As an Uber Eats driver, you’re part of the bustling gig economy, delivering satisfaction one meal at a time. Yet, in the hustle of zipping from restaurants to doorsteps, you might wonder how you can earn more, work smarter, and turn each delivery into an opportunity for greater profit. The first thing you can do is download the Gridwise app. From tracking your mileage and expenses to tracking your earnings, Gridwise is the best friend of every Uber Eats driver.
The truth is, you’re not alone in this quest for efficiency and increased earnings. Whether you’re a seasoned delivery pro or new to the scene, there’s always that lingering question: “Am I making the most out of my time on the road?”
Here's what we cover:
What is it like to work for Uber Eats?
Working for Uber Eats can be a no-brainer for many gig drivers. First of all, there are fewer hoops to jump through when starting. If you qualify as an Uber rideshare driver, you automatically qualify as an Uber Eats driver. You might also discover that Uber Eats is your market’s dominant food delivery service (more about that later).
Gridwise also recently published a blog post, 2023 Uber Eats Earnings Report. It contains facts, and information that every Uber Eats driver needs to know.
How much do Uber Eats drivers earn?
To better understand Uber Eats earnings, check out this recent Gridwise blog post, How Much Do Uber Drivers Make?
Understand the breakdown of Uber Eats driver base pay
According to the Uber website, Uber Eats driver base pay depends on several factors.
1. Base amount
Uber Eats calculates the base amount using estimated delivery time, distance, and multiple drop-offs if the trip requires them. There are also fluctuations in price according to supply and demand in any given area.
2. Trip supplement
A trip supplement might be added to the base amount if there is a great deal of traffic or unusually long wait times expected at the restaurant. Uber Eats also adds supplements when there is a limited availability of drivers in an area.
3. Promotions
These come in the form of surges and Uber Quest promotions. Uber Quest is a bonus for completing a designated number of rides within a specified time frame. An example might be a $20 bonus for eight deliveries in a five-hour period.
Understanding the changing food delivery market
Remember when we mentioned earlier that we would discuss one of the reasons for the decline in hourly pay for Uber Eats drivers? We are now having that discussion.
Ghost kitchens started popping up in major markets before the pandemic. Ghost kitchens are food preparation kitchens that cater to the delivery-only market. They have no area for dining. They exist in several forms, including kitchens set up in industrial parks or clusters of kitchens (as many as 20 to 30 or even more, conducting business in modified warehouses or other buildings).
Some traditional restaurants prepare ghost kitchen brands in their kitchens, with the second brand being for delivery only. Applebee’s and Chuck E. Cheese are just a few of the brands that have been doing this.
You will also hear ghost kitchens called virtual kitchens or dark kitchens.
Existing prior to the pandemic, these kitchens became part of the growing surge in delivery-only orders that blossomed during lockdowns. Drivers in markets with a strong ghost kitchen presence did quite well. Gridwise has mentioned them several times as part of the evolving food scene.
Most recently though, the ghost kitchen market has shown signs of problems, as chronicled in TheTakeout.com. Travis Kalanick, the cofounder of Uber who has since left the rideshare leader, went on to found City Storage Systems (CSS). This past November, Kalanick acknowledged that they were laying off employees. According to an article in Friday Takeaway, problems included high customer churn, software issues, and customers generally preferring a brick-and-mortar restaurant, even for takeout.
Consumers prefer ordering from brick-and-mortar restaurants, the National Restaurant Association found in a survey this year, with 70% of diners saying it’s important for their food to come from a publicly accessible, physical location.
Not all restaurant leaders and industry observers believe the ghost kitchen sector will collapse. This decline might be little more than an adjustment in an oversaturated market. If you're an Uber Eats driver who relies on ghost kitchens for business, you might see a downturn. Only time will tell.
How to make more money on Uber Eats
There is still a market for Uber Eats drivers, but the ones who will prosper are those who have developed a strategy or a set of guidelines that help them realize maximum earnings. We’ve included ten such strategies to help you boost your earnings.
