Understanding Doordash

An overview of Doordash written for independent contractors who want to understand Doordash.

We dive into what the Doordash pay model is like and what Dashers can expect to make as independent contractors for Doordash

We dive into what the Top Dasher program is with Doordash, how it works, and when it's worth it to be Top Dasher as an independent contractor.

Offering my thoughts on what it's like to be a Dasher. We start by explaining that it's not a job but a business opportunity, and I offer my experiences and thoughts about delivering for Doordash as an independent contractor.

Because Doordash Dashers are not employees, they don't get typical paystubs. We look at how Dashers can get their earnings information and use it for employment and income verification.

Doordash doesn't always tell Dashers exactly what they'll earn for a delivery opportunity. It's a practice known among Dashers as hiding the tip. We look at the lack of earnings and tip transparency and how Dashers can adapt when they don't know what they'll earn.

We examine how Doordash compensates drivers for their gas and vehicle costs (tl;dr: they don't).

We examine the Doordash pay system, and how as independent contractors there is no overtime pay.

We examine how Doordash pays their Dashers. There is no paycheck, but payment is made on a delivery-by-delivery basis. We look at options for how Dashers can receive those payments.

Doordash started paying less and many believe they changed the pay model. We examine how the pay model works and why reduced pay isn't really a change in the pay model.

When Doordash reduced the minimum base pay in several markets, they explained they were doing it so they could pay more for longer deliveries. Within several months of that change, they quietly dropped that long-distance delivery pay. We go into detail about what they were paying and what they pay now.

Doordash responded to higher gas prices by introducing some additional payment measures. We examine those measures and how Doordash quickly and quietly quit paying some of them.

Written during the older pay model, we explained how that pay model worked, why it wasn't a case of Doordash stealing tips, and offered strategies to work within that pay model.

We examine the Doordash deactivation policy, and what things Dashers need to look out for to avoid having their Doordash contract terminated.

How does Doordash support its independent contractors? We examine how Dasher support works, how to get ahold of support, and what to understand about how support works.

Doordash Dasher support personnel often provide misleading or incorrect information to Dashers. We examine why that is and how Dasher support works.

As part of our podcast series looking at different delivery platforms, we offered opinions on what it was like delivering for Doordash.

We take a closer look at the Doordash independent contractor relationship, how it is self-employment instead of an employee relationship, and how Dashers can utilize that relationship to their benefit.

When Doordash went public, we examined what that meant for Dashers.

Doordash rolled out a pilot program with Drivewell. We examine what that program is and what it means for Dashers.

A Doordash delivery driver (Dasher) offers an inside perspective on how they get paid, and how to determine a reasonable tip for delivery contractors.

During a period when a larger-than-normal number of Dashers were being deactivated, we offered our thoughts on what was going on and how Dashers could avoid deactivation.