How To Deliver for Grubhub | Your Guide To Get Started Fast

Delivering food for Grubhub is a fast and flexible way to earn extra money. You don’t need extensive training or a degree, and there are no startup costs.

To get the most out of this popular side hustle, you need to know how it works. In this article, we’ll walk you through the delivery process for Grubhub, from signing up to maximizing your earnings.

Why Choose Grubhub?

Grubhub is one of the leading food delivery platforms in the U.S. They’ve been around since 2004 and pretty much invented food delivery as we know it today. 

Grubhub’s market share is not as significant as that of DoorDash or Uber Eats, but they serve more than 4,000 U.S. cities and partner with more than 225,000 restaurants, so they’re still a solid option for supplementing your income.

💡 Check out our Grubhub Driver Review to learn more.

Here’s why delivering for Grubhub could be the right gig for you:

• Flexible schedule: Work whenever you want. You can choose your hours and schedule in advance or drive spontaneously during busy times. This flexibility lets you fit deliveries around your main job or classes.
• No experience required: There’s no need for prior experience or a degree. If you can drive (or bike), you can deliver.
• Quick payouts: Grubhub offers flexible payout options, allowing you to get your money quickly.
• Good income potential: With tips and efficient route planning, you can make $10 to $15 an hour. If you practice some of the pro tips we’ll share below, you could earn even more. The potential to earn is in your hands.

Signing Up To Deliver With Grubhub

Step 1: Check the Requirements

Before you sign up, make sure you meet Grubhub’s basic requirements:

• Age: You must be at least 18 (21+ in Las Vegas).
• Vehicle: Have a car, or in some cities, you can use your bike or scooter. 
• Driver’s License: Have a valid driver’s license (or state I.D. for bikers).
• Insurance: Provide proof of auto insurance if you’re using a car.
• Smartphone: You’ll need a phone with a data plan to use the GrubHub app.

Step 2: Sign Up

Signing up to deliver for Grubhub is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Download the Grubhub app: Plug in basic info, including your name, address, social security number, and the city where you plan to deliver.
2. Upload necessary documents: Submit your driver’s license, auto insurance, and vehicle registration.
3. Undergo a background check: Grubhub will conduct a background check to ensure you meet their safety standards.

How To Use the Grubhub App

Once you’re approved, download the Grubhub for Drivers app. This app is your comprehensive tool for accepting orders, navigating to restaurants and customers, and tracking your income. It’s like having a personal assistant for your deliveries.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make the most of the app:

Dashboard Overview

• Home Screen: Once you log in, you’ll see your home screen, which shows your current status (available, busy, etc.), as well as the total earnings for the day.
• Menu: Access various features like your schedule, earnings, and account settings from the menu.

Managing Your Schedule

• Set your availability: From the app menu, select “Scheduling” to set the hours you’re available to deliver. You can reserve blocks of time in advance. 
• Adjust on the go: You can drive anytime you’re available by toggling your status to “taking offers” in the app.

Accepting Orders

• Order notification: When a new order is available, you’ll receive a notification with details such as restaurant location, order items, and estimated earnings.
• Accepting the order: Tap “Accept” to confirm the order. If you don’t click Accept within a few seconds, Grubhub will offer the order to another driver.

Navigating to the Restaurant

• Map View: After accepting an order, the app will display a map with the restaurant’s location.
• Directions: Tap on “Directions” to get turn-by-turn navigation. You can choose your preferred navigation app (Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc.).

Picking Up the Order

• Check in: When you arrive at the restaurant, tap “Arrived” in the app.
• Order details: Review the order details to ensure you pick up the correct items.
• Confirm pickup: Once you have the order, tap “Picked Up” to update the status and get directions to the customer’s location.

Delivering the Order

• Navigate to the customer: Use the app’s navigation feature to find the quickest route to the customer’s address.
• Delivery instructions: Pay attention to any special delivery instructions the customer provides. Some prefer contactless delivery, while others may want you to hand the order to them.
• Complete delivery: When you reach the customer’s location, tap “Arrived” and “Delivered” after handing over the order. If proof of delivery is required, you can take a picture of the food on the doorstep. Whenever possible, include the house address or apartment number in the photo.

Tracking Earnings

• Earnings Summary: Check your earnings summary in the app for a breakdown of your daily, weekly, and monthly earnings.
• Instant Cash Out: If you need quick access to your earnings, use the Instant Cash Out feature to transfer funds to your bank account instantly.