- Know when to drive Uber delivery
Food delivery has its hours. Orders cluster around the lunch hour from 11:30 am to about 2:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Weekends can be busier, especially around sporting events. Uber Eats drivers will receive fewer orders during off hours.
- Know when to multi-app
One solution is to multi-app, wherein you work simultaneously with two or more apps. You can either deliver on several food delivery platforms or work as a rideshare driver for Uber or Lyft. Check out a Gridwise blog post that discusses the intricacies of multi-apping, The Art of Multi-apping: How-Tos and Strategies for Gig Drivers.
- Know if you're in an Uber Eats market
Uber Eats has a solid hold on the US’s #2 spot in the food delivery market, with a 24% market share. But Uber Eats is dwarfed by DoorDash, which has a 65% market share, according to Bloomberg’s Second Measure. Still, the food delivery market is competitive, and the #1 spot varies from city to city. According to a 2021 report by McKinsey & Company, Ordering in: The Rapid Evolution of Food Delivery, Uber Eats dominates with a greater than 50% market share in Houston, San Jose, San Antonio, and Philadelphia. It’s worth noting that this report is two years old. Things might have changed since then in the ever-shifting world of food delivery.
- Know when to pass on an order on your Uber Eats driver app
The most successful Uber Eats drivers look for orders that pay a base fee minimum of a dollar a mile. Some even push it to two dollars a mile. That’s what they need to make their target earnings. Many drivers also look at the destination. It might appear like a good order, but it might not be worth it if the customer's destination takes you away from the action.
- Watch the promotions page on your Uber Eats driver app
Have you been offered an Uber Quest, or a bonus for finishing a set amount of Uber Eats deliveries within a specified time? These appear on the Promotions page of your Uber Eats driver app. Many drivers look for these as a way to earn extra money. Uber Quests also come by email or SMS.
- Drive during surges
You know your market area and when demand surpasses the supply of drivers. Position yourself to take advantage of this. Surges can boost your earnings. They are transitory, though. You don’t want to go chasing them. Position yourself where you know, from experience, that a surge will likely appear. That’s the best way. Check out the When to Drive and Where to Drive features on the Gridwise app for information on where a surge might occur.
How Gridwise works
- Have an extra thermal bag or two
Sometimes Uber Eats will double up on orders for you, or you decide to push the multi-apping envelope and simultaneously deliver for two different platforms. Either way, if you only have one thermal bag, at least one order is left out in the cold (yes, that was a joke. Har!). Carry one or two extra.
- Know your restaurants
Some restaurants need to be better managed for Uber delivery takeout. Orders are chronically late, must be corrected, or the food is cold. Whatever the case, it’s a waste of your time and energy. You’re better off going to restaurants where they know and like you.
- Consider a bicycle or scooter instead of a car
In densely populated inner city areas, some drivers are much more successful on two wheels, whether by bicycle or scooter. You instantly rid yourself of most traffic and parking problems. Uber delivery has a dedicated page for bicycle deliveries. You can often accomplish more deliveries per hour with a bike or scooter, driving up your hourly earnings. Check out the Gridwise blog post, The Ultimate Guide to Gigs You Can Do on a Bicycle or Scooter.
- Work those tips
Tips can make up half your pay as an Uber Eats driver, as discussed in a previous Gridwise post, How to Make $1,000 a Week with Uber Eats. Prompt deliveries, a courteous demeanor, a winning smile, and extra packets of condiments make all the difference in tips.
Take advantage of everything you can from the Gridwise app
The Gridwise app can instantly tell you your earnings for each platform you drive
Gridwise is the best companion app for Uber Eats drivers. There are valuable tools such as the Gridwise Mileage Tracker and the Gridwise Expense Tracker. These two features alone can save you thousands at tax time with more accurate deductions. The Gridwise Earnings Tracker tracks your earnings from all the platforms you drive and breaks down your income, providing a clearer picture of where your best earnings originate.
Download the Gridwise app today and earn more as an Uber Eats driver.
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