As a Dasher, you might ask yourself an interesting question – can someone else DoorDash for me? When you sign up to be a Dasher, you’re signing up as an independent contractor, rather than as an employee. This means, in theory, you could subcontract your services and have someone else Dash for you.Â
There’s not much reason you’d want someone else to Dash for you though. Even if you did, it’d make your taxes much more complicated.Â
Instead, a more likely situation is whether you can have someone help you do your DoorDash deliveries. The answer is that DoorDash explicitly allows Dashers to bring a helper or have others accompany them on deliveries. However, they do require that anyone helping with deliveries also have a valid Dasher account and pass the DoorDash background check.Â
In this post, we’ll go into more detail about whether you can have someone else DoorDash for you and discuss why you would want to do this.
Can Someone Else DoorDash For Me? Â
DoorDash explicitly states that you can have someone else help you with your DoorDash deliveries. For instance, on the DoorDash website, they state the following:
As an independent contractor, you are free to choose the method by which you perform the delivery. It is entirely up to you to complete the delivery service yourself or to delegate the tasks to your employee or subcontractor. Someone else may drive for you or help you drop off deliveries, however, they must have a valid Dasher account as well. (Source: DoorDash).
This is fairly interesting. According to DoorDash, you can subcontract all of your services to a subcontractor, so long as they have a valid Dasher account and have passed a background check. The independent contractor agreement confirms this information as well, providing the following in Section IX of the agreement:
CONTRACTOR is not required to perform any Contracted Services personally, but may, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Agreement, hire or engage others (as employees or subcontractors of CONTRACTOR) to perform all or some of the Contracted Services, provided any such employees or subcontractors meet all the requirements applicable to CONTRACTOR including, but not limited to, accepting the terms of this Agreement, separately completing the process to receive Delivery Opportunities, and being eligible to provide the Contracted Services in the geographic location. (Source: DoorDash).
In practical terms, it’s unlikely you’d make use of this provision, as subcontracting your Dasher account doesn’t make a lot of sense. I’ve never heard of anyone paying people to do their deliveries and there’s not really any way you’d make enough money to be able to pay someone to do the deliveries for you. There’s only one specific use case scenario I could imagine and technically, you’d be violating the independent contractor agreement (more on that in the next section).
I think the most important language from DoorDash is where they say you are free to choose the method by which you perform the delivery. This gives you a lot of options in how you complete your deliveries since you could bring helpers with you or use any vehicle type you’d like to do your deliveries.
Why Would You Want To Do This? Â
There are a few reasons you’d care about the ability to subcontract your services or have someone else DoorDash for you. The main thing is to have helpers help you with your deliveries or to bring family or friends to keep you company or make your deliveries easier.Â
Here’s a look at all the reasons you’d want to use helpers with your DoorDash deliveries:
1. Have Company While You’re Working
DoorDash can be an isolating experience, especially if you’re working long hours. Sure, you can have some interaction with customers and restaurant workers, but most of the time, you’re working by yourself.
If you prefer being around others, having someone come with you on your deliveries can make your delivery experience a lot more pleasant.Â
2. Be More EfficientÂ
Another reason you might want to have someone else with you when you’re doing deliveries is to help with your efficiency. If you’re using a car, for example, having someone with you can make it easier for you to park your car. One person can run into the restaurant or deliver the food while the other person stays in the car.
Having a second set of hands to help you carry large orders can be helpful too. And if you’re unfamiliar with where you’re going, having a navigator help you with directions can also be useful.
3. Spend Time With Family While Working Â
There aren’t a lot of jobs where you can bring your family with you while you’re working. In theory, you can bring your kids with you while you’re doing DoorDash. If you have young children, you’ll save a lot of money on babysitters if you can bring your children with you while you’re working.Â
I make use of this most days on my way home from my son’s daycare. We bike commute each day, so on our way home, I’ll always turn on the DoorDash app and see if I can get some orders going back towards my house. I’m able to make a little extra money this way, all while my son is riding with me on our way home from school. I call this monetizing my life – where I get paid to do things I’m already doing.
