In the ever-evolving world of food delivery, I found myself frustrated with DoorDash, leading to a zero acceptance rate. However, this journey also opened doors to much better-paying apps. Here’s how I got to this point and what I discovered along the way.

1. The Decline in Order Quality

One of the main reasons my acceptance rate plummeted was the decline in order quality. Many offers were low-paying and required long distances. This was disheartening as I wanted to make the most of my time on the road. I realized I needed to prioritize my efforts better.

2. Exploring Alternative Platforms

Frustrated with the lack of fair compensation on DoorDash, I started exploring alternative delivery apps. To my surprise, I found several platforms that offered much better pay and more consistent order quality. These new apps not only respect my time but also provide a more reliable experience.

3. A Shift in Priorities

As I switched to better-paying apps, my priorities shifted. I became more selective and learned to focus on opportunities that align with my needs as a driver. This newfound flexibility has made my gig work much more enjoyable and financially rewarding.

4. The Gig Economy’s Growing Pains

The gig economy is still maturing, and while DoorDash has been a staple for many, it often overlooks driver satisfaction. My experience has taught me the importance of advocating for fair pay and working conditions. Exploring other platforms showed me that better options exist.

5. Finding Value in My Work

With the shift to better-paying apps, I’ve found renewed value in my work. It’s empowering to be part of platforms that prioritize fair compensation and driver support. This has transformed my gig experience into something much more rewarding.

Conclusion: Embracing Change

My zero acceptance rate on DoorDash led me to explore better opportunities in the gig economy. This journey has taught me the importance of finding work that respects my time and effort. As the food delivery landscape continues to evolve, I encourage fellow drivers to seek out platforms that align with their values and needs.

By embracing change, I’ve turned my frustrations into a more fulfilling gig experience.

[/lockercat]

Nobody can answer this question but YOU. In some markets where restaurants take like 20 mins to get the order ready and you’re just sitting there it’s probably best to use EBT (Earn By Time). You really have to know your market and test both ways. What works for my market might not work for your market.

I do know from years of testing EBT gives the lowest tips and farthest orders because everyone on EPO (Earn Per Offer) just clicks decline.

You also must understand EBT is ONLY paid from the time you click accept to when you drop it off. You are NOT paid for the drive back or while you wait to get a new order a lot of people think this is a hourly paid job like working for a normal W2 job.

 

[/lockercat]

Understanding Per-Mile Deductions and Home Office Deductions for DoorDash Drivers

 

When you’re driving for DoorDash, tax deductions can significantly impact your overall earnings. Two key areas of deductions are the per-mile deductions for vehicle use and the home office deduction. Let’s explore each in detail.

Per-Mile Deductions

As a DoorDash driver, you have the option to deduct your business-related mileage, which can add up to significant savings at tax time. Here’s how it works:

1. Standard Mileage Rate

The IRS sets a standard mileage rate that you can use to calculate your vehicle deductions. For 2024, the rate is 65.5 cents per mile driven for business purposes. This rate covers not just gas, but also wear and tear, insurance, and other operating expenses.

How to Calculate Your Deduction:

 

 
[lockercat]
 

• Track Your Mileage: Use a mileage tracking app or a simple logbook to record your business miles. Be sure to note the purpose of each trip, as the IRS requires you to provide this information if audited.
• Calculate Your Deduction: Multiply your business miles driven by the standard mileage rate. For example, if you drive 1,000 miles for DoorDash, your deduction would be:

  1,000 miles × 0.655 = $655

2. Actual Vehicle Expenses

Alternatively, you can choose to deduct the actual expenses of operating your vehicle. This includes:

• Gasoline
• Oil changes and maintenance
• Insurance
• Registration fees
• Depreciation (or lease payments if you lease your vehicle)

How to Use This Method:

• Document All Expenses: Keep detailed records and receipts for all vehicle-related expenses throughout the year.
• Determine Business Use Percentage: If you also use your vehicle for personal trips, you’ll need to calculate the percentage of time it’s used for business. For example, if you drive 10,000 miles in a year and 6,000 of those are for DoorDash, your business use percentage would be 60%.
• Calculate Your Deduction: Total your actual expenses for the year and multiply that by your business use percentage. If your total vehicle expenses were $3,000, your deduction would be:

  3,000 × 0.60 = $1,800

Choosing Between Methods

You can’t switch between the two methods in the same tax year. If you start with the standard mileage rate, you can switch to actual expenses in the future, but if you use actual expenses, you must continue using that method.