How To Get Paid When You Deliver for Grubhub

Grubhub offers weekly direct deposit to your bank account on Thursdays. You can also use the Instant Cash Out feature to access your pay faster. There’s a fee of 50 cents per Cash Out transaction unless you bank with Chase Bank, in which case it’s free.

How Much Does Grubhub Pay?

Grubhub drivers average $10 to $20 an hour, but like all major food delivery services, they don’t pay by the hour. Grubhub calculates “delivery pay” based on a combination of base pay for an order and any applicable bonuses. 

You keep 100 percent of your tips, and the app’s default tip rate is 15% to encourage customers to tip.

Here’s how the Grubhub pay structure works:

• Delivery Pay: Factors including mileage, time spent delivering, and your local market impact delivery pay.
• Tips: Customers have the option to tip, and if they do, you keep 100 percent.
• Missions and Special Offers: Grubhub offers opportunities to earn a bonus. They call them missions. A typical mission is completing a certain number of deliveries in a set amount of time. 
• Grubhub Contribution: To help ensure you earn a minimum guaranteed rate for your local market, you can make yourself available (like a taxicab with its light on) for a scheduled block of time. To participate, you must meet specific criteria, including at least an 80 percent rate of completing the deliveries you accept.

• Sweepstakes: In some markets, Grubhub also lets drivers compete to win sweepstakes that boost earnings.
• Expenses: To get an accurate picture of your net pay, you should factor in expenses like fuel, vehicle maintenance, and insurance.

💡 If you want to learn more about how much Grubhub pays, check out our comprehensive guide.

10 Tips To Make More Money When You Deliver for Grubhub

1. Drive during peak hours: Lunch and dinner times are when you’ll find the most orders and higher tips. Weekends are also busy and can pay more.
2. Schedule a block: By signing up for a shift in advance, you take advantage of the “Grubhub Contribution,” which guarantees a specific rate of pay per hour. 
3. Accept multiple orders: When possible, stack orders from the same restaurant or in the same area to save time and increase your earnings per hour.
4. Know your area: Some restaurants are consistently slow or frequently get orders wrong. By getting to know the best and the worst, you can decline orders that aren’t worth your time and focus on the best ones. You can also familiarize yourself with the quickest routes and shortcuts to reduce travel time and gas usage.
5. Provide excellent service: Communicate clearly with customers and ensure their food is delivered promptly and correctly to increase your chances of getting tips.
6. Track your expenses: As a delivery driver, you’re an independent contractor. To save money through tax deductions, keep track of your mileage and any expenses related to your delivery work.
7. Go the extra mile. Keeping hot food hot and drinks icy cold can influence customers to reward your great service. Grab utensils, napkins, and extra sauces to add that special touch.
8. Incentives: Grubhub offers missions and sweepstakes to help you make more than average pay.
9. Mode of transportation: If you deliver via bicycle (available in certain cities), you can reduce your delivery time by avoiding traffic delays. You also don’t have to factor in vehicle and gas expenses, which may help you net more money per hour.
10. Multi-App: When Grubhub is slow, you can drive for other delivery apps like Instacart or Shipt.

Grubhub Challenges and How To Overcome Them

Low Order Volume

• Solution: Work during peak hours and in high-demand areas. Some drivers find success by parking near popular restaurants while waiting for delivery opportunities.

Parking Issues

• Solution: Plan ahead by knowing where you can park legally near the restaurants you frequent. If parking is a major issue, consider using a bike or scooter.

Difficult Customers

• Solution: Maintain a polite and professional demeanor. Good communication can often resolve issues before they escalate. Remember, customer interactions can affect your rating and tips.

Alternatives to Delivering for Grubhub

DoorDash and Uber Eats lead the food delivery market. With a whopping 67% market share, DoorDash is the obvious first choice for ensuring plenty of access to delivery offers.

💡 Learn more about other driving apps if you’re interested in more than food delivery: 20+ Driving Apps To Make Money in 2024. 

Final Words

Delivering for Grubhub can be a fantastic way to earn extra money on your terms. It’s not hard to learn how to deliver for Grubhub, and you can use your delivery earnings to pay off debt, save for a trip, or bank it for a rainy day. 

Another good alternative for GrubHub is DoorDash. You can work using both apps simultaneously and stack your earnings! These are some of the best apps to make money fast. With the right strategies and mindset, you can maximize your earnings and enjoy the benefits of being your own boss.