Interestingly enough, I find that I sometimes get increased tips when I’m biking with my son. Maybe people feel bad for me when they see me with a young kid.
For couples, DoorDash can also be a way to get outside with your significant other. I’ve occasionally done DoorDash with my wife, where we’d bike around the city while doing deliveries. We get some exercise and can explore the city and get paid while we do it.
4. Improved SafetyÂ
Another reason you might want to enlist a helper while you’re Dashing is for improved safety. There’s always safety in numbers and if you’re worried about your vehicle being stolen or getting robbed when you’re working, having a second person with you can help with those fears.
5. Rent Your Account To OthersÂ
A final thing I’ve heard some people do is to rent their Dasher account to others. This technically isn’t legit and is a violation of your independent contractor agreement depending on how you do it, so I’d caution against this.Â
A common situation is where someone can’t sign up as a Dasher because they can’t pass their background check. Perhaps they had a DUI in the past that disqualifies them from Dashing.Â
In this scenario, some people may rent their account to others, allowing the other person to earn income from DoorDash in exchange for a fee or a percentage of the earnings.Â
My issue with doing this is that, beyond the fact it would violate the independent contractor agreement, it’s also risky to give someone else access to your Dasher account. It also makes your taxes far more complicated since DoorDash will still issue a 1099 in your name. For all these reasons, I don’t recommend renting your Dasher account to others.
Final ThoughtsÂ
Can someone else DoorDash for me? The answer is, yes, someone else can DoorDash for you. But most likely, you’re never going to do that because there are few situations where it would make sense.Â
The more likely situation is to enlist helpers to assist you with your deliveries. Bringing someone with you can improve efficiency, especially if you’re using a car. And it can make the experience a lot more enjoyable.
More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes/scooters I've had the chance to do a review for:
- GEN3 Outcross Bike – The GEN3 Outcross is a solid, affordable fat tire ebike that does a good job of doing what I need it to do. It works great for city riding, giving me a smooth ride in all conditions. It’s works really well as a winter ebike since the fat tires give it good traction over snow and ice. Check out my GEN3 Outcross Review.
- Himiway Escape Bike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
- Espin Sport Bike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
- Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
- Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.
More Recommended Investing App Bonuses
For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
- SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with $100 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Moomoo (15 free stocks, $100 cash reward, 1 stock of Tesla or Google) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 3 different referral bonuses if you open an account using a referral link. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- Webull (24 free stock shares) – Webull's current promotion gives you 24 free shares valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free shares using Webull.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses
If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.
- GO2Bank ($100) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $100 referral bonus.
- Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
- US Bank Business ($750) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
- SoFi Money ($275) – SoFi Money is a free checking account from SoFi. They’re currently offering a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi account with a referral link and deposit $10. You can also make an additional $250 as well if you complete a direct deposit. This is a good bank that is also 100% free, so you won’t have to worry about managing this account. Here’s a post I wrote with instructions on how to earn your SoFi Money bonus: SoFi Money Referral Bonus: Step By Step Guide.
- Fifth Third Bank ($225) – This offer is limited to customers in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, and South Carolina. If you don’t live in one of those states, you won’t be able to open an account online but you can still open an account in-branch if you happen to be visiting a city that has a branch. This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, especially since there are plenty of data points showing what will trigger the direct deposit requirement. In addition, you can open the Fifth Third Momentum Checking bank account, which comes with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Read my guide on this bonus here.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($100) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
- Netspend ($40 + 5% Interest Savings Account) – Netspend is a company that provides 5% interest savings accounts. If you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get a $40 signup bonus once you make your first deposit into your Netspend account of $40 or more. That means you get a 5% interest savings account and a free $40 to start! Make sure to check out my in-depth guide on how to set up these accounts.
- Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link.Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- Digital Federal Credit Union ($20) – Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $20 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a saving account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000. Check out my in-depth post on how to set this account up.
- Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
- Varo ($35) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $35 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:
- SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $250 if you complete a direct deposit.
- US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $750 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
- M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
- DCU. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $20 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a savings account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000.
- Personal Capital. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
I would sure like that. I would like someone’s drive me and then we have a doordasher account as well.