
If you’re looking for consistency, Instacart and Saucey offer good options for drivers. While Instacart has broader reach, Saucey gives drivers more control over where they work.
While they take a little more coordination, Minibar and Drizly offer great options for part-time and full-time delivery drivers. Plus, they offer the opportunity to grow with an established business that you don’t typically get to work with as a contract worker.
Always Drive Responsibly with Gridwise
Gridwise is the go-to app for rideshare and delivery drivers who want to take control of their business and earn up to 39% more. Easily track your expenses, mileage, and earnings – the Gridwise app automatically turns your data into intuitive graphs that help you better manage your rides.
Plus, we like to reward our drivers with exclusive deals – head over to our perks tab and see for yourself! Be sure to check out our blog as well for more resources, tips and tricks that will improve your gig drivery strategy and increase your earnings.
Still looking for more? We’ve got you covered on our Facebook page, where you can connect with other drivers and have the chance to win in our gas card giveaways!
Whoever you choose to drive with, Gridwise has you covered with feature-rich automation and resources to maximize your earnings to take your business to the next level. Earn more when you learn more and download the app today!