Home Office Deduction

If you use part of your home for managing your DoorDash business, you might qualify for the home office deduction. This deduction can also save you money at tax time.

1. Qualifying for the Home Office Deduction

To qualify, your home office must meet the following criteria:

• Exclusive Use: The space must be used exclusively for your DoorDash work. A corner of your bedroom or a dining table used for both personal and business tasks generally does not qualify.
• Regular Use: You must use the space regularly for your DoorDash business, not just occasionally.

2. Calculating the Home Office Deduction

There are two methods to calculate this deduction:

Simplified Method

You can deduct $5 per square foot of your home office, up to a maximum of 300 square feet. This means you could deduct up to $1,500 using this method.

Regular Method

This method requires you to calculate the actual expenses related to your home office, which can include:

• Rent or mortgage interest
• Utilities (electricity, heating, etc.)
• Internet and phone expenses
• Homeowner’s insurance
• Property taxes

To calculate your deduction:

• Determine the Square Footage: Measure the area of your home office and the total square footage of your home.
• Calculate Business Use Percentage: Divide the square footage of your home office by the total square footage of your home. For example, if your home office is 150 square feet and your home is 1,500 square feet:

  150 / 1,500 = 0.10 (10% business use)

• Total Your Expenses: Add up your eligible home expenses for the year.
• Apply the Business Use Percentage: Multiply your total expenses by your business use percentage to determine your deduction.

Example: Regular Method Calculation

If your total home expenses for the year (including rent, utilities, etc.) amount to $12,000, your deduction would be:

12,000 × 0.10 = $1,200

Conclusion

Understanding how per-mile deductions and home office deductions work can help DoorDash drivers keep more of their hard-earned money. By keeping accurate records and choosing the best deduction method for your situation, you can significantly reduce your tax liability.

Always consider consulting with a tax professional for personalized advice, especially as tax laws can change and may vary based on individual circumstances.

[/lockercat]

 
[lockercat]
 

At this point it doesn’t matter, Doordash has removed the requirements for most areas. Some restaurants will still require you to have a pizza bag or catering bag and for the big tip orders its worth having one in my opinion. If you do this for a living just spend the $20 on amazon to buy one. I recommend buying one with plastic side walls and floor. I believe I paid around $50 for mine here’s a link and here’s my pizza bag

Some areas require you to be approved for catering orders and one trick I have heard is to buy the bags from DoorDash here’s a link personally I would never buy from DoorDash they already make enough money from us and the bag isn’t great… But if it gets you into the catering program for $17 then its worth it because most orders are $20+ so in one order you made your money back.

[/lockercat]

This a loaded question but it’s constantly asked in my Facebook Group

 

[lockercat]

 

The answer is yes and no. It completely depends on YOUR area. For an example in my market it does NOT matter, there’s so many orders floating around and the market is always “Very Busy” I personally never need to schedule I can always click “Dash Now”

Maybe your market is different and unless you are a Top Dasher or Platinum Dasher you will never be able to Dash. Some people say its too much work to schedule but my personal experience I set a alarm at 3pm and schedule for the next 6 days out everyday, its not hard and takes 30 seconds. If i don’t work that day no big deal. I see a lot of people saying “I’m a platinum dasher because I don’t want to schedule” Ok so your out here taking $2 orders going 9 miles just so you don’t have the tiny inconvenience of making a schedule? seems like its much more of a inconvenience to keep taking trash orders but hey you do you I guess. 

Now lets talk about Platinum. According to DoorDash you will not get catering orders… Well I can promise that’s not entirely true. I have a AR of 1% and I still get them, yes I probably don’t get as many as the dasher who is Platinum, but i still do get them. My point is this is nothing but a lie to make you keep taking low paying orders its just not true plain and simple. Yes it could be different in YOUR area. 

Conclusion

Does AR matter? In some areas yes some no. You need to learn your area. Do some experiments, try it with platinum try it without. Only you can determine if its worth it to take low paying orders. My personal advice is NO I will never take low paying orders I have too many different apps, I can wait 10 mins for a good order to come through on a different app. You will never see me taking a $5 order for 2 miles. My minimum is $4 a mile to start my car. This might not work for your area but how many apps are you not using? Do you even know how many apps are live in your area? You might not know so stay tuned while I post about them all and my experience.  

 

FAQ

Does ignoring the order still affect my AR? Yes if it didn’t we would all have 100% AR come on guys why do people keep asking this SMH 

Will I get banned for a low AR? No I have a 1% AR

 

 

[/lockercat]