With ver 400 warehouses, GoPuff is one of the best companies you can work for as a delivery driver. With flexible schedules and competitive pay, GoPuff is an ideal place for someone looking to make money on the side.
We’ve done extensive research about this company, and this article, we’ll answer questions like;
- What’s GoPuff?
- Is it worth investing your time on?
- How does GoPuff pay?
- How much can you make working for GoPuff.
So, if you have a car and need to earn extra cash on the side, this review is for you. We’ll help you determine if investing your time with GoPuff is worth it.
What is GoPuff?
GoPuff might not be as popular as DoorDash or Uber Eats, but is it an option for people considering food delivery as their next hustle. It is a food and consumer goods delivery platform operating within the US.
Since it started operations in 2013 in Philadelphia, GoPuff has expanded its services to over 1000 cities in the United States. It has over 500 fulfillment centers where they pack and dispatch customer orders. In short, GoPuff makes it possible for customers to access their daily essentials quickly and affordably without leaving their houses.
When you work as a GoPuff driver, you will be delivering groceries, cleaning products, pet and beauty products, and many more. Drivers also deliver alcoholic drinks like wine and beer to people above the drinking age.
GoPuff operates 24/7, with deliveries taking 20-40 minutes to reach the customer. As a GoPuff driver, you can earn up to $21/hour for fulfilling deliveries.
How does GoPuff work?
GoPuff is a mobile convenience store, and drivers get paid to deliver items to their customer’s doorsteps. To start earning with GoPuff, you need to become a GoDrive Driver Partner.
Unlike other food delivery apps like Uber Eats, GoPuff does not include restaurant deliveries as part of its services. Instead, they have their own packaging centers. So, if you do not fancy the smell of food stinking your car or spilling drinks as you drive, GoPuff is an excellent place for you.
Now, how does this mobile convenience store work?
GoPuff has warehouses in centralized locations across the US. Drivers then plan their schedules. With the time known, drivers drop by these warehouses at the onset of their program. Orders come in, and each driver gets assigned a delivery route.
If you have at Amazon Flex, GoPuff will be a walk in the park for you. When the GoPuff driver-partners deliver items to the customers, the customer signs off the order. Minors cannot make alcohol orders on the platform. The GoPuff drivers will need a scanned copy of the receiving customer’s ID.
To cap it:
- You schedule your shift
- You visit the local fulfillment center
- Get assigned a delivery route to make deliveries
- Go back for more
GoPuff requirements, how do you sign up?
To become a driver at GoPuff, you need to fulfill a few requirements. These include;
- Must have a valid US driver’s license
- Be above 21 years
- Have a smartphone with the latest operating system
- Be willing to undertake and pass an alcohol delivery training course
- Have a car and an auto insurance
After meeting these demands, you can sign up for the Driver Partner position on the GoPuff website.
Once you sign up, you go ahead and download GoPuff for Android or GoPuff for iOS. You also receive a welcome email that will contain details of the fulfillment centers near you.
After installing the GoDrive App, you can easily manage your deliveries and find the addresses of the fulfillment centers near you. On this app, you can also access the open delivery blocks. You also get notifications when a partner drops their delivery block.
How to make money with GoPuff
After the process of applying, waiting, and finally joining the GoPuff delivery team, you can earn money by making deliveries. After downloading the app, you start by planning your schedule. When it is time to work, you head to your local MFC (Micro-fulfilment center).
Here, you swipe right on the GoDrive App to start your workday. Note that you can only begin your workday when you are physically at the MFC.
Once your workday starts, you wait for orders within your block. When an order comes in, you pick up the items from the warehouse and deliver them to the customer’s home. Alcohol deliveries require an examination of the identification details of the customer.
When the order is complete, you receive your payment. GoDrive partners receive their payments via direct deposits.
How much do GoPuff drivers make?
GoPuff offers its drivers the chance to earn minimum wages. They also have features that help couriers make a little more than their base pay.
Payment for delivery constitutes of a few things, including;
- Commissions
For every delivery the GoPuff drivers make, they earn a commission. This is a flat-rate fee that every driver receives upon completing an order. The amount ranges from $2.25 to $5 per order. However, the location of your MFC also affects the amount of commission drivers earn.
Drivers who manage to make multiple deliveries at once also earn numerous commissions. Also, if you receive an order but the customer cancels the order for some reason, drivers still receive their commission.
- Weekly Rewards
When drivers complete a certain number of deliveries in a week, they earn weekly rewards. The amount is specific to the MFC you operate from and the current market conditions.
All drivers on the platform have the chance to win these weekly rewards, which start at 5.00 a.m. on Monday.
The program counts all the deliveries you make. However, more emphasis is on the location where you completed the most deliveries.
The weekly bonuses are as follows:
- $70 for 40 deliveries
- $90 for 60 deliveries
- $110 for 85 deliveries
- $130 for 110 deliveries
- Boost income
Sometimes, you can earn a boost. Boosts come in the form of an extra dollar for deliveries you make during busy hours. They appear in your profile as ‘special events commissions.’
GoPuff drivers make at least $14/hour when you add up the amount. However, the amount can increase to $21/hour depending on where you operate and the number of orders you make.
- Tips
GoPuff drivers can receive tips from customers. GoPuff does not touch any of it, and these drivers get to keep 100% of their tips.
GoPuff minimum wage guarantee
When you plan your delivery schedule before getting to the MFC, you enjoy the GoPuff minimum wage guarantee. This is a minimum rate that all drivers who schedule delivery blocks earn for every hour they schedule.
These delivery blocks become available to drivers every Thursday at noon. After scheduling your deliveries, you can rest assured that you will earn a certain amount. This guarantee helps the drivers predict their income per hour, even with low demands.
The amount offered as a minimum wage guarantee is specific to each MFC and changes weekly. The rates are about $14/hour.
Pros and Cons of Using GoPuff
Pros
There are many benefits drivers enjoy while making deliveries with GoPuff. Some of these include:
- Flexible scheduling
While you can book your delivery block, you can change the times or drop a block at any time. You get to choose when you want to work and where.
- Consistent experiences
Unlike other delivery companies that receive their items from different suppliers, GoPuff services orders from a centralized location. So, drivers can avoid all the headaches of finding the restaurant or store to pick up orders from.
- Alcohol and tobacco deliveries
By including the option to deliver alcohol and tobacco to customers, drivers have the chance to earn more.
- Guaranteed minimum rates
One of the benefits of working with GoPuff is its minimum rate guarantee. The amount is also considerable, considering the drivers cover less mileage than other gigs like ridesharing.
When drivers work longer hours, the $14/hour minimum rate goes up to $18/hour.
- Simple joining process
The requirements for making deliveries with GoPuff are more straightforward than other delivery business platforms. It takes a short time to join, and you do not even need driving experience working with GoPuff.
Cons
Some of the drawbacks you can face when working with GoPuff include:
- No gas money
GoPuff does not help drivers pay for gas or other expenses they incur during work. Also, if you are in an accident during work hours, you have to sort out the problem without any help from the company.
- Tedious order handling process
GoPuff offers delivery services to people of all ages. From minors ordering their favorite candy to adults ordering wine. The extra step of confirming the person’s identification becomes tedious for the GoPuff drivers.
Alternatives to GoPuff
The gig economy contains many opportunities to invest your time and earn extra cash. Delivery is only a subsection of the industry. It has many players, some of who compete directly with GoPuff. If you want to try other delivery apps, you can try:
- Instacart
Instacart is a popular grocery delivery marketplace. It connects customers to their favorite Instacart retail partners. When you sign up, you become a shopper. Starters earn about $18/hour, which is a pretty solid pay for gig workers.
- Postmates
Postmates is another marketplace you can use to make deliveries. It allows customers to access groceries and other products from over 6,000 retailers. Postmates makes it easy for customers to access food from their favorite restaurant any time of day.
Drivers can earn over $10 per hour. There are also other opportunities to increase your pay to up to $25/hour. Some of these bonuses include the extra $2 drivers get for every delivery they make during certain times of the day.
- DoorDash
DoorDash offers exceptional food-delivery opportunities. It partners with thousands of restaurants and services millions of customers yearly.
DoorDash became very popular in the Covid-19 era when everyone ordered food from home. The pay at DoorDash can range from $2 to $10 per delivery. On average, drivers can make up to $14/hour.
- GrubHub
Another delivery app you can consider is GrubHub. You must be over 19 to drive for GrubHub, and you will need a valid driver’s license. Like GoPuff, you also get to keep 100% of the tips you receive.
GrubHub drivers earn between $12-$13/hour.
FAQs
Do GoPuff drivers get tips?
Yes. GoPuff drivers can receive tips from customers. They also get to keep 100% of their tips.
When does GoPuff pay?
Depending on where you work, you can receive your payment on either Wednesday or Friday. However, the payment comes in weekly via direct deposits. But, depending on the bank you use, the money may take a few days to process.
Does GoPuff pay for gas?
Unfortunately, GoPuff drivers have to take care of their gas bills. The same goes for maintenance and damages you incur, even during work hours.
Is GoPuff in my area?
The biggest markets that GoPuff services are in New York, Chicago, Denver, San Antonio, Orlando, Seattle, Washington DC, Tampa, and LA. However, you can check out the GoPuff locations to see if they work in your area.
Does GoPuff run a background check?
When you finish signing up to become a GoDrive partner, GoPuff proceeds to conduct a background check. The process involves checking the motor vehicle records and criminal records.
GoPuff then sends an email to you with the background check report. This process takes 2-3 days to end.
How much does GoPuff pay per mile?
GoPuff does not have a specific rate per mile drivers cover. Instead, they offer a minimum rate per hour guarantee that varies by city.
Is GoPuff legit?
Yes, GoPuff is a legit business, where drivers get paid to deliver groceries, cleaning suppliers, beauty products, and many more convenience goods to their customers. There are testimonies all over on how the company works and pays.
Their minimum wage guarantee makes it possible for their drivers to predict their pay, even when the orders are low. It is also uncommon among some delivery platforms, which makes GoPuff stand out.
Conclusion
The competition in the delivery industry is tough. Using a service may not be a significant investment, but different platforms offer different benefits. If you do not enjoy the pungent smells from foods and beverage spills in your car, then you can work with GoPuff. Besides, you work from a centralized location, which means you don’t need to know where to find every restaurant in your area.
Be on the lookout for other good business opportunities to earn as well